Job Title: FOREIGN SERVICE SECURITY TECHNICAL SPECIALIST

Number of Vacancies:  The Department of State is developing a rank-order List on the Register to fill a limited number of Foreign Service Security Technical Specialist (STS) vacancies.  The specific number to be hired will depend on the needs of the Foreign Service.
 
Area of Consideration:  All Sources.

Location:    Initial assignment will normally be to Washington, DC for two years to include initial orientation and training.  Subsequent assignments will be to Foreign Service posts throughout the world where Security Technical Specialists are assigned, Department of State facilities in the Washington, DC area, or Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Foreign Service Security Technical Specialists (STSs) are support personnel within the Bureau of Diplomatic Security who assist in worldwide technical security programs.  These programs provide protection for Department of State facilities and personnel from technical espionage, acts of terrorism, and crime.  In this protection effort, sophisticated electronic and electromechanical security systems are used throughout the world, which include: intrusion detection systems (IDS), closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems, vehicular and pedestrian access control systems, metal detectors, and explosive detection systems. 

STS personnel report to Security Engineering Officers (SEOs) who provide overall program management on technical security matters Department-wide.  The mission of STS personnel is accomplished through the performance of some or all of the following functions or tasks:

• Installing technical security system equipment and components
  
  
• Assisting Security Engineering Officers with surveys, system specifications, and installations
  
  
• Repair of technical security systems
  
  
• Preventative maintenance of technical security systems
  
  
• Travel to overseas embassies and consulates
  
  
• Use of sophisticated electronic test equipment: oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, etc.
  
  
• Bench repair to the component level of defective technical security system equipment
  
  
• Equipment Logistics – shipping, receiving, Bill-of-Materials (BOM) preparation
  
  
• Equipment Inventory – tracking, spare parts, ordering
  
  
• Organizing workshops, shop tools, equipment, parts, and supplies
  
  
• Working with host country personnel (local nationals) when required
  
  
• Testing new-generation technical security equipment
  
  
• Assisting in technical aspects of criminal investigations
  
  
• Assisting in the technical security support rendered to the Secretary of State

In the execution of any of these duties and tasks, STS personnel may frequently be required to:

• Work in confined areas such as crawlspaces, attics, utility pits, tunnels, manholes, and other confined spaces
  
  
• Work from heights to include rooftops, ledges, bucket trucks, scaffolding, and extension ladders
  
  
• Perform manual installation operations to include hammer drilling, core drilling, pulling wire, installing conduit, and terminating cable
  
  
• Move heavy objects (hundreds of pounds) such as crates, building materials, motor-generators
  
  
• Travel and work in hostile environments such as war zones, areas of civil and political strife, and in regions of the world having extreme climates

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Each applicant must possess the required specialized experience as outlined below.  Applicants must also possess a high school diploma or equivalent, must be in compliance with the Selective Service Act and have registered if necessary, and hold a valid driver's license.  Each applicant must pass several stages of an assessment examination.  This examination will be conducted following successful completion of the initial review stage and the qualifications evaluations review process. 

Each applicant must pass the written skills and oral qualification evaluation reviews before being considered sufficiently competitive to advance to the oral examination.  These qualification evaluation reviews are designed to evaluate the applicant's electronic knowledge and experience as well as their technical background.  Only the most competitive candidates will be invited to take the oral assessment examination.

Applicants will be advised of specific examination dates and locations where the entire process will be administered.  Travel to and from the examination site will be at the expense of the candidates.  On the examination date selected, the candidate must personally appear and competitively pass the written skills assessment and the qualifications evaluations process.  The most competitive applicants will be invited to participate in an oral assessment examination.

Applicants who are successful in the oral assessment examination will be placed on the hiring Register for the Security Technical Specialist position.   However, before a candidate can be placed on the hiring Register, he/she must undergo a thorough background investigation to determine eligibility for a security clearance.  A thorough medical examination to determine eligibility for a medical clearance is also required.  Prior to appointment, a candidate must be determined to be suitable for Foreign Service employment by a Final Review Panel. 

DESIRED EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

• An associate's degree in any electronics specialty


• Vocational or military training in any electronics specialty


• Formal job-related classroom training, equipment manufacturers' schools, etc.

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE
 
Applicants may substitute educational achievements for specialized experience. Each time period of related formal academic, technical, vocational, or trade school education may be substituted for the equivalent time period of specialized experience up to a maximum of two years.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for this position must have a demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and repair electronic, electrical, and/or electromechanical systems and equipment, evidenced by work experience in this discipline for three years or more.

Applicants for this position must have a demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and repair electronic, electrical, and/or electromechanical systems and equipment, evidenced by work experience in this discipline for three years or more.

DESIRED SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

Desired areas of expertise include the following:

• Reading, interpreting, and drawing electrical, electronic, and electromechanical schematics


• Reading and interpreting building plans (blueprints)


• AC power distribution systems, motor-generators


• Motors, motor controls, disconnects, relays


• Low voltage DC electronic systems


• Low voltage DC electromechanical systems


• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems


• Use, repair, and/or calibration of electronic test equipment – meters, oscilloscopes


• Bench repair of electronic, electrical, and electromechanical equipment to the component level


• Mechanical and electromechanical locking systems – electronic strikes, locks


• Pedestrian and vehicular access control systems – door controls, vehicle barriers/arrest


• Closed-circuit television systems (CCTV) systems – monitors, cameras, switchers


• Metal detectors – hand held, walk through


• Radio communications systems, voice and digital communications networks


• Intrusion Detection Systems – alarms, detectors, sensors


• Public Address Systems – emergency notification systems, intercoms

FOREIGN SERVICE SELECTION PROCESS

The Foreign Service selection process is lengthy, multi-staged, and highly competitive due to the limited number of appointments available.  It commences upon receipt of the candidate's application materials and may continue until it is determined the candidate is less competitive than other applicants, in which case the candidacy is terminated. 

Successful candidates are listed on a register after meeting certain conditions such as completion of a background investigation, a medical clearance, and a suitability review.  The clearance process can take anywhere from four months to one year.  If not hired after 18 months on the register, the candidacy is terminated.

INITIAL REVIEW

A completed application package must contain the materials listed in Section V of this Vacancy Announcement.  Materials submitted become the property of the Department of State and will not be returned.  An application may be terminated if the submitted materials do not adequately meet the requirements for employment as a Security Technical Specialist in the Foreign Service.

SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONNAIRE
 
Purpose:  The purpose of the Supplementary Questionnaire is to allow the applicant an opportunity to describe personal experiences and achievements that relate to the skills needed to accomplish the duties and tasks performed by STS personnel.  In addition, responses to the Supplementary Questionnaire are used to further evaluate the applicant's overall qualifications. 
 
Instructions:  Individually address each of the items listed below.  Responses must be typed, double-spaced, and should be limited to 200 words or less for each item. Examples can be drawn from any part of the applicant's experience, but must reflect the applicant's personal accomplishments.  Responses should be composed carefully.  One of the skills needed by a Security Technical Specialist is the ability to write clearly and concisely.

• Personal Interests, Licenses, Certifications, and Volunteer Activities: Discuss any hobbies, volunteer activities, licenses, or certifications that are relevant to the Security Technical Specialist career.  Also, indicate any foreign travel experiences, if any, and how this experience relates to a personal desire to live and work abroad.


• Technical Skills: Indicate any training and/or experience in each of the required and desired specialized experience categories. If none, simply state such.


• Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Discuss any personal experiences in writing reports, giving oral presentations, and relating technical things to non-technical people.  Also describe personal experiences in working with a group to achieve common goals. 


• Organizational Skills: Discuss personal experiences in organization and planning that relate to accomplishing a complex task with a deadline.  Examples of this might include a tough troubleshooting success, how a creative solution saved the day, or steps taken to reach a goal.

THE SECURITY TECHNICAL SPECIALIST CAREER

Foreign Service Security Technical Specialists not only are assigned to embassies and consulates abroad, but also to the Department of State in Washington, DC, and the Florida Regional Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL.  Newly appointed Security Technical Specialists are normally assigned to a domestic position located at the Department of State in Washington, DC.  Each new Security Technical Specialist will complete several months of specialized training during this initial assignment, which is normally a two-year tour of duty. 

Follow-on assignments are made in consultation with the employee, taking into consideration the needs of the Department, the particular interests/skills of the employee, career development requirements, family circumstances, and individual preferences.  Typically the first assignment abroad will be at one of the Engineering Services Centers (ESCs) located at various embassies and Consulates throughout the world.

These ESCs are regional technical security support centers that coordinate the technical security programs of the various U.S. embassies and consulates located in nearby countries.  The personnel at an ESC consist of Security Engineering Officers (SEO), Security Technical Specialists (STS), US Navy Seabees, and administrative support staff.  STS personnel are assigned to a team led by an SEO and are given specific duties and responsibilities.  In the performance of their duties, STS personnel may be required to travel from their normal duty station up to 50% of the time.  Generally, this temporary duty travel lasts 5-10 days, with some trips occasionally lasting up to 6-8 weeks.

During domestic assignments, STS personnel continue in their support role in the technical security field through involvement in worldwide programs involving logistics, equipment maintenance, Secretary of State support, and overseas operations.  In addition, STS personnel assist in technical security support to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York, and to the various regional offices located throughout the United States.  A domestic assignment may also involve some periods of overseas travel.

Each new Security Technical Specialist will complete several months of specialized training during their initial assignment, which is normally a two-year tour of duty.  Follow-on assignments will also include any needed training.   Throughout a STS career, additional training will coincide with follow-on assignments and career development needs.

INITIAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT ASSIGNMENTS

Domestic Assignments – A Security Technical Specialist assigned to a domestic position will be a team member of a group dedicated to a functional area within the Bureau of Diplomatic Security.  Functional areas include:

• Domestic Technical Security


• Systems Development and Evaluations


• Secretary of State Support


• Overseas Support


• Quality Control and Liaison

Overseas Assignments – A Security Technical Specialist assigned to an overseas position will serve as a security technician at any of the Engineering Services Offices or Engineering Services Centers located at U.S. diplomatic or consular posts around the world.  While working at Foreign Service posts, Security Technical Specialists perform some or all of the duties described earlier. 

Both overseas and domestic assignments may require frequent travel and some long-term temporary duty.

INITIAL SALARY AND SALARY INCREASES

Initial base salary upon appointment will be within the FP-06 pay grade.  The specific step within this grade depends on experience level and salary history, and will be determined at the time of an offer of employment.

The entry-level salary for Federal civilian employees will be set at the rate, within the Foreign Service FP-06 grade, which is nearest to their previous base salary, provided the work performed in their previous position is relevant to the activities of a Foreign Service Security Technical Specialist.

             
GRADE LEVEL: FP-06/1
SALARY RANGE: $37,828 – $55,552          
EDUCATION: High School Diploma (Required)
REQUIRED SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: 3 years

STS personnel will be administratively (i.e., non-competitively) promoted to the FP-05 level after one year of satisfactory performance, and to the FP-04 level after an additional 18 months of satisfactory performance.  Security Technical Specialists are considered for further promotion annually in competition with others in their specialty. 

Positions of increasingly higher responsibility are achieved as a result of successfully competing for promotions which are earned through demonstrated potential to perform at the next higher level.

PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING

The following materials are required for a complete application package:

1. The Application for Federal Employment and Employment Data Form (DS-1950).
   
   
2. A completed, signed, and dated Minimum Qualifications Check Sheet.
   
   
3. A typed autobiography, double spaced, and no longer than two pages, that discusses:
   a. Personal background, including interests and hobbies.
   b. Motivation for joining the Foreign Service.
   c. Motivation for becoming a Security Technical Specialist
   
   
4. The completed Supplementary Questionnaire (see under How You Will Be Evaluated).
   
   
5. If claiming any post-high school educational experience or substituting any educational achievements for specialized experience, an official academic institution transcript supporting that claim is required.   A copy may be submitted pending issuance of the official documentation.
   
   
6. Certificates of completion of any formal educational experience that is related to the Security Technical Specialist career (with the exception of courses applied towards any completed college degree.)

Submitted materials become the property of the Department of State and will not be returned.

All of the above-listed documents (items 1 – 6) must be submitted together, and addressed to:

U.S. Mail, Overnight, or Federal Express deliveries:

U.S. Department of State
Application Evaluation Branch
Attn:  Security Technical Specialist (STS 09-01)
2401 E Street, NW, Room H-518
Washington, DC  20522

Please Note:  Applications may be faxed to 571-345-3701, but original applications must be received prior to final processing.

For additional information please refer to our Web site at www.state.gov/m/ds/career or careers.state.gov.

Applications received through the Department of State's inter-office mail system, or mailed in Government-franked envelopes, will not be processed.

Application Evaluation Branch Phone: 202-261-8888 Fax: 571-345-3701

Or write: Department Of State 2401 E ST NW, SA-1 Room H518 Attn: Security Technical Specialist (STS 09-01) Washington, DC 20522 US Fax: 571-345-3701

Executive Branch agencies are barred by 5 US Code 3303 as amended from accepting or considering prohibited political recommendations and are required to return any prohibited political recommendations to sender.  In addition, as mandated by 5 US Code 3110, sons and daughters of federal employees cannot be granted preference in competing for these employment opportunities.

The Department of State is committed to equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment for all without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, disabling condition, political affiliation, marital status, or prior statutory, constitutionally protected activity.  The Department provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.  Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for any part of the application or hiring process should so advise the Department.  All decisions for granting reasonable accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis.