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Summary

The Office Director for the Office of Presidential Appointments (PAS) is located in Washington, DC, reporting directly to the White House Liaison (WHL).  PAS leads and executes the Department of State's Presidential Appointments program essential to the functioning of the Executive Branch. PAS is also responsible with ensuring U.S. Government personnel serving under the Chief of Mission authority hold the necessary diplomatic status for mission-critical responsibilities.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/27/2026 to 03/13/2026
Salary
$150,160 to - $225,700 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—Yes, Situational as determined by agency policy.
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Senior Executive
Promotion potential
00
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CSTM-2026-0004
Control number
859213900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All groups of qualified individuals. Noncompetitive (Current career SES, QRB certified graduates of SES candidate development programs and individuals with SES reinstatement eligibility) "You are encouraged to read the entire announcement before you submit your application package. Your application may not get full consideration if you do not follow the instructions as outlined."

Duties

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The Office Director for PAS serves as an authoritative expert and senior executive advisor to the White House and Senior Department of State leadership on all matters related to Presidential Appointments policy, legislation, strategic direction, and Senate engagements leading up to the confirmation of nominees to executive branch positions. Key duties include:

  • Leads the Department of State Presidential Appointments program, encompassing senior leadership positions, ambassadorial posts, and special appointments requiring Senate confirmation and Presidential appointment. Provides expert executive-level advice to non-career and career candidates and establishes partnerships to facilitate timely progression through vetting, preparation, confirmation, and appointment processes.
  • Develops stakeholder engagement and implements administrative and management policies, plans, and procedures for Presidential Appointments, Presidential Commissions, Foreign Service Commissions, and Diplomatic and Consular Titles programs. Maintaining frequent contact with officials at the highest levels of government. 
  • Directs the diplomatic and consular commissions program in accordance with the Foreign Service Act of 1980, facilitating the Secretary of State's recommendations to the President for Foreign Service Officer commissions. Serves as the Department authority on diplomatic and consular titles in full compliance with the Vienna Conventions and international law.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
  • Verification of Employment Eligibility in the United States is required.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.
  • Requires a financial disclosure statement, OGE-278.
  • One year probationary period, unless excepted by regulation.

This position is a drug-testing designated position subject to random testing for illegal drug use.  Appointment will be subject to the applicant’s completion and favorable adjudication of a background security investigation.  The Ethics in Government Act, PL 95-521 requires the applicant selected for the this position submit a financial disclosure statement, OGE-278, prior to assuming the SES position, annually and upon termination of employment.

Qualifications

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.  Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) listed below. Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-14/15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector. 

The application process used to recruit for this position is the RESUME-BASED Method. You must address the ECQs and MTQs related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES. Resumes exceeding the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed and will be disqualified.  Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s). If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing ECQs or MTQs.  Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs):

YOUR RESUME (NOT TO EXCEED TWO PAGES) MUST CLEARLY DOCUMENT AND DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE OF YOUR ECQs :

ECQ 1 – Commitment to Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding.

This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ 2 – Driving Efficiency.

This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ 3 – Merit and Competence.

This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4 – Leading People.

This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

ECQ 5 – Achieving Results.

This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

NOTE:  If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs. Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES).

MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (MTQ)s:

IN ADDITION, YOU WILL BE EVALUATED ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs):

Your responses to the MTQs should be embedded/addressed within your resume not to exceed two pages.

MTQ 1

Expert knowledge and demonstrated experience overseeing strategy and program development for high-level executive employment programs and serving as an authoritative expert and senior executive advisor to the highest senior level or elected officials related to executive appointments policy and Congressional engagement. Experience managing short-term and long-range plans, policy options, and legislative strategy dealing with sensitive, complex issues associated with Executive appointments. This includes capacity to maintain sound judgement and confidentiality while engaging with candidates for the most senior leadership positions for a primary executive agency operation globally or a large multinational organization.

MTQ 2  

Expertise and demonstrated experience providing technical guidance and oversight for the design and development of organizational policies, goals, and objectives that focus on directing accreditation programs and providing expert program direction to the accreditation of U.S, personnel overseas. Demonstrated ability to provide authoritative guidance concerning accreditation of U.S. personnel, privileges, and immunities.

NOTE: Your demonstrated leadership ability and the evidence of the ECQs and MTQs must be clearly shown in your resume. A separate narrative statement will not be accepted.

A sample 2-page resume that incorporates ECQs and MTQs can be viewed on this link (indexed at page 29 – 37), “Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications” and “Senior Executive Service Qualifications & Fundamental-Competencies”.

YOU WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION IF YOU FAIL TO FULLY DEMONSTRATE EACH ECQ AND MTQ AND IF YOUR RESUME EXCEEDS TWO (2) PAGES.

Current or Former (within last 5 years) Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employees in the Executive Branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee, please indicate this in your resume.  Serving in a Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES appointment WILL NOT eliminate you from consideration.

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.

Background Investigation: To ensure the accomplishment of its mission, the Department of State requires each and every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation for Top Secret/Sensitive Compartment Information clearance as a condition of placement in this Special Sensitive position. This review includes financial issues such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.

Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.

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.

Veterans’ Preference does not apply to the Senior Executive Service. You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications stated in this vacancy announcement.

A multi-step process is used to evaluate and refer applicants:

1.      Minimum requirements: Your application package must show that you meet all the requirements including the education and/or experience required for this position. You will be rated “not qualified” if you do not possess the qualification requirements for the position. If your application is incomplete, you may be found “ineligible”.  

2.      Rating and Ranking: A panel of subject matter experts will review your application and evaluate your qualifications for this position based on the information in your application.  Your application will be evaluated based on the extent and quality of your experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of this position. 

3.      Referral: If you are among the top qualified candidates, your application will be referred to the selecting official for consideration for interview.  The DOS Executive Resources Board (ERB) will review results and make recommendations on final selections to the appointing authority where final interviews and reference checks may occur.

Your supporting documents are an integral part of the process for determining your qualifications for the position. If your responses are not supported by your resume limited to two pages, you will be eliminated from consideration. After reviewing your resume and supporting documentation, if a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Incomplete or late applications will not receive further consideration.

The application process to recruit for this position is the RESUME BASED method. You must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED two (2) pagesResumes exceeding the two (2) page limit will not reviewed and will be disqualified.  If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the ECQs or MTQs.  Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed.

Unless you have already been certified by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualifications Review Board (QRB) previously, your Executive Qualifications must be certified by OPM’s QRB before an appointment can occur. The selected individual's application will be forwarded to OPM for review and certification by their QRB, unless the selectee provides evidence of their noncompetitive status (i.e., a current SES, OPM QRB certified SES CDP graduate, or SES reinstatement eligible). Upon QRB certification, the selected individual will be required to serve a one-year probationary period. For more information regarding the SES, go to https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/senior-executive-service/.


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