Summary The incumbent is a Foreign Affairs Officer responsible for providing highly complex analyses of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, its resources, and policy related issues that include but are not limited to political economic, political military, social, human rights, and countering violent extremism policy issues of assigned MENA countries or thematic region. Responsibilities At the GS-12 level, the incumbent performs essentially the same duties as outlined below; however, the scope and complexity of assignments are of less responsibility and independence and receives closer supervision than the GS-13 level. Serves as a liaison with the governmental and non-governmental communities to inform and explain U.S. policies, to explore new areas of benefit and cooperation, and to promote U.S. foreign policy goals and objectives. Analyzes political economic, political military, social, and other significant trends bearing on the political viability of options and alternatives concerning ongoing developments in assigned MENA countries or thematic area Develops, monitors, and manages all assigned foreign assistance projects (grants, cooperative agreements, and interagency agreements awarded by the office) to ensure that they achieve established policy objectives in the assigned MENA country (ies). Monitors continuing effectiveness of relevant foreign assistance funded U.S. government programs to determine progress against established benchmarks and attainment of U.S. policy objectives. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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. Applicants applying for the GS-12 level: IN ADDITION to the basic requirements, this position requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-11 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. GS-12 Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience managing, planning, implementing, programming or budgeting U.S. foreign assistance. Experience working on Middle East and/or North Africa issues. Experience working with U.S. interagency stakeholders to drive consensus and coordinate U.S. foreign assistance in line with U.S. policy priorities. 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. 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. Additional Information For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at (202) 663-3474 or [email protected]. If eligible, telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.