Federal

Secretary

Department of State - Agency Wide ยท Department of State
๐Ÿ“ Washington, District of Columbia GS-10 $77,771 - $101,097/yr
Posted: May 29, 2026 Deadline: Jun 4, 2026 (Closes in 6 days)

About This Position

This is a TEMPORARY, INTERMITTENT position located in the Bureau of African Affairs, Office of the Executive Director. The incumbent serves as a Secretary responsible for supporting High-Ranking Officials and staff members by performing administrative and secretatial duties required to accomplish activities, functions, and missions of overseas posts, regional bureaus, and the Department of State effectively and efficiently.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement.

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 one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of the position and is typically in or related to the work of this position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience applying administrative concepts, principles and practices to independently perform duties at posts overseas.

Experience interpreting and applying official travel regulations as they pertain to domestic and overseas travel. Experience working with high-ranking officials at overseas posts; scheduling meetings, travel, and related activities. Experience analyzing and evaluating correspondence and utilizing office software tools and computer applications.

Major Duties

Takes meeting notes/minutes by attending regularly scheduled meetings at post overseas.

Provides office management support, ensuring the security of classified and sensitive information as well as equipment within the Controlled Access Area.

Reviews incoming correspondence and forwards it with necessary information or instructions to the appropriate organizations for action and composes correspondence for signature, refers other documents to appropriate staff for action.

Receives calls, greets visitors, and directs staff members to contacts needing their attention or action.

Makes travel arrangements, arranges and schedules visits, makes transportation and hotel reservations, and notifies organizations and officials to be visited.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

The evaluation process consists of the ApplyGov Competency Based Assessments and a crediting plan for which applicants will be assigned a score between 70 and 100. A resume review will be conducted for minimum qualification requirements, as described in the โ€œQualificationsโ€ section of this announcement, of the top qualified candidates based on combined total score. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further. Responses to questions that are not fully supported by your resume may result in a rating adjustment.

You will be assessed on the following job-related competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Non-Supervisory: Oral Communication, Writing, Interpersonal Skills, Problem Solving, Teamwork, Technology Orientation, Customer Service, Attention to Detail and Self-Management. Set aside at least 2 hours to take the external assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. There are timed sections that must be completed within the allotted timeframe.

Your score from the external assessment Non-supervisory will remain on file for 180 days, allowing you to apply for multiple DOS-announced positions without needing to retake the assessments. Top applicants may be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration. The assessment is used to measure the degree in which your background matches the competencies and KSAs required for this position.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies: Ability to provide office management support. Skilled in interpersonal communication. Knowledge of correspondence procedures. Knowledge of domestic and overseas travel arrangements and authorizations.

Ability to arrange and schedule meetings/conferences Applicants found to be among the top qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview. Qualified non-competitive candidates must be deemed best qualified based on the applicant assessment in order to be referred to the hiring official for further consideration and possible interview. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific.

We do not make assumptions regarding your experience. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application may result in your removal from consideration.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Additional Information

To request a reasonable accommodation for additional time on the timed sections of the assessment, please submit your request using the โ€œRequest a Reasonable Accommodationโ€ button within the Assessment Application. For all other reasonable accommodations at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations (OAA) at [email protected].

OAA is responsible for reviewing and adjudicating reasonable accommodation (RA) requests for the Assessment Battery being used for this announcement. The following applies to all RA requests: RA requests cover additional time on timed sections only. Applicants submitting a RA request MUST attach supporting medical documentation signed by a licensed, treating medical provider.

The documentation should describe the nature, severity, and expected duration of the condition, identify the relevant medical condition or diagnosis, and explain the basis for the requested extension. RA requests that do not contain supporting medical documentation attachments at the time of initial request may be subject to further review.

Note: the following documents do not, on their own, qualify for automatic approval of the RA request: Schedule A letters, VA benefits letters, or SSA letters.

Applicants MUST submit their application before the vacancy closes, even if pending an accommodation decision. Applicants are encouraged to carefully follow instructions related to medical documentation provided in the vacancy announcement prior to beginning the RA process.

Applicants will have 48 hours after their RA request is adjudicated to complete the assessment battery. Scores generated after the allotted timeframe will not be admissible and the applicant will not be considered further for the vacancy. If a different type of RA is needed, please contact OAA directly at [email protected].

If eligible, situational telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days and may require a higher or lower security clearance.

Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions. Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM's CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information.

You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.

How to Apply

Prepare your application in USAJOBS To start your application, click Apply and we'll walk you through the process to attach a resume and any required documents. During the application process you can review, edit, delete, and update your information. We'll automatically save your progress as you go, so you won't lose any changes.

You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement to complete the application process. STEP 1: Select the "Apply" button and follow the instructions to register or sign into USAJOBS.

STEP 2: Submit your resume. Please see the Required Documents section for specific information that should be outlined in your resume. STEP 3: Complete the online assessment questions. STEP 4: Submit all required documentation applicable to you, as listed in the Required Documents section.

To learn how to view the status of your submitted supporting documentation and application, visit the Application Instructions section of our agency's Civil Service selection process site. Technical assistance with your on-line application is available through the Help Desk at [email protected] or by calling (866) 656-6830 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. ET Alternate Application Procedures If applying online poses an extreme hardship, you may request alternate application procedures to submit your application package.

Contact the Human Resources office listed on the announcement between the business hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. ET at least 2 working days prior to the closing date of this announcement. The application package for alternate application procedures must be submitted and received in the Human Resources office no later than 11:59 p.m.

ET on the closing date of this announcement. Paper applications and information sent by mail will not be accepted.

Required Documents

All required documents listed below, that are applicable to you, must be submitted to our automated system by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

  1. Resume limited to two pages showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered.

Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must support your answers to the completed online assessment questions. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.

  1. Performance appraisal. Submit your most recent (i.e., usually within the last 18 months) final (not a mid-year review) official (i.e., signed by the rating official and in original format) annual performance appraisal.
  2. ICTAP/CTAP eligibility documentation (e.g., reduction-in-force (RIF) separation notice, RIF separation SF-50 personnel action (ICTAP only, if available), most recent SF-50 (ICTAP or CTAP), certification of expected separation, etc.).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Secretary position at Department of State - Agency Wide?
The salary range for this position is $77,771 - $101,097/yr. This is a GS-10 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Secretary job located?
This position is located in Washington, District of Columbia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Jun 4, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Top Secret clearance is required.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.