Foreign Affairs Specialist in Brussels, Belgium

Summary The incumber is the agency focal point on U.S. civil aviation policies, practices and procedures relating to the Flight Standards Service in his/her area of responsibility. Responsibilities Incumbent applies experience and expert knowledge of FAA international policies and procedures to coordinate and manage aviation related activities within their geographical portfolio with other U.S. Government agencies and industry and with foreign civil aviation authorities and international aviation organizations. The incumbent proactively implements the key focus areas of the FAA Flight Standards International Strategy by: Developing initiatives that advance U.S. standards, policies, and procedures to achieve a more safe, efficient, affordable, sustainable, global air transportation system and competitive marketplace; Formulating strategies to help achieve a continued operational safety in the region. Identifying and executing bilateral and multilateral arrangements that codify U.S. and foreign commitments to harmonize standards, and/or adoption of U.S. practices through targeted technical assistance and cooperative arrangements; Collaborating with FAA LOBs to advance the international component of FAA programmatic initiatives as the international standard and to ensure interoperability; and Working with International Civil Aviation Organization regional bodies and entities, other designated regional bodies, as well as identified critical states and partners, to formulate FAA initiatives of appropriate scope and scale to U.S. interests that efficiently leverage the FAA Flight Standards presence and efficacy in the world. As a core function, the incumbent supports the FAA Flight Standards international mission by: 1. Building critical communications networks and relationships with foreign governments, air navigation service providers, and aviation industry representatives; 2. Collecting, analyzing and distributing critical information and intelligence in his/her area of responsibility and using this information to assist FAA Flight Standards decision makers in effectively developing and implementing the FAA international strategic plan. 3. Contributing to the FAA’s strategic planning with FAA initiatives that appropriately leverage government and industry resources to further U.S. standards and interests in the international arena. The incumbent also interacts and collaborates with the locally employed staff in the FAA office. As a senior Flight Standards representative posted overseas, the incumbent is expected to interact regularly with the U.S. Embassy at permanent post as well as other posts in the geographical portfolio and to participate in a number of Embassy functions, including membership in various committees. Other duties may include attending Embassy meetings, participating in briefings for members of the American business community, or fulfilling additional activities as directed by the Embassy leadership. This position is located in an FAA international location outside the United States. The incumbent will additionally be under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of State and requirements for U.S. Government personnel posted overseas. The incumbent may be collocated with employees in other FAA organizations and U.S. Government Agencies will provide support and collaboration to the FAA and other Agencies as required to achieve the mission of the U.S. Government. The incumbent will have regular use of or access to classified information. Requirements Conditions of Employment We are not accepting applications from noncitizens. Qualifications 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 the Degree section 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. In addition to the above basic requirements to qualify for this position, you must demonstrate in your application that you possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to FG/GS-14, FV-J level. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities perform the duties of the position, and is typically in or directly related to the line of work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience is: experience managing and coordinating aviation related activities with U.S. Government agencies, foreign civil aviation authorities and international organizations, providing advice and guidance to high level officials on U.S. civil aviation policies, practices and procedures, and/or working collaboratively with international aviation partners (i.e., U.S. aviation industry representatives, embassies, foreign governments, international civil aviation authorities) to promote safety and efficiency in global air transportation systems. 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 the Degree section above, 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 in a foreign country, formulating policy on problems of petroleum resources or fisheries, etc. Qualifying Work Experience: 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 in their resume AND who do not provide the required documentation will receive no further consideration for this position.

Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements and selective factor(s), if applicable, may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or alphabetical and referred to the selecting official for consideration. Applicants may be asked to verify information on your application for employment with the FAA. Qualifications must be met by the closing date of this vacancy announcement. 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. Applicants, who are not currently in the 0130 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 0130 occupational series, you will be required to submit an official transcript prior to appointment. If you do not have an official transcript (original, with the raised seal), you should contact your school immediately to request it. Additional Information We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions. Position may be subject to a background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required. The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements The U.S. Department of Transportation strives to ensure that equity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and communication permeate all that we do for the betterment of the Department, the traveling public, and our nation. As such, DOT values a highly diverse workforce of persons who promote a culture of belonging by respecting the personal dignity and worth of each individual and fostering a positive environment where all feel safe and welcome. If these commitments coincide with your personal ideals and professional aspirations, please consider joining the DOT family. This position is covered by the Department of Transportation’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Program. Any applicant tentatively selected for this position will be subject to pre-employment or pre-appointment drug screening. Persons occupying a “testing designated position (TDP)” will be subject to random drug and/or alcohol testing. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA. In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate. Security Requirements: This position requires completion & favorable adjudication of a Tier 5 (T5) background investigation prior to appointment, unless a waiver is obtained and approved. This is an international assignment with an initial tour of duty of 24 months. This temporary assignment may be extended or terminated at any time at management discretion. Please reference FAA Human Resource Policy Manual (HRPM) EMP 1.16a “Return Rights for International Assignments” for additional information at https://my.faa.gov/sites/my.faa.gov/files/org/staffoffices/ahr/program_policies/policy_guidance/hr_policies/hrpm/emp/emp_sup/emp-1-16/media/EMP-1.16a_International_Assignments.pdf https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-systems/nonforeign-areas/#url=COLA-Rates This is not a bargaining unit position. Links to Important Information: Locality Pay , COLA