Foreign affairs officers analyse foreign affairs policies and operations, and write reports outlining their analyses in a clear and comprehensible manner. They communicate with parties who benefit from their findings, and act as advisers in the development or implementation of or reporting on foreign policy. Foreign affairs officers may also perform administrative duties in the department, such as assisting with problems concerning passports and visas. They promote friendly and open communication between different nations' governments and institutions.

Each employee that we manage is different. Some have been on the job for years. Others are new hires, completely unfamiliar with the embassy environment and American work culture. Some do not speak English well, so we have to communicate with them using a language they just learned. We need to find ways to relate to all of these employees and to motivate them.

The foreign affairs series covers all classes of positions. The duties of these positions are to advise on, administer, supervise, or perform research or other professional and scientific work in the departmental formulation and direction of the foreign affairs of the Government or in the study and disposition of information bearing on international relations.

The foreign affairs series has a basic requirement: Applicants to the position require either a degree or an equivalent in international law and international relations, political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, social or cultural anthropology, law, statistics, or in the humanities. Alternatively, they could meet this requirement with a combination of education and experience or in the absence of a degree, four 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.

The Intelligence Series covers positions concerned with advising on, administering, supervising, or performing work in the collection, analysis, evaluation, interpretation, and dissemination of information on political, economic, social, cultural, physical, geographic, scientific, or military conditions, trends, and forces in foreign and domestic areas that directly or indirectly affect the national security.

These positions require a basic knowledge and understanding of one or more of the natural or social sciences, engineering, or military science, but do not demand, as a primary qualification requirement, full knowledge of the current state of the art.

Other than cyber security, positions in the information technology series include IT Project Managers, IT Program Managers, and other specialitions such as Operating Systems, Networks, Enterprise Architecture, Systems Administration, Customer Support, and so many more!

The paramount requirement of Information Technology Management is the knowledge of IT principles, concepts, and methods; e.g., data storage, software applications, networking.

While public affairs specialists deal with varied fields, they are not necessarily experts in them. However, through on the job experience, they develop a knowledge of the concepts and issues of the subject of agency programs.

Although public affairs specialists do acquire a substantial degree of program knowledge, it is their knowledge of the full framework of communication that enables them to facilitate the effective communication between management and various public entities.

Language Specialists work in the translation and/or interpretation of foreign language physical and digital media into English and vice versa. They are critical to ensuring the Office of the President among other key agencies accurately understand and can act on non-English information.

Each language specialist position varies based on several factors including knowledge required in the position, work environment, and even physical demands. For example, depending on the position, some translators and interpreters sit comfortably to perform their duties while others need to remain standing for 2 to 3 hours.

Irrespective of the language or languages that a language specialist knows, knowledge of one or more foreign languages equivalent to the knowledge that would be gained through completion of a baccalaureate degree language program in a country where the language studied is not the country's language is a must.

Knowledge of English (equivalent to that gained through completion of a baccalaureate degree in English where English is studied as a foreign language) is also a must. Education completed through high school in an English-speaking country would provide at least this level of knowledge.

Translators are not required to have knowledge of specialized subject matter. However, they must gain an understanding of specialized vocabularies by performing literature research.

There are various roles under the umbrella of Medical and Health Specialists, ranging from medical providers stationed in austere or remote countries to regional laboratory scientists.

Being a medical and health specialist is extremely fulfilling. If you have the required skills - come help out!

Officers ensure computer, radio, telecommunication, and physical communication systems run smoothly around the world.

Engineering specialists as a whole facilitate the inner workings of the Department of State’s international operations. Roles include finance, logistics, human resources, facility, and office management specialists. Engineers also perform an administrative position in the oversight of new construction or renovations to existing overseas properties.

Officers like me develop partnerships with English language professionals across the world and provide them with resources and support.

In the international programs and english language specialist series, public engagement specialists make strong local connections with libraries and information hubs in regions with a U.S. presence.

Let me tell you a bit more about my specific job as a Regional English Language Officer. I work with U.S. embassies and consulates to develop long-term English language programming strategic plans. I develop sustained partnerships with English language professionals, encourage their membership in a mutually supportive global network, support their professional growth, and enhance their ability to positively influence the lives of their students.

In the International Programs and English Language series, we also have Regional Public Engagement Specialists that 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.

In the Law Enforcement and Security series, we have positions such as diplomatic couriers, which play a unique role in the delivery of diplomatic pouches that contain classified and sensitive materials.

We also have technical specialists and engineering officers that design and test security systems to protect U.S. assets from espionage, acts of terrorism, and crime.

Diplomatic Special Agents are sworn federal law enforcement officers specially trained to protect and advise the U.S. Secretary of State.

Consular officers work on:

• facilitating adoptions
• reassuring families in crisis
• Helping evacuate Americans
• combating fraud
• fighting human trafficking.
• facilitating local business, education and tourism by working closely with local officials
• keeping Washington up to date on current consular issues which might include fraud trends, visa workloads, or delicate American citizen cases involving victims of crime or child abductions

Consular officers excel at:

• picking up local customs as well as cultural, economic and political conditions
• applying knowledge of host country and U.S. immigration laws to facilitate legitimate travel to the United States
• making prompt, informed decisions that affect the lives of not only Americans abroad but also other foreign citizens

Consular officers are supported by:

• highly-qualified, multicultural staff
• technology that manages consular operations, improves customer service and ensures border security

Economic officers work on:

• Negotiating and maintaining positive economic and trade relations between the US and other countries.
• Strengthening national security.
• Promoting fair market practices and economic development in newly emerging countries.
• Negotiating policies that enhance the safety, security and efficiency of transportation.
• Reporting and analyzing economic conditions in their host country, which influences US policy.

Economic officers excel at:

• Collaborating with a wide variety of government officials, business leaders, international organizations and researchers.
• Developing strong relationships with important economic figures.

Economic officers develop knowledge on:

• Economics and trade
• Commercial diplomacy
• Energy, and other environmental issues

It is not necessary to come into the Foreign Service with previous management, human resources, or budget experience in order to be a successful management officer. What the State Department’s extensive training program does not teach, the management officer learns on the job.

A management officer’s ability to lead is more important than their technical skills. The management cone is about supervising, mentoring, advising, and deciding. We managers often head large sections very early in our careers, directing the work of sometimes hundreds of local-hire staff.

Each employee that we manage is different. Some have been on the job for years. Others are new hires, completely unfamiliar with the embassy environment and American work culture. Some do not speak English well, so we have to communicate with them using a language they just learned. We need to find ways to relate to all of these employees and to motivate them.

A management officer’s goal is to provide the best possible service to his or her colleagues — to ensure they have what they need to carry out the embassy’s mission. We oversee the technical staff providing our communications systems, direct the work of staff responsible for improving family member morale, and chair countless committees — from those ensuring mission resources are being utilized fairly among various U.S. government offices represented at the embassy, to those assigning housing to incoming officers and those giving awards to employees.

Being privy to just about everything that is going on in a mission, the management officer is one of the ambassador’s closest advisers, keeping the executive office informed on everything from morale issues to the embassy's obligations under U.S. and local laws. In contrast to officers in some of the other career tracks, where the impact of a particular policy or program can take years or decades to materialize, management officers can point to tangible accomplishments every day.

If you like to get things done, are comfortable making decisions, have good people skills and like being in charge, the management track may be right for you.

Management officers work on:

• Resourcefully managing and leading embassy operations which include real estate, human resources, security and budget.
• Coordinating with other US agencies in their embassy.
• Facilitate relations and visits with senior officials.
• Overseeing the construction of multi-million-dollar real estate and new embassies.

Management officers excel at:

• Leading and inspiring others.
• Staying calm in fast-paced, mission critical environments and solving multidisciplinary problems.
• Encouraging professional growth in staff.

Political work is what many people think of when they think of diplomatic work. A political officer makes and maintains contacts in the national and local governments and keeps in close touch with political parties, think-tanks, non-governmental organizations, activists, and journalists. He or she delivers official messages, called démarches, from the U.S. government to the local government and reports the response to those messages.

A political officer will use the insight gained from local contacts and experiences to report on a variety of issues that may be of interest to Washington—from which party may win the next election to which indigenous group may be seeking greater political sway in the capital. But good political officers do not just report on what they see or experience; their job is to analyze, advise, and influence. Political officers do not just deliver messages to the host government. They use their skills of persuasion to motivate a government to take a certain action or support a certain policy. A successful political officer analyzes trends and, using excellent writing skills, makes recommendations to Washington on opportunities to advance U.S. policy objectives in the country or region.

While colleagues in other career tracks often get significant management experience early on, political officers typically supervise fewer people early in their careers. Instead, we political officers become subject-matter experts in areas such as human rights, trafficking in persons, fighting corruption, and electoral politics. We accompany the ambassador and other high-level officials to meetings, taking notes and reporting conversations. We serve as control officers for visiting U.S. officials and congressional delegations, designing their agendas, accompanying them to meetings, and managing logistics.

Additionally, we research and write numerous congressionally mandated reports on everything from human rights and religious freedom to narcotics trafficking and counter terrorism. We political officers advise the ambassador and deputy chief of mission—the embassy’s “front office”—on whom to meet and what to say. We must have excellent interpersonal skills and enjoy using foreign languages.

The best political officers have a natural ability to earn the trust of their interlocutors. They are at ease in a variety of environments, from exchanging business cards at receptions and giving speeches at conferences to investigating conditions in refugee camps. We are patient, knowing that the results of our work may not be evident for years. The ability to write well is crucial. If this describes you, then political work may be the right choice.

Let’s do a quick recap! Political officers work on:

• Monitoring the political climate of their foreign post.
• Monitoring activities in international organizations which the US government is not a member of, such as the European Union.
• Drawing connections between foreign events and US interests, and advising the US government on action.
• Communicating with foreign governments and pursuing shared goals.
• Facilitating relationships between high-level US officials and foreign governments.

Political officers excel at:

• Identifying and nurturing strong relationships with informed country individuals, who are able to provide thoughtful and sometimes advance information.
• Reporting and explaining foreign events under time pressure.
• Conveying the US government’s positions and responses with foreign governments.

Public diplomacy officers are public relations professionals. We handle interactions with U.S. and foreign media; explaining America’s history, culture, and the value of American diversity to foreign audiences; We also promote educational and cultural exchange.

This career track involves tremendous contact work: meeting with and developing close ties to foreign journalists, government officials, educators, non-governmental organizations, think-tanks, and those in the arts. Public diplomacy work also requires close interaction with colleagues and knowledge of all the issues they handle—from political policies and economic programs to a controversial consular case or complex legal issues being handled by the management section.

Public Diplomacy officers usually get management experience early on. They are responsible for programmatic budgets and often supervise significant numbers of local staff. Information officers, or those Public Diplomacy officers in charge of press affairs, work closely with journalists, acting as a source of information, and promoting free speech and transparency. Cultural affairs officers, or those Public Diplomacy officers handling cultural and educational exchanges and programs, may spend their day chairing the local Fulbright Exchange Commission, managing grants to local arts groups, non-governmental organizations, or think-tanks, or selecting noted American jazz musicians or hip-hop dancers for U.S.-sponsored local tours.

Public diplomacy officers advise the ambassador and other embassy leaders on what to say publicly and when to say it. We track local public opinion, and travel often to speak and provide U.S.-themed programming to regions far from the capital. We must have excellent foreign-language and public speaking skills. We should enjoy the spotlight and have grace under pressure. The most successful Public Diplomacy officers also have a passion for U.S. history and culture and enjoy explaining and sharing these with the world.

So - here’s a quick summary: Public diplomacy officers work on:

• Networking and collaborating with host nation contacts to shape the public message and perceptions about the United States.
• Managing people programs, budgets and resources. Programs include the International Visitors Program and the Fulbright Program.
• Informing and influencing opinion leaders, local non-governmental groups and import leaders of academia, think tanks and civil society.
• Advising the Ambassador on how public diplomacy can advance American interests.
• Explaining American history, values and traditions to foreign audiences by using tools such as social media, traditional media, press conferences and consulate websites.
• Keeping Washington updated on local media reactions and perceptions of the US.

Public diplomacy officers excel at:

• Innovatively discovering new technologies to better communicate US stances and programs with host country individuals.
• Bridging cultures and promoting shared understanding between the US and other nations through strong interpersonal skills.
• Staying up-to-date on local media coverage related to the US.