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Posted: February 27, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Office Director

Department of State - Agency Wide

Department of State

Fresh

Location

Salary

$150,160 - $225,700

per year

Closes

March 13, 2026More State jobs →

GS-14/15 Pay Grade(Career Ladder)

Entry salary: $104,604 | Full performance (GS-15): up to $159,950

Career ladder: Start at GS-14 and advance to GS-15 with experience.

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-13. Senior expert or supervisor.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This role involves leading the Department of State's program for handling presidential appointments and ensuring U.S. government personnel have the right diplomatic status for key overseas duties.

The director reports to a White House liaison and focuses on making federal operations more efficient while upholding American democratic principles.

It's ideal for experienced senior leaders passionate about public service, government efficiency, and the U.S. Constitution, with a strong track record in executive management.

Key Requirements

  • Progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience at GS-14/15 level or equivalent
  • Demonstrated commitment to the rule of law, U.S. Constitution, and principles of the American founding
  • Ability to drive efficiency through resource management, budgeting, and process/technological improvements
  • Proven technical competence in producing high-quality work with merit and reliability
  • Strong skills in leading teams, inspiring high performance, and holding people accountable during change
  • Track record of achieving individual and organizational results aligned with goals
  • Experience in federal government personnel management or diplomatic processes (preferred)

Full Job Description

The Office Director for the Office of Presidential Appointments (PAS) is located in Washington, DC, reporting directly to the White House Liaison (WHL).

PAS leads and executes the Department of State's Presidential Appointments program essential to the functioning of the Executive Branch. PAS is also responsible with ensuring U.S.

Government personnel serving under the Chief of Mission authority hold the necessary diplomatic status for mission-critical responsibilities.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

As a basic requirement for entry into the SES, applicants must provide evidence of progressively responsible executive leadership and supervisory experience that is indicative of senior executive level management capability and directly related to the skills and abilities outlined under Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications (MTQs) listed below.

Typically, experience of this nature will have been gained at or above the GS-14/15 grade level in the federal service or its equivalent in the private sector.

The application process used to recruit for this position is the RESUME-BASED Method. You must address the ECQs and MTQs related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES.

Resumes exceeding the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed and will be disqualified. Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s).

If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing ECQs or MTQs. Separate narratives will not be accepted or reviewed.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): YOUR RESUME (NOT TO EXCEED TWO PAGES) MUST CLEARLY DOCUMENT AND DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING EVIDENCE OF YOUR ECQs : ECQ 1 – Commitment to Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding.

This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ 2 – Driving Efficiency.

This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ 3 – Merit and Competence. This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4 – Leading People.

This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture.

This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable. ECQ 5 – Achieving Results.

This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

NOTE: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs.

Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES).

MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (MTQ)s: IN ADDITION, YOU WILL BE EVALUATED ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs): Your responses to the MTQs should be embedded/addressed within your resume not to exceed two pages.

MTQ 1 Expert knowledge and demonstrated experience overseeing strategy and program development for high-level executive employment programs and serving as an authoritative expert and senior executive advisor to the highest senior level or elected officials related to executive appointments policy and Congressional engagement.

Experience managing short-term and long-range plans, policy options, and legislative strategy dealing with sensitive, complex issues associated with Executive appointments.

This includes capacity to maintain sound judgement and confidentiality while engaging with candidates for the most senior leadership positions for a primary executive agency operation globally or a large multinational organization.

MTQ 2 Expertise and demonstrated experience providing technical guidance and oversight for the design and development of organizational policies, goals, and objectives that focus on directing accreditation programs and providing expert program direction to the accreditation of U.S, personnel overseas.

Demonstrated ability to provide authoritative guidance concerning accreditation of U.S. personnel, privileges, and immunities.

NOTE: Your demonstrated leadership ability and the evidence of the ECQs and MTQs must be clearly shown in your resume. A separate narrative statement will not be accepted.

A sample 2-page resume that incorporates ECQs and MTQs can be viewed on this link (indexed at page 29 – 37), “Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications” and “Senior Executive Service Qualifications & Fundamental-Competencies”.

YOU WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION IF YOU FAIL TO FULLY DEMONSTRATE EACH ECQ AND MTQ AND IF YOUR RESUME EXCEEDS TWO (2) PAGES.

Current or Former (within last 5 years) Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize any employment offers made to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employees in the Executive Branch.

If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES employee, please indicate this in your resume.

Serving in a Schedule A, Schedule C, or Noncareer SES appointment WILL NOT eliminate you from consideration. Major Duties:

The Office Director for PAS serves as an authoritative expert and senior executive advisor to the White House and Senior Department of State leadership on all matters related to Presidential Appointments policy, legislation, strategic direction, and Senate engagements leading up to the confirmation of nominees to executive branch positions.

Key duties include: Leads the Department of State Presidential Appointments program, encompassing senior leadership positions, ambassadorial posts, and special appointments requiring Senate confirmation and Presidential appointment.

Provides expert executive-level advice to non-career and career candidates and establishes partnerships to facilitate timely progression through vetting, preparation, confirmation, and appointment processes.

Develops stakeholder engagement and implements administrative and management policies, plans, and procedures for Presidential Appointments, Presidential Commissions, Foreign Service Commissions, and Diplomatic and Consular Titles programs.

Maintaining frequent contact with officials at the highest levels of government.

Directs the diplomatic and consular commissions program in accordance with the Foreign Service Act of 1980, facilitating the Secretary of State's recommendations to the President for Foreign Service Officer commissions.

Serves as the Department authority on diplomatic and consular titles in full compliance with the Vienna Conventions and international law.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/27/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/27/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CSTM-2026-0004