Political Specialist

Hiring Path:

- Open to the public

Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:
For USEFM - FP is 05 step 5 and above. Actual FP salary determined by Washington D.C.
- All Interested Applicants / All Sources

Security Clearance Required:
Public Trust - Background Investigation

Appointment Type

Permanent

Appointment Type Details:

- All Interested Applicants / All Sources

Marketing Statement:
We encourage you to read and understand the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply.

Summary:
The work schedule for this position is:

- Full Time (40 hours per week)

Supervisory Position:
No

Relocation Expenses Reimbursed:
No

Travel Required:
Occasional Travel
Occasional travel within Germany and Europe may be required as needed.

**Duties**:
The jobholder is responsible for advancing U.S. Embassy goals on counterterrorism, extremism, law enforcement, human rights, and homeland security issues. A professional conversant in both the German and American legal systems, the incumbent works in a complex interagency environment, including cooperation with the Economic Section, the Legal Attaché, and other members of the Embassy Law Enforcement Working Group, to coordinate reporting and to ensure coherent advocacy of U.S. policy on judicial assistance, counterterrorism, human rights, drug trafficking, organized crime, trafficking in persons, war crimes, combatting antisemitism, and law enforcement cooperation. To advance the Embassy’s urgent agenda in these areas and achieve a high level of bilateral cooperation, the jobholder must maintain or develop contacts with a wide range of high-level contacts in the German legal and law enforcement communities, including judges, federal prosecutors and high-level Ministry of Justice (MOJ)/Ministry of Interior (MOI) officials, including at the Assistant Secretary level. They must have a thorough understanding of German domestic politics, parties, and politicians, as they serve as back up on issues related to German domestic politics and human rights. The jobholder reports to the Political Internal Unit Officer.

**Qualifications and Evaluations**:

- Requirements:
Three (3) years experience in fields covering transnational security, social sciences, political research and analysis or legal issues is required.
- Education Requirements:
Graduate degree (Master's) in Government/Political Science, Public Service, International Relations, Security, Law, or local equivalent is required.
- Evaluations:
English:(Fluent) Speaking/Reading/Writing English is required. This may be tested.

German:(Fluent) Speaking/Reading/Writing German is required. This may be tested.
- Strong English-language drafting and speaking skills are required.

This may be tested.

**EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO)**: The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.
- Qualifications:
All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.

**Benefits and Other Info**:

- Benefits URL:

- Review our Benefits
- Agency Benefits:
Locally Employed Staff, including Members of Household (MOHs), and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), working at the U.S. Mission in Germany may receive a compensation package that may include health, separation, and other benefits.

For EFMs, benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources (HR) Office.

The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.
- Other Information:
HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER:
1. AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
2. AEFM / USEFM
3. FS on LWOP and CS with reemployment rights**
- IMPORTANT: Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”), Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability dated within the past six months, equivalent documentation, or certification. A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.

**This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.