Scientific Affairs Assistant

**Duties**:
Position reports directly to the ESTH Counselor or designate. Monitors and reports through the ECON-ESTH Minister Counselor to the front office and Washington on significant environment, science, technology, and health (ESTH) policy developments in France. Works in conjunction with officers to advance U.S. goals, policies, interests, outreach, and objectives in these fields. Extensive independent liaison with French institutions and counterparts is required.

Drafts cables, briefing memos, daily reports and other material on French policy, initiatives, international cooperation, and public debate in the spheres of environment, science, technology, and health. Clears paper with other Embassy sections.

Develops contacts and liaises with France's government, academia, and civil society. Proposes and implements cooperative programs, like the Embassy Science Fellows, and other Department-offered initiatives in ESTH fields, including innovation

Manages visits of congressional and executive-branch delegations: coordinates logistics and drafts briefing materials.

Proposes and develops outreach initiatives, and works closely with the Public Diplomacy Section to organize public outreach events to engage a broad spectrum of French and third-country audiences on ESTH issues.

Note: This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by incumbent. Incumbent will be required to perform other duties as assigned by the agency.

**Qualifications and Evaluations**:

- Requirements:

- Education Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in international relations, economics, public policy, physical or life sciences, or environmental science or studies is required.
- Evaluations:
LANGUAGES (These will be tested): English (W-R-S), Level 4 - Fluency is required.
- Qualifications:
**LANGUAGE**: English (W-R-S), Level 4 - Fluency is required (It will be tested)

**EXPERIENCE**: At least 5 years of professional experience in the corporate, academic, government, government relations or scientific fields, with experience in written documents and analysis.

**JOB KNOWLEDGE**: Excellent knowledge and competence in quickly researching, analyzing, and writing about complex policy issues. Excellent knowledge of current international environment, science, technology, innovation and health trends. Good knowledge on how to develop broad contacts with working and mid-level French officials, as well as NGO and private sector professionals in order to : a) collect information o their priorities and policies; b) identify French government strategies and propose ways to influence them towards U.S. objectives; c) provide information on U.S. policies; and d) coordinate logistics for events and meetings.

**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 and confirmed by Washington, D.C.
- Other Information:
HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER:

- AEFM / US EFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
- AEFM / US EFM
- 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.