Economic Officers

Leading the Global Economy: Economic Officers Advance Economic Prosperity

Economic Officers blend technical knowledge with sharp analytical abilities, excellent writing, and strong interpersonal skills to stay at the forefront of global trends and shape America’s role in the world.

Despite the title, Economic Officers handle a wide range of issues including environment, science, technology, health, and labor policy. Issues range widely depending on the country from climate change to telecommunications, energy policy, the investment climate, and even money laundering. Expert interpersonal and language skills are a must for building information and influence networks within the host country government and private sector. Economic Officers often serve as the primary bridge between the embassy and U.S. companies operating in the host country. Economic Officers have strong data analysis and quantitative skills. While a background in economics and business is useful, the U.S. Department of State provides top-tier training for those needing to enhance their skills.

Core Responsibilities:

• Establish and maintain a strong network of local government officials, business leaders, central bankers, international financial institutions, and experts in public health, climate change, and energy, among others.
• Pinpoint emerging economic trouble spots and uncover overseas opportunities for U.S. businesses.
• Collaborate with the Foreign Commercial Service and Foreign Agricultural Service, especially at smaller posts.
• Champion U.S. companies, promote exports, and engage with local American Chambers of Commerce.
• Analyze and report on local economic conditions, such as the country’s level of intellectual property rights protection, investment disputes, or market access concerns.
• Draft talking points and speeches for Embassy leadership, arrange and manage high-level visits, and lead negotiations on bilateral and multilateral treaties.

Career Progression

Career progression is highly individual in the Foreign Service and depends on a wide variety of factors for all career tracks. The scope of responsibility and level of seniority depend on the size of the embassy or consulate and the nature and complexity of the portfolio related to the country.

With the wide range of issues they cover, Economic Officers have a unique opportunity to chart a varied and dynamic career within the State Department.

Over a career they build subject-matter expertise in energy security, trade, environmental, science, and technology policy, all while managing and leading larger teams in countries more and more important to U.S. interests as they become more senior.

Entry-Level Economic Officers could expect to manage a portfolio of sectoral issues like climate change, mining, telecommunications and technology, energy, science diplomacy, intellectual property rights, and the investment climate, among others. Mid-Level Economic Officers would typically lead a small to mid-sized economic section and manage a team of other Economic Officers and Locally Engaged Staff. Senior Economic Officers would lead economic policy at the highest levels of the Embassy, shaping bilateral and multilateral agreements and advising the Ambassador on the entire range of economic issues in the country. Like all Foreign Service Officers, very senior Economic Officers can compete for Embassy and Washington, D.C.-based leadership roles including that of Ambassador.