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Human Resources Specialist

Department of State
Department of State - Agency Wide

Summary

This position is located in the Bureau of Human Resources, Office of Career Development and Assignments, Assignments Division (HR/CDA/AD). HR/CDA supports the mission of the Department of State by transparently and equitably assigning employees with the right skills to the right positions at the right time. HR/CDA meets the needs of the Foreign Service while helping employees achieve their career goals .

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/08/2026 to 04/14/2026
Salary
$121,785 - $158,322 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 13
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Washington, DC
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - Occasional domestic travel may be required for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
13
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Announcement number
M/HR-MPI-2026-0013
Control number
864221100

Duties

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  • Manages and executes the assignment of Foreign Service employees to more than 750 positions to assigned bureaus.
  • Advises bureaus on Human Resources (HR) assignments polices and their impact on bureau Foreign Service staffing priorities.
  • Serves as subject matter expert on assigned HR and assignment policies and topics; provides advice and counsel to other assignments officers and bureau leadership.
  • Drafts a variety of correspondence, concept papers, program plans, and official memoranda related to announcing programs through a variety of sources.
  • Determines upcoming position vacancies, bureau preferences and employee training needs for these positions.

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-12 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 providing management advisory services, researching, interpreting and applying appropriate Federal laws, regulations, policies and guidelines in at least two human resources functional areas (e.g., recruitment and placement, classification, employee relations, performance management, HR development), as it applies to foreign service.
  • Experience analyzing issues and concerns to identify, consider and resolve a variety of HR-related questions and problems pertaining to foreign service assignments and position management. 
  • Experience with data management and drafting a variety of reports, memoranda, and other correspondence on a full range of sensitive management issues.

There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-13 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 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 this Bureau 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. 

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:

  • Knowledge of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 and Foreign Affairs Manual.
  • Skill in interpreting and ability to stay abreast of new HR laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to employment in the Foreign Service.
  • Ability to provide solutions to complex HR problems.
  • Knowledge of and ability to research, interpret, and apply human resources laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
  • Skill in establishing and maintaining liaison within and outside of the organization.
  • Ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing.

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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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

Christy Justice
Phone
000-000-0000
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
JusticeCL@state.gov
Address
U.S. Department of State
Not accepting applications by Mail
Charleston, South Carolina 29405
United States

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