Special Assistant

Summary The Special Assistant position is located in the Deputy Secretary of State (D). The Special Assistant is responsible for executing complex and highly important assignments relating to a myriad of administrative, management and foreign affairs policy issues. S/he serves in an advisory and facilitative role to help plan and execute the Deputy's mission, vision, goals and objectives and manage the daily operations of the Office. Responsibilities Develops a wide range of contacts and professional relationships both within and outside the Department and with other agencies, providing immediate reaction to fast breaking policy issues of interest to the Deputy Secretary. Provides guidance, information and advice to the Deputy Secretary of State regarding priorities, decisions and actions. Directs follow-up action consistent with the Deputy's priorities and decisions. Coordinates special activities and program areas. Advises and decides on which issues to refer to the Deputy Secretary's personal or immediate attention, which to manage on the Deputy Secretary's behalf together with the Executive Assistant/Chief of Staff, and which to delegate to other officials. Carries out special and confidential assignments on behalf of the Deputy Secretary or by direction of the Executive Assistant/Chief of Staff. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment 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. 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 ensuring that management protocols, policies, processes, and programs are aligned with overall mission objectives and ensure adherence to Department ethics standards; Experience representing interest on program and policy matters to a wide range of audiences; Experience in working with senior foreign government officials on areas of policy; AND Experience drafting scheduling and correspondence documents that reflect detailed presentation, analysis, and substantiated recommendations. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-14 position. Education Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement. Additional Information To request a reasonable accommodation for additional time on the timed sections of the assessment, please submit your request using the “Request a Reasonable Accommodation” button within the Assessment Application. For all other reasonable accommodations at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations (OAA) at View email address on click.appcast.io. OAA is responsible for reviewing and adjudicating reasonable accommodation (RA) requests for the Assessment Battery being used for this announcement. The following applies to all RA requests: RA requests cover additional time on timed sections only. Applicants submitting a RA request MUST attach supporting medical documentation signed by a licensed, treating medical provider. The documentation should describe the nature, severity, and expected duration of the condition, identify the relevant medical condition or diagnosis, and explain the basis for the requested extension. RA requests that do not contain supporting medical documentation attachments at the time of initial request may be subject to further review. Note: the following documents do not, on their own, qualify for automatic approval of the RA request: Schedule A letters, VA benefits letters, or SSA letters. Applicants MUST submit their application before the vacancy closes, even if pending an accommodation decision. Applicants are encouraged to carefully follow instructions related to medical documentation provided in the vacancy announcement prior to beginning the RA process. Applicants will have 48 hours after their RA request is adjudicated to complete the assessment battery. Scores generated after the allotted timeframe will not be admissible and the applicant will not be considered further for the vacancy. If a different type of RA is needed, please contact OAA directly at View email address on click.appcast.io. If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days and may require a higher or lower security clearance. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions. Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM's CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.