Foreign Military Sales Advisor

Foreign Military Sales Advisor I. Introduction This position is located in the Office of Program Management-Ministry of Interior (OPM-MOI) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. OPM-MOI works with the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and with the Saudi State Security Presidency (SSP). OPM-MOI leads an interagency effort including several interagency partners. U.S. Chief of Mission staff working for the program in the Kingdom perform their duties primarily in Saudi facilities. The employee is a member of the OPM-MOI staff and reports to the OPM-MOI Senior Special Program Manager. This position supports Security Assistance programs in the Office of Program Management- Ministry of Interior (OPM-MOI), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). II. Major Duties and Responsibilities Provide advice and recommendations to U.S. and Saudi officials on the administration, policies, and procedures that govern FMS, supporting management of multiple FMS cases; Serve as the primary in-country program POC for Security Assistance inquiries and FMS subject matter expertise; Collect, organize, and interpret technical information relating to all FMS case files and meetings, including notetaking, information analysis, and providing recommendations on courses of action; Liaise with the in-country U.S. Army technical assistance field teams , MILDEPT implementing agencies, DSCA, DLIELC, State, Embassy country team, OPM-MOI-US team, and Saudi officials/representatives to define requirements for FMS projects; Review FMS customer requests for financial and technical accuracy, monitoring the flow of funds from Saudi Arabia and analyzing data concerning the management of these funds, to include developing recommendations on fund management; Monitor and control the planning and implementation of FMS training delivery (CONUS and OCONUS) for Saudi personnel, to include project status and schedules; Participate as a member or lead of program Integrated Project Teams (IPT) to ensure full coordination among all stakeholders in the OPM-MOI enterprise; Draft U.S. Embassy cables, Letters of Request, and correspondence letters to senior U.S. and Saudi officials; Research and provide recommendations, requirement identification, milestones, FMS documentation, procurement tracking and resolution, and follow on support for all FMS pre-case and case development, planning, troubleshooting, and lessons learned; Draft standard reports, monitor technical instructions, develop/maintain FMS databases; Research and assist in the development of training plans, review new proposals, and coordinate approvals related to FMS projects; Ensure DOD vetting procedures are completed for all OPM-MOI International Military Students. Help coordinate and organize annual FMS case reviews such as Financial Management Reviews and Program management Reviews, to include preparation and presentation of briefing materials; and Support visits from implementing agency representatives, DSCA, and other military officials. III. Classification Factors: Knowledge Required by the Position Applicants must also have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-XX/FS-03 level in the Federal Service, which provides the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position. The candidate must have experience in the areas of Foreign Military Sales, International Program Office or other similar domains, and include familiarity with Security Assistance programs. Exposure to Department of State, Department of Defense (DoD), and DoD Acquisition processes. Knowledge of the Security Assistance/Security Cooperation programs to include familiarity with the FMS sales process from case development, implementation, execution, to closure, in accordance with the Security Assistance Management Manual . U.S. Citizenship is required. BA/BS required. Experience with DoS and DoD Program Acquisition support. Knowledge of FMS financial systems and procedures. Experience with analysis techniques, support requirements and FMS Programs. Excellent communication, writing, interpersonal and presentation skills. Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with customers, information sources and project team members. This position requires a Secret-level security clearance. Experience working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment, and working accurately under pressure and in difficult circumstances. Experience establishing and maintaining effective and constructive working relationships with people of different national and/or cultural backgrounds with respect for diversity. 2. Supervisory Controls The incumbent receives broad policy guidance and oversight from the OPM-MOI-US Senior Special Program Manager. The incumbent proceeds independently in planning and implementing most aspects of organizational, project and logistical operations across agency lines in support of a foreign host government. As the incumbent is considered an authority, his/her work efforts are accepted as technically authoritative, and are accepted without amendment. Due to the broad scope and impact of the work, efforts may be critically reviewed by the interagency and host nation officials. 3. Guidelines Guidelines consist primarily of broad mission and policy statements related to USG interests in providing management and logistical support to OPM-MOI-US efforts to increase the capacity of Saudi Arabia in protecting the Saudi Arabian people and critical facilities. The incumbent must exercise exceptional initiative, creativity and independent judgment in identifying and developing optimal approaches to accomplishing key support objectives in a complex environment. Frequently, there are no precedents to guide decisions in unusual and sensitive situations. The incumbent must also use imagination and ingenuity in developing flexible solutions to support administrative challenges. The methods and procedures developed by the incumbent may serve as precedents for others. The incumbent must observe USG law and Department of State regulation to the maximum extent possible, while respecting host-country law, customs and socio-political objectives; and exercises a high degree of judgment in evaluating the significance of social, economic, political and/or military developments to current program interests. The incumbent is generally recognized throughout the Department as an expert in the discernment and analysis of significant foreign affairs issues in the assigned functional or geographic area. 4. Complexity The candidate must have knowledge of the Security Assistance/Security Cooperation programs to including familiarity with the FMS sales process from case development, implementation, execution, to closure, in accordance with the Security Assistance Management Manual, DoD 5105.38-M. The candidate must have experience in the areas of Foreign Military Sales, International Program Office or other similar domains, and include familiarity with Security Assistance programs. The candidate must be able to support the FMS pre-case and case development, integration, qualification and logistical planning of OPM-MOI international programs. The incumbent will also have to provide support when required for FMS program management reviews and interface with FMS customers to support technical and programmatic issue resolution. Must be capable of clear analysis and interpretation of the sale requirements to determine what is needed to provide the appropriate services. These determinations are based on information gathered from functional and program specialists in such areas as FMS, training, supply, procurement, transportation, and funding. 5. Scope and Effect The position involves the analysis of sale requirements to determine what is needed to provide the requested services (primarily training) or occasionally item(s), to include preparation and production requirements, schedules for delivery, price and availability, pre-requisite training required, specific purposes for the skills trained, facilities, and types and levels of any maintenance required. The position involves monitoring the flow of funds from Saudi Arabia and determining the necessity for allotment changes when prices change, and compiling and analyzing data concerning the management of these funds. Financial management experience is required to develop and forward recommendations regarding decisions on the level of funds that must be maintained by Saudi Arabia in the sale account and how those funds will be managed. The Position involves preparing briefing materials on programmatic and technical topics related to the FMS cases as well as briefing the materials during FMS Program Management Reviews (PMRs) as required. Database development and maintenance is a plus. Foreign military sales work often requires the formal presentation of information concerning the sale, i.e., status of sale activities, problems encountered, and potential impact of proposed actions. The position involves the development of statements of work and review of proposals as assigned by the customer. Additionally, reviews documents submitted by contractors for government review and release and coordinates government responses with appropriate offices. Additional responsibilities include the preparation of briefing materials on programmatic and technical topics related to the FMS case and presentation of briefings during FMS Program Management Reviews (PMRs) as required. Additionally, the work involves coordination with military advisory groups both in Saudi Arabia and in the United States concerning available training facilities, local maintenance and supply capabilities, manpower resources, and other support needs available in the country. 6. Personal Contacts Regular contacts are with senior U.S. and Saudi officials, senior staff of interagency partner organizations, OPM-MOI staff members, officials and other personnel from other federal agencies, and personnel from private U.S. and international industry. Contacts occur in a wide variety of planned and unplanned, formal and informal settings, including open meetings and conferences where the incumbent represents the OPM-MOI and the under secretary, and may be called upon to explain and defend the agency’s programs and positions. 7. Purpose of Contacts Contacts are to exchange information; resolve problems; coordinate and advise on a variety of procedures, projects, and other work efforts. In the performance of duties, the employee comes in contact with all employees of OPM-MOI. The incumbent sometimes has to interview employees for confidential information and for this reason, the employee in this position must be someone who can be trusted by both management and colleagues. 8. Physical Demands The work is normally sedentary, requiring no special physical demands. The demands associated with travel to and from remote areas, for example occasional site visits within KSA, in restrained time frames over under-developed infrastructure and conveyances, require an average resistance to fatigue and physical hardships. 9. Work Environment The position is duty-stationed in Riyadh, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Work is largely performed in an office setting, but may include site visits and other external venues. During travel and site visits within KSA, one will encounter harsh desert climate conditions, with exceptionally high heat and sandstorms and may encounter locations with underdeveloped infrastructure and conveyances. One must take into account the restrictive social environment of Saudi Arabia. Apply by sending your resume to [email protected].