Job Description
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SPECIALIST
US Department of Defense
Fort Belvoir, VA
$86,335 - $133,465 a year - Full-time, Part-time
Duties
Summary
This position is part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
Responsibilities
As a INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SPECIALIST at the GS-0131-12/13 some of your typical work assignments may include:
Provides subject matter treaty expertise in support of planning and execution of global Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) responsibilities.
Coordinates DoD requirements related to U.S. CWC Declaration updates, annual CW destruction plans and reports, CW destruction facility planning, facility agreements, OPCW-agreed detailed plans for verification, CWC inspections and Technical Secretariat Inspection Team rotations that conduct 24/7 monitoring and destruction reconciliation in coordination with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Supports the OSD Threat Reduction and Arms Control (TRAC) Treaty Manager, the Department of State, US Delegation to OPCW, the US Army, Combatant Commanders, and other Interagency partners as required to ensure effective implementation of CWC requirements and facilitation of DTRA's mission requirements.
Provides lead responsibilities for the Division for matters pertaining to CW Stockpile Storage, and provides back-up for matters pertaining to CW Destruction
Participates in DoD implementation coordination for arms control policy interagency working group and backstopping meetings to insure discussion and advancement of treaty management support issues and Directorate operational imperatives.
Participates in internal DoD working and ad hoc groups tasked with coordinating and resolving specific issues related to standardized and efficient DoD planning, preparation, and execution of DoD implementation and compliance.
Liaises closely with OB operational elements on matters of treaty implementation and execution and provides oversight and implementation assistance to DoD Host Teams on issues arising during treaty inspections.- Serves as support contract officer representative, and is further responsible for Division logistics support and maintenance of the Division's CWC archives in support of Agency and OSD TRAC
Maintains regular contact with all levels of DTRA, Defense contractors, the staffs of OSD, JS, other interagency partners, the military Services and the intelligence community.
Serves as professional staff member in the Strategic, Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Division (OB-ISS)
Participates in all office staff meetings and activities to remain abreast of OB and OSD treaty management issues and problems related to CW and BW agreements.
Provides advice and/or recommendations to the Division Chief and other key Agency and DoD officials on assigned CW, BW, and similar agreements implementation-related activities.
Monitors and develops policy-level solutions, as required, on treaty program matters as they apply to OB and the OSD Treaty Managers.
Conducts original research, conceptualizes alternative solutions, develops, staffs, and presents program positions and documents.
Develops and staffs comments to treaty-mandated documents, international organization documents and correspondence, DoD guidance documents, and interagency papers, and prepares in-depth studies with recommended courses of actions related to CW, BW, and similar agreements implementation and compliance.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Supervisory status
No
Promotion Potential
13
Job family (Series)
0131 International Relations
Requirements
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Must be a U.S. citizen
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service http://www.sss.gov
Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
Work Schedule: Full time
Overtime: Occasionally
Tour of Duty: Flexible
Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
Financial Disclosure: Not Required
Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible
Position requires pre-employment drug testing and random drug testing thereafter
Duties of the position may entail travel, both domestic and international, in support of the Office and DoD mission
Ability to obtain a TOP SECRET/SCI security clearance following selection for the position
Qualifications
Individual Occupational Requirements
Basic Requirements
Degree: major or equivalent, or a combination of courses totaling at least 24 semester hours in international law and international relations, political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, social or cultural anthropology, law, statistics, or in the humanities; or 12 semester hours in one of the above disciplines and 12 semester hours in statistics/quantitative methods.
OR
Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, in one or more of the social sciences, or in the humanities, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.
OR
Experience: four years of appropriate experience in one or more of the fields listed above in work associated with international organizations, problems, or other aspects of foreign affairs.
Evaluation of Experience
Qualifying experience that provided an intimate knowledge of a foreign country or geographic area may have been gained through residence, study, teaching, business or commercial activities, military service, newspaper work, military or civil government activities, missionary or inter-national relief work, or other experience in foreign countries. It may also have been gained through teaching college-level courses in international relations or problems associated with a specific foreign geographic area.
To qualify for positions at grades GS-12 and above on the basis of experience, this experience must have included either (a) responsibility for the direction and coordination of research, analysis, or other professional work in one or more of the fields listed in A above, or (b) specialized professional work involving a high level of difficulty and responsibility in one or more of these fields.
AND
You may qualify at the GS- 12 grade level, if you fulfill the following qualifications:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level grade level in the Federal service:
Working with an Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Technical Secretariat (TS), OSD Threat Reduction and Arms Control (TRAC), or Department of State Bureau of Arms Control, Verification & Compliance (AVC/CBW);
Performing Inspection/Escort responsibilities for CWC, or OPCW TS Inspection Team;
Representing equities during interagency meetings involving U.S. Government departments;
Interacting with international treaty partners and arms control organizations, such as the OPCW.
You may qualify at the GS- 13 grade level, if you fulfill the following qualifications:
One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level grade level in the Federal service:
Working with an Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Technical Secretariat (TS), OSD Threat Reduction and Arms Control (TRAC), or Department of State Bureau of Arms Control, Verification & Compliance (AVC/CBW);
Performing Inspection/Escort responsibilities for CWC, or OPCW TS Inspection Team;
Representing equities during interagency meetings involving U.S. Government departments;
Interacting with international treaty partners and arms control organizations, such as the OPCW.
Working logistics actions supporting inspection teams and inspectors as related to short notice CWC inspections and continuous CWC destruction monitoring.
Competencies:
Arms control policy and implementation.
Bilateral and multilateral negotiations/talks.
Communication
Interagency process pertaining to arms control.
Original research and CW/BW arms control.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education
Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.
If using education to meet the IOR: You MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at time of application.
All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.
GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours that your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: Foreign Education
Additional information
Re-employed Annuitant: This position does not meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf
All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
We will review your resume and supporting documents, to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, identified below, required for this position.
Based on the results of this evaluation, you will be placed in one of the following quality categories:
Best Qualified: This highest category will be used for those candidates who possess the type and quality of experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position, including any selective placement factors and/or appropriate quality ranking factor(s), as determined by the job analysis.
Highly Qualified: This higher category will be used for those candidates who possess the type and quality of experience that exceed the minimum qualifications of the position, including any selective placement factors and/or appropriate quality ranking factor(s) as determined by the job analysis.
Qualified: This lowest category will be used for those candidates that meet the minimum qualifications of the position, including all selective placement factors and appropriate quality ranking factor(s) and are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the position. Candidates may require extensive training and/or orientation in order to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/competitive-hiring/#url=Category-Rating
Names of the candidates in the Best Qualified category will be sent first to the hiring manager for employment consideration. Applicants in other categories will be referred in accordance with category rating procedures.
Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to veterans preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. If you are entitled to veterans' preference and qualified for the position, your name will be placed above non-preference candidates on a list sent to the hiring manager for employment consideration. Qualified veterans' preference eligible with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be listed at the top of the highest quality category depending on the position and grade level of the job.
For information on entitlement see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.
Military Spouse Preference: If you are entitled to military spouse preference, in order to receive this preference you must choose the spousal eligibility in your application package referencing MSP Military Spouse Preference. Your preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. If you are claiming military spouse preference and qualified for the position, your name will be placed below preference eligible veteran candidates and above non-preference candidates on a list sent to the hiring manager for employment consideration. To claim Military Spouse Preference (MSP) please complete the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist, save the document and attach it to your application package.
Background checks and security clearance
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test required
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Required Documents
Required Documents
The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee, applying as a reinstatement, etc).
Your complete application includes your COMPLETE resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.
The following documents are REQUIRED:
1. Your resume:
Your resume may be submitted on any format. It must include your name and contact information and support the specialized experience described in this announcement.
For qualifications determinations your resume must contain the number of hours worked per week and the dates of employment (i.e., "HRS per week and month/year to month/year" or "HRS per week and month/year to present").
For additional information see: What to include in your resume
2. Transcripts:
College transcript (s), required if using to meet IOR. We accept unofficial transcripts, as long as they contain your name, the name of the school, the date and degree that was awarded, and the list of classes and credits earned.
3. Veteran's Documents:
If applying using veteran's preference or under a Veteran's hiring authority you must submit the following documents
DD214 showing character of service, SF-15 Form and VA letter showing final percentage, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty.
PLEASE REVIEW THE BELOW LINK OR OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS needed for proof of eligibility:
https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/FourthEstateRequiredSupportingDocumentation%205-4-2020.pdf?ver=2020-05-07-140551-783
If you are claiming Military Spouse Preference, you must submit supporting documents with your application package. These documents must provide acceptable information to verify: you reside within the commuting area of your sponsor's permanent duty station (PDS); proof of marriage to the active duty sponsor, proof of military member's active duty status, and other documentation required by the vacancy announcement to which you are applying; and must meet all pre-employment criteria and be eligible for immediate noncompetitive appointment to a position in the competitive service. Documentation required: Marriage Certificate or License, Signed Self-Certification Checklist, Veterans' Preference documentation (e.g., DD-214, VA Letter, Statement of Service, if applicable), Transcripts (if applicable). Additional documentation required if previously held a federal position: SF-50s (e.g., LWOP, highest grade held, overseas appointments, etc.), SF-75 Information, and documentation of performance rating of record (dated within the last 12 months)
For More Information: https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo.pdf
Benefits
Benefits
A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Help
This job is open to
Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)
Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.
Military spouses
The public
U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.