Foreign Affairs Officer

Position description

This announcement may be used to fill one or more vacancies.

The position is located in the Economic and Social Section (ECOSOC), the United States (U.S.) Mission to the United Nations (USUN), Department of State (DOS). ECOSOC represents the United States on the intergovernmental bodies which oversee the UN’s normative work on economic, social and human rights issues. 

Responsibilities

• Serves as a senior foreign affairs officer and policy advisor to the ECOSOC Section and senior Mission leadership on policy, programs, and relevant matters for designated issues within the assignment portfolio, which may focus on, but is not limited to global development, human rights, governance, gender, population, health, ageing, disabilities, civil society participation,  indigenous peoples, and religious and other minorities. 
• Participates with Mission leadership and the department staff in development of policy guidance as well as development of policy content for major policy. 
• Analyzes and critiques UN proposals and policy initiatives; and as necessary prepares and proposes alternative proposals. 
• Coordinates and implements U.S. policies and negotiating positions in the assigned areas of responsibility, including, as appropriate, related budgetary impacts. 
• Represents and speaks for the United States on wide-ranging policy issues in the assigned areas of responsibility in the General Assembly, Second and Third Committees, and the Economic and Social Council; represents the United States in casting recorded votes on resolutions and other matters before UN bodies; makes judgments to modify or reinterpret instructions to advance the best interests of the United States.
• Develops extensive contacts within the UN and with other member state delegations to support U.S. policy goals and identify emerging issues.  

Travel Required: Occasional Travel

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements, including education, and any selective placement factors 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.

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade requirements, by the closing

date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade

Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F. All new employees to USUN (except Presidential and former USG employees who have served a trial period in the competitive service) are required to serve a one-year trial period. Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service, which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F. All new employees to USUN (except Presidential and former USG employees who have served a trial period in the competitive service) are required to serve a one-year trial period. Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service, which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position.

 Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following:

• Experience with the United Nations and multilateral diplomacy, including the U.S. bureaucratic structures that establish and implement policy in multilateral fora. 
• Experience building productive working relationships at all levels with international and U.S. colleagues to resolve differences.
• Experience in coordinating processes involving multiple organizations or agencies.
• Experience in International negotiations on resolutions, political declarations or agreed statement.  

This position is an excepted service position covered by the United Nations Participation Act of 1945. Pursuant to the United Nations Participation Act, appointment to this position is made “without regard to the civil-service laws,” which means that the selectee is not covered by many of the civil service laws that apply to civil service employees.

EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION PROGRAM (E-Verify) – U.S. law requires organizations to employ only individuals who may legally work in the United States – either U.S. citizens, or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization. This agency utilizes E-Verify to compare information from the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) records to confirm employment eligibility. If the employee’s information does not match DHS and/or SSA records, the employee is given an opportunity to resolve the problem. If eligibility cannot be verified, employment will be terminated.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) and other characteristics that are relevant to the duties of this position and must be fully supported by information in your resume:

• Knowledge of United Nations and multilateral diplomacy, including the U.S. bureaucratic structures that establish and implement policy in multilateral fora.
• Ability to build productive working relationships at all levels with international and U.S. colleagues to exchange information and resolve differences.
• Ability to coordinate processes involving multiple organizations or agencies.
• Ability in gathering, assembling, interpreting, and analyzing data and material for program analysis, including legal issues, drawing sound conclusions, and developing authoritative recommendations and approaches.
• Ability to express ideas, concepts, methodologies, and issues clearly and concisely, both oral and in writing.
• Ability to persuade others on policy goals and advance U.S. objectives in negotiations.  

Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight your most relevant and significant work experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to this job opportunity. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work. Your resume should include the dates of all qualifying experience (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours worked/volunteered per week.

Applicants must meet all the qualification requirements and submit any supporting documentation by the closing date of this announcement. Your application package must contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the basic/specialized experience requirements as stated in this job opportunity announcement.

Conditions of Employment

1. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
2. One-year probationary period, unless excepted by regulation
3. U.S. Citizenship is required.
4. Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
5. Verification of employment eligibility in the United States is required.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on un-jobs.net