Federal Position Descriptions
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Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs

Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs, Department of State
Responsibility
Management Scope

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs had an actual budget for fiscal 2015 of $24.425 million.3 The assistant secretary for international organization affairs oversees a large bureau of more than 100 people. While he or she does not manage a particularly large budget, the assistant secretary is responsible for tracking the spending of significant sums of money by multilateral organizations and missions.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develops and implements U.S. policy in the United Nations, the UN’s specialized agencies and other international organizations
• Plays a critical role in coordinating information, instructions and policy in international organizations, and develops strategies to obtain the support of these organizations
• Uses multilateral diplomacy to advance U.S. policies and interests, and strives to ensure that the U.N. and other international organizations remain viable and effective
• Appears before congressional committees and in the media
• Manages the Bureau of International Organization Affairs and multiple missions overseas
• Coordinates closely with the department’s six regional assistant secretaries, the assistant secretary for international security and nonproliferation, and the assistant secretary for legislative affairs, while also coordinating with senior White House officials, other departments and agencies, and nongovernmental organizations4

Strategic Goals and Priorities
[Depends on the policy priorities of the administration.]
Requirements

• Prior experience in the policy realm
• Understanding of foreign policy
• Legal or foreign policy background (preferred)

Competencies

• Deft and diplomatic
• Ability to manage a complex organization
• Strong interpersonal and interorganizational skills
• Ability to coordinate information, instructions and policy
• Ability to work with Congress and constituents
• Ability to manage a broad range of issues
• Political sensitivity

Past Appointments
  • Brian H. Hook (2007 to 2008): Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs; Senior Advisor to the Ambassador to the United Nations; Special Assistant to the President for Policy5
  • Kristen Silverberg (2005 to 2006): Deputy Assistant to the President and Advisor to the Chief of Staff; Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy; Senior Advisor, Office of the Ambassador to Iraq6
  • Kim R. Holmes (2001 to 2002): Vice President for Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, The Heritage Foundation; Director, Davis Institute for International Studies7
AGENCY

Department of State

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.

COMPENSATION

Level IV $155,500 (5 U.S.C. § 5315)1

REPORTS TO

Undersecretary for Political Affairs2

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Footnote
  1. 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.
  2. https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/rls/dos/99484.htm
  3. https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/252179.pdf
  4. OPM
  5. https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/106592.htm
  6. Leadership Directories
  7. http://www.heritage.org/about/staff/h/kim-holmes#
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