Professional Associates Program

Expanded Professional Associates Program - August 2008

In July 2008, the Under Secretary for Management announced the expansion of the Professional Associates (PA) Program, which provides additional professional-level, full-time employment opportunities overseas for appointment-eligible family members (AEFMs) and fills critical positions with well-qualified personnel. Read the announcement.

Program Overview

In the regular season of the Expanded Professional Associates (PA) Program, Appointment Eligible Family Members (AEFMs) will be able to apply for newly created PA positions, which will be opening either immediately or summer 2009. AEFMs can apply for the summer 2009 professional-level positions at the same time that their sponsoring employee submits bids on positions at various posts abroad. However, a Professional Associate may only be employed at the same mission as his/her sponsoring employee. Further, an AEFM may only be offered a PA position after his/her sponsoring employee has been paneled to a position at the same mission. AEFMs already present at post also may apply, provided that their sponsoring employee’s tour of duty will extend at least one year beyond November 1, 2008.

The Expanded PA Program will include two seasons, regular and hard-to-fill. In the regular season, PA positions will be advertised up to one year in advance of their opening dates. These are positions which were created specifically for AEFMs and cannot be staffed by Foreign Service Officers. The hard-to-fill season will encompass the former Professional Associates Program. During the hard-to-fill season, AEFMs may apply for existing Foreign Service positions that were not staffed during the FS regular season. The hard-to-fill list is announced annually in March. Of course, AEFMs will also continue to be eligible to bid on FS positions offered via volunteer cables when the positions are open at the sponsoring employee’s post of assignment. 

The Department plans to fill up to 105 PA positions starting immediately through the 2009 regular season using supplemental funds, contingent upon congressional notification. However, more than 105 positions will be advertised in the regular season to give maximum flexibility to both applicants and bureaus in seeking good matches for the positions. Applicants need to be aware that not every position advertised will be staffed, and decisions will be made by the hiring bureau based on the number of applicants and bureau staffing priorities. 

The updated listing of available positions and full details on eligibility, application procedures, selection process, compensation, and training are maintained on HR/CDA’s Intranet site. 

For AEFMs who do not have access to the Department of State’s Intranet, please coordinate with any one of the following to request the necessary information:

• Sponsoring U.S. government employee of AEFM
• CLO (Community Liaison Office) at overseas post
• GEA (Global Employment Advisor) at overseas post
• FLOAskEmployment@state.gov

Professional Associates Program 
The following are the general requirements and procedures for the program.

Background

The regular FS assignments process invariably leaves some overseas positions without sufficient qualified Foreign Service bidders. These positions are designated Hard-To-Fill (HTF) and are opened to Department of State Civil Service employees and to Eligible Family Members (EFMs).  Postions are announced by cable. EFMs may apply only for positions at the posts listed if their sponsoring employee is currently assigned there. They must commit to serve for a minimum of one year in the position.

Foreign Service direct-hire employees can continue to bid on these positions and receive priority in selection.

Qualified EFMs are given preference over equally qualified Civil Service employees. Veterans are given preference in the selection process.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible for the PA program, applicants must be the EFM (defined in 3 FAM 8212 b) of a career government employee from any agency under Chief of Mission authority assigned to a full time position at an overseas post. Members of Household (MOH) and family members of contractors are not eligible. Additionally, applicants must be a U.S. citizen at the time of application, a high school graduate, at least 18 years of age, and qualified for the position.

Professional Associates Program Selection Process

HR/CDA convenes Qualifications Evaluation Panels (QEP) which review applications from EFMs and from Civil Service employees for relevant experience and skills, including foreign language proficiency if the position requires it. EFMs without supervisory experience will not be considered for positions with supervisory responsibilities. A representative from the Family Liaison Office (FLO) participates in the QEP as a non-voting member.

EFMs who are certified as qualified by the QEP are notified by the PA Coordinator and their application material is then forwarded to the regional bureaus for consideration for the vacancies for which they have applied. Selections are made by the bureaus. Qualified EFMs should contact the bureau EX Officer directly to express their interest and discuss their qualifications.

Upon Selection

Selected EFMs are required to have the appropriate security clearances for the posts of assignment prior to appointment. Professional Associates are appointed using the Family Member Appointment (FMA) mechanism. The regulations for FMAs are contained in 3 FAM 8200.

Salary is determined by a Human Resources Specialist with experience in setting Foreign Service salaries.

If required, training may be provided at NFATC.

There is no mechanism for the conversion of a Professional Associate to career Foreign Service. EFMs selected for a PA position should be aware that they will not be able to convert to the career Foreign Service at the end of a tour.

Information provided by the Family Liaison Office
Contact the Family Liaison Office

--07/21/08  Professional Associates Program Expansion  [14 Kb]