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Summary

This position is located in the Front Office (FO) of the Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS), Department of State (DoS). You will serve as the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security on all matters of diplomatic security, national security, and law enforcement initiatives. 

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
12/16/2025 to 12/23/2025
This job will close when we have received 25 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$167,603 to - $195,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Location
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - Domestic and/or overseas travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
15
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
DS-2026-0012
Control number
852613000

Duties

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  • Serves as the principal policy advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security on all matters of diplomatic security, national security, and law enforcement initiatives.
  • Leads the design, development, coordination and implementation of Bureau- and Department-wide policy concerning protective operations, transnational threats, counterterrorism, visa and fraud investigations and cyber-diplomatic security.
  • Conducts in-depth strategic analysis of global threats to the diplomatic platform-terrorism, hostile state activities, transnational crime, cyber intrusions, and insider threats-and their implications for DS mission areas.
  • Serves as DS's senior representative and coordinator with the National Security Council Staff, Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, Defense, Treasury, the Intelligence Community, and other law enforcement partners/equities.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
  • Obtain/maintain eligibility to access Sensitive Compartmented Information
  • Statement of Employment & Financial Interest required prior to appointment.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/

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-14 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:

  1. Experience providing senior officials with time-sensitive policy counsel that balances security operations, investigative authorities, and interagency priorities within national security frameworks.
  2. Experience evaluating security and law-enforcement programs using analytical and statistical techniques to determine resource requirements, capability gaps, and mission priorities.
  3. Experience conducting cross-agency coordination to advance security, law-enforcement, and counterterrorism policies, ensuring consistency with broader U.S. foreign policy objectives.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-15 position.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

Additional information

  • For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at (202) 663-3474 or OAA@state.gov. 
  • 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. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume limited to two pages will be conducted and evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications for this position. The evaluation process consists of an online assessment and a subject matter expert review of your resume. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies:

  • Ability to conduct strategic analysis of global threats.
  • Knowledge of analytical and evaluative methods. 
  • Skill in drafting or influencing legislation.
  • Knowledge of the intersection of security operations with U.S. national security and foreign policy objective. 

In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We do not make assumptions regarding your experience. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials may result in your removal from consideration.

Resume review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. Your resume should demonstrate how you meet all aspects of the specialized experience statement. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., links embedded in your resume will not be opened.)

Agency Career and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP and ICTAP) candidates must be considered well-qualified for the position and submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement to receive consideration for selection priority. To be considered well-qualified, in addition to meeting minimum qualifications, candidates must demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all of the major aspects of the position.


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