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The U.S. Department of State is developing a rank-ordered list of eligible hires for a limited number of Foreign Service Office Management Specialist (OMS) positions. Learn more about Foreign Service careers at https://careers.state.gov.
There is more to joining the Foreign Service than just the base salary. Refer to the Benefits section for more information on total compensation.
Learn more about this agency10/01/2024 to 09/30/2025
$57,932 - $92,797 per year
FP 06
No
No
Occasional travel - Foreign Service Specialists generally spend the majority of their careers assigned to overseas missions and may, at times, live away from family and/or in difficult or isolated conditions.
Yes—Upon completing orientation and initial training in Washington, D.C., employees are assigned to two sequential tours, typically two-years each, directed by the Department. These entry-level assignments may be overseas or in the United States. After the initial two tours, employees have greater choice as to the location, length, and substantive nature of assignments.
Permanent - Permanent after tenure granted by a Foreign Service Specialist (FSS) Tenure Board.
Full-time
Excepted
02
Yes
Yes
OMS-2024-0002
811767200
Must be a U.S. citizen. Candidates should read the entire announcement to ensure they meet all requirements. Candidates may reapply one year after their most recent Office Management Specialist Test (OMST) for the same position. Candidates may not apply if a State Department Suitability Review Panel denied suitability in the last two years for any position, (except if the denial was for a DS Special Agent (SA) candidate whose denial was based solely on the unique requirements for SAs).
Foreign Service Office Management Specialists (OMS) are diplomats serving in key support roles at U.S. embassies and consulates globally and domestic locations. They perform a wide range of operational, administrative, technical, and executive-support functions that facilitate the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization.
The primary responsibilities of an OMS vary depending on the size of the post and specific position. The scope of work for an OMS will increase as they gain experience, are promoted, and become eligible for positions of higher rank and responsibility. The work requires knowledge of administrative, operational, technical, and executive support, superior interpersonal skills, resilience for working in fast-paced and challenging environments, a strong command of the English language, and in-depth knowledge of standard office computer software programs and social media platforms.
The following list is neither exhaustive nor in priority order; however, entry-level duties may include the following:
It is not uncommon for Foreign Service personnel to perform duties outside of normal business hours due to needs of the post, official visits, or as part of a regular after-hours duty rotation. The type of compensation for additional hours worked will vary based on individual work schedules.
Foreign Service Office Management Specialists (OMS) serve in key roles at U.S. embassies and consulates globally and at domestic locations. An OMS must adhere to the highest standards of integrity, dependability, attention to detail, teamwork, and cooperation while accepting assignments based on the needs of the Foreign Service, experiencing frequent global travel.
Specialized Experience
Specialized experience demonstrates that the applicant has acquired, and is able to apply, a combination of specific knowledge, skills, and abilities appropriate to the Foreign Service Office Management Specialist position. All qualifying specialized experience must be of a progressively responsible nature and must have been acquired supporting office or programmatic goals. Duties must have included at least 60% administrative tasks for each position. Specialized experience must be from the last 10 years to qualify.
Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to:
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
The Department has conducted extensive job analysis research to determine Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) and other attributes conducive to successful performance in this position. A candidate’s education level, work experience, and other qualifications will be considered as part of the hiring decision-making process based on these KSA criteria.
The candidate must show that they have an in-depth knowledge of their field and possess the knowledge, skills, abilities to successfully perform OMS duties worldwide.
At the time of application, candidates must possess:
Education from a program or institution within the United States must be accredited at the time of program completion by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation.
Foreign Education
Foreign education acquired outside of any state of the U.S., the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, or any territory or possession of the U.S. must be evaluated by a member organization of one of the two national associations of credential evaluation services (NACES or AICE) in order to be given credit towards qualification.
For further information on the evaluation of foreign education, please refer to the Office of Personnel Management, Foreign Education section, and the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Department of State neither endorses nor recommends any individual evaluation service.
OPM: www.opm.gov
U.S. Department of Education: http://www.ed.gov
Please refer to the Required Documents Section on how to submit the required education documentation for this position.
*EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION PROGRAM (E-Verify) – Verification of employment eligibility in the United States is required.
U.S. law requires companies to employ only individuals who may legally work in the U.S. – either U.S. citizens, or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization. This agency utilizes E-Verify to compare information from the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) records to confirm employment eligibility. If the employee’s information does not match DHS and/or SSA records, the employee is given an opportunity to resolve the problem. If eligibility cannot be verified, employment will be terminated.
**The Department of State Suitability Review Panel and standards are defined in Chapter 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual. For more information please visit: https://fam.state.gov/
***For more information about Veteran’s Preference and how it is applied in the selection process, please visit: https://careers.state.gov/faq-items/are-veterans-given-hiring-preference/.
No candidate will be considered who has previously been separated from the Foreign Service under sections §607, §608, §610 or §611 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or retired in lieu of separation under these provisions. In addition, no candidate will be considered who has previously been separated for failure to receive a career appointment under section §306 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or retired in lieu thereof.
A Foreign Service Specialist separated for failure to receive a career appointment under section 306 may not re-apply to be a Foreign Service Specialist in the same skill code but may apply for another skill code or to be a Foreign Service Generalist.
Executive Branch agencies are barred by 5 US Code 3303 as amended from accepting or considering prohibited political recommendations and are required to return any prohibited political recommendations to sender. In addition, as mandated by 5 US Code 3110, relatives of federal employees cannot be granted preference in competing for these employment opportunities.
It is the policy of the Federal Government to treat all employees with dignity and respect and to provide a workplace that is free from discrimination whether discrimination is based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity or pregnancy), national origin, disability, political affiliation, marital status, membership in an employee organization, age, sexual orientation, or other non-merit factors.
The Department of State provides reasonable accommodation to candidates with disabilities. Procedures vary by test type, and all candidates must request reasonable accommodations in advance. For more information visit Requesting Reasonable Accommodations - Careers (state.gov). Decisions for granting reasonable accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis.
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Candidates will be evaluated on their total background including experience, education, awards, training, and self-development as it relates to the position. Selection for this position will be made only from among candidates possessing the best qualifications. Part-time work experience will be prorated.
The Department of State prohibits candidates from plagiarizing any portion of their employment application materials to include responses to questions in which candidates must provide a narrative response. Candidates must create their own responses originally and not copy or adapt them from other sources. The Department analyzes candidate submissions for plagiarism and will discontinue any individual’s candidacy if found to have violated this plagiarism policy.
While the Department of State encourages candidates to create their narratives with great care, including correct use of grammar and style, candidates are prohibited from using any artificial intelligence (AI) tool, to include but not limited to ChatGPT, to aid in their written responses. The Department will discontinue any individual’s candidacy if found to have violated this prohibition on use of AI tools in the application process.
It is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure the application is complete before the closing deadline of this announcement. Incomplete applications will be disqualified.
In the online application, candidates must answer all self-assessment questions, include 10-years of work history, and complete the Personal Narrative Questions and Statement of Interest. Applications missing any responses will be terminated.
1. Accomplishments Questionnaire/Personal Narrative Questions
These required questions provide an opportunity to describe examples and accomplishments from the applicant’s education, life, and/or work experience that demonstrate their qualifications for becoming a Foreign Service Specialist. Examples can be drawn from any part of the applicant’s professional or personal experience. Each response is limited to 300 words. Compose carefully, as one of the skills necessary to succeed as a Foreign Service Specialist is the ability to write clearly and concisely. Information in cover letters, resumes, or CVs, but not in the online application, will not be accepted/reviewed.
2. Statement of Interest
This required narrative should discuss:
3. Education Documents
Candidates with qualifying OMST scores must submit the following documentation to demonstrate they possess the educational level required for this position when requested. Candidates should add *@state.gov as a trusted sender. Neither the Department of State nor Pearson Vue are responsible for the failure of candidates’ internet service provider to deliver e-mail messages.
Transcripts must comply with the following requirements to be accepted:
4. Submit Veteran’s Preference documentation in PDF format for Candidates aged 60 to 64 when requested.
If claiming Veteran’s Preference, a copy of the applicant’s DD-214 "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty" that must include the applicant’s Character of Service must be submitted with the application. If claiming a 10-point Veteran’s Preference, the applicant’s VA letter and SF-15 must be submitted in addition to the DD-214. A certification from the armed forces is required only if a veteran has not yet received their DD-214. It must confirm that the service member is expected to be discharged under honorable conditions within 120 days and include service dates, expected discharge date, character of service, and any applicable disability rating.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
The application submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date of announcement.
It is the candidate’s responsibility complete and submit the application and all required documents before the closing deadline. There are no exceptions.
Submit application and register to take the Office Management Specialist Test (OMST) as indicated in step 1 below. Do not apply through USAJobs.
1. Visit https://gov.pearsonvue.com/omst.html.
2. Create a web account.
3. Follow the instructions to complete and submit the online application.
4. Select an appointment date to take the OMST at one of Pearson Vue’s test centers. The test is an important part of the selection process, covering the Job Knowledge, English Expression, and Situational Judgment necessary to perform the functions of this position.
Candidates experiencing technical difficulties with the application process should contact the Pearson Vue Customer Service Desk by calling 1-866-389-8339 (toll free), 1-952-905-7483 (toll) or by utilizing the Chat function at www.pearsonvue.com. The Help Desk is available Monday – Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Central Time and is closed on local holidays.
For more information on the Foreign Service Specialist hiring processes, please visit our FAQs at http://careers.state.gov/faqs.
Candidates will be notified by e-mail from the U.S. Department of State about the outcome of the initial application review and if they will be further considered for this Foreign Service position. Candidates should add the U.S. Department of State domain (@state.gov) as an approved sender.
Due to the high volume of applications, we ask all candidate to remain patient and await communication. It is not uncommon for several months to pass before candidates are informed of the application results.
The Department of State will invite candidates who pass the qualifications review process to participate in the Virtual Foreign Service Specialist Assessment (VFSSA). For more information, please visit our FAQs at http://careers.state.gov/faqs.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/811767200. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.
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