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Foreign Affairs Officer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

TJFACT

Drug Supply Reduction Program Assistant

Washington, DC · On-site

$42K - $53K/yr

Advise the Supervisory Foreign Affairs Officer/Team Leader on the daily implementation of the Drug Supply Reduction program. * Provide logistics and administrative support, prepares documentation ...

New

Tulk LLC

Public Affairs Officer Junior

Fort Belvoir, VA · On-site

$88K - $117K/yr

Public Affairs Officer Junior TULK is a boutique strategic technology and management consulting ... Engagement: Support high-level military and civilian, foreign, and domestic visits/functions ...

ManTech

Senior Public Affairs Officer

Springfield, VA

$140K - $224K/yr

This role is 100% on-site. The Senior Public Affairs Officer is responsible for developing ... Manage end-to-end logistics for domestic and foreign VIP visits, including dry runs, briefing books ...

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Foreign Affairs Officer information

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$39.5K

$109.3K

$165.5K

How much do foreign affairs officer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for foreign affairs officer in the United States is $109,289.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,000.00 and $132,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Foreign Affairs Officer vs Diplomatic Security Officer?

AspectForeign Affairs OfficerDiplomatic Security Officer
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in international relations, political science, or related field; often requires security clearanceHigh school diploma or equivalent; security clearance may be required
Work EnvironmentEmbassies, consulates, government agencies, international organizationsEmbassies, diplomatic facilities, security agencies
Employer & IndustryGovernment foreign service, international organizationsU.S. Department of State, private security firms

Foreign Affairs Officers primarily focus on diplomatic relations, policy analysis, and international negotiations, working in diplomatic missions. Diplomatic Security Officers concentrate on protecting personnel, facilities, and information, emphasizing security and safety. While both roles operate within diplomatic environments, their core responsibilities and required qualifications differ significantly.

What are some common challenges foreign affairs officers face when working on international negotiations?

Foreign Affairs Officers often navigate complex negotiations that involve balancing the interests of their home country with those of foreign governments. Challenges include managing cultural differences, communicating effectively across language barriers, and adapting to shifting geopolitical landscapes. Officers must also be prepared to respond quickly to evolving situations and maintain strong professional relationships with international counterparts. These factors require resilience, adaptability, and a deep understanding of international protocols.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a foreign affairs officer?

To thrive as a Foreign Affairs Officer, you generally need expertise in international relations, policy analysis, and a relevant degree such as political science or international studies. Familiarity with diplomatic protocols, foreign languages, and information management systems is often required, and certifications in areas like security clearance may be necessary. Strong interpersonal communication, cultural sensitivity, and negotiation skills help you build effective relationships and navigate complex international environments. These abilities are crucial for representing national interests, fostering international cooperation, and managing sensitive global issues.

What is a foreign affairs officer?

Foreign Affairs Officers are professionals who represent and promote their country's interests abroad, typically working for government agencies like the Department of State. They analyze international issues, develop foreign policy, and engage in diplomatic negotiations with representatives from other nations. Their duties may include preparing policy briefs, advising government officials, and managing international programs. These officers often serve at embassies, consulates, or headquarters, and their work is essential to fostering international cooperation and resolving global challenges.
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Foreign Affairs Officer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Foreign Affairs Officer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, and 6% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,289 per year, or $52.5 per hour.

Foreign Affairs Officer

Department of State - Agency Wide

Washington, DC • On-site, Remote

$143K - $187K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 17 days ago

Job description

Summary
This position is in the Department of State's Office of Foreign Missions, Policy and Reciprocity Office (OFM/PR). The incumbent is a senior Foreign Affairs Officer providing authoritative advice and guidance to senior policy-making officials in the Bureau and the Department on a range of matters affecting national security and foreign policy objectives that impact foreign missions, domestic and abroad.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
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  • Serves as the senior action officer on a broad range of subjects related to the operation of foreign missions in the United States.
  • Develops policies relative to the 2,600 foreign missions in the U.S. to ensure that there is reciprocal treatment of USG employees serving overseas and to advance national interests.
  • Ensures fair, reciprocal treatment between the United States and foreign governments regarding diplomatic missions while safeguarding U.S. interests.
  • Serves as an expert advisor regarding Department policies and procedures impacting a variety of foreign missions lead by OFM, exercises judgment to interpret and introduce changes in program
    requirements and procedures as needed.
  • Represents OFM at Department, interagency, public, or international meetings and interacts with other agency staff and other Federal agencies.

Requirements
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Conditions of employment
  • U.S. Citizenship is required.
  • Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
  • Obtain/maintain eligibility to access Sensitive Compartmented Information

Qualifications
Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described below by the closing date of this announcement. If you are qualifying based on education OR if there are mandatory education requirements listed below, you MUST submit a copy of your college transcript with your application.
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 the required experience or education as described below and meet any selective factors, when specified. BASIC REQUIREMENTS:
Have a bachelor's or graduate degree from an accredited college or university in international law, international relations, political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, social or cultural anthropology, law, statistics, or in the humanities;
OR
Have a bachelor's or graduate degree from an accredited college or university that included a combination of courses, with at least 24 semester hours in international law and international relations, political science, economics, history, sociology, geography, social or cultural anthropology, law, statistics, or in the humanities;
OR
Have 12 semester hours in one of the above disciplines and 12 semester hours in statistics / quantitative methods.
OR
Have a combination of education and experience where your coursework was equivalent to a major, or a combination of related courses totaling at least 24 semester hours, (as shown above),
PLUS appropriate relevant experience OR additional education.
OR
Have completed at least 4 years of appropriate experience in one OR more of the fields listed above in work associated with international organizations, problems, or other aspects of foreign affairs.
(NOTE: qualifying work experience may have been gained through residence, study, teaching, business or commercial activities, military service, newspaper work, military or civil government activities, missionary or international relief work, or other experience in foreign countries.)
Note: If you are qualifying based on education, you MUST submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position.
IN ADDITION to the basic requirements, this position requires one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least 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 analyzing, assessing, and developing policies related to laws, regulations, and bilateral agreements to advance U.S. national interests.
  • Experience briefing senior government officials, negotiating, and justifying Department positions on issues of reciprocity.
  • Experience collaborating with U.S. government agencies, foreign governments, and international organizations to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives.

Note: If you are qualifying based on education, you MUST submit transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you WILL lose consideration for this position.
Education
See the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements.
Additional information
  • To request a reasonable accommodation for additional time on the timed sections of the assessment, please submit your request using the "Request a Reasonable Accommodation" button within the Assessment Application.
    For all other reasonable accommodations at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations (OAA) at OAA@state.gov.
    OAA is responsible for reviewing and adjudicating reasonable accommodation (RA) requests for the Assessment Battery being used for this announcement. The following applies to all RA requests:
    • RA requests cover additional time on timed sections only.

    • Applicants submitting a RA request MUST attach supporting medical documentation signed by a licensed, treating medical provider. The documentation should describe the nature, severity, and expected duration of the condition, identify the relevant medical condition or diagnosis, and explain the basis for the requested extension. RA requests that do not contain supporting medical documentation attachments at the time of initial request may be subject to further review.

    • Note: the following documents do not, on their own, qualify for automatic approval of the RA request: Schedule A letters, VA benefits letters, or SSA letters.

    • Applicants MUST submit their application before the vacancy closes, even if pending an accommodation decision.

    • Applicants are encouraged to carefully follow instructions related to medical documentation provided in the vacancy announcement prior to beginning the RA process.

    • Applicants will have 48 hours after their RA request is adjudicated to complete the assessment battery. Scores generated after the allotted timeframe will not be admissible and the applicant will not be considered further for the vacancy.

    • If a different type of RA is needed, please contact OAA directly at OAA@state.gov.
  • If eligible, situational 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 and may require a higher or lower security clearance. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.
  • Agency & Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP & ICTAP): View OPM's CTAP & ICTAP eligibility website for more information. You must be rated in the Well-Qualified category and submit supporting documents under the required documents section of this announcement to receive selection priority consideration. To be considered Well-Qualified applicants must: score an 85 or above, meet Minimum Qualifications, and demonstrate proficiency in some, but not all major aspects of the position.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
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