Summary The position is located in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA), Office of Press and Public Diplomacy (PPD). The incumbent serves as a Public Affairs Specialist for the NEA region and point of contact for the Levant (LEV) and Israel and the Palestinian Territories (IPA). Responsibilities Serves as the Public Affairs Specialist for the Levant and Israel and the Palestinian Territories responsible for overseeing Washington-based components of public affairs and public diplomacy functions for Embassy-based Public Affairs Sections (PAS). Monitors think tank/advocacy groups/non-government organization public activity to identify and analyze communication needs, perceptions and interpretations of critical policy importance. Reaches out to foreign embassies and communities in the LEV, IPA and MENA regions to promote collegial relationships, create two-way engagement strategies, and facilitate interaction to communicate Department foreign policy Plans and executes Bureau, Department, and U.S. Government public affairs programs and initiatives intended to inform, justify, explain and obtain the support for complicated and/or controversial U.S. actions or policies. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. NOTE: Applicants must meet time-in-grade and time after competitive appointment requirements, by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirements: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions, per 5CFR 300, Subpart F. Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service which provided the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate the following: Experience as a Public Affairs Officer or Public Diplomacy Officer at an overseas U.S. Mission. Experience developing and supporting U.S. Public Diplomacy programs. Experience serving as an NEA Desk Officer or NEA Public Diplomacy Desk Officer. There is no substitute of education for specialized experience for the GS-14 position. Education Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement. Additional Information For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at (202) 663-3474 or OAA@state.gov. If eligible, telework agreements may be permitted with supervisory approval. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in other Bureaus/Offices in the Department for up to 240 days. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.