Foreign Affairs Advisor

RWD Consulting, LLC; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 130,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Retirement benefits

Job summary

RWD Consulting, LLC is seeking a Foreign Affairs Advisor to support FAO/VA and advance U.S. foreign policy through policy analysis, risk assessment, and interagency collaboration. The role emphasizes Leahy vetting, state-to-post guidance, and congressional reporting.

Applicants should have two-plus years in foreign policy analysis, TS/SCI clearance, and deep familiarity with human rights and security assistance programs. Washington, DC-based position with travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Familiarity with international relations and human rights theories and practices.
• Knowledge of security forces, military organizations, and equipment.
• Understanding of human rights records of foreign governments.
• Experience with Title 10 and Title 22 security assistance programs.
• Ability to map human rights and civilian protection concerns geographically and temporally.
• Proficiency in researching using open source and classified sources.

Responsibilities

• Conduct policy analysis and research to support FAO/VA’s mandate, including security sector assistance and human rights concerns.
• Participate in interagency meetings and maintain relationships with USG, civil society, and bilateral stakeholders.
• Draft briefing checklists, talking points, and mandated reports; coordinate with interagency on topics.
• Serve as an FAO/VA subject matter expert on Leahy vetting, arms transfers, and civilian protection.
• Draft and clear State Department responses to Congress and FOIA requests; advise others on clearance processes.
• Draft, clear, publish ALDACs, bulletins, and Leahy policy updates; train posts as needed.
• Advise on Leahy workflow and Vetting SOPs; update vetting guidance and materials.
• Develop knowledge of INVESTc system and Leahy policy training materials.
• Provide vetting best-practices guidance and support remediation discussions as needed.

Skills

IR & Human Rights

Security forces knowledge

Human rights records

Title 10/22 programs

Interagency relations

Action tracking tech

Research analytics

Planning & organizing

Liaison with officials

Oral & written communications

Open source/classified sources

USG vetting experience

Policy analysis

Two+ years foreign policy analysis

TS/SCI clearance

Tools

None

Job description

RWD Consulting, LLC is seeking a Foreign Affairs Advisor to provide services in support of the work of the Office of Foreign Assistance Oversight, Vetting and Accountability (FAO/VA) to advance U.S. foreign policy.

The Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance Oversight, Vetting and Accountability (FAO/VA) works to strengthen the Department’s risk assessment and statutory accountability measures by aligning the provision of U.S. arms transfers and security assistance with U.S. laws, regulations, and practices on human rights and civilian protection. The office is responsible for implementing the Leahy Law and the Child Soldiers Prevention Act, and is the Department’s lead in conducting human rights, international humanitarian law, and civilian harm risk assessments for proposed U.S. arms transfers.

Must Possess The Following Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Familiarity with the principles, theories, and practices of international relations and human rights.
• Familiarity with security forces, military organizations, and equipment.
• Familiarity with the human rights record of foreign governments.
• Familiarity with security assistance programs under Title 10 and Title 22 of the U.S. Code.
• Ability to develop thorough knowledge of Departmental organizations, functions, programs, relationships, and resources. Broad-based knowledge of organizations and programs that constitute the U.S. foreign affairs community.
• Ability to develop professional working relationships with officers throughout the Department and with the foreign policy community.
• Proficiency in computerized tracking of action requests, and information searches - both classified and open source.
• Proficiency in research and analytical methods to validate, evaluate, and interpret information obtained from a variety of sources.
• Ability to plan and organize activities to independently accomplish assignments according to established policies and practices.
• Ability to establish liaison with officials in other organizations to provide opportunities for exchanging information of mutual interest.
• Skill in oral and written communications to prepare and present analysis, to defend recommendations and proposals, and to participate in meetings and discussions.
• Skill in using open source and classified information sources to determine human rights, International Humanitarian Law, and civilian protection concerns associated with U.S. security assistance programming and proposed arms transfers, and to map those concerns geographically, functionally, and temporally.
• Broad experience in vetting USG assistance to foreign security forces.
• Familiarity with individuals, organizations, and other sources of expertise in the fields of human rights, U.S. arms transfer controls, and U.S. security assistance programming in the academic and non-governmental sector.
• Familiarity with drafting, clearing, and publishing cables, memos, reports, and other documents for the Department of State
• Expertise, defined as at least two years of experience in foreign policy analysis, is essential.
• Hold an active TOP SECRET/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Conduct policy analysis and research and assist with policy recommendations in support of FAO/VA’s mandate, including but not limited to security sector assistance and arms sales; security force conduct, reported human rights violations, and government accountability measures; civilian protection and reported incidents of civilian harm; monitoring and documenting atrocities; and addressing issues related to children and armed conflict.
• Participate in meetings across the USG and foreign policy community on issues related to security and human rights, and maintain relationships with key USG, civil society, and bilateral stakeholders and counterparts.
• Draft briefing checklists and talking points for FAO leadership; author congressionally mandated reports on security and human rights concerns; and coordinate with the interagency on key topics and shared concerns.
• Serve as a FAO/VA subject matter expert and advisor on laws, policies, and procedures including but not limited to gross violations of human rights, conduct and accountability of security forces, security sector assistance, Leahy vetting, arms sales, civilian protection, atrocity prevention and early warning, , and the recruitment and use of child soldiers.
• Research, draft, and clear State Department responses to Congressionally mandated reports, Congressional inquiries, and FOIA requests pertaining to security and human rights issues, and serve as an advisor for others in the office on the clearance process.
• Draft, clear, publish, and implement ALDACs, bulletins, and other documents related to implementation of the State Leahy law and implementation policies, and provide ongoing guidance to posts in complying with these instructions.
• Advise on Leahy workflow at posts worldwide, reviewing posts’ Leahy Vetting Standard Operating Procedures and providing policy and procedural advice on routine Leahy vetting matters.
• Provide advice to posts on vetting best practices, based on existing policy, including the adoption of more unit vetting and proactive vetting.
• Promulgate changes to vetting policy and procedures to posts.
• Develop detailed knowledge of the INVESTc system
• Draft and clear Leahy Vetting Guide updates at State and the Pentagon, including changes based on INVEST deployment and future system updates.
• Update NFATC Leahy policy training materials as needed.
• Provide advice to posts on Leahy remediation policies and procedures, schedule and facilitate State remediation review panels, and review and assist in drafting State remediation recommendations. Routinely review and update the State Leahy Vetting Fast Track list and provide guidance to posts that are added or removed from the Fast Track list.
• Routinely develop and update State Leahy law and implementation policy training materials and provide Leahy-related training to a wide variety of U.S. Government, public, and international audiences as needed.
• Assist posts and the Department in complying with Leahy implementation related OIG, GAO, and other audits of posts and Department bureaus as needed.

Work Location & Hours:

• Washington, DC
• Office hours are Monday-Friday (8:15a - 5p), though starting hours may range from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., upon management approval.

Travel

It is anticipated that domestic and/or international travel may be required. Travel will be on an as needed basis and must be authorized and coordinated in advance. All travel will be in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations.

Training

• CT401 - Counter Threat Awareness Training
• PP410 - Leahy Policy and Diplomacy

Compensation Range: $130,000-$145,000 annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on the candidate's experience, qualifications, skills, and other job-related factors. In addition to base salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes health insurance, paid time off, and retirement benefits.

If you do not find interest in this opportunity but know of someone who may, we kindly ask that you refer the individual to RWD Consulting, LLC by forwarding this job posting.

Established in 2004, RWD Consulting, LLC (RWD) provides tomorrow’s solutions today. We achieve mission-critical results for federal, public and private sectors through our core competencies: Data Management & Analytics, Information Technology, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Facility Operations & Management, and Project Management, Administrative & Technical Support. Our services enhance our clients’ capabilities and allow them to focus on their mission and goals.

RWD Consulting, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.