Regional Affairs Specialist

This position is located in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans (PLCY), International Affairs (OIA). The primary purpose of this position is to develop and implement international affairs policies, strategies, and engagement activities, with a focus on Canada or Mexican initiatives. Non-BU: This is a non-bargaining unit position. As a Regional Affairs Specialist, GS-0301-11, your typical work assignments may include: Identifying, developing, and implementing homeland security policies related to Mexico and Canada, in coordination with internal departmental stakeholders and other Federal agencies. Preparing and reviewing reports, summaries, and analyses on homeland security, intelligence sharing, and international affairs related to Canada, Mexico, and North America. Organizing and supporting meetings for senior DHS officials with foreign government officials, U.S. cabinet officers, or members of Congress. Assisting with organizing domestic or international meetings, events, or trainings to support the implementation of homeland security policy with Mexico and Canada. All DHS-HQ announcements have a 5 business day open period due to the number of applications received. This announcement will be open for 5 business days OR until the first 100 applications have been received, whichever happens first. View common definitions of terms found in this announcement: Common Definitions. You qualify at the GS-11 grade level if you possess one of the following: You must possess one year of specialized experience, comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service (obtained either in the private or public sectors). For this position, specialized experience is defined as: Interpreting a wide variety of information from different sources to provide recommendations to resolve problems. Assisting with providing advice on Mexican or Canadian issues and problems affecting policies and operations. Assisting with organizing and managing logistics for meetings with external stakeholders; and Assisting with researching, drafting, reviewing, and finalizing reports, memos, briefing materials, issue papers, and other official documents. OR A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related; OR A combination of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience as described above that, when combined, equal 100% of the total requirement. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts or a list of courses/course hours submitted with your application. NOTE: Only graduate education in excess of the first two years may be used to qualify for the GS-11 level. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. All qualifications and eligibility requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. 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. Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office. 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; applicant's resumes and supporting documentation should only reflect education received from schools accredited by such institutions. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following Website: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/home. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency (a U.S. private organization's interpretation that such education has been deemed at least equivalent to conventional U.S. education programs) with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education webpage on the Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.