Federal Position Descriptions
Print

Coordinator for Counterterrorism

Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Department of State
Responsibility
Management Scope

The Bureau of Counterterrorism had a budget of $9.391 million in fiscal 2015.3 The coordinator for counterterrorism had approximately 21 direct reports in 2012.4

Primary Responsibilities

• Serves as an advisor to the secretary and other department officials on counterterrorism policy, strategy, threats and operations
• Develops coordinated strategies to prevent terrorism and defeat terrorists abroad and secures the cooperation of international partners toward those ends
• Manages and has oversight responsibility for several U.S. foreign assistance programs
• Designs, manages and oversees foreign assistance to build the civilian capabilities of foreign government partners to prevent and counterterrorism and violent extremism in an effective and sustainable fashion
• Supports foreign efforts to build law enforcement and judicial capabilities to prevent and mitigate attacks; disrupt terrorist transit; and arrest, investigate, prosecute and incarcerate terrorists in accordance with the rule of law
• Promotes the leadership of other countries to build capacity in third-world countries in their regions
• Strengthens partnerships and initiatives involving governmental and nongovernmental actors to prevent violent extremism5
• Coordinates closely with other state department components and interagency components6

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

• Background in analyzing, preventing or combating international terrorism
• Knowledge of the civilian side of counterterrorism and related international cooperation and capacity-building issues

Competencies

• Strong communication and negotiation skills to work effectively with foreign countries and other agencies
• Ability to work under high pressure
• Ability to handle sensitive matters
• Ability to work across partisan lines

Past Appointments
  • Tina S. Kaidanow (2014 to 2016): Deputy Ambassador at the Embassy in Kabul; Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs; Deputy Assistant Secretary responsible for issues related to Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and the Caucasus, Department of State7
  • Daniel Benjamin (2009 to 2012): Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies and Director of the Center on the United States and Europe, Brookings Institution; Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Affairs in Washington; Jennings Randolph Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace, Foreign Policy Speechwriter, National Security Council, Special Assistant to President Bill Clinton8
  • Dell L. Dailey (2007 to 2009): Director of the Bureau of Counterterrorism9; Joint Special Operations Command10;Director, Center for Special Operations11
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)2

REPORTS TO

Undersecretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights

Appointee Tracker

Check out our Political Appointee Tracker

Go to the tracker
Footnote
  1. https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/101435.pdf
  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.
  3. https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/252179.pdf
  4. Romney Readiness Project
  5. https://www.state.gov/j/ct/programs/index.htm
  6. OPM
  7. https://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/80149.htm
  8. http://dickey.dartmouth.edu/people/daniel-benjamin
  9. https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/dailey-dell-l
  10. http://www.allgov.com/officials/dailey-dell?officialid=28673
  11. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/23/AR2007082302031.html
More federal position descriptions