Foreign Affairs Officer

Department of State Headquarters • District of Columbia, DC

11d

About The Position

The Foreign Affairs Officer is located in the Bureau of Emerging Threats (ET), Office of Cybersecurity (ET/C). ET leads the Department’s efforts to anticipate and respond to national security challenges arising from adversaries’ use of new technologies. ET/C leads the Department’s efforts to protect the United States against national security threats in cyberspace.

The position analyzes cyber incidents and their implications for U.S. national security interests and foreign policy objectives; develops assessments and recommendations; prepares analytical reports on cyber threats, foreign government activities, and policy options for Department leadership; and leads Department participation in interagency discussions on cyber policy, operations, and incident response. The position also facilitates information sharing with interagency partners and supports diplomatic engagement with foreign governments by preparing briefing materials, talking points, and background information.

At the GS-11 and GS-12 levels, duties are similar but assignments have less scope and complexity and less independence than at the GS-13 level, with closer supervision. Applicants must meet the applicable basic and grade-specific qualifications. The position requires U.S. citizenship, random drug testing, and the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance and eligibility for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information. Situational telework may be permitted if eligible and with supervisory approval.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance and eligibility to access Sensitive Compartmented Information.
• Incumbent is subject to random drug testing.
• Meet the basic education or experience qualification: a relevant bachelor's or graduate degree; specified combinations of relevant coursework; a combination of education and relevant experience; or at least four years of appropriate experience in a listed field associated with international organizations, problems, or other aspects of foreign affairs.
• Applicants qualifying through education must submit college transcripts by the announcement closing date.
• Federal applicants must meet time-in-grade and time-after-competitive-appointment requirements; the stated time-in-grade requirement is 52 weeks at the next lower grade.
• GS-13 applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-12, including drafting policy products for senior officials on foreign policy, national security, cyber, or technology issues; providing senior officials with policy recommendations on those issues; and representing an organization in interagency, intergovernmental, or multilateral meetings on those issues.
• GS-12 applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-11, including researching foreign policy, national security, cyber, or technology issues to support policy development and drafting written materials on those issues.
• GS-11 applicants must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-09, including compiling and summarizing information from multiple sources on international affairs, national security, or technology issues and preparing draft written materials for review; alternatively, applicants may qualify through three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D., a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or a qualifying combination of graduate education and specialized experience.

Responsibilities

• Analyze cyber incidents within the assigned portfolio and assess their implications for U.S. national security interests and foreign policy objectives.
• Develop recommendations based on cyber incident assessments.
• Prepare analytical reports for Department leadership on cyber threats, foreign government activities, and policy options.
• Lead Department participation in interagency working groups and meetings on assigned cyber policy, operations, and incident response issues.
• Facilitate information sharing between ET/C and interagency partners on cyber threats and policy initiatives.
• Support diplomatic engagement with foreign governments on assigned cyber policy issues by preparing briefing materials, talking points, and background information.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package. Specific benefits depend on position type; applicants are directed to contact the hiring agency for details.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level