Federal Position Descriptions
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Director of the Office of Foreign Missions

Director of the Office of Foreign Missions, Department of State
Responsibility
Management Scope

OFM has five staffed regional offices in U.S. cities: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Houston.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serves as the liaison with foreign governments that have a presence in the U.S., and ensures equity in benefits, privileges and services provided to foreign diplomatic personnel assigned in the U.S. and U.S. personnel assigned overseas
• Manages the Office of Foreign Missions and, within the Department of State, coordinates closely with the assistant secretary for diplomatic security, chief of protocol and legal advisor
• Serves as a liaison with senior officials at other departments and agencies and other federal, state and municipal governments3
• Enforces the Foreign Missions Act
• Coordinates negotiation with local U.S. authorities and coordinates closely with other U.S. agencies

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

• Diplomacy experience, since interactions of the office deal with foreign sovereigns and require understanding of the effect of decisions on U.S. missions abroad
• Extensive management experience
• Strong relationships or ability to form strong relationships with relevant stakeholders

Competencies

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent leadership skills
• Ability to work under high pressure
• Ability to handle sensitive matters
• Energy for frequent amount of travel
• Excellent negotiation skills

Past Appointments
  • Gentry O. Smith (2015 to 2017): Deputy Assistant Secretary and Assistant Director for Countermeasures, Foreign Service Institute; Director, Office of Physical Security Programs, Foreign Service Institute; Regional Security Officer, Tokyo, Foreign Service Institute4
  • Eric J. Boswell (2008 to 2012): Assistant Deputy Director for Security, Office of the Director of National Intelligence; Director of Administration, Pan American Health Organization; Senior Advisor, Security Change Management at UN Headquarters5
  • Richard J. Griffin (2005 to 2007): Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs; Deputy Director, Secret Service; Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Presidential Protective Division, Secret Service6
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 Management2

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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. OPM
  4. http://www.allgov.com/news/appointments-and-resignations/director-of-the-office-of-foreign-missions-who-is-gentry-smith-140719?news=853729
  5. https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/106593.htm
  6. https://2001-2009.state.gov/outofdate/bios/g/48441.htm
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