Foreign Service Regional Public Engagement Specialist

Foreign Service Regional Public Engagement Specialist (formerly Information Resource Officer)

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Department of State - Agency Wide

Overview

Open & closing dates

 02/19/2020 to 03/10/2020

Service

Excepted

Pay scale & grade

FP 03

Salary

$86,399 to $137,594 per year

Appointment type

Permanent - Permanent after tenure granted by a Foreign Service Specialist (FSS) Tenure Board.

Work schedule

Full-Time

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Location

Department of State Posts - Overseas and Domestic, United States

MANY vacancies

Relocation expenses reimbursed

Yes After completing orientation and initial training in Washington, DC, an FSS usually is assigned to two overseas tours, each two years in length, directed by the Department. After the initial two tours, assignments will be for periods of one to three years overseas or in the United States.

Telework eligible

No

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This job is open to

The public

U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

Must be a U.S. citizen. Potential applicants should read the entire announcement to ensure that they meet all of the requirements and understand a Foreign Service career. Applicants may not reapply for one year after the previous application for the same position. If a State Department Suitability Review Panel denied suitability in the last two years, you may not apply (except Diplomatic Security Special Agent (SA) candidates whose denial was based solely on the unique requirements for SAs).

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Announcement number

RPES-2020-0001

Control number

559976600

Duties

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Duties

Summary

The U.S. Department of State is hiring Foreign Service Regional Public Engagement Specialists (RPESs). The salary listed is the low (86,399) from the FS Overseas Comparability Payscale and the high (137,594) is from the FS Washington D.C. locality Payscale. Refer to the Benefits section for more information on recruitment and retention incentives. To learn more about the Department of State and a career as a Foreign Service Specialist, please visit us at https://careers.state.gov.

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Responsibilities

Foreign Service Regional Public Engagement Specialist's (RPESs) provide professional leadership and project management expertise to over 600 American Spaces at U.S. embassies and consulates, partner institutions, and to the hundreds of U.S. government (USG) and partner staff who operate them. Through technology interfaces and strategic travel within the assigned region, RPESs provide professional direction and guidance to American Spaces by:

Using expertise and a high level of understanding of new communications tools and technologies to conduct training for American Spaces and Public Affairs staff on a wide variety of platforms, digital tools, and analytics tools. Using data driven decision making, monitor and improve performance of American Spaces.

Developing new engagement opportunities by conceptualizing and proposing new program ideas and operational procedures, specifically to address foreign policy themes.

Performing advisory functions for public affairs officials to maximize the utilization of American Spaces as key venues to engage foreign publics on U.S. foreign policy matters. Additionally, they advise the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) leadership on overseas program environments; monitor trends and developments; and report on the impact of ECA products and programs.

Serving as project manager for American Spaces initiatives, to include managing fiscal resources; explaining Department policies and procedures; identifying sources of funding and assisting with funding requests; and reporting on results of American Spaces.

Coordinate major projects, such as American Spaces construction or renovation, where multiple stakeholders are involved. For some American Spaces projects, serves as the official Contracting Officer’s Representative or Grants Officer’s Representative.

At some posts, directly supervising Locally Employed (LE) Staff and managing their home post’s American Space(s).

Through people-to-people connections and an open and modern environment equipped with cutting-edge technologies, American Spaces provide the initial exchange that millions of foreigners have with the United States. American Spaces are in-person engagement platforms where visitors learn about the U.S. and participate in discussions on issues affecting U.S. foreign policy. The Regional Public Engagement Specialists (RPESs) corps reports to the Office of American Spaces (A/M) located in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) – the Department’s bureau that works to build friendly, peaceful relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through academic, cultural, sports, and professional exchanges, as well as public-private partnerships. The Washington-based ECA/A/M establishes overall program policy, provides technical, and administrative support, coordinates centralized acquisition of digital information resources, funds and tracks American Spaces programs, and manages training programs for staff. The RPES is responsible for ensuring that American Spaces fulfill this important role within the Department.

Travel Required

75% or less - A Foreign Service Specialist generally spends the majority of his/her career assigned to the Department of State’s overseas missions and at times, lives away from family and/or in difficult or isolated conditions. Selected applicants will be notified of an Oral Assessment (OA) requirement in Washington D.C. For the selected applicants, all travel and other expenses incurred in connection with the OA are the sole responsibility of the applicant.