DIPLOMATIC COURIER |  |
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
United States Department of State
An Equal Opportunity Employer
How to Apply
Announcement No: DCS 06-01
Opening Date: July 24, 2006
CLOSED
Position Title: FOREIGN SERVICE DIPLOMATIC COURIER
Grade and Starting Salary Range: FP-6/1 $36,762 - $53,986 per annum
Additional Benefits: Tax-Free Housing overseas; Tax-Free Education Allowance for eligible dependents, etc. (See "Benefits Package")
Number of Vacancies: The Department of State is developing a rank-ordered List of Eligible Hires to fill a limited number of Foreign Service Diplomatic Courier vacancies. The specific number to be hired will depend on the needs of the Foreign Service.
Area of Consideration: All Sources
Location: Initial training and orientation will be held in Washington, DC. Those appointed may serve in diplomatic courier offices located in: Dakar, Senegal; Bangkok, Thailand; Frankfurt, Germany; Manama, Bahrain; Pretoria, South Africa; Seoul, Korea; Miami, Florida, and Washington, DC.
All potential applicants are strongly urged to read this entire vacancy announcement to ensure that they meet all of the requirements for this position and that they fully understand the special circumstances involving a career in the Foreign Service before applying. All applicants must be American citizens and at least 20 years old to apply and at least 21 years of age to be appointed. By law, all career candidates must be appointed to the Foreign Service prior to the month which they reach 60.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Diplomatic Couriers are required to safeguard and escort diplomatic pouches containing classified and sensitive material between U.S. diplomatic missions and the Department of State. Diplomatic Couriers are entrusted with ensuring the inviolability of diplomatic pouches and their safe hand secure delivery throughout the world. They operate under the auspices of international agreements and treaties as governed by the Vienna Convention. They are responsible for Department of State policies, regulations and the strict security procedures that define the control and movement of U.S. diplomatic pouches internationally and within the United States. Diplomatic Couriers spend a substantial portion of their career living and working overseas in a nearly constant travel status.
I. A CAREER IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE
The Department of State is seeking Foreign Service Diplomatic Couriers to serve as international diplomatic couriers. Initially appointed in Washington, DC for training, the Diplomatic Courier career candidate must agree to work at and travel to any of the U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide. Candidates must agree not only to travel to any U.S. diplomatic or consular post abroad, but also to be assigned to any of the nine Regional Diplomatic Courier Offices worldwide, according to the needs of the Foreign Service.
The Foreign Service is more than a job – it's a career. As a member of the Diplomatic Courier team, you will not only help to accomplish the mission of the Department of State, but you will also be a representative of your country to the people of other nations. A career in the Foreign Service involves uncommon commitments and occasional hardships, as well as unique rewards and opportunities. A decision to enter this career involves unusual motivation, a firm dedication to public service, and a clear understanding of the high level of travel required.
Many overseas posts are in small or remote countries where harsh climates, health hazards, and other discomforts exist, and where American-style amenities frequently are unavailable. Travel to and from some locations may involve hardships and oftentimes personal inconvenience. However, careers in the Foreign Service offer special rewards, including the pride and satisfaction of representing the United States and protecting U.S. interests abroad.
II. FOREIGN SERVICE SELECTION PROCESS
The Foreign Service selection process is lengthy, multi-staged, and due to the limited number of appointments available, highly competitive. It commences upon receipt of the candidate's application materials and will continue until the candidate is placed on a list of eligible candidates (a process which can take as long as a year) or is determined to be less competitive than other applicants, in which case the candidacy is terminated. The entire selection process (qualification process and oral examination) is done in the following cities: Washington, DC Metropolitan Area; Miami, FL; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Boston, MA; Los Angeles, CA.; Denver, CO; New York, NY. Travel to one of these locations is at the expense of the applicant.
INITIAL REVIEW
A completed application package contains the materials listed in Section V of this Vacancy Announcement. Materials submitted become the property of the Department of State and will not be returned. An application may be terminated whenever any materials do not meet the basic eligibility requirements for employment as a Diplomatic Courier in the Foreign Service.
III. DIPLOMATIC COURIER CAREER
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Couriers are responsible for the security of the Department of State's Courier accompanied diplomatic pouch operations worldwide. Diplomatic Courier duties may include the supervision of subordinate staff and the actual performance of some, or all, of the following functions:
- Provide Diplomatic Courier services for the Department of State and other U.S. government agencies that may need to transmit official, government classified or sensitive materials across international boundaries. Identify needed logistical support; provisioning for the storage or staging of the pouch; detect and bring to resolution the cause and impact of delays or other logistical problems; as well as adjust plans and schedules for all related actions to accommodate timely and secure movement of pouches.
- Develop, plan, and implement pouch escort programs and schedules; assess the efficiency and effectiveness of operations and provide practical solutions; ensure the proper allocation and expenditure of appropriated funds; and provide timely and appropriate pouch delivery and dispatch services to posts worldwide. Responsible for maintaining internal management controls in order to prevent waste, fraud and mismanagement.
- Manage, regulate, coordinate, or otherwise exercise control over the pouch material through application of material management functions. This includes initial planning, provisioning and determining handling and accountability, and oversight of physical accountability (maintenance and management of inventory records, conduct of periodic inventories, and releases from accountability).
- Plan, coordinate and implement travel and transportation pouch support needs domestically and at posts serviced worldwide, including motor vehicle operations and needs, issuance of travel orders, and ticketing for commercial and military air and surface transportation. Evaluate, negotiate, and participate in awarding contracts with commercial organizations and other government agencies involved in provision of, or support of, travel and transportation activities.
- Enforce Department of State pouch regulations required to ensure the inviolability of diplomatic pouches from the point of origination to international destinations as governed by the terms and authorities of the Vienna Convention.
- Assess risks to movement of diplomatic pouches and cargo to ensure against any infringement of diplomatic rights and privileges as established by the terms of the Vienna Convention; detect and report attempts to damage or subvert the principal of inviolability of the diplomatic pouches and cargo.
- Conduct, administer and implement diplomatic pouch security training and training assistance programs for U.S. foreign affairs agencies. personnel, and officials of designated foreign governments.
INITIAL ASSIGNMENT
Diplomatic Couriers will normally be assigned to one of nine Regional Diplomatic Courier Offices located in: Dakar, Senegal; Bangkok, Thailand; Frankfurt, Germany; Manama, Bahrain; Pretoria, South Africa; Seoul, Korea; Miami, Florida and Washington, DC. Couriers are assigned responsibilities on a regional basis and serve Foreign Service posts in several countries, which will require frequent travel. A substantial portion of a Diplomatic Courier's career is spent overseas and in nearly constant travel status. All Diplomatic Couriers must successfully complete approximately six weeks of training in the Washington, DC area, before commencing their initial tour of duty assignment.
INITIAL SALARY AND SALARY INCREASES
Initial salary at appointment will normally be at the first step of the Foreign Service grade FP-6. Exceptions may be made to increase the number of steps based upon such factors as a Master's degree in a related field and other directly related specialized experience. However, maximum salary is limited to the grade FP-6.
Salaries are determined at the time a final offer of employment is made. Entry-level salary for Federal civilian employees, appointed without a break in service, will be set at the step within the Foreign Service grade FP-6 that is nearest to the base salary rate of their previous salary, providing that the previous experience is job-related.
Upon relocating overseas, salaries may be adjusted to include cost-of-living allowance, post differential, danger pay, and/or other allowances specific to posts of assignment. The actual differences in pay will be determined by the location of assignments.
Couriers will be administratively promoted from grade FP-6 to the FP-5 level after 12 months of satisfactory performance, and to FP-4 after an additional 18 months of satisfactory performance. To proceed beyond the FP-4 level, Couriers are considered for promotion annually in competition with their peers.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
General requirements for employment in the Foreign Service are explained on-line at the website. Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must be in compliance with the Selective Service Act. Applicants must possess a valid U.S. driver's license. An initial qualification review is conducted of all applicant files to determine if they meet the minimum qualifications for the position. That information is contained within the minimum qualifications checklist which is enclosed in this announcement. Only qualified, competitive applicants will be invited to take a proctored writing skills examination. The ability to draft an essay demonstrating a strong command of English grammar, spelling and punctuation is essential. A passing grade on the written examination allows the applicant to proceed to further evaluation of qualifications. A written questionnaire must be satisfactorily completed before a personal oral interview will be administered. Candidates who are successful in all phases of the assessment process will be given the oral examination. Candidates who are unsuccessful in any phase of the assessment process may re-apply, providing that one year has passed since the closing date of the last announcement and that the Diplomatic Courier Vacancy Announcement is open at that time.
Candidates must be at least 20 years of age and within nine months of receiving their Associate's degree in order to apply. Candidates cannot be appointed prior to their 21st birthday.
Prior to appointment, Diplomatic Courier candidates must undergo a thorough background investigation and be eligible for a Top Secret security clearance. Candidates must also receive a Department of State class one medical clearance (unlimited clearance for worldwide assignment). This means that candidates must be generally healthy and free of medical conditions that might require specialized or follow-up medical care that cannot be obtained on a worldwide basis.
Candidates must be willing and able to travel extensively throughout the world utilizing whatever means are available. Traveling and assignments abroad may involve working in remote areas where creature comforts and medical facilities are limited. Diplomatic Couriers may be required to travel to locations of civil unrest where conditions are potentially hostile and performance of duties is conducted under hazardous circumstances. Diplomatic Couriers are also required to assist in the physical movement of diplomatic pouches, some of which may weigh hundreds of pounds.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must have at least an Associate's level degree from an accredited college or university at the time of appointment. Applicants currently pursuing an Associate's degree may apply up to nine months preceding their graduation or applicants must have at least 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university (or will have within nine months); official transcripts that confirm the 60 credit hours are required. Final acceptance will be predicated on receipt of the degree prior to appointment; an official transcript that confirms award of the degree is required.
IV. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
GENERAL AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
| GRADE LEVEL | SALARY RANGE | GENERAL EXPERIENCE (YEARS) |
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE (YEARS) |
TOTAL YEARS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FP-6 | $36,762 - $53,986 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
GENERAL EXPERIENCE
General experience is three years of progressively responsible experience which demonstrates that the candidate has the ability to analyze problems and identify significant factors, gather pertinent information and data, recognize solutions and implement action; plan and organize work; and communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Although not a requirement, fluency in a foreign language is desirable.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE
Specialized experience is that which demonstrates that the applicant has acquired and is able to apply a combination of specific knowledge, skills and abilities appropriate to a Foreign Service Diplomatic Courier position. Examples are:
- Experience in office operations in a government agency or a business or an industrial firm servicing a client or client organization, demonstrating initiative, ingenuity, resourcefulness and judgment required to organize, implement and accomplish tasks.
- The ability to think logically and objectively, to analyze and evaluate facts, and to apply sound judgment in assessing the practical implications of solutions such as that required for negotiating contracts, and scheduling services or production runs.
- Responsibility for planning and scheduling resource needs, or organizing requirements for deliverables.
- Experience preparing written and oral reports and presentation of findings in a clear and concise manner.
- Interpersonal skills, including cultural sensitivity, discretion, tact, and capacity for obtaining the cooperation and confidence of others, such as a team effort and supervision of service or production effort.
- Experience in dealing with airline and other transportation scheduling and routing practices and customs processes, agents or officials, such as that which would be involved in transporting materials across international boundaries.
All experiences must have been of a progressively more responsible nature. The experience must include at least four of the six specialized experience areas listed above. Evidence of working and/or living in a multicultural environment is desirable.
SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE
- Applicants with 18 credit hours of undergraduate level study in addition to an Associate's level degree may substitute that academic achievement for a year of specialized experience.
- A Bachelor's level degree from an accredited university may be substituted for two years of general experience.
V. PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING
WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION.
The following numbered materials are required for a complete application package. They become the property of the Department of State and will not be returned:
- A completed Application for Federal Employment, DS-1950.
- A completed, signed, and dated Minimum Qualifications Checklist.
- A two-page typed (double-spaced) narrative autobiography that discusses:
- Background, including personal interests and hobbies
- General comments on work and academic experiences
- Motivation for becoming a Foreign Service Diplomatic Courier
- Applicants who intend to claim education as a substitute for experience for additional salary steps must provide a sealed, official college or university transcript. A copy of the transcript may be accepted pending issuance of the official documentation.
- A completed Employment Data Form. (Page 6 of DS-1950) (This is an optional form that requests information to be used for statistical purposes only.)
These documents must be submitted together, postmarked no later than August 4, 2006, and addressed to:
U.S. Mail, Overnight or Federal Express deliveries:
U.S. Department of State
Application Evaluation Branch
Attn: Diplomatic Courier Program
2401 E Street, NW, Room H-518
Washington, DC 20522
Please Note: Applications can be faxed to 571-345-3701, but must be followed up with the original application. Original applications must be received prior to final processing.
Applications received through the Department of State's inter-office mail system or mailed in Government-franked envelopes will not be accepted.
Executive Branch agencies are barred by 5 U.S. 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 U.S. Code 3110, sons and daughters of federal employees cannot be granted preference in competing for these employment opportunities.
THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE IS COMMITTED TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND FAIR AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT FOR ALL WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, RELIGION, AGE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, DISABLING CONDITION, POLITICAL AFFILIATION, MARITAL STATUS, OR PRIOR STATUTORY, CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED ACTIVITY. THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS TO APPLICANTS WITH DISABILITIES. APPLICANTS REQUIRING A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY PART OF THE APPLICATION OR HIRING PROCESS SHOULD SO ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT. ALL DECISIONS FOR GRANTING REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS ARE MADE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.
ALL POTENTIAL APPLICANTS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO READ THIS ENTIRE VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT TO ENSURE THAT THEY MEET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS POSITION AND THAT THEY FULLY UNDERSTAND THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVING A CAREER IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE BEFORE APPLYING.
TEST SITE PREFERENCE
(Diplomatic Courier Candidates - select a test site)
Completed applications are reviewed to ensure that candidates meet the minimum qualifications for the position. Those applicants who meet the requirements will be invited to an assessment that takes approximately two hours. Teams from the Board of Examiners will visit various cities in the United States to conduct the assessments. Applicants should use this form to select the city in which they wish to be tested. Applicants unable to meet with a team in a scheduled city may request that their assessment be conducted in Washington, DC.
The two-hour assessment consists of a Qualifications Evaluation Process and an Oral Assessment. Various phases of this process are scored using the following dimensions: written and oral communication, motivation, composure, interpersonal skills, judgment, resourcefulness, initiative and leadership, adaptability/flexibility, perspective and breadth of knowledge, cultural awareness and experience, stability and adjustment, analytical and synthesizing ability, planning and organizing. Questions posed to applicants may address current events, motivation, interpersonal skills, objectivity and integrity as well as some technical hypothetical questions concerning the Diplomatic Courier position.
The assessment/examination process is comprised of four phases:
- A 45-minute written essay;
- A written qualifications evaluation questionnaire;
- An oral qualifications interview; and
- An oral assessment administered by a member of the Board of Examiners and a member of the Diplomatic Security Service.'
We are planning to conduct examinations in the following cities:
Washington, DC Metropolitan Area; Miami, FL; Chicago, IL.; Dallas, TX; Boston, MA.; Los Angeles, CA; Denver, CO.; and New York, NY.
PLEASE CIRCLE THE NAME OF THE CITY IN WHICH YOU WOULD PREFER TO BE TESTED! We will contact you to advise you of the proposed date, time and place for the assessment. Only in unusual circumstances will the date and time and test site be changed.
Please complete the blanks below.
Printed name of selected city and state |
Printed name of candidate |
Date |
Signature |