Foreign Affairs Specialist Job in Fort Belvoir, VA

Vacancy No. MDA-26-12808477-DH Department Missile Defense Agency
Salary $142,488.00 to $195,200.00 Grade 4 to 4
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/7/2025 Close Date 10/15/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Fort Belvoir, VA


Summary

The position(s) covered by this vacancy announcement is in the Department of Defense (DoD) Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project (AcqDemo). For more information please see: AcqDemo

This position is being filled under AcqDemo Direct Hiring Authority (DHA) for non-acquisition positions involving 51% or more of time in direct support of acquisition positions within Business and Technical Management Professional Career path.


Duties

As a Foreign Affairs Specialist at the NH-0130-4 some of your typical work assignments may include:

  • Develops and promotes international engagement with allied partners through the use of Department of Defense tools such as cooperative research and development, loans security assistance, and participation in international/bilateral activities/events.
  • Negotiates international agreements (government-to-government Memoranda of Understanding and Project Arrangements) and leads U.S. negotiating teams on AGENCY agreements.
    Coordinates the acquisition process with OSD.
  • Develops, establishes, and promotes agency's position on political-military matters, international acquisition and security assistance and related negotiating strategies.
  • Recommends new policy and implementing procedures for Allied government and industry participation in the strategic Ballistic Missile Defense BMD program.
  • Identifies issues to define and develop pragmatic and technical material for the use in position papers, reports, briefings, testimony, and Congressional inquiries.
  • Uses expertise to develop material for meetings with executive and senior DoD policy and acquisition officials.
  • Plans, directs, leads, and travels with agency technical teams to Allied countries to interpret and enforce policy and procedural aspects of cooperative agreements pertaining to the BMDS.
  • Develops, coordinates, and leads fact-finding visits by Allied government and industrial delegations to agency and the national laboratories, contractors, and other research establishments.
  • Educates potential regional international partners on BMDS concepts and goals by leading, planning, and executing International Workshops.
  • Serves as regional liaison between agency and allied and friendly governments, foreign embassies, and industry as well as U.S. Embassies and Combatant Commands overseas and agencies external to the Department of Defense.
  • Plans, coordinates, and executes international visits to agency and agency senior leader visits abroad.
  • Manages agency participation at regional bilateral/multilateral/ international committees and represents agency as assigned.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Occasional Travel
  • Work Schedule: Full-time
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible
  • Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Required
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is not telework eligible
  • Employee must obtain/maintain Special Sensitive (SCI) security clearance
  • Pre-employment urinalysis testing and random testing required.

Qualifications

You may qualify at the NH 04, if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the NH-03/GS-13 grade level in the Federal service as listed below:
  • Experience with assigned countries, complex weapon systems, weapon technology programs and master plan, and foreign capabilities in order to develop, establish and promote agency's position on political military matters, international acquisition and security assistance and agency policy with international implications in the Ballistic Missile Defense Systems (BMDS) arena.
  • Proficient in the DoD Acquisition System and various Security Cooperation tools: cooperative research and development, loans, and security assistance in order to identify and inform senior management and Allied participants of potential areas of benefit for cooperative research.
  • Involvement with international politics and attitudes, intra and inter-agency operating procedures and working knowledge of pertinent aspects of technology transfer, foreign disclosure, export control policy, and treaty obligations in order to lead agency technical teams to Allied countries to interpret and enforce policy and procedural aspects of cooperative agreements pertaining to the BMDS.
  • Experience in interpersonal relations in developing and maintaining close working relations with the corresponding ability to apply such knowledge in working cooperatively as part of a team and with Allied partners and industry.
  • Competence with oral and written communication skills and corresponding ability to apply them in order to develop, prepare and present complex material to various groups (from senior level DoD and external agencies to audiences that include foreign participation).
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 directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

Additional information

Other Notes:

RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANT: This position DOES NOT meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

All applicants must meet qualifications and eligibility criteria by the closing date of the announcement.



Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov))

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

We will review your resume and supporting documents, to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant work experiences as it relates to fundamental competencies, identified below, required for this position.

Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy. Your application (resume and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed on the announcement under qualification requirements.

Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to veterans preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency.

For information on entitlement see http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx


Military Spouse Preference: If you are entitled to military spouse preference, in order to receive this preference you must choose the spousal eligibility in your application package referencing MSP Military Spouse Preference. Your preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. If you are claiming military spouse preference and qualified for the position, your name will be placed below preference eligible veteran candidates and above non-preference candidates on a list sent to the hiring manager for employment consideration. To claim Military Spouse Preference (MSP) please complete the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist, save the document and attach it to your application package.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program(ICTAP): This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria AND 2) be rated well-qualified for the position AND 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. Well-qualified means you possess the type and quality of experience that exceeds the position's minimum qualifications. See the Required Documents section of this announcement for more information.

Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) (NonComp Mil Sp): To receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the " Appointment of Military Spouses (5 CFR 315.612) (NonComp Mil Sp)" eligibility. If you are claiming Military Spouse eligibility and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager. Information and required documentation for claiming Military Spouse eligibility may be found at the General Applicant Information and Definitions link below.

Required Documents

The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee, applying as a reinstatement, etc).

Your complete application includes your COMPLETE resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

The following documents are REQUIRED
1. Your resume:

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be removed from consideration for this announcement. The resume and required supporting documentation should provide the minimum qualifications and relevant experience for the announced position. Additional guidance on writing a federal resume can be found at: USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job? Page margins should be 0.5 inches, font styles must be legible, and consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text. The resume must not be more than 5MB and should be saved and uploaded as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. 2. Veteran's Documents

  • If applying using veteran's preference or under a Veteran's hiring authority you must submit the following documents:
  • DD214 showing character of service, SF-15 Form and VA letter showing final percentage, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty.
ICTAP eligibility.Submit (1) a copy of your agency specific ICTAP eligibility notice or a copy of your separation personnel action form and (2) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal and (3) a copy of your most recent SF 50 or agency notification of personnel action showing your current position, grade level, and duty location. Separation personnel actions do not include a certificate/notice of expected separation.

Military Spouse Preference(Non Comp) Submit (1) Marriage certificate and (2) a copy of your spouse's active Military Orders and (3) DD-214 - Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (if Applicable) and (4) DD1300 - Report of Casualty (If applicable).

Future military retirees and/or Future military separatees: must include a copy of their terminal leave request, if applicable, AND a copy of retirement DD214 [if available]. If DD214 not available, submit a certification document* or a copy of your retirement letter.
*A written document from the armed forces certifying the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certificate is signed. The certification must be on letterhead signed by the adjutant, personnel officer, unit commander or higher headquarters and include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge, character of service, and, if applicable, the date your terminal leave begins. This document is sometimes called a Statement of Service.
PLEASE REVIEW THE BELOW LINK FOR OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS needed for proof of eligibility:
https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/FourthEstateRequiredSupportingDocumentation%2011-16-2020.pdf?ver=Lgkkn1HW9a8is7V2lyCS2Q%3d%3d

Military Spouse PPP Self-certification Checklist

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.

You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.

You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
To preview the questionnaire, please go to https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12808477.

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy And gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

- OPM Equal Employment

- Office of Equal Opportunity

Reasonable Accommodation Policy
Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a Case-by-Case basis.

A reasonable accommodation is any change in the workplace or the way things are customarily done that provides an equal employment opportunity to an individual with a disability. Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) must provide reasonable accommodations:

- When an applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to compete for a job.
- When an employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job or to gain access to the workplace, And
- When an employee with a disability needs an accommodation to enjoy equal access to benefits and privileges of employment (e.g., details, trainings, office-sponsored events).

- Disability Employment - Reasonable Accommodations

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Agency contact information

MDA Servicing Team
Phone
6146920299
Fax
6146931696
Email
DHRC-DMDAHR@DLA.MIL
Address
Missile Defense Agency
Bldg 5222 Martin Rd
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898
US

Next steps

A list of qualified applicants will be created and sent to the selecting official. All applicants reviewed and/or referred will receive a notification letter.

The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision.

REGARDING INTERVIEWS: Interviews may be required for this position. Accommodations may be made to conduct telephonic interviews to preclude travel hardships for applicants.

NOTE: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a declination for further consideration for employment against this vacancy.

This announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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