PSC Position Description
Foreign Affairs Officer FS-03 equivalent
U.S. Department of State
Office of the Under Secretary for Political Affairs (P)
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA)
Program of Technical Cooperation – United States
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Introduction:
The position is located in the Program of Technical Cooperation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The incumbent serves as the Foreign Affairs Officer (FAO) in the U.S. portion of the bilateral PTC with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
PTC oversees U.S. government agencies providing technical support to counterparts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in areas of cooperation pursuant to the Agreement for Technical Cooperation between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed in Jeddah on May 8, 2023 (ATC). This may include technical assistance to develop the capacity of Saudi partners to protect people, infrastructure, and other vital facilities, including land and sea border protection; to enhance public security, law enforcement, civil defense, transportation security, cybersecurity, and environmental security; to counter trafficking in drugs, arms and people; to counter terrorism and external threats; and to promote economic stability.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
The Foreign Affairs Officer (FAO) serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME), advisor, and supports the interagency project teams, providing guidance on overall policy, drafting standards, development and implementation of tools, methods, and processes in all aspects of foreign affairs. Incumbent reports to an equivalent FS-01 PSC Supervisory Foreign Affairs Officer.
The FAO serves as a SME and advisor to the interagency project teams and through the Supervisory Foreign Affairs Officer, to senior Saudi staff on all aspects of the development of capacity building projects. The incumbent develops project documentation, drafts cables, and provides expert policy guidance to other program sections, as required. In addition, the FAO serves as a team member, coordinating efforts across the sections, participating with them in interagency meetings, and ensuring work product quality meets expectations. The incumbent must possess strong collaborative skills and work jointly with colleagues including Program and Project Management experts, Special Program Managers (who provide technical expertise), interagency members, U.S. Embassy officials, and other relevant SMEs as required by each project.
Specific responsibilities include:
1. Assess and identify strategies for developing training and advisory capacity building programs between the U.S. Government and Saudi Arabia’s agencies responsible for public security, emergency management, and counterterrorism, including researching and suggesting the correct U.S. agency partnerships to engage with Saudi entities.
2. Research risk and opportunities for potential new initiatives, current project scope changes, and provide public security program SME oversight.
3. Participate in and/or coordinate efforts and meetings between U.S. and Saudi colleagues, potential U.S. implementing agencies, U.S. universities, U.S. non-government entities, and centers of excellence that may assist PTC-US in project planning, assessments, development of program management documentation, and execution efforts.
4. Play a critical role in ensuring that implementing agencies meet the commitment of their agreements.
5. Serve as supporting interagency liaison between PTC-US and U.S. interagency partners.
6. Report to SFAO and others on the performance of projects. Provide metrics for analysis of non-compliance issues, risks, and recommend corrective action, in coordination with the Project Management Office (PMO).
7. Monitor policy implications and program goals to ensure correct project documentation and policy, to assist leadership in assessing the program’s overall performance. Know program objectives and benefits with long-term strategic goals.
8. Know program objectives and benefits with long-term strategic goals and be able to convey these effectively, both written and orally, to outside stakeholders.
9. Draft analytical reports, briefing materials, official correspondence, updates, and preparatory memoranda to support senior officials and interagency partners.
10. Draft and review bilateral project documents, and interagency products consistent with U.S. Government and Saudi program requirements.
11. Manage, monitor, plan, and coordinate assigned projects building Saudi partner capacity pursuant to the ATC.
12. Perform other duties as assigned.
Knowledge Requirements:
The candidate should possess a bachelor’s degree or equivalent combined experience. Applicants must also have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11/FS-04 level in the Federal Service, which provides the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position, including as a USPSC.
Candidate must have:
· Knowledge of the theories and principles of political science, international relations, economics, history, geography, or other related disciplines applied in analyzing and evaluating factors and conditions involved in the administration of U.S. foreign policy programs.
· Knowledge of research and analytical methods to validate, evaluate, and interpret information obtained from a variety of sources.
· Awareness of training and curriculum development processes, facilitation and instruction.
· The ability to write accurate and timely reports and to communicate complex issues in simple terms in an efficient, prompt and professional manner.
· Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office applications is required
Position Requirements:
· Bachelor’s Degree*
· U.S. Citizenship
· Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance
· Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of State issued Medical Clearance
· Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral
Qualifying Specialized Experience Requirements:
· Providing advice and guidance to staff, other agency officials, contractors, and foreign government representatives concerning U.S. Government policies and procedures.
· Experience with interagency stakeholders in resolving problems.
· Experience designing and supporting civilian and / or law enforcement capacity building projects with foreign counterparts overseas.
· Protecting and safeguarding personnel, facilities, classified materials, operations, and processes at locations outside the United States.
· Analyzing complex issues in accordance with plans, goals, and objectives.
· Working closely with project teams within an organization.
· Communicating directly with working-level counterparts from the host government, overseas.
· Experience working accurately and confidently in a high pressure, fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
· Establishing and maintaining effective and constructive working relationships.
Physical Demands:
The work is normally sedentary, requiring no special physical demands. The demands associated with travel to and from remote areas, for example occasional site visits within KSA, in restrained time frames over under-developed infrastructure and conveyances, require an average resistance to fatigue and physical hardships. Travel is required, as needed, and may include remote locations and trips with changes in schedule or short notice.
Work Environment:
The position is duty-stationed in Riyadh, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Work is largely performed in an office setting but may include site visits and other external venues. During travel and site visits within KSA, one will encounter harsh desert climate conditions, with exceptionally high heat and sandstorms and may encounter locations with underdeveloped infrastructure and conveyances. One must be willing and able to abide by the laws, regulations, and requirements of living in the Kingdom, including the social environment of Saudi Arabia.
How to Apply:
Submit your most current resume, SF-50 or contract if applicable, and transcripts to Christine Phillips at PhillipsCL@state.gov
*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 completed at least 1 year of appropriate experience in one OR more of the fields listed above in work associated with international organizations or other aspects of foreign affairs.
Note: If you are qualifying based on education, you MUST submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement.
IN ADDITION to the basic requirements, this position requires one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11/FS-04 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.
For award, NEA/ARP/WSU will negotiate for this contract based on the following:
Entry-level salary is at Step 1 of the grade range assigned to solicitation.
Consideration given for experience relevant specifically to the solicitation requirements.
Level and extent of experience dictates the salary level within the grade range.
Veteran's Preference: Veteran's preference is not applicable to this position.