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DE RUEHC #5055/01 1990440
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 180423Z JUL 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 8411

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 STATE 075055 
 
FOR AMBS, DCMS, AND POS FROM EXEC SEC SMITH 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: APER
SUBJECT: An Opportunity to Serve the Secretary: Career 
Opportunities for FS-01, FS-02, FS-03, FS-04, and FP-05 
and 06 Specialists in the Executive Secretariat 
 
¶1. I would like to ask for your help in identifying 
service-oriented officers and specialists for tours in the 
Operations Center on the Watch (S/ES-O) and the Crisis 
Management Staff (S/ES-O-CMS), on the Line (S/ES-S), in 
the S/ES Information Resource Management Office (S/ES- 
IRM), and in the S/ES Executive Director's Office (S/ES- 
EX) beginning summer 2010.  Motivated people with strong 
interpersonal skills, a commitment to excellence, and a 
sharp intellect do well in the Executive Secretariat.  We 
are looking for candidates who possess initiative, good 
judgment, attention to detail, the ability to multi-task 
under pressure, a solid understanding of U.S. policy and 
interests around the world, the ability to work 
effectively as part of a team, and a healthy sense of 
humor. 
 
THE OPERATIONS CENTER - THE WATCH 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶2. The Operations Center Watch is an outstanding 
introduction to Washington and the policy-making process. 
The Department's 24/7 command and control center alerts 
all-source breaking news to Department principals and 
bureaus, drafts daily briefs for the Secretary and 
memoranda of her conversations with foreign leaders, and 
supports the Principals in their telephone diplomacy with 
foreign leaders. 
 
¶3. The challenge is great - serving the highest-levels of 
the Department, following global events on a minute-by- 
minute basis, and working rotating shifts that allow 
little opportunity for leave during the thirteen-month 
tour - but the reward is an unparalleled professional 
experience.  The Watch takes pride in its programs and 
esprit de corps: our officers participate in a yearly all- 
hands meeting with Department principals, off-sites to 
enhance team-building, and shadowing and training 
opportunities in other 7th floor offices.  Watchstanders 
tend to move on to and shine in excellent onward 
assignments.  The fact that numerous Department principals 
are Operations Center alumni speaks highly of the 
experience and the opportunity. 
 
¶4. Candidates need to understand that the unusual nature 
and duties of the Watch place considerable demands on our 
officers. Watch Officers and Senior Watch Officers as a 
rule are not able to take as much leave as colleagues in 
more traditional positions and will almost certainly work 
when their colleagues in other offices are sleeping or 
enjoying weekends or holidays.  Our requirement to 
maintain a base level of staffing throughout training 
seasons means candidates need to be prepared to take less 
than the maximum allowable home leave, and missions need 
to be prepared to release these officers early. 
 
A) Watch Officers:  Watch Officers (WOs) must have top- 
notch analytical and communications skills, the motivation 
to succeed in a fast-paced and demanding environment, and 
a commitment to teamwork and supporting their fellow WOs. 
The FS 3/4 WO positions offer arguably the best initial 
Washington experience available to a third tour officer, 
with tasks ranging from briefing Department principals on 
breaking events to monitoring the Secretary's calls with 
foreign leaders and drafting memoranda of conversation. 
We generally look for FS-04 or FS-03 officers who will 
have had two tours by the time they reach the Watch, as 
they can best benefit from its rigors and rewards. We 
will, however, consider second tour officers who have 
shown exceptional maturity and effectiveness during their 
initial tour. 
 
B) Senior Watch Officers:  FS-02 Senior Watch Officers 
(SWOs) lead teams of Watch Officers, and during shifts 
outside of normal business hours are often the senior 
official on duty at the State Department.  SWOs must be 
able to exercise sound judgment under pressure and make 
decisions based on fragmentary information.  They gain 
excellent management experience by supervising a team of 
six Foreign Service and Civil Service employees.  In 
addition to being the final arbiter of most written Watch 
products, the SWO is responsible for distributing some of 
the most sensitive captioned traffic the Department 
receives, such as NODIS cables, and is the final clearer 
of outgoing sensitive captioned and ALDAC telegrams. 
 
 
STATE 00075055  002 OF 005 
 
SUBJECT: An Opportunity to Serve the Secretary: Career 
Opportunities for FS-01, FS-02, FS-03, FS-04, and FP-05 
and 06 Specialists in the Executive Secretari 
C) Operations Specialists:  Operations Specialists (OS) 
are integral members of the Watch team. In addition to 
performing many of the same functions as other Watch 
Officers, the Operations Specialist is responsible for 
monitoring the news wires and keeping the team and the 
Executive Secretariat apprised of fast-breaking events; 
ensuring rapid and accurate distribution of information, 
including the proper transmittal, receipt, logging and 
distribution of Top Secret documents; drafting a summary 
of press highlights; and operating a wide array of 
sophisticated communications equipment.  Normally filled 
by civil service employees, in summer 2010 we will be 
filling one or more OS positions with FP-05 or FP-04 
Foreign Service Office Management Specialists. 
 
¶5. There will be 22 Foreign Service WO openings, six 
Foreign Service SWO openings, and at least one Foreign 
Service OS opening in the summer of 2010.  We welcome 
nominations of candidates from all cones.  Tenured Watch 
Officers receive a 13 percent differential and parking 
privileges. Untenured officers and FP-05/06 specialists 
receive additional compensation for overtime.  Senior 
Watch Officers receive an 18 percent differential and 
parking privileges.  Please note:  due to Department 
policy, SWOs promoted to FS-01 stop receiving this 
differential. 
 
¶6. Candidates interested in learning more about "Life in 
Ops" may contact Operations Management Officer Sara Revell 
for a referral to a current Watch Officer.  Operations 
Center Deputy Director Dean Thompson (before August 10) or 
Rena Bitter (after August 10) also would be pleased to 
speak by telephone or in person with any candidates 
interested in a Watch position. 
 
THE OPERATIONS CENTER - CRISIS MANAGEMENT SUPPORT 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶7.  The Operations Center's Office of Crisis Management 
Support (CMS) is the nexus for crisis response in the 
Department, working in close coordination with posts, 
regional and functional bureaus, and interagency partners 
to predict, prepare for, and respond to crises that might 
threaten American lives or key U.S. policy interests. 
The office manages crisis task forces, monitors and 
reports on emerging threats, facilitates overseas 
emergency preparedness, and participates in crisis 
training in the United States and overseas.  Whether 
moderating interagency conference calls on hurricane 
response, guiding task force workers on a midnight shift, 
writing a situation report for the Secretary, or working 
closely with regional desks, PMOs, CA, DS, interagency 
partners, and overseas posts on the spectrum of crisis 
response, CMS officers have a unique opportunity to take a 
leadership role in arguably the most important work the 
Department does - supporting principals, posts, and 
private citizens in times of need.   During crises, CMS 
officers obtain an in-depth understanding of the 
operational complexities of the Department's logistical 
and diplomatic response when CMS coordinates the task 
forces established in dedicated Operations Center task 
force rooms, or virtually on classified web portals (see 
HTTP://WWW.INTELINK.SGOV.GOV/WIKI/CATEGORY:CR ISIS_TASK_F 
ORCE).  Shift work is required during crises.  Officers 
also draft a daily written summary of emerging potential 
crises for Department principals and for posting to a 
broader inter-agency readership on the Crisis Hot Spots 
web portal at http://www.intellink.sgov.gov/wiki/Crisis. 
Between crises, officers develop regional expertise and 
contacts throughout the Department and the interagency, 
focus on crisis management policy, and lead task force 
training for Department personnel.   Duties also include 
some travel to overseas and domestic locations to 
participate in and provide briefings during crisis 
management exercises. 
 
¶8.  CMS has two 2010 vacancies: a rotational FS-03 
position and an FS-02 Coordinator position that supervises 
seven staff members.  These positions are two-year 
assignments, but the rotational officer first serves one 
year as a crisis management trainer at FSI's Office of 
Crisis Management Training, with regular travel overseas 
on Crisis Management Exercises, and then one year as a CMS 
Program Officer.  These are outstanding opportunities for 
up-and-coming Department leaders seeking to develop a rich 
blend of analytical, management, consular, and interagency 
bureaucratic skills required for success in challenging 
overseas assignments or in other busy, high-profile 
offices in Washington.  Officers from all cones are 
welcome.  Prior crisis management, teaching, or military 
experience, as well as an innovative approach to problem 
 
STATE 00075055  003 OF 005 
 
SUBJECT: An Opportunity to Serve the Secretary: Career 
Opportunities for FS-01, FS-02, FS-03, FS-04, and FP-05 
and 06 Specialists in the Executive Secretari 
solving and management, will be especially valued.  More 
background information on CMS and crisis management 
procedures is available at 
http://poems.state.sgov/cms/resources.asp  (classified), 
or  http://ses.state.gov/seso/crisis/resources.as p 
 (unclassified).  Interested officers are encouraged to 
contact Karen Zareski, Operations Center Crisis Management 
Coordinator. 
 
Operations Center - Front Office 
 
¶9.  In addition, the Operations Center is seeking an 
Office Management Specialist to fill the FS-05 Staff 
Assistant position.  This is an excellent introduction to 
Washington and the seventh floor.  The Staff Assistant is 
an integral part of the Operations Center's front office, 
and must be motivated to excel in a fast-paced 
environment.  Responsibilities include administrative 
duties and management of the Department's duty officer 
roster, payroll, and the director's schedule.  The Staff 
Assistant will have the opportunity to cross-train in 
other S/ES functions.  This is a two-year position, 
working regular duty hours (i.e., no shift work). 
Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Stephanie 
Sullivan, Operations Center Director. 
 
¶10.  We are also seeking to fill the FS-03 Operations 
Management Officer (OMO) position.  The OMO is an integral 
part of the Operations Center's front office team, 
assisting the deputy for the Watch and the Operations 
Center Director with myriad complex management 
responsibilities.  The OMO must be motivated to excel in a 
fast-paced environment.  The OMO will have the opportunity 
to cross-train in other S/ES functions.  This is a two- 
year position, working regular duty hours (i.e. no shift 
work, except when cross-training as a Watch Officer). 
Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the 
Operations Center's Deputy Director, Dean Thompson (before 
August 10) or Rena Bitter (after August 10). 
 
The Line 
-------- 
 
¶11.  The Line, officially known as the Executive 
Secretariat Staff (S/ES-S), offers exciting challenges and 
travel opportunities for experienced FS-03 officers and 
FP-06 Office Management Specialists.  The two-year tour in 
S/ES-S offers an outstanding perspective on Washington and 
the policy-making process, as well as invaluable 
management experience leading teams toward a common goal. 
Line Officers and Assistants get a bird's eye view of the 
policy process by reviewing the full range of bureau 
memoranda for the Secretary, Deputy Secretaries, and Under 
Secretary for Political Affairs. 
 
¶12.  Line Officers advance the Secretary's overseas travel 
and work closely with Ambassadors, DCMs, and senior 
Department and host nation officials to help ensure that 
the Secretary's visits successfully advance our foreign 
policy agenda.  We generally look for tenured FS-03 
officers who will have had three tours by the time they 
reach the Line, including a tour in Washington. We will, 
however, consider third tour officers and/or officers who 
have not served in Washington who have shown exceptional 
maturity and effectiveness.  Line Assistants work in 
tandem with Line Officers in advancing the Secretary's 
travel and are responsible for logistics for office and 
hotel set-up for the Secretary's traveling party.  As with 
officers, applicants for Line Assistant positions that can 
bring a combination of field and Washington experience are 
the most competitive. 
 
¶13. The Line will have five Officer and three Assistant 
vacancies in 2010.  Line Officers receive a differential 
of 13 percent, while Line Assistants receive a night 
differential.  Both Line Officers and Assistants have 
parking privileges.  Mario Mesquita, Deputy Director for 
the Line, would be pleased to meet in person with 
candidates interested in the Line, or can arrange to speak 
with them via DVC or on the phone.  He can arrange also 
for nominees to speak to incumbents.  Dean Thompson, Line 
Director, is also available to speak with interested 
candidates about S/ES-S positions. 
 
Information Resource Management 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶14.  The FS-02 Deputy Director position provides 
leadership, direction, policy, and management for three of 
the six teams within S/ES-IRM: Mobile Communications, 
Technical and Security, and our Mobile Solutions team. 
 
STATE 00075055  004 OF 005 
 
SUBJECT: An Opportunity to Serve the Secretary: Career 
Opportunities for FS-01, FS-02, FS-03, FS-04, and FP-05 
and 06 Specialists in the Executive Secretari 
Working in a high profile and challenging environment, the 
Deputy is expected to provide the Secretary with rapid, 
reliable and secure communications as she conducts 
America's foreign policy in locations around the world. 
Contact S/ES-IRM Director John Bentel or S/ES-IRM Deputy 
Director Kevin Wagganer if you have any questions about 
this assignment opportunity. 
 
¶15.  The FS-02 Information Management Officer (IMO) 
position located in S/ES-IRM directly supervises the 
Secretary's Mobile Communications team.  The incumbent is 
responsible for directing, planning, coordinating, and 
implementing various programs designed to provide 
telecommunications and information support to the 
Secretary of State and other VIPs during their travels 
overseas.  The incumbent determines and recommends 
policies, plans, and courses of action to commit available 
resources to initiate or discontinue projects in support 
of the bureau's strategic goals and objectives.  The IMO 
of the Mobile Communications Office deals at a senior 
level with officials within the Department, White House, 
other government agencies, U.S. missions, and the private 
sector.  This position has supervisory responsibilities. 
Please contact S/ES-IRM Deputy Director Kevin Wagganer if 
you have any questions about this position. 
 
¶16.  S/ES-IRM Office of Mobile Communications has three 
FS-03 summer 2010 openings with ample travel 
opportunities. The Mobile Communications Team within S/ES- 
IRM provides rapid, reliable, secure communications 
support for the Secretary while traveling overseas, 
recreating the domestic information technology work 
environment at locations around the world as she conducts 
America's foreign policy.  The candidates for these jobs 
need to be energetic, customer-focused, have the ability 
to function as part of a close-knit team, communicate well 
with senior Department officials and staff, and adapt to a 
constantly changing environment.  Team members are 
expected to quickly become proficient in LAN/WAN 
operations, Cisco routers, Secure Voice, telephone, 
administrative desktop support, satellite and 
cryptographic operations.  They will also be given special 
projects as we look for ways to incorporate new 
technologies into the present structure.  Mobile 
Communications Team members must be prepared to depart on 
a moment's notice, travel as required and work until the 
job is done.  This work is exciting, fast-paced, and 
physically demanding.  As such, a Class I medical 
clearance is required for a position with Mobile 
Communications.  S/ES-IRM IMO Maribel Pulido would be 
pleased to speak with any IMSes looking for exciting 
challenges in the Mobile Communications section of S/ES- 
IRM. 
 
Executive Director's Office 
--------------------------- 
 
¶17. The EX Office of the Executive Secretariat is seeking 
motivated, customer friendly, and creative officers to 
interface directly with the Secretary and her Principals 
and staff on all travel-related issues and logistical and 
managerial matters. 
 
¶18.  Deputy Executive Director (FS-01): Serves as Deputy 
of the Executive Office of the Executive Secretariat, 
which provides managerial and logistical support to the 
Secretary, two Deputy Secretaries, six Under Secretaries, 
three Special Envoys, and all of the other 30 offices (a 
clientele of over 800 employees) under the S umbrella. 
Manages and coordinates the the activities of five Foreign 
and Civil Service Section Chiefs in Human Resources, 
General Services, Budget, Security, and Information 
Management.  Coordinates the travel for and accompanies 
the Secretary of State on all domestic trips.  Oversees 
the day-to-day operations of more than 60 employees of 
S/ES-EX and S/ES-IRM. 
 
¶19. General Services Officer (FS-02): Serves as the senior 
officer in the GSO section of S/ES-EX, providing general 
services support to the Secretary, two Deputy Secretaries, 
six Under Secretaries, 3 Special Envoys and their staffs, 
and all other offices under the S Umbrella.  Coordinates 
for and travels with the Deputy Secretaries, the Under 
Secretaries and the Special Envoys for their special 
travel requirements.  Incumbent reports through the Deputy 
Executive Director to the Executive Director, supervises a 
Foreign Service GSO, a Civil Service GSO, four General 
Services Specialists, four Labor Technicians and a 
Messenger/Clerk. 
 
¶20. Office Management Specialist - Management - (FP-06): 
 
STATE 00075055  005 OF 005 
 
SUBJECT: An Opportunity to Serve the Secretary: Career 
Opportunities for FS-01, FS-02, FS-03, FS-04, and FP-05 
and 06 Specialists in the Executive Secretari 
Incumbent is a staff assistant in the front office of 
S/ES-EX and reports to the Deputy Director.  He/she works 
directly with the offices of the Secretary, the two Deputy 
Secretaries, the Under Secretaries, the Special Envoys, 
and all of the other offices in S.  Manages the logistics 
for all of the Secretary of State's domestic travel needs 
and assists on the international travel arrangements as 
well.  Coordinates the bureau awards program.  This is an 
exciting position requiring exceptional organizational and 
communication skills to deftly handle the myriad of tasks 
and clients that can quickly change. 
 
¶21. Foreign Service HRO (FS-02):  Assignments Officer in 
S/ES-EX for all foreign services officers under the S 
Bureau (including S/ES, D(S), D(L), P, T, E, G, C, M, R, F 
and several other S offices). Responsible for coordinating 
both generalist and specialist FS assignments, liaising 
with HR/CDA and the creation and processing of FS position 
descriptions as well as subsequent GEMS entries.  Reports 
directly to S/ES-EX Human Resources division chief and is 
reviewed by the Executive Director.  Requires great 
organizational and customer skills as there are new HR 
situations to solve daily. 
 
¶22. Please contact Virginia Smith if you are interested in 
any of these S/ES-EX positions. 
 
 
Final Word from the Executive Secretary 
--------------------------------------- 
¶23. Competition for these jobs is always intense.  Our 
leadership team will weigh strongly your personal 
endorsement of a particular candidate. 
 
With regard to nominations: 
 
--Nominations can be sent to me by cable or e-mail. 
--For the Operations Center Watch (S/ES-O), please 
slug/cc: Operations Center Director Stephanie Sullivan and 
Deputy Director Dean Thompson (before August 10) or Rena 
Bitter (August 10 onward). 
--For the Operations Center Crisis Management Support 
positions (S/ES-O CMS), please slug/cc: Operations Center 
Director Stephanie Sullivan and Operations Center Crisis 
Management Coordinator Karen Zareski. 
--For the Line (S/ES-S), please slug/cc: Line Director 
Dean Thompson and Deputy Director Mario Mesquita. 
--For S/ES-IRM, please slug/cc: S/ES-IRM Deputy Director 
Kevin Wagganer and IMO Maribel Pulido. 
--For the Executive Director's office (S/ES-EX), please 
slug/cc: Virginia Smith. 
--VERY IMPORTANT: Please indicate the month in which your 
post would be willing to let the candidate leave. 
--Please submit your nominations by Tuesday, September 1. 
 
¶24. Thank you for your consideration and your efforts to 
identify top-flight talent for S/ES. 
 
¶25. Minimize considered. 
CLINTON