Foreign Affairs Specialist

Federal Aviation Administration •

Panama City, Panama, Panama

Position Type: Contractor

Job Description:

The position is located in the Office of Policy , International Affairs, and Environment, Office of International Affairs, Western Hemisphere Office. The incumbent is the top agency expert and focal point on U.S. civil aviation policies, practices, and procedures in his/her area of responsibility.

Duties

Serves as a recognized expert within FAA and is called upon to provide leadership for highly complex and challenging activities under the minimal direction of a manager or executive. May act as a technical expert to develop new and innovative concepts, approaches, methodologies, techniques, and policies, or as a senior project manager or team leader for large, challenging work activities.

Implements the key focus areas of the FAAs international mission. Develops initiatives that advance U.S. standards, policies, and procedures to achieve a safer, more efficient, and sustainable global air transportation system and competitive spanetplace. Formulates strategies to help achieve a common and modernized system of air traffic control and air navigation for both civil and military aircraft. Identifies and executes bilateral arrangements that codify US and foreign commitments to harmonize standards, and/or adopt of US practices through targeted technical assistance and cooperative arrangements. Collaborates with the FAA staff offices and lines of business to advance the international component of FAA programmatic initiatives as the international standard, and to ensure interoperability, collaboration and harmonization.

Applies experience and expert technical knowledge applicable to his/her discipline, as well as an understanding of new technologies and methodologies, to perform critical tasks requiring the development of new concepts, systems, or innovative approaches. Identifies and resolves highly complex problems or issues which often cross organizational boundaries and impact on the accomplishment of FAAs strategic objectives. Works with International Civil Aviation Organization regional offices and other regional aviation entities, such as the Central American Corporation for Air Navigation Services (COCESNA), as well as identified critical states and partners and contributes to the FAA’s strategic planning by formulating FAA initiatives of appropriate scope and scale to US interests that efficiently leverage the FAA presence and efficacy in the world.

Supports the FAA’s international mission. Builds critical communication networks and relationships with other governments, air navigation service providers, international organizations, US Embassy officials, and aviation industry representatives. Collects, analyzes and distributes critical information and intelligence in his/her area of responsibility and using this information to assist FAA decision makers in effectively developing and implementing the FAA international strategic plan. Manages key programs and projects that advance the agency’s international goals and objectives.

Supervises the hiring, workload and expectations of locally employed staff (LES) in the FAA office. Is responsible for managing the LES’ day-to-day assignments, providing feedback and direction on projects, and assessing the employee in the State Department’s employee rating system. Interacts daily with the U.S. Embassy and participates in a number of Embassy functions, including membership in various Embassy committees. Other duties may include attending Embassy meetings, participating in briefings for members of the American business community, representing the FAA and/or the Embassy at international events, or fulfilling additional activities as directed by the Embassy leadership.

Contacts are internal and external. Often represents FAA as the primary technical authority for major projects, programs, and other areas of FAA responsibility. Communicates the latest NOTAMs, advisories and other documents and information to key partners in his/her AOR, and advises FAA HQ of airspace changes or other conflict-related updates in AOR that may affect U.S. carriers. Formulates and recommends organizational positions on major projects/policies/issues to senior management.

Job Requirements:
Requirements Conditions of Employment

US Citizenship is required.
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
Must submit an SF50 (See Required Documents).
Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
This position has a positive education requirement. Transcript(s) required.
Travel Required: 50% (Domestic and International)
Final job offer will be contingent upon completion of the necessary medical, drug test, security clearance, and training requirements.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the FV-J, FG/GS-14 level. This experience is typically related to the line of work of the position to be filled and which has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been at least equivalent to the next lower level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

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SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IS DEFINED AS:

Experience working in the international arena, especially on behalf of the FAA or other US Government organizations, to include at a US Embassy, an international organization, or for a private company or non-governmental organization.

OR;

Experience in working with geopolitical issues and aviation organizations/issues and their impact on civil aviation.

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In addition, 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 (1) below under the Education Section; or (b) specialized professional work of a high level of difficulty and responsibility in one or more of these fields. This high-level experience must have been in such specialized activities as: (1) formulation of instructions and policy guidance for United States representatives in international organizations; (2) transport and communication involving knowledge of economic, political, and technical aspects of international aviation, shipping, inland transport, or radio, telephone, and telegraph, etc.; (3) cultural affairs involving formulation and operation of policy on large-scale international cultural exchange programs; (4) occupied area affairs involving problems of occupation of conquered or liberated countries, regions, or zones; or (5) other specialized international affairs such as analyzing public opinion and attitudes, evaluating specific conditions, trends, or forces of a foreign country, formulating policy on problems of petroleum resources or fisheries, etc.

You should include relevant examples of the specialized experience in your work history. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered.

Answer all questions to the best of your ability. DO NOT ASSUME THAT BECAUSE YOU HOLD, OR HAVE HELD THIS POSITION, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE FOUND ELIGIBLE. You may be asked to provide evidence or documentation that you have this type of experience later in the selection process. Your responses are subject to verification through job interviews, or any other information obtained during the application process. Any exaggeration of your experience or any attempt to conceal information can result in disqualification.

*Applicants who fail to demonstrate possession of any of the above criteria AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.*

Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA.

**All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement.**

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and/or selective placement factor(s) (SPF) may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) and/or Quality Ranking Factor (QRF) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: (1) score order; (2) category grouping; (3) alphabetical; or (4) priority grouping, and referred to the selecting official for selection consideration.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).

Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.

Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/accreditation.

Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered.

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, 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.

If you are a current or former Federal employee, and you currently hold or previously held a position classified in the 130 occupational series, you are not required to submit a college transcript provided you upload a copy of the SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, verifying your classification in the 130 occupational series.

Applicants, who are not currently in the 130 occupational series in the Federal Government and fail to provide a copy of an unofficial or official transcript will not receive further consideration for this vacancy. Upon selection, if not currently employed in the 130 occupational series, you will be required to submit an official transcript before appointment. If you do not have an official transcript (original, with the raised seal), you should contact your school immediately to request it.

Foreign Education: For additional information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.

Required Documents

Only supplemental documentation (e.g. transcript, certifications, SF-50, and/or veterans' documentation) will be accepted in combination with your on-line application or faxed to 202-267-7032. These documents must be uploaded on faxed or before the closing date of the announcement. All submitted documents must reference the announcement number.

ALL applicants MUST submit the following:

(1) resume with complete work history; and

(2) a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action).

For guidance on how to create a Federal resume, visit http://www.archives.gov/careers/jobs/forms/resume-guide.pdf.

Failure to submit all required documents by the closing date will result in a finding of ineligible. We are not responsible for incomplete, illegible or missing documents.

Please DO NOT email your application documents. We cannot accept documents received via the email system. Documents sent via email will NOT receive consideration.

This position has a positive education requirement; college transcripts are required for ALL candidates newly appointed to the FAA in the 130 series.

College transcripts must be submitted from current FAA employees applying for internal vacancies if they have never held a position in the 130 series with the FAA.

College transcripts are not required from current FAA employees who are currently occupying a 130 series.

If selected, official transcripts are required prior to employment.

If you are an FAA employee, you MUST provide a copy of your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) containing information in Blocks 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 so it can be used to verify your position title, series, grade, tenure, and organization of record by the closing date of the announcement. You may fax your SF-50 or upload it into the on-line application. If faxing the SF-50, please ensure you include the vacancy announcement number on the faxed copy.

If you are an FAA employee, you can access and print your SF-50 from the eOPF system https://eopf.opm.gov/dot/.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Salary Range: $133,548 - $206,929

Job Ident #: 816822500

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Foreign Affairs Specialist

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