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Summary

The position is for a Staff Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs. Incumbent will be responsible for coordinating and assisting in the accomplishment of administrative operational issues, processes, and business needs.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/03/2026 to 03/09/2026
Salary
$102,415 to - $133,142 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
R/GPA-MPI-2026-0003
Control number
859393100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

U.S. Department of State career or career conditional status employees in the competitive service; employees who are on temporary or other non-status appointments who have reinstatement or non-competitive eligibility for a competitive service appointment (e.g., tenured Foreign Service employees, employees on an excepted service appointment at the USUN who have previous career status, etc.); and CTAP

Duties

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  • Reviews important matters requiring the personal attention of the Assistant Secretary and members of their staff.
  • Carries out special assignments requiring a high degree of tact and diplomacy, a comprehensive knowledge of the operations of the Department with which the Assistant Secretary has a continuing interest.
  • Oversees operational readiness of the organization, including all necessary procurements, repairs, upgrades of equipment, and proposing new methods for increasing effectiveness and productivity.
  • Independently manages the various operational support activities of the entire organization to include developing processes and procedures to conduct and coordinate all management issues (personnel, travel, general services, procurement, etc.)
  • Independently manages all operational support to the organization and develops operating procedures and best practices to facilitate the coordination of operational efforts.

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.

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-11 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:

  • Providing direct front office support to senior executive leadership, independently managing complex calendars, competing priorities, and high-volume taskers in a fast-paced environment.
  • Coordinating and tracking executive correspondence such as briefing materials, memos, and/or clearance packages, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and alignment with organizational priorities.
  • Managing executive-level workflows to meet tight deadlines.
  • Exercising independent judgment in prioritizing sensitive matters, handling classified or controlled information, and resolving administrative or operational issues on behalf of senior leadership.
  • Planning and executing logistics for senior-level engagements, meetings, and events, including coordination with internal offices, external stakeholders, and protocol teams.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-12 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. 
  • 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:

  • Administration 
  • Communication 
  • Coordination
  • Operations Support 
  • Strategic Thinking

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.). If meeting basic qualifications through education only or a combination of education and experience, applicants will not be referred to the SME panel but will be reviewed by the HR Specialist for referral. 

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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