Eleven (11) Civil Service Job Categories
A career in the Civil Service is a unique opportunity to help Americans abroad and represent America to the world. From improving trade opportunities for U.S. businesses, to monitoring human rights issues, to providing management supervision, you can use your skills in a Civil Service career to directly impact foreign policy issues or uphold the business practices and processes involved in supporting the U.S. Department of State’s diplomatic efforts.
With a career in the Civil Service, there’s no end to the number of ways that you can help advance our foreign policy abroad, from right here in the United States. For more information on current job openings, please visit the Apply Now page.
Foreign Affairs
Advise on, administer and manage programs, supervise, perform research or other professional and scientific work, in the formulation and direction of foreign policy, including the disposition of information and policy initiatives impacting international relations.
Human Resources
Manage, supervise, administer, advise on, or deliver human resources management products or services, including specialty areas of focus such as: Information Systems, Classification, Compensation, Recruitment and/or Placement, Employee Benefits, Human Resource Development, Performance Management, Labor Relations and Employee Relations.
Management Analysis
Evaluate the effectiveness of Department programs and operations or the productivity and efficiency of the management of the U.S. Department of State. You will use your knowledge of the substantive nature of agency programs and activities; agency missions, policies, and objectives; management principles and processes; and the analytical and evaluative methods and techniques for assessing program development or execution and improving organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
General Accounting and Administration
Perform, supervise, or manage administrative work of a fiscal, financial management, accounting, or budgetary nature, as well as advise on or administer, supervise, or perform professional accounting work that requires application of accounting theories, concepts, principles, and standards to the financial activities of governmental, quasi-governmental, or private sector organizations.
Budget Administration
Perform, advise on, or supervise work in any of the phases of budget administration when such work requires knowledge and skill in applying budget-related laws, regulations, policies, precedents, methods, and techniques.
Legal Counsel
Prepare cases for trial and/or the trial of cases before a court or an administrative body or persons having quasi-judicial power; render legal advice and services with respect to questions, regulations, practices, or other matters falling within the Department’s purview.
Passport Visa Services
Manage, supervise, or perform administrative work concerned with adjudicating applications for United States passports or visas, including related work involving determining citizenship or fitness of non-citizens for admission to the United States.
Public Affairs
Administer, supervise, or perform work involved in establishing and maintaining mutual communication between the U.S. Department of State and the general public and various other pertinent publics including internal or external, foreign or domestic audiences.
Contract Procurement
Manage, supervise, perform, or develop policies and procedures for professional work involving the procurement of supplies, services, construction, or research and development using formal advertising or negotiation procedures; the evaluation of contract price proposals; and the administration or termination and close out of contracts.
Information Technology Management
Manage, supervise, lead, administer, develop, deliver, and support information technology (IT) systems and services. For these positions, the paramount requirement is knowledge of IT principles, concepts, and methods; e.g., data storage, software applications, and networking.
Foreign Language & Professional Training
Make a difference in our relationships with other countries through the training of foreign language-proficient U.S. diplomats. At the Foreign Service Institute you apply your expertise in second language acquisition, applied linguistics, foreign language and adult education to training for real-world high-stakes jobs. Opportunities exist for Language Training Supervisors, Language Training Specialists and Language and Culture Instructors.
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Civil Service Job Categories Supplemental Information
General Accounting and Administration
The work includes:
- designing, developing, operating, or inspecting accounting systems;
- prescribing accounting standards, policies, and requirements;
- examining, analyzing, and interpreting accounting data, records, and reports; or
- advising or assisting management on accounting and financial management matters.
Accounting theories, concepts, principles, and standards address these types of duties:
- determining the boundaries of an accounting entity; recognizing and measuring revenues;
- matching revenues and expenses by applying methodologies such as accrual accounting and depreciation; defining and measuring costs by application of methodologies such as standard, process, job-order, and activity-based costing; and
- full disclosure on financial statements.
Legal Counsel
In this career, you will prepare interpretative and administrative orders, rules, or regulations to give effect to the provisions of governing statutes or other requirements of law; draft, negotiate, or examine contracts or other legal documents; draft, prepare formal comments, or otherwise make substantive recommendations with respect to proposed legislation; edit and prepare for publication statutes enacted by Congress, opinions or discussions of a court, commission, or board; draft and review decisions for consideration and adoption.
Learn more about practicing law in the Office of the Legal Adviser
Passport Visa Services
The work requires knowledge of legal and regulatory provisions governing U.S. citizenship, nationality, and/or visas; and principles, systems, and operations related to the issuance of passports or other citizenship registration, certificates, or visas.
Public Affairs
In this career, you will advise agency management on policy formulation and the potential public reaction to proposed policy, and identify and carry out the public communication requirements inherent in disseminating policy decisions.
Contract Procurement
The work requires knowledge of the legislation, regulations, and methods used in contracting; and knowledge of business and industry practices, sources of supply, cost factors, and requirements characteristics.
Information Technology Management
The areas of focus include: policy and planning, enterprise architecture, security, systems analysis, applications software, operating systems, network services, data management, internet, systems administration and customer support.