PD_State_Assistant-Secretary-for-South-and-Central-Asian-Affairs

Position Description

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Overview

Senate Committee

Foreign Relations

Agency Mission

The Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy, and the secretary is the president’s principal foreign policy advisor.

Position Overview

The assistant secretary for South and Central Asian affairs provides guidance to U.S. diplomatic missions in the region and handles foreign policy and diplomatic relations with the following countries and geographic entities: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.¹ _{https://www.state.gov/p/sca/ci/index.htm}

Compensation

Level IV $155,500 (5 U.S.C. § 5315)² _{The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31, May 5, 2017), contains a provision that continues the freeze on the payable pay rates for certain senior political officials at 2013 levels during calendar year 2017.}

Position Reports to

Undersecretary for Political Affairs³ _{https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/rls/dos/99484.htm}

Responsibilities

Management Scope

In fiscal 2015, the Bureau for South and Central Asian Affairs had a budget of $65.174 million.⁴ The assistant secretary oversees the principal deputy assistant secretary and three deputy assistant secretaries.⁵ _{https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/252179.pdf https://lo.bvdep.com/OrgChart.asp?curp=1&LDIBookId=19&LDISectio
Id=180&LDIOrgId=157931}

Primary Responsibilities

® Manages the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs
® Serves as the principal advisor to the secretary of state and the deputy secretaries
® Is responsible for the general conduct of U.S. foreign relations with countries in this geographical division. Regional policy issues include: terrorism, energy, narcotics, Kashmir, nonproliferation, technology and reform
® Testifies before congressional subcommittees and appears in the media
® Provides instructions and guidance to ambassadors, follows up on diplomatic reporting and communicates with the Washington diplomatic corps
® Coordinates with the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs and the assistant administrator of the Agency for International Development as well as senior officials at other departments and agencies
® Coordinates with the assistant secretary for international narcotics and law enforcement, the policy planning staff, the assistant secretary for crisis and stabilization operations, the assistant secretary for intelligence and research, and the coordinator for counterterrorism⁶ _OPM

Strategic Goals and Priorities

[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration]

Requirements and Competencies

Requirements

® Experience in the region, and broad familiarity with regional leaders
® Government experience
® Strong relationships and stature with stakeholders on Capitol Hill and other parts of government

Competencies

® Strong communication skills and ability to appear before media
® Ability to work well with counterparts in foreign policy positions
® Excellent leadership skills
® Ability to think strategically yet also accomplish the department’s operational priorities
® Energy for frequent amount of travel
® Strong communication and interpersonal skills
® Ability to work under high pressure
® Ability to handle sensitive matters
® Excellent negotiation skills
® Ability to work across partisan lines

Past Appointees

Nisha Desai Biswal (2013 to 2017): Assistant Administrator for Asia at the United States Agency for International Development; Majority Clerk for the House Appropriations Committee’s Foreign Operations Subcommittee; Professional Staff in the House Foreign Affairs Committee; International Delegate to the American Red Cross in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan⁷ _{https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/215789.htm}
Robert O. Blake, Jr. (2009 to 2013): Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (Sri Lanka); Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (Maldives); Deputy Chief of Mission in India⁸ _{https://www.academyofdiplomacy.org/member/robert-o-blake-jr/}
Richard A. Boucher (2006 to 2009): Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Cyprus⁹; U.S. Counsel General in Hong Kong _{https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/boucher-richard-a}
The Partnership’s Center for Presidential Transition helps ensure the efficient transfer of power that our country deserves. The Center’s Ready to Govern· initiative assists candidates with the transition, works with Congress to reform the transition process, develops management recommendations to address our government’s operational challenges, and trains new political appointees.