An Opportunity to Serve the Secretary: Career

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 STATE 075055

FOR AMBS, DCMS, AND POS FROM EXEC SEC SMITH
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: APER
SUBJECT: An Opportunity to Serve the Secretary: Career
Opportunities for FS-01, FS-02, FS-03, FS-04, and FP-05
and 06 Specialists in the Executive Secretariat


1. I would like to ask for your help in identifying
service-oriented officers and specialists for tours in the
Operations Center on the Watch (S/ES-O) and the Crisis
Management Staff (S/ES-O-CMS),on the Line (S/ES-S),in
the S/ES Information Resource Management Office (S/ES-
IRM),and in the S/ES Executive Director's Office (S/ES-
EX) beginning summer 2010. Motivated people with strong
interpersonal skills, a commitment to excellence, and a
sharp intellect do well in the Executive Secretariat. We
are looking for candidates who possess initiative, good
judgment, attention to detail, the ability to multi-task
under pressure, a solid understanding of U.S. policy and
interests around the world, the ability to work
effectively as part of a team, and a healthy sense of
humor.

THE OPERATIONS CENTER - THE WATCH
--------------


2. The Operations Center Watch is an outstanding
introduction to Washington and the policy-making process.
The Department's 24/7 command and control center alerts
all-source breaking news to Department principals and
bureaus, drafts daily briefs for the Secretary and
memoranda of her conversations with foreign leaders, and
supports the Principals in their telephone diplomacy with
foreign leaders.


3. The challenge is great - serving the highest-levels of
the Department, following global events on a minute-by-
minute basis, and working rotating shifts that allow
little opportunity for leave during the thirteen-month
tour - but the reward is an unparalleled professional
experience. The Watch takes pride in its programs and
esprit de corps: our officers participate in a yearly all-
hands meeting with Department principals, off-sites to
enhance team-building, and shadowing and training
opportunities in other 7th floor offices. Watchstanders
tend to move on to and shine in excellent onward
assignments. The fact that numerous Department principals
are Operations Center alumni speaks highly of the
experience and the opportunity.


4. Candidates need to understand that the unusual nature
and duties of the Watch place considerable demands on our
officers. Watch Officers and Senior Watch Officers as a
rule are not able to take as much leave as colleagues in
more traditional positions and will almost certainly work
when their colleagues in other offices are sleeping or
enjoying weekends or holidays. Our requirement to
maintain a base level of staffing throughout training
seasons means candidates need to be prepared to take less
than the maximum allowable home leave, and missions need
to be prepared to release these officers early.

A) Watch Officers: Watch Officers (WOs) must have top-
notch analytical and communications skills, the motivation
to succeed in a fast-paced and demanding environment, and
a commitment to teamwork and supporting their fellow WOs.
The FS 3/4 WO positions offer arguably the best initial
Washington experience available to a third tour officer,
with tasks ranging from briefing Department principals on
breaking events to monitoring the Secretary's calls with
foreign leaders and drafting memoranda of conversation.
We generally look for FS-04 or FS-03 officers who will
have had two tours by the time they reach the Watch, as
they can best benefit from its rigors and rewards. We
will, however, consider second tour officers who have
shown exceptional maturity and effectiveness during their
initial tour.

B) Senior Watch Officers: FS-02 Senior Watch Officers
(SWOs) lead teams of Watch Officers, and during shifts
outside of normal business hours are often the senior
official on duty at the State Department. SWOs must be
able to exercise sound judgment under pressure and make
decisions based on fragmentary information. They gain
excellent management experience by supervising a team of
six Foreign Service and Civil Service employees. In
addition to being the final arbiter of most written Watch
products, the SWO is responsible for distributing some of
the most sensitive captioned traffic the Department
receives, such as NODIS cables, and is the final clearer
of outgoing sensitive captioned and ALDAC telegrams.


STATE 00075055 002 OF 005

SUBJECT: An Opportunity to Serve the Secretary: Career
Opportunities for FS-01, FS-02, FS-03, FS-04, and FP-05
and 06 Specialists in the Executive Secretari
C) Operations Specialists: Operations Specialists (OS)
are integral members of the Watch team. In addition to
performing many of the same functions as other Watch
Officers, the Operations Specialist is responsible for
monitoring the news wires and keeping the team and the
Executive Secretariat apprised of fast-breaking events;
ensuring rapid and accurate distribution of information,
including the proper transmittal, receipt, logging and
distribution of Top Secret documents; drafting a summary
of press highlights; and operating a wide array of
sophisticated communications equipment. Normally filled
by civil service employees, in summer 2010 we will be
filling one or more OS positions with FP-05 or FP-04
Foreign Service Office Management Specialists.


5. There will be 22 Foreign Service WO openings, six
Foreign Service SWO openings, and at least one Foreign
Service OS opening in the summer of 2010. We welcome
nominations of candidates from all cones. Tenured Watch
Officers receive a 13 percent differential and parking
privileges. Untenured officers and FP-05/06 specialists
receive additional compensation for overtime. Senior
Watch Officers receive an 18 percent differential and
parking privileges. Please note: due to Department
policy, SWOs promoted to FS-01 stop receiving this
differential.


6. Candidates interested in learning more about "Life in
Ops" may contact Operations Management Officer Sara Revell
for a referral to a current Watch Officer. Operations
Center Deputy Director Dean Thompson (before August 10) or
Rena Bitter (after August 10) also would be pleased to
speak by telephone or in person with any candidates
interested in a Watch position.

THE OPERATIONS CENTER - CRISIS MANAGEMENT SUPPORT
-------------- --------------


7. The Operations Center's Office of Crisis Management
Support (CMS) is the nexus for crisis response in the
Department, working in close coordination with posts,
regional and functional bureaus, and interagency partners
to predict, prepare for, and respond to crises that might
threaten American lives or key U.S. policy interests.
The office manages crisis task forces, monitors and
reports on emerging threats, facilitates overseas
emergency preparedness, and participates in crisis
training in the United States and overseas. Whether
moderating interagency conference calls on hurricane
response, guiding task force workers on a midnight shift,
writing a situation report for the Secretary, or working
closely with regional desks, PMOs, CA, DS, interagency
partners, and overseas posts on the spectrum of crisis
response, CMS officers have a unique opportunity to take a
leadership role in arguably the most important work the
Department does - supporting principals, posts, and
private citizens in times of need. During crises, CMS
officers obtain an in-depth understanding of the
operational complexities of the Department's logistical
and diplomatic response when CMS coordinates the task
forces established in dedicated Operations Center task
force rooms, or virtually on classified web portals (see
HTTP://WWW.INTELINK.SGOV.GOV/WIKI/CATEGORY:CR ISIS_TASK_F
ORCE). Shift work is required during crises. Officers
also draft a daily written summary of emerging potential
crises for Department principals and for posting to a
broader inter-agency readership on the Crisis Hot Spots
web portal at http://www.intellink.sgov.gov/wiki/Crisis.
Between crises, officers develop regional expertise and
contacts throughout the Department and the interagency,
focus on crisis management policy, and lead task force
training for Department personnel. Duties also include
some travel to overseas and domestic locations to
participate in and provide briefings during crisis
management exercises.


8. CMS has two 2010 vacancies: a rotational FS-03
position and an FS-02 Coordinator position that supervises
seven staff members. These positions are two-year
assignments, but the rotational officer first serves one
year as a crisis management trainer at FSI's Office of
Crisis Management Training, with regular travel overseas
on Crisis Management Exercises, and then one year as a CMS
Program Officer. These are outstanding opportunities for
up-and-coming Department leaders seeking to develop a rich
blend of analytical, management, consular, and interagency
bureaucratic skills required for success in challenging
overseas assignments or in other busy, high-profile
offices in Washington. Officers from all cones are
welcome. Prior crisis management, teaching, or military
experience, as well as an innovative approach to problem

STATE 00075055 003 OF 005

SUBJECT: An Opportunity to Serve the Secretary: Career
Opportunities for FS-01, FS-02, FS-03, FS-04, and FP-05
and 06 Specialists in the Executive Secretari
solving and management, will be especially valued. More
background information on CMS and crisis management
procedures is available at
http://poems.state.sgov/cms/resources.asp (classified),
or http://ses.state.gov/seso/crisis/resources.as p
(unclassified). Interested officers are encouraged to
contact Karen Zareski, Operations Center Crisis Management
Coordinator.

Operations Center - Front Office


9. In addition, the Operations Center is seeking an
Office Management Specialist to fill the FS-05 Staff
Assistant position. This is an excellent introduction to
Washington and the seventh floor. The Staff Assistant is
an integral part of the Operations Center's front office,
and must be motivated to excel in a fast-paced
environment. Responsibilities include administrative
duties and management of the Department's duty officer
roster, payroll, and the director's schedule. The Staff
Assistant will have the opportunity to cross-train in
other S/ES functions. This is a two-year position,
working regular duty hours (i.e., no shift work).
Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Stephanie
Sullivan, Operations Center Director.


10. We are also seeking to fill the FS-03 Operations
Management Officer (OMO) position. The OMO is an integral
part of the Operations Center's front office team,
assisting the deputy for the Watch and the Operations
Center Director with myriad complex management
responsibilities. The OMO must be motivated to excel in a
fast-paced environment. The OMO will have the opportunity
to cross-train in other S/ES functions. This is a two-
year position, working regular duty hours (i.e. no shift
work, except when cross-training as a Watch Officer).
Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the
Operations Center's Deputy Director, Dean Thompson (before
August 10) or Rena Bitter (after August 10).

The Line
--------------


11. The Line, officially known as the Executive
Secretariat Staff (S/ES-S),offers exciting challenges and
travel opportunities for experienced FS-03 officers and
FP-06 Office Management Specialists. The two-year tour in
S/ES-S offers an outstanding perspective on Washington and
the policy-making process, as well as invaluable
management experience leading teams toward a common goal.
Line Officers and Assistants get a bird's eye view of the
policy process by reviewing the full range of bureau
memoranda for the Secretary, Deputy Secretaries, and Under
Secretary for Political Affairs.


12. Line Officers advance the Secretary's overseas travel
and work closely with Ambassadors, DCMs, and senior
Department and host nation officials to help ensure that
the Secretary's visits successfully advance our foreign
policy agenda. We generally look for tenured FS-03
officers who will have had three tours by the time they
reach the Line, including a tour in Washington. We will,
however, consider third tour officers and/or officers who
have not served in Washington who have shown exceptional
maturity and effectiveness. Line Assistants work in
tandem with Line Officers in advancing the Secretary's
travel and are responsible for logistics for office and
hotel set-up for the Secretary's traveling party. As with
officers, applicants for Line Assistant positions that can
bring a combination of field and Washington experience are
the most competitive.


13. The Line will have five Officer and three Assistant
vacancies in 2010. Line Officers receive a differential
of 13 percent, while Line Assistants receive a night
differential. Both Line Officers and Assistants have
parking privileges. Mario Mesquita, Deputy Director for
the Line, would be pleased to meet in person with
candidates interested in the Line, or can arrange to speak
with them via DVC or on the phone. He can arrange also
for nominees to speak to incumbents. Dean Thompson, Line
Director, is also available to speak with interested
candidates about S/ES-S positions.

Information Resource Management
--------------


14. The FS-02 Deputy Director position provides
leadership, direction, policy, and management for three of
the six teams within S/ES-IRM: Mobile Communications,
Technical and Security, and our Mobile Solutions team.

STATE 00075055 004 OF 005

SUBJECT: An Opportunity to Serve the Secretary: Career
Opportunities for FS-01, FS-02, FS-03, FS-04, and FP-05
and 06 Specialists in the Executive Secretari
Working in a high profile and challenging environment, the
Deputy is expected to provide the Secretary with rapid,
reliable and secure communications as she conducts
America's foreign policy in locations around the world.
Contact S/ES-IRM Director John Bentel or S/ES-IRM Deputy
Director Kevin Wagganer if you have any questions about
this assignment opportunity.


15. The FS-02 Information Management Officer (IMO)
position located in S/ES-IRM directly supervises the
Secretary's Mobile Communications team. The incumbent is
responsible for directing, planning, coordinating, and
implementing various programs designed to provide
telecommunications and information support to the
Secretary of State and other VIPs during their travels
overseas. The incumbent determines and recommends
policies, plans, and courses of action to commit available
resources to initiate or discontinue projects in support
of the bureau's strategic goals and objectives. The IMO
of the Mobile Communications Office deals at a senior
level with officials within the Department, White House,
other government agencies, U.S. missions, and the private
sector. This position has supervisory responsibilities.
Please contact S/ES-IRM Deputy Director Kevin Wagganer if
you have any questions about this position.


16. S/ES-IRM Office of Mobile Communications has three
FS-03 summer 2010 openings with ample travel
opportunities. The Mobile Communications Team within S/ES-
IRM provides rapid, reliable, secure communications
support for the Secretary while traveling overseas,
recreating the domestic information technology work
environment at locations around the world as she conducts
America's foreign policy. The candidates for these jobs
need to be energetic, customer-focused, have the ability
to function as part of a close-knit team, communicate well
with senior Department officials and staff, and adapt to a
constantly changing environment. Team members are
expected to quickly become proficient in LAN/WAN
operations, Cisco routers, Secure Voice, telephone,
administrative desktop support, satellite and
cryptographic operations. They will also be given special
projects as we look for ways to incorporate new
technologies into the present structure. Mobile
Communications Team members must be prepared to depart on
a moment's notice, travel as required and work until the
job is done. This work is exciting, fast-paced, and
physically demanding. As such, a Class I medical
clearance is required for a position with Mobile
Communications. S/ES-IRM IMO Maribel Pulido would be
pleased to speak with any IMSes looking for exciting
challenges in the Mobile Communications section of S/ES-
IRM.

Executive Director's Office
--------------


17. The EX Office of the Executive Secretariat is seeking
motivated, customer friendly, and creative officers to
interface directly with the Secretary and her Principals
and staff on all travel-related issues and logistical and
managerial matters.


18. Deputy Executive Director (FS-01): Serves as Deputy
of the Executive Office of the Executive Secretariat,
which provides managerial and logistical support to the
Secretary, two Deputy Secretaries, six Under Secretaries,
three Special Envoys, and all of the other 30 offices (a
clientele of over 800 employees) under the S umbrella.
Manages and coordinates the the activities of five Foreign
and Civil Service Section Chiefs in Human Resources,
General Services, Budget, Security, and Information
Management. Coordinates the travel for and accompanies
the Secretary of State on all domestic trips. Oversees
the day-to-day operations of more than 60 employees of
S/ES-EX and S/ES-IRM.


19. General Services Officer (FS-02): Serves as the senior
officer in the GSO section of S/ES-EX, providing general
services support to the Secretary, two Deputy Secretaries,
six Under Secretaries, 3 Special Envoys and their staffs,
and all other offices under the S Umbrella. Coordinates
for and travels with the Deputy Secretaries, the Under
Secretaries and the Special Envoys for their special
travel requirements. Incumbent reports through the Deputy
Executive Director to the Executive Director, supervises a
Foreign Service GSO, a Civil Service GSO, four General
Services Specialists, four Labor Technicians and a
Messenger/Clerk.


20. Office Management Specialist - Management - (FP-06):

STATE 00075055 005 OF 005

SUBJECT: An Opportunity to Serve the Secretary: Career
Opportunities for FS-01, FS-02, FS-03, FS-04, and FP-05
and 06 Specialists in the Executive Secretari
Incumbent is a staff assistant in the front office of
S/ES-EX and reports to the Deputy Director. He/she works
directly with the offices of the Secretary, the two Deputy
Secretaries, the Under Secretaries, the Special Envoys,
and all of the other offices in S. Manages the logistics
for all of the Secretary of State's domestic travel needs
and assists on the international travel arrangements as
well. Coordinates the bureau awards program. This is an
exciting position requiring exceptional organizational and
communication skills to deftly handle the myriad of tasks
and clients that can quickly change.


21. Foreign Service HRO (FS-02): Assignments Officer in
S/ES-EX for all foreign services officers under the S
Bureau (including S/ES, D(S),D(L),P, T, E, G, C, M, R, F
and several other S offices). Responsible for coordinating
both generalist and specialist FS assignments, liaising
with HR/CDA and the creation and processing of FS position
descriptions as well as subsequent GEMS entries. Reports
directly to S/ES-EX Human Resources division chief and is
reviewed by the Executive Director. Requires great
organizational and customer skills as there are new HR
situations to solve daily.


22. Please contact Virginia Smith if you are interested in
any of these S/ES-EX positions.


Final Word from the Executive Secretary
--------------

23. Competition for these jobs is always intense. Our
leadership team will weigh strongly your personal
endorsement of a particular candidate.

With regard to nominations:

--Nominations can be sent to me by cable or e-mail.
--For the Operations Center Watch (S/ES-O),please
slug/cc: Operations Center Director Stephanie Sullivan and
Deputy Director Dean Thompson (before August 10) or Rena
Bitter (August 10 onward).
--For the Operations Center Crisis Management Support
positions (S/ES-O CMS),please slug/cc: Operations Center
Director Stephanie Sullivan and Operations Center Crisis
Management Coordinator Karen Zareski.
--For the Line (S/ES-S),please slug/cc: Line Director
Dean Thompson and Deputy Director Mario Mesquita.
--For S/ES-IRM, please slug/cc: S/ES-IRM Deputy Director
Kevin Wagganer and IMO Maribel Pulido.
--For the Executive Director's office (S/ES-EX),please
slug/cc: Virginia Smith.
--VERY IMPORTANT: Please indicate the month in which your
post would be willing to let the candidate leave.
--Please submit your nominations by Tuesday, September 1.


24. Thank you for your consideration and your efforts to
identify top-flight talent for S/ES.


25. Minimize considered.
CLINTON