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Active
Hybrid
Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia
Posted · 02.10.2026
USAJOBS

# Foreign Affairs Specialist

Office of the Secretary of Defense

This position is located in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (OUSDP). The USDP serves as the principal advisor and assistant to the Secretary of Defense for all matters concerned with the formulation of national security and defense policy with particular emphasis on the integration and oversight of DoD policy and plans to achieve national security objectives.
Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following: Study, review, and adjustment of the strategies, concepts, programs, and budgets required to support Office of the Secretary of War (OSW) policy and program guidance. Initiates independent analyses of highly complex policy, strategy, concepts, and program issues, force posture alternatives, and implications of broad changes to the international environment to DoW programs. Managing team projects, including actively encouraging communication, coordination, innovation, and high quality team products. Develops or contributes testimony or other presentations to the Congress; accurately represents DoW positions during contact with the Congressional staff. Provides expert advice at the Assistant Secretary of War (ASW) or higher level on key strategy, planning, programming, and budgeting, and policy matters; prepares briefings, presentations, and decision memoranda to support deliberations and decisions by senior management; reviews and develops Policy positions and responses to action originating in other DoW and non-DoW offices or agencies that have implications for foreign policy and national security policy, strategy, program, planning, and budgets.
In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below. You may qualify at the GS-13 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to: Advise senior DoW civilian leadership (e.g. Director, Principal Director, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Under Secretary, Secretary) on political-military matters affecting U.S. national security interests; Conduct analyses regarding the development, interpretation, and/or implementation of DoW, national security, and U.S. foreign policies; Support the preparation of papers, memoranda, briefings, and/or messaging for senior DoW civilian leadership (e.g. Deputy Assistant Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Under Secretary, Secretary). 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages. For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration. Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission.. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave. Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office. Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.
Education cannot be substituted for experience.

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