Job summary

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Major duties

Summary: The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a professional Foreign Affairs Training Program Manager (TPM) concerned with developing and implementing an overall training program for international, AFSAT, and other U.S. customers. The individual performs a wide range of duties associated with the acquisition, oversight, and financial management of intricate country-specific of training programs related to sales of a variety of weapons systems by the Department of State (DoS), Department of Defense (DoD), and Agency under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS), International Military Education and Training (IMET), or other grant programs (e.g., Counter-Terrorism and Force Protections, etc.), consistent with U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives. The employee is involved in every aspect of international Case development and management as defined in Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) policy and Organizational Operating Instructions to include extended temporary duty in support of program/organization objectives. Duties: The Employee serves as an expert, senior-level Training Program Manager (TPM) for security assistance and cooperation training programs. As a senior-level professional with major program responsibility, the TPM prepares and documents the technical and economic data to support the acquisition of complex, multi-functional training equipment, and services for international customers. As an expert-level analyst with mastery level knowledge, the TPM applies technical training principles and job experience to manage and/or review the development or revision of instructional materials for international customers. As a senior specialist with significant international program responsibility, the TPM accomplishes major special projects as assigned. Develops official correspondence, messages, items of interest, staff summaries, and talking papers relative to assigned programs, plans, additional duties, and special projects as directed.

Qualification

Conditions of Employment (cont.): Employee should possess skills and demonstrated ability to communicate and interact with colleagues, counterparts in various USG agencies, high-ranking foreign representatives, and representatives of diverse cultures, and be able to utilize tact and diplomacy on all occasions. Employee must meet the education/experience requirements IAW OPM guidelines for the Foreign Affairs Series 0130 Occupational requirements. (Ref: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/foreign-affairs-series-0130/). In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Professional and Scientific Positions, Foreign Affairs Series 0130. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-12, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes expert-level knowledge of the International/Foreign Affairs Security Assistance Management Manual and associate responsibilities of a Training Program Manager (TPM) as an Agency's subject matter expert and primary point of contact for planning and executing of assigned Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case(s) including acquisition, contracting milestones, programming, logistics, finance, monitors student requirements, tracking program(s), and training development; expert/mastery level knowledge of DOD, Agency, and organizational policies, goals, objectives, and directives as applicable to foreign assistance laws and statutory requirements associated with Security Cooperation goals and objectives as they apply to plan, obtaining, and executing international student training contracts; expert/mastery level knowledge and familiarity with instructional principles and techniques required to make effective training program recommendations; Knowledge of agency program goals and objectives as concerns International Affairs and Agency Security Assistance Training; Knowledge of relationships with other programs and key administrative support functions within the agency; Knowledge with planning, scheduling, and conducting short- and long-range student training production while applying analytical techniques to evaluate and improve effectiveness and efficiency to optimize training pipelines and/or tracks to meet partner nation's needs; Knowledge of procedures for the development, coordination, and transmission of planning for the formulation of Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) to include cost, schedule, and availability of DoD contractor provided training; Knowledge of the training requirements definition process, the FMS process, the federal acquisition process and the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), and of the input required for development, implementation, line management, execution, and closure of FMS training cases; Knowledge of IMS administration while in Agency training in the U.S., the various training sources available to these students, and the validation process for FMS, and the various Grant program training requirements; Expert knowledge of office computer software applications used in the preparation of word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. OR EDUCATION: Degree: Bachelor's 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. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts. OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: 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. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your transcripts. 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. FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-12 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Knowledge of USG International/Foreign Affairs objectives, Arms Export Control Act (AECA), and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) processes, and/or understanding of international relations policy objectives within Security Assistance/Cooperation Programs. Knowledge and technical skill to develop, analyze, and evaluate training options within the legal scope of an FMS program and diplomatically communicate complex plans to USG and international stakeholders. Ability to analyze and coordinate a FMS cases for specific requirements, within USG and DoD regulatory policy, for money, manpower, materiel, facilities, and services needed to support the program and when necessary apply the federal acquisition process for development, implementation, line management, execution, and closure of FMS training cases. Knowledge of the procedures for the development, coordination, and planning for the formulation of Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) to include cost, schedule, and availability of DoD or contractor provided training options. Ability to work complex project management issues with foreign governments, their military, and U.S. industry with an understanding of cultural, socio-political, and economic dynamics. In-depth ability to use office computer software applications in the preparation of word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations; ability to communicate effectively and diplomatically in written and oral mediums. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

IF USING EDUCATION TO QUALIFY: If position has a positive degree requirement or education forms the basis for qualifications, you MUST submit transcripts with the application. Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, 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 conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Evaluations

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. BASIS OF RATING: Your application will be rated under the Cut Point procedures based on the extent to which the quality, depth, and complexity of your experience and education relate to the qualification requirements. Additional points are not added for Veteran's Preference; however, Veteran's Preference is considered where applicable. Best Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements Fully Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements. Basically Qualified Group: Candidates in this category meet the minimum education and/or experience requirements. The resume/documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job. For additional information on what to include in your resume, click here. Applicants who meet the requirements for and apply as a non-competitive eligible that meet minimal qualifications and other requirements of this position, will be given consideration as a non-competitive candidate and will be referred unless blocked by an individual with priority/preference. APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume. Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.