Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results
 

Deputy Assistant Secretary

Department of State
Department of State - Agency Wide

Summary

This position is located in the Bureau of Global Public Affairs, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategy, Outreach, and Events (GPA/SOE). The incumbent serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Strategy, Outreach, and Events and provides oversight and direction for the Office of Global Communications Strategy, the Office of Public Engagement, and the Office of Events and Travel. The DAS position oversees the strategic communications planning for the Bureau. 

Overview

Help
Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/25/2026 to 03/29/2026
Salary
$169,279 to - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 15
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional Domestic and/or International travel may be required.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
15
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Announcement number
PERT-CTAP-2026-0013
Control number
862347200

Duties

Help
  • Exercises the full range of supervisory and managerial authorities and responsibilities required to accomplish functions assigned to the Office of Global Communications Strategy, the Office of Public Engagement, and the Office of Events and Travel.
  • Oversees strategic communications planning for the Bureau of Global Public Affairs and maintains oversight of the Office of Global Communications Strategy, Office of Public Engagement, and Office of Events and Travel.
  • Provides expert counsel on public affairs principles to Department leadership to effectively communicate U.S. foreign policy priorities.
  • Directs the planning, development, and implementation of strategies and materials necessary for effective public affairs efforts on important foreign affairs issues.
  • Represents the Assistant Secretary on Department and White House task forces reviewing public affairs matters and new initiatives.

Requirements

Help

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

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:

  • Experience overseeing strategic communications planning aimed at advancing multiple foreign policy objectives simultaneously.
  • Experience providing expert counsel on public affairs principles and strategies to senior leadership (at the Assistant Secretary or higher level) via oral and written communications.
  • Experience representing the State Department in White House-led task forces related to public affairs matters and new initiatives.

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

In addition, applicant's experience must also demonstrate that the candidate possesses the following qualities:

  • Ability to assign, review, and supervise the work of others;
  • Objectivity and fairness in judging people on their ability, and situations on the facts and circumstances;
  • Ability to adjust to change, work pressures, or difficult situations without undue stress;
  • Willingness to consider new ideas or divergent points of view; and
  • Capacity to "see the job through."

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 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 by an HR specialist to determine if you are qualified for this job. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies:

  •  Skill in developing and implementing outreach strategies and communication plans.

  • Skill in outreach and public relations.

  • Knowledge of current international events and key foreign policy objectives of the U.S.
  • Ability to direct and lead others.

  • Ability to provide advice and guidance to senior level managers.

Agency Career and Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP and ICTAP) candidates must be rated "Well Qualified" and submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job 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.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Department of State - Agency Wide

The U.S. Department of State, our country’s lead foreign policy agency, provides employees with a dynamic international career whether at home or abroad and unique professional development opportunities.  Each day, our employees make a difference as they advance the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity, through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance.  We embrace our talented workforce which reflects the personal, professional, and educational strengths of our country. 

Named one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes, we offer a workplace that values and rewards leadership, collaboration, innovation, and personal and professional development. Visit careers.state.gov to learn more about what it's like to work at the U.S. Department of State, what the agency does, the wide range of careers this agency offers, and the benefits available to employees.

Agency contact information

Antoinette Bell
Phone
000-000-0000
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
BellAD2@state.gov
Address
U.S. Department of State
1999 Dyess Avenue
Charleston, South Carolina 29405
United States

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.