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Defense Security Cooperation Agency

Academic Specialist (Registrar)

Location: District of Columbia, Fort McNair
Requires Relocation: No
Start Date: 21/01/2026
End Date: 04/02/2026
Offering Type: Term
Hiring Paths: Federal employees - Competitive service, Federal employees - Excepted service, Military spouses
Service Type: Excepted
Travel Percentage: Occasional travel
Full Time On-site

Defense Security Cooperation Agency

About Defense Security Cooperation Agency

This position is part of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. DSCA’s mission is to advance U.S. national security and foreign policy interests by building the capacity of foreign security forces to respond to shared challenges. DSCA leads the broader U.S. security cooperation enterprise in its efforts to train, educate, advise, and equip foreign partners. DSCA administers security cooperation programs that support U.S. policy interests and objectives.

Summary

Job summary

The Perry Center supports the community of security and defense professionals in the Americas to pursue collaborative approaches to mutual opportunities and challenges. Through academics, research, and outreach, including ministerial-level consulting, we advance sustainable institutional capacity, strengthen the rule of law and democracy, and promote greater understanding of U.S. policy throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Major duties

Major Duties: Serves as an academic specialist for the William J Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies. The primary focus of the incumbent is to serve as the Registrar for the Center. The Registrar evaluates policies and legislation that may affect the Center's recruitment and admissions program. Develops, designs, and executes an innovative recruitment program and strategy with annual goals to increase student throughput that significantly impacts the Center's ability to fulfill its mission. Employs analytical and evaluative methodologies to determine future recruitment needs and facilitate recruitment programs. Provides data and strategy input in the area of participant recruitment and admissions for the Center's Strategic Plan. Coordinates the nomination and admissions process with mid- to senior- level personnel at the Department of State, OSW, Joint Staff, SOUTHCOM, NORTHCOM, international and sub-regional organizations, as well as US Embassy officials in the respective countries. Performs all duties and responsibilities relating to the processing of applications and nominations, including creating applicant packages for review and decision, notifying and updating all applicants on their status throughout the admissions process, and regularly communicating with selectees prior to their arrival to the course. Also provides explanations to inquiries on nomination and admissions procedures, and subsequent acceptance or rejection of participants to all Center programs. Recommends waivers of qualification criteria as warranted. Incumbent oversees the preparation of statistics and reports on participants and applicant characteristics, course enrollment, grades (when applicable), student attrition, and other admissions- related subjects as required by DSCA, OSW, SOUTHCOM, NORTHCOM and Congress. Prepares and analyzes demographic statistics, identifies trends, and makes appropriate recommendations to the Director and staff. Incumbent is responsible for database input and updating of existing data to ensure completeness, the creation of events and billets on multiple DoW data platforms, as well as the maintenance, safeguarding, release, and utilization of official participant records and data. Monitors program funding relating to selection of participants in academic seminars, symposia, and other programs. Additionally, maintains contact with all US Embassies in the Western Hemisphere, various international, government and non-governmental agencies for selection/admissions policy reviews and solicitation of participant nominations. Announces upcoming academic programs and distributes invitations and appropriate information to US embassies and other essential organizations, including participant qualification requirements and associated suspense dates. Maintains and tracks all participant responses, providing regular status updates to the Chief of Operations and Student Affairs (COSA) and Perry Center Leadership Team. Provides technical guidance to colleagues as need and performs spot checks to ensure accuracy of participant information. Also coordinates with various academic and other officials outside the Perry Center to provide support as necessary to coordinate travel arrangements for all participants. Incumbent ensures the integrity of input/output of participant information and reports in the Regional Center Persons/Activity Management System (RCPAMS) database or any successor data system, prior to each academic program. Assists in the compilation of the yearly Foreign Military Training Report (FMTR) or successor reports. Compiles and distributes the draft participant lists. Contributes to the composition of seminar discussion groups and helps to reconfigure groups based on real-time arrival information. Assists with participant arrivals, registration, and departures after the completion programs. Assists with protocol functions and responsibilities pertaining to VIP visits as required. Incumbent represents the Perry Center at meetings of professional organizations, conferences concerned with admissions, registrar functions, and other activities within this sphere or responsibility. Prepares and conducts briefings for and provides information to visiting educators, higher headquarters staff members, and members of U.S. government to include members of U.S. embassy country teams regarding Perry Center admission policies, procedures, and course information.

Qualification

Required Qualifications: A minimum of 4 years' support experience in performing administrative functions in an academic or professional setting. Experience using Microsoft Office Suite Programs such as Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and other applicable software systems for academic support duties. Spanish language proficiency is required. Incumbent can expect to conduct approximately 75% of written communication and 50% of oral communication in Spanish and must possess a professional level of speaking, reading and writing proficiency in Spanish. Desired Qualifications: Experience in operating and maintaining academic data systems. Knowledge of the Western Hemisphere region and international security policy. Portuguese language proficiency. Volunteer Experience: 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 to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Education Requirement: There is no education requirement. Official Transcripts: If the position you are applying for has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications (i.e. you would not qualify without the education obtained), you MUST submit transcripts with your application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application outside of what is outlined above; however, official transcripts must be verified PRIOR to appointment. An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying or prior to appointment as outlined above. Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation upon request. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education

Evaluations

A screening panel will review your resume and narrative answers to the assessment questions to evaluate your qualifications for the position. NDU uses a multi-tier selection process for academic positions. The following questions will be reviewed by the NDU screening panel https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12863194. The Assessment Questionnaire collects information on your education, training and experience related to the following critical competencies: Criminal History Inquiries- If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency @ dfas.indianapolis-in.zh.mbx.ssc-cc@mail.mil