Foreign Service Specialists provide technical support services for the US Foreign Service, including administration, information technology, security, and medical and health professionals. Their role is to maintain the proper functioning of US government offices at home and abroad. Specialist careers require specific skill sets and professional experience.
Foreign Service Specialists are members of the US Foreign Service whose careers involve technical support services, each with an individual set of skills. There are seven careers available, including administration, office administration, international information, and English language programs. Security, medical and health professionals are also members of the Foreign Service. More technical careers include construction, engineering, and information technology. Although a publication may be in a foreign country, the job requirements and duties would be very similar, if not identical, to the same job in the United States.
The role of the Foreign Service Specialist is to support and maintain the proper functioning of US government offices at home and abroad. Political and political issues are in the domain of his counterpart, the Foreign Service officer. A specific skill set and professional experience are typically of prime importance for a specialist career.
The roles of a Foreign Service specialist who follows an administrative track could be as a facilities manager, finance manager or human resources officer. A facility manager’s duties involve overseeing the maintenance of buildings and grounds. A finance manager may be responsible for budgeting, payroll, or expense auditing. Facility staffing, employee benefits, and performance appraisal are often part of a human resources officer’s duties.
An information technology specialist’s responsibilities typically involve installing and repairing computer hardware and peripherals. Telephone and radio specialists maintain a facility’s private branch exchange (PBX) telephone system and any base station or mobile radio equipment. In this bracket, the Foreign Service Specialist may also be involved in network security, communications, and diplomatic pouch or mail services.
The English and Information program’s international career offers opportunities as an English Language Officer (ELO) or Information Resource Officer (IRO). An ELO can be responsible for all US Department of State-sponsored English programs in the host country or an entire region. An IRO works with other embassy and consulate officials to promote electronic and traditional information resources that support the US diplomatic mission. This specialist is also involved with local staff and regional training for information programs.
A foreign service specialist may be employed in the security range as a diplomatic courier, technical security specialist, or security engineering officer. A diplomatic courier personally escorts bags containing sensitive material between diplomatic missions abroad and State Department headquarters. Technical security specialists maintain advanced electronic and mechanical security systems to protect against espionage, crime and terrorism. These systems are designed and tested by safety engineering officers.
Primary care nurses and physicians, psychiatrists, and medical laboratory technologists are employed in the medical and health care specialty. Large facilities often have their own primary care centers to oversee the medical and mental health needs of assigned employees and their families. Staff education on health issues endemic to a given location is also the responsibility of the Field Service specialist in that range.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
