Position Description Supervisory Foreign Affairs Officer FS-02 U.S. Department of State Office of the Under Secretary for Political Affairs (P) Bureau for Near Eastern Affairs (NEA) Office of Program Management–Ministry of Interior I. Introduction: This position is located in the Office of Program Management – Ministry of Interior (OPM-MOI) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. OPM-MOI leads an interagency effort including several interagency partners. U.S. Chief of Mission staff working for the program in the Kingdom perform their duties primarily in Saudi facilities. The incumbent leads the Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) section and serves as a principal advisor to the Senior Foreign Service OPM-MOI U.S Program Director in establishing and maintaining the foreign affairs, policy, and interagency coordination elements of OPM-MOI. The incumbent serves as a Subject Matter Expert, advisor, manager, and quality control role to the team, providing guidance and support on overall policy, drafting standards, development and implementation of tools, methods, and processes in all aspects of foreign affairs. Incumbent reports to the Director, through the Deputy Director. Seeking dynamic candidates who can think strategically, act decisively and independently to lead a team of five or more Foreign Affairs Officer positions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The incumbent serves as a Supervisory Foreign Affairs Officer (SFAO) and works on the development, formulation, coordination and execution of activities, initiatives, and projects, supporting the team to develop high quality and timeliness standards. The incumbent will coordinate directly with U.S. Embassy Riyadh staff, Saudi government officials, the OPM-MOI Washington Support Unit, and officials of other USG Agencies providing or proposing to provide technical assistance and/or equipment to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The incumbent will provide advice and execute program activities with OPM-MOI, Embassy Riyadh, and Saudi government agencies, consistent with U.S. Government (USG) policy. Duties Include: Serves as supervisory team lead of FAO section’s full range of written products, policy advice, and project management and portfolio oversight in compliance with OPM-MOI Governance Requirements. In this capacity, the incumbent serves as section head and has authority to make commitments and decisions on projects and supervises a team of five, expected to grow up to seven. • Supervise, mentor, develop, and manage performance of four or more FS-04 equivalent FAOs • Establish metrics to assesses FAO work product progress • Perform analytical and evaluative work associated with FAO team workloads • Report to Program Director and others on the performance of projects. Analyze non-compliance issues, risks, and recommend corrective action, in coordination with the Project Management Office (PMO). • Serve as champion of excellence in project documentation and policy, ensuring program goals, needs, and policy implications are all closely monitored and met and the program’s overall performance is improved. Align program objectives and benefits with long-term strategic goals. Handle a FAO portfolio, including: • Research, draft, and advise on effective strategies to advance priorities • Draft materials to prepare officials for engagements and handle meeting arrangements, notes, challenges, and follow-up • Liaise with subject matter expert and PMO teams • Manage assigned programs and establish systematic methods of program execution, evaluation or advocacy • Lead special projects that advance office and team initiatives • Develop written materials and coordinate efforts to inform stakeholders • Assess viability of options and alternatives, anticipate potential policy problems, assess their impact and reaction, and ensure that policy recommendations are consistent with USG and Departmental objectives • Ensure that the team meets deadlines for inquiries, correspondence, and reports and • Other duties as assigned. Position Requirements Bachelor’s Degree* U.S. Citizenship Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of State issued Medical Clearance Excellent English communication skills, both written and oral Ability to effectively work as a team in the resolution of conflicting views to promote cooperation and support for national security objectives Knowledge of the theories and principles of political science, international relations, economics, history, geography, or other related disciplines applied in analyzing and evaluating factors and conditions involved in the administration of U.S. foreign policy programs. Knowledge of basic U.S. foreign policy objectives and programs to identify and provide analyses of essential issues and developments in the assignment area. Knowledge of research and analytical methods to validate, evaluate, and interpret information obtained from a variety of sources. One year relevant specialized experience.** One year supervisory experience. Alternatively, one additional year experience as a Foreign Affairs Officer for the Department of State. **Applicants must also have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12/FS-04 level in the Federal Service, which provides the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position, including as a USPSC. How to Apply Submit your most current resume, SF-50 or contract if applicable, and transcripts to April Snyder at
[email protected]. *BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Have a bachelor’s or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in international law, international relations, political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, social or cultural anthropology, law, statistics, or in the humanities; OR Have completed at least 4 years of appropriate experience in one OR more of the fields listed above in work associated with international organizations, problems, or other aspects of foreign affairs. Note: If you are qualifying based on education, you MUST submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. IN ADDITION to the basic requirements, this position requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least 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.