Political Specialist

**Duties**:
**Basic Function of the Position**: Incumbent is Mission France's lead specialist on domestic politics, establishing networks of contacts and reporting with expertise on French political and legislative developments and their potential impact on U.S. interests and partnership with France. Technical grasp of issues and intellectual rigor are critical to analyze the interplay of a shifting political landscape, public opinion, and policy development and to provide insights on the workings of French electoral, legislative, and judicial systems and implications for government stability, political leadership, etc., including as pertains to France's overseas territories. Facilitates strong relations with French parliament and other levels of government. Organizes visits of U.S. government officials. Drafts a wide range of briefing materials, cables, and reports, including the Congressionally mandated Trafficking in Persons Report. Oversees and provides training on Mission biography resources. Clients include Washington agencies of the U.S. government, as well as the U.S. Ambassador to France and officers in the Political and other sections of the U.S. Mission. Operates with autonomy under the direction of the Internal Unit Chief and backs up Internal Unit Chief on all internal political matters, including in France's overseas territories.

**Qualifications and Evaluations**:

- Requirements:
**EXPERIENCE**: Five years of progressively responsible experience in professional social science activities, such as research and analysis, reporting on political matters, journalism, or other work requiring gathering information from a variety of sources and compiling and analyzing results for a diverse audience.

**JOB KNOWLEDGE**: Must have extensive knowledge of French domestic politics, political parties and actors, and electoral, legislative, and judicial systems. Must have broad understanding of the institutions of the French government and cultural and historical frameworks impacting domestic and legislative developments, as well as of U.S. French relations and U.S. government priorities and actions in context of the relationship.
- Education Requirements:

- Bachelor degree
- Possession of a university degree in history, international relations, political science, law, journalism.
- Evaluations:
**LANGUAGE**: Level IV(Fluent) English Speaking/Reading/Writing required. This may be tested.

Level IV (Fluent) French Speaking/Reading/Writing required. This may be tested.

**SKILLS AND ABILITIES**: Ability to interpret the needs of the USG and other information consumers for coverage of political developments in France. Ability to develop and maintain an extensive range of mid-level and senior contacts in the government, academia, and civil society. Ability to obtain material from varied sources and prepare reports of both a factual and analytical nature in precise and accurate form. Strong writing skills and ability to draft complete and well-edited products quickly. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to broaden and develop contact network. **Must be able to obtain and hold an Interim Top Secret security clearance.**

**SUPERVISION EXERCISED**: N/A

**EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO)**: The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.
- Qualifications:
All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.

**Benefits and Other Info**:

- Benefits:

- Agency Benefits:
For EFMs, benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources Office.

The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.
- Other Information:
HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER:

- AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
- AEFM / USEFM
- FS on LWOP and CS with reemployment rights**
- IMPORTANT: Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”), equivalent documentation, or certification. A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.

**This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.