Telework eligibleFederal

Foreign Affairs Specialist

Office of the Secretary of Defense · Department of Defense

Foreign Affairs

Salary
$143,913–$187,093/year
Grade
14
Work location
Telework eligible · Pentagon, Virginia
Schedule
Full-time
Posted
Oct 16, 2026
Apply by
Oct 19, 2026
Category
Foreign Affairs

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Source: USAJOBS. Applications happen on the original posting, not on this site.

Summary

This position is located in the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Policy (OUSWP). 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.

Duties

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. Takes a lead role in managing team projects, including actively encouraging communication, coordination, innovation, and high quality team products. Represents DoW in delegations to international meetings and conferences, as directed. Develops or contributes testimony or other presentations to the Congress; accurately represents DoW positions during contact with the Congressional staff. Prepares communications for the ASW, both orally and in writing, to a wide variety or audiences on complex issues, both nationally and internationally, in and outside of government; as needed, serves as a spokesperson for OSD at conferences, universities, professional societies, and private sector groups.

Education

ARE YOU USING YOUR EDUCATION TO QUALIFY? You MUST provide transcripts to support your educational claims. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

How you will be evaluated

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position may requires an online USA Hire Competency Based Assessment. The USA Hire online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Your eligibility and qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), the responses you provide on the application questionnaire, and the result of the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment(s) required for this position (if applicable). If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork The USA Hire Assessments includes a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. DOD PPP candidates using Application-Based Procedures: Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: Military Spouse Preference applicants, must be selected and placed at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-4) dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference. Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-3) to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician preference. Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians receiving disability retirement PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-2) to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability preference. Retained Grade PPP Eligible: Retained Grade PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-1) to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference.

About this listing

Office of the Secretary of Defense has 14 open listings on the site: all telework eligible. This one is telework eligible, based in Pentagon, Virginia. See all Office of the Secretary of Defense listings, or read what fully remote and telework eligible mean.

Advertised pay is $143,913 to $187,093 a year. That covers GS-14 on the General Schedule, where pay also depends on step and locality; how GS pay works.

This announcement is open for 3 days, from Oct 16, 2026 to Oct 19, 2026. Among currently open Foreign Affairs postings, the typical advertised window is about 6 days. As of Oct 17, 2026, it closes in 2 days.

Who can apply: federal employees eligible for career transition programs, veterans, military spouses and 1 other group. This announcement is not open to the general public. The announcement's "This job is open to" section has the exact eligibility rules.

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