Working within this department are Diplomatic Couriers (DC), Diplomatic Security Special Agents (DSSA), Security Technical Specialists (STT) and Security Engineering Officers (SEO). (2) Cost-of-Living Allowances: The cost-of-living allowances are those allowances that are designed to reimburse employees for certain excess costs that they incur as a result of their employment overseas. Foreign Service Specialists are direct-hire career employees of the United States Department of State and other foreign affairs agencies. A career as a Foreign Service Specialist offers United States citizens the opportunity to travel the world and develop a particular professional skill set while serving their country. Specialists are an integral part of the foreign affairs agencies' presence overseas, dedicated to representing America's interests in other countries. The salary of an FSS depends on the individual’s level of education and relevant work experience. Limited Noncareer appointees are not officially part of the Foreign Service and must leave anytime a career person becomes available for their positions. Specialist Career Tracks The U.S. Department of State offers career opportunities to professionals in specialized functions needed to meet Foreign Service responsibilities around the world. Employment benefits for Specialists and Officers are generally the same. The national average salary for a Foreign Service Specialist is $33,916 in United States. Information Management Specialists (IMS), Information Management Technical Specialists-Radio (IMST-Radio) and an Information Management Technical Specialist-Unified Communications (IMTS-Unified Communications) manage technological infrastructure and install, repair and maintain software and hardware systems. Foreign Service Specialist The U.S. Department of State offers career opportunities to professionals in specialized functions needed to meet Foreign Service responsibilities around the world. A GSO manages the resources at a diplomatic post, whereas an HMO manages the post’s employees. Today was my Foreign Service Specialist (FSS) Oral Assessment for the Foreign Service Construction Engineer (FSCE) specialist position. Dollars Rate limited to the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. Filter by location to see Foreign Service Specialist salaries in your area. Like their Foreign Service Officer (FSO) counterparts, FSS applicants undergo rigorous screening before joining the U.S. Department of State. Required fields are marked *. Employees should check their individual agency’s implementing regulations also. Salary estimates are based on 167,443 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Foreign Service Specialist employees. FSO applicants must pass a written Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT). In terms of federal government jobs for a post-military career, this one lines up closest with my skill set and allows me to travel abroad or live as an expat while building embassies around the world. Eight steps to becoming a Foreign Service Officer (FSO) 1. The work of an IRO helps guide individuals working within Information Resource Centers at U.S. Embassies. These are the personal journal blogs of Foreign Service Officers with the Department of State. Both an FSO and an FSS must be granted medical and security clearance and be U.S. citizens. They are members of the United States Foreign Service who provide important technical, support or administrative services in 19 career categories, including Diplomatic Security Agents, Doctors and Physician Assistants, Information Management Specialists, Office Management Specialists, Human Resource Specialists. Spécialiste du service extérieur - Foreign Service Specialist Un article de Wikipédia, l'encyclopédie libre Les spécialistes du service extérieur sont des employés de carrière embauchés directement du Département d'État des États-Unis et d'autres agences des affaires étrangères. Cost-of-living allowances are not considered a part of taxable income. Hear about how he has been able to live and work overseas. Life as a Foreign Service Specialist Under the Sea. Meet Ethan, he's a foreign service specialist at the U.S. Department of State. In extremely rare cases when no Foreign Service specialists are available, non-career appointees can be considered for entry as FS specialists, providing they meet rigorous standards expected of career members of the Service. Officers hold Article II commissions from the President and are the diplomats of the United States while Specialists perform the essential functions that enable the conduct of diplomacy. Foreign Service Specialist: | |Foreign Service Specialists| are direct hire career employees of the |United States Depa... World Heritage Encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. ", Foreign Service Specialist Careers site at the State Department, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Foreign_Service_Specialist&oldid=970075118, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Information Management Technical Specialist, Printing Specialist (Limited Noncareer Appointment), Security Protective Specialist (Limited Noncareer Appointment), This page was last edited on 29 July 2020, at 02:55. Information Technology: Technological advancements impact the duties of Information Technology employees. They are included in taxable income. These government employees bring specific training and expertise to the posts they hold. Eligibility for full retirement benefits with 20 years of service if age 50 or older. Requirements To become a Foreign Service Specialist, individuals are required to take the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT), which is considered a major part of the process of being selected by the Foreign Service. Rather, these individuals complete an oral assessment. How much does a Foreign Service Specialist make? Law Enforcement and Security: Due to recent events, the responsibilities of diplomatic security officers have expanded. Foreign Service Specialists are direct-hire career employees of the United States Department of State and other foreign affairs agencies. Administration: This department consists of three distinct positions: General Services Officer (GSO), Financial Management Officer (FMO) and Human Resources Officer (HMO). All serve in a series of overseas assignments at U.S. embassies and consulates around the world for much of their careers, with some domestic postings in Washington, D.C. or other locations in the continental United States. There are four roles within this department: Regional Medical Officer (RMO), Regional Medical Officer/Psychiatrist (RMO/P), Foreign Service Medical Providers (FSMP) and Regional Medical Laboratory Scientist (RMLS). Additionally, Specialists may be expected to serve within their functional area throughout their careers, while Officers typically will have some assignments over the course of a career that are inter-functional or in a different career track. They are members of the United States Foreign Servicewho provide important technical, support or administrative services in 19 career categories, including Diplomatic Security Agents, Doctors and Physician Assistants, Information Management Specialists, Office Management Specialists, Human Resource Specialists. While the Office of Allowances is responsible for setting foreign per diem rates, per diem travel policy, both foreign and domestic, is governed by the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) and not by the DSSR. Fewer students with graduate training were entering the foreign service and DEA resisted both specialist recruitment and transfers or secondments from other government departments. Current events necessitate the relocation and reconstruction of certain diplomatic facilities. Congress has approved additional funding for “security-driven construction.” Construction Engineers handle these projects. The selection processes for Specialists and Officers differ, although all include an Oral Assessment, medical and security clearances and a suitability review. Medical employees are constantly on duty. With my husband now retired and my daughter out of college it was time for a change. FSS departments include Administration, Construction Engineering, Facility Management, Information Technology, International Information and English Language Programs, Medical and Health, Office Management and Law Enforcement and Security. The Information Technology specialization is affected by an increased need for cyber security. Global terrorism and technical innovation have altered the FSS role. This group includes the Post Allowance (more commonly referred to as the COLA), Foreign Transfer Allowance, Home Service Transfer Allowance, Separate Maintenance Allowance, Education Allowance, and Educational Travel. Those stationed in Washington, D.C. provide administrative and consultative assistance to institutions and programs abroad. An ELO can have an overseas or domestic assignment. In 2010 I joined… Office Management: An Office Management Specialist (OMS) provides administrative support to U.S. facilities. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) is responsible for picking and training America's embassy staff. While Foreign Service specialists assume posts that are profession-specific such as Information Management specialists and Medical specialists, Foreign Service officers are regarded as generalists who begin by selecting one of five ‘career tracks’—Economic, Public Diplomacy, Consular, Management or Political—but may be called upon to serve on any track within the duration of their employment. There are a variety of specialties available to become a Foreign Service Specialist (FSS) or Foreign Service Officer (FSO). Post Hardship Differential, Danger Pay, and Difficult-to-Staff Incentive Differential (also known as Service-Needs Differential) are all considered recruitment and retention allowances. An overseas ELO manages English teaching activities sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. A Construction Engineer (CE) monitors the construction of diplomatic facilities and consular posts, ensuring that construction projects are completed within budget and in adherence to safety regulations. Foreign Service Specialist jobs are grouped into seven major categories: Administration, Construction Engineering, Information Technology, International Information and English Language Programs, Medical and Health, Office Management, and Security.