Foreign Affairs Officer

Summary

This position is located in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Fisheries, and Polar Affairs, Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs (OES/O/OPA). This office is responsible for formulating and implementing U.S. policy on international issues concerning the ocean, the Arctic, and the Antarctic and leading U.S. global engagement to advance U.S. economic, security, and resource interests in ocean and polar affairs.

Duties

• •Serves as the Department's lead action officer and initial point of contact for all incoming actions regarding Antarctic Treaty inspections.
• •Participates in annual meetings of the Antarctic Treaty; supports U.S. priorities within the Antarctic Treaty System, ensuring that the Antarctic region remains reserved for peace and science.
• •Conducts research, analysis, and overseas site visits as needed to collect information on problems and possible solutions in policy and program implementation.
• •Advocates and defends Bureau policy initiatives in polar resource management; stays current on legislative and policy developments affecting the US Government's (USG) stance and reactions.
• •Provides informational consultations and orientations to colleagues and management officials in the Department and the interagency arena on the Antarctic Treaty structure, mechanisms, and processes.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application. Applicants must have the required experience or education as described below and meet any selective factors, when specified. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Have a bachelor's or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in international law, international relations, political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, social or cultural anthropology, law, statistics, or in the humanities; OR Have a bachelor's or graduate degree from an accredited college or university that included a combination of courses, with 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 Have 12 semester hours in one of the above disciplines and 12 semester hours in statistics / quantitative methods; OR Have a combination of education and experience where your coursework was equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, (as shown above), PLUS appropriate relevant experience OR additional education; OR Have completed at least 4 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. (NOTE: qualifying work experience may have been gained through residence, study, teaching, business or commercial activities, military service, newspaper work, military or civil government activities, missionary or international relief work, or other experience in foreign countries.) Note: If you are qualifying based on education, you MUST submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position. IN ADDITION to the basic requirements, this position requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience collaborating with U.S. agencies to plan and execute one or more U.S. Government inspections of foreign Antarctic facilities. Experience organizing U.S. Government Antarctic inspection follow-up activities that include drafting an inspection report and press materials and supporting international briefings on inspection results at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. Experience supporting the coordination and implementation of U.S. Antarctic policy, including U.S. engagement at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM).

Education

See the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials, visit: www.naces.org/members.php.