The position is located in the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA), reporting to the Secretary of State. SPEHA’s mission is to lead diplomatic engagement on U.S. hostage and wrongful detention policy. SPEHA develops and coordinates strategies to advance the agenda of the Secretary and SPEHA to free U .S. national hostages or wrongful detainees, hostage prevention measures, support families of hostages, and reintegrate returned hostages.

Duties

Serves as policy planner for the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA) in reference to assigned portfolio, examining issues to include strategic goals and objectives and alignment of policy priorities and resources. Tracks Congressional issues related to hostages and wrongful detentions and provides updates and support to affected families. Provides outreach and coordination with major players in the wrongful detention and hostage-related issues, including other federal agencies, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Congress, and other stakeholders. Acts as principal SPEHA liaison with Consular Affairs (CA), the regional bureau, and with other relevant State Department offices, including senior principals, on wrongful detention and hostage related issues.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
• Obtain/maintain eligibility to access Sensitive Compartmented Information

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application.  NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F. Applicants must have the required experience or education as described below and meet any selective factors, when specified. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Have a bachelor's or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in international law, international relations, political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, social or cultural anthropology, law, statistics, or in the humanities; OR Have a bachelor's or graduate degree from an accredited college or university that included a combination of courses, with at least 24 semester hours in international law and international relations, political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, social or cultural anthropology, law, statistics, or in the humanities; OR Have 12 semester hours in one of the above disciplines and 12 semester hours in statistics / quantitative methods. OR Have a combination of education and experience where your coursework was equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, (as shown above), PLUS appropriate relevant experience OR additional education. OR Have completed at least 4 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. (NOTE: qualifying work experience may have been gained through residence, study, teaching, business or commercial activities, military service, newspaper work, military or civil government activities, missionary or international relief work, or other experience in foreign countries.) Note: If you are qualifying based on education, you MUST submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position. IN ADDITION to the basic requirements, this position requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience analyzing and developing policy guidance on hostage incidents, wrongful detentions, abductions, and/or kidnapping. Experience monitoring and resolving issues related to hostage incidents, wrongful detentions, abductions, and/or kidnapping. Experience providing both oral and written briefings to senior officials. Note: If you are qualifying based on education, you MUST submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position.

Education

See the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements.

Contacts

• Address U.S. Department of State 1999 Dyess Ave. (Charleston Reg. Ctr.) Charleston, South Carolina 29405 United States
• Name: Tracey Leath
• Phone: 771-204-3169
• Email: [email protected]