Foreign Affairs Advisor

Overview

Summary:

The Foreign Affairs Advisor managed by contractor management, and that contractor management has the autonomy to deal effectively with the employee and implement employer practices.

Responsibilities

Essential Job Functions:

• Participate as a member of the core OES/OMC team working to counter IUU fishing, coordinating OES/OMC’s response to IUU fishing issues as they arise, including drafting briefing materials, talking points, and memos for OMC and OES leadership. This includes providing primary support for OES/OMC’s planning and execution of a multi-day ministerial-level event focusing on countering IUU fishing, potentially hosted at the State Department by the Deputy Secretary of State.
• Provide programmatic support to OES/OMC managed grants, financial projects, and budget execution as needed related to foreign assistance and International Fisheries Commission funding, in support of OMC’s current FTE GOR who serves as the lead on these items.
• Assist in the Department’s engagement in the annual Our Ocean Conference in close coordination with OES/OPA.
• Assist with drafting documents and reports for review by OES leadership related to a range of emerging marine and fisheries management issues, including but not limited to: IUU fishing, sustainable fisheries, and maritime domain awareness. Products may include – but are not limited to – speeches, talking points, Congressional testimony, briefing materials, decision memoranda, reports, and international agreements. Audiences may include – but are not limited to – State Department leadership, interagency leadership and staff, Congressional staff, and the general public.
• Provide support in developing policies, technical guidance, and instructional guidance for application by a wide range of experts and other users to ensure that ocean and coastal policy goals are considered when policy is formulated, developed, and implemented. Collaborate and coordinate with other partners, internal and external, to provide insight, advice, briefings, and summary reports on emerging oceans and fisheries management issues to leadership and to internal and external audiences.
• Establish and maintain relationships with interagency partners who work within the ocean and coastal policy space (e.g., Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, etc.).
• Synthesize technical information for use in policy and communications materials for OES leadership and stakeholders about key emerging marine and fisheries management issues.
• Support OMC staff on preparations for the UN and UN technical agency meetings and committees on fisheries, including coordinating and contributing to briefing book preparation and coordinating the U.S. delegation and NGO observers.
• It is anticipated that domestic and/or international travel may be required.

Qualifications

Necessary Skills and Knowledge:

• Ability to develop professional working relationships with officers throughout the Department and with the foreign policy community and establish liaison with officials in other organizations to provide opportunities for exchanging information of mutual interest.
• Knowledge of the functions, responsibilities, and objectives of the office, the Bureau, and the Department.
• Timely, accurate, complete and up-to-date work products.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, including follow-up on pending and ongoing tasks.
• Ability to operate significantly under own initiative and as part of a team, including drafting proposals and recommending effective approaches to tasks with minimal guidance.
• Ability to work with a wide variety of actors within OES and with other Bureaus and offices within the Department of State, as well as with interagency and external partners.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in environmental studies.
• Specialized experience planning or supporting planning for large events, experience coordinating, leading, and participating in intra- and inter-agency teams.
• Experience writing for senior level officials, notably talking points and speeches for public presentation.
• Specialized experience with foreign assistance, grants, and budget execution; GOR certified.
• Specialized experience with U.S. foreign affairs with respect to marine and fisheries policy, particularly with regard to combating IUU fishing, and sustainable fisheries.
• Experience making recommendations to senior level officials on marine and fisheries policy.
• Specialized experience working within the context of the basic theories and practical policies of living marine resource conservation and management, and of the structure and function of the U.S. fishing industry, as well as global commercial fishing in general.
• Ability to plan and organize activities to independently accomplish assignments according to established policies and practices.
• The clearance required for this position is Secret.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in environmental studies.

Pay and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $123,000.00 to $133,00.00 annually. 

At Goldbelt, we value and reward our team's dedication and hard work. We provide a competitive base salary commensurate with your qualifications and experience. As an employee, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with company matching, tax-deferred savings options, supplementary benefits, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.