What does a Foreign Service
    Specialist do?

Who are the Specialists? What do they do?

The Department of State offers career opportunities to professionals in specialized functions needed to meet Foreign Service responsibilities around the world. As a Foreign Service Specialist, you will provide important technical, support or administrative services at one of 250 posts overseas, in Washington, D.C., or elsewhere in the United States.

As a Foreign Service Specialist, you'll receive excellent paid housing or a housing allowance, health and medical coverage, federal retirement benefits, paid education for dependant children between K-12, generous paid leave, and an unprecedented chance to see the world and experience different cultures.

The opportunities that exist for Foreign Service Specialists are as diverse as the countries in which they serve. Foreign Service Specialist jobs are grouped into seven major categories: Administration, Construction Engineering, Information Technology, International Information and English Language Programs, Medical and Health, Office Management, and Security.

Position Descriptions:

ADMINISTRATION:

Facilities Maintenance Specialist: If you are able to adapt well to the uniqueness of different cultures and practices, this could be an ideal position for you to apply your technical, administrative and people skills. Working closely with the General Services Officer, you will manage the upkeep of buildings, grounds, fixtures and utilities overseas. We are currently accepting applications for this position.

Financial Management Officer: FMOs are responsible for the management of the financial activities of diplomatic and consular posts, including financial services to other U.S. Government agencies. As an FMO, you will develop budgets and financial plans, control obligations and expenditures, prepare and audit payment vouchers, administer payroll plans, approve salary and allowance payments and monitor cash operations.

General Services Officer: GSOs are responsible for a broad range of functions including the management of physical resources and logistical functions at diplomatic and consular posts. You will develop, plan, implement, and manage an ongoing program of support that includes contracting, inventory/property, physical facilities, space management, travel and transportation, motorpool, and maintenance and repair schedules. These services will also be provided to other U.S. Government agencies.

Human Resources Officer: HROs are responsible for recruitment, employee training and development, performance management, employee relations, salary and benefits administration, employee policies and procedures and position classification. You will supervise and ensure effective performance of the Human Resources Office staff at diplomatic and consular posts. These services will be extended to other U.S. Government agencies.

CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING:

Construction Engineer: CEs monitor and report on contract work overseas to ensure that the construction of new properties and renovation of existing properties are completed properly, on time and within budget. We are currently accepting applications for this position.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:

Information Management Specialist: IMSs manage and operate worldwide information technology infrastructure, including PC local and wide area networks, telecommunications systems, telephone and UHF/VHF programs, and diplomatic pouch and mail services.

Information Management Technical Specialist: IMTSs survey, install and maintain associated hardware and software of PC local and wide area networks, or UHF/VHF land mobile programs, and/or telephone PBX systems. Three separate technical divisions are PC LAN/WAN, telephone and radio. We are currently accepting applications for this position.

INTERNATIONAL INFORMATION AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAMS:

Regional English Language Officer: ELOs are responsible for all Department of State-sponsored English teaching activities in that country, or as a Regional ELO with responsibilities for English language program activities in several countries, necessitating extensive travel. When assigned to Washington, D.C., you will provide general administrative support to overseas programs, work on the research and development materials, conduct seminars, and provide consultative services to overseas posts or host-country institutions.

Information Resource Officer: IROs provide professional guidance and direction to 170 Information Resource Centers (IRCs) located at U.S. embassies abroad. Through extensive travel within an assigned region, IROs counsel Mission Officials on effective information program resources and services, assess staff needs, carry out regional training programs, demonstrate and promote U.S. electronic information resources, and establish contacts with host country information and library institutions. IROs are a vital part of the Department of State's Office of International Information Programs, the principal international strategic communications service for the foreign affairs community.

Printing Specialist: Printing Specialists are responsible for coordinating worldwide publishing, printing management programs, printing information technology, and related systems. This work is diverse and challenging. Printing Specialists employ printing production technology ranging from state-of-the-art systems to older legacy systems. They manage production operations at overseas facilities, and perform other duties such as consulting and researching new developments in printing information technology.

MEDICAL AND HEALTH:

Health Practitioner: Health Practitioners assume the role of primary care provider and will be responsible for administering a full range of community health care services, including preventive health education for the official mission community. Health Practitioners are considered "essential personnel" and are on call to provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We are currently accepting applications for this position.

Regional Medical Technologist: RMTs serve in support of the employees of the United States Government and their eligible family members, and may work in conjunction with other Foreign Service medical personnel. Duties include performing routine visitations to regional area Health Units to evaluate and monitor performance of local laboratory technologists. You will also maintain own laboratory at post of assignment as well as X-RAY equipment at your post of assignment and your assigned region. Foreign Service Medical Technologists are considered "essential personnel" and are on call to provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We are currently accepting applications for this position.

Regional Medical Officer: RMOs serve in support of the employees of the U.S. Government and their eligible family members. The RMO physician may work independently or in conjunction with other Foreign Service medical personnel. The RMO's duties include providing primary medical care and appropriate health information and disease prevention program at each post of responsibility as well as a host of other medical and health related responsibilities. Foreign Service Medical Officers are considered "essential personnel" and are on call to provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We are currently accepting applications for this position.

Regional Medical Officer/Psychiatrist: RMO/Ps serve in support of the employees of the U.S. Government and their eligible family members. The RMO/P may work independently or in conjunction with other Foreign Service medical personnel. The RMO/P's duties include providing primary psychiatric care for each post in the supported geographical region as well as a host of other psychiatric and mental health related responsibilities. Foreign Service Medical Officers/Psychiatrists are considered "essential personnel" and are on call to provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We are currently accepting applications for this position.

OFFICE MANAGEMENT:

Office Management Specialist: OMSs are called upon to perform a variety of duties at diplomatic and consular posts. These duties include general office management, conference and visitor support, administrative and secretarial support. You must be familiar with databases, spreadsheets, and word processing and be able to use office equipment (PCs, faxes, phones, copying machines, etc.).

SECURITY:

Diplomatic Courier: Diplomatic Couriers are entrusted with ensuring the inviolability of diplomatic pouches and their secure delivery throughout the world. Couriers are required to safeguard and escort diplomatic pouches containing classified and sensitive material between U.S. diplomatic missions overseas and the Department of State. Couriers operate under the auspices of international agreements and treaties as governed by the Vienna Convention.

Security Engineering Officer: SEOs provide technical security support and engineering expertise to protect U.S. Foreign Service posts. You will work overseas, in Washington, D.C. or Fort Lauderdale, Florida and will be responsible for selected duties ranging from security system design, development and analysis to installation and testing.

Security Technical Specialist: STSs provide support and assist in worldwide technical security programs. These programs for which you will give overall program management, maintenance and support provide protection for Department of State facilities and personnel from technical espionage, acts of terrorism, and crime. The mission of STS personnel is accomplished through the use of sophisticated electronic and electro-mechanical security systems.

Diplomatic Security Special Agent: DSS Agents are specially trained Foreign Service security professionals; they are also sworn Federal law enforcement officers. Overseas, as a Regional Security Officer (RSO), you will advise ambassadors on all security matters and manage a complex range of security programs designed to protect personnel, facilities, and information. In the U.S., Special Agents protect the Secretary of State and visiting foreign dignitaries, investigate passport and visa fraud, and conduct personnel security investigations.

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