Policy Analyst

Policy Analyst, Professional Policy Issues

The American Foreign Service Association is recruiting for a policy analyst position at its Washington, D.C. headquarters. The position will be on full-time telework until AFSA staff returns to the office once the COVID-19 pandemic is under control. Applications will be accepted until January 29, 2021. The start date will be in February 2021.

The Organization

The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), created in 1924, is the professional association for the U.S. Foreign Service. AFSA’s 16,800 members include active and retired Foreign Service officers and specialists primarily at the Department of State as well as at the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Foreign Commercial Service, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the U.S. Agency for Global Media.

AFSA is also a labor union, serving as the exclusive representative of members of the Foreign Service. AFSA negotiates with the management of the principal U.S. Government foreign affairs agencies on personnel policies and practices affecting members’ working conditions, and represents members in formal grievance proceedings, office of security and inspector general investigations, disciplinary proceedings, and EEO cases.

For more information about AFSA, please go to www.afsa.org.

The Position and Its Principal Responsibilities

The incumbent will support and report to the Professional Policy Issues (PPI) Director. Hours for the position are 32-40 hours a week, which can be flexibly arranged, if core hours (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., at least 4 days a week) are covered. Telework is welcome with physical attendance at Monday staff meeting preferred once staff returns to the office. Familiarity with the Foreign Service is a plus, but not required.  

Duties:

• Use policy documents, the Foreign Service Act, and previous AFSA products on the Foreign Service workforce to conduct background research for AFSA policy responses and communications. 
• Maintain data library, updating statistics on the Foreign Service workforce, career, recruitment, and retention. 
• Draft letters to institutions of higher learning, real estate management companies, and vehicle leasing organizations explaining what the Foreign Service is and why members should receive due consideration for in-state tuition, necessary breaking of vehicle and residential leases. Help research issues regarding FS parity with the military. 
• Keep current with relevant developments regarding the professional Foreign Service in all foreign affairs agencies.  
• Conduct AFSA membership research and analysis via member surveys. Assist in collating responses to member surveys. 
• Assist with logistics for PPI and AFSA events. 
• As needed, act as notetaker at structured conversations and other PPI meetings. 
• Other duties as assigned, including conducting as needed research on Congressional issues for the Director of Advocacy and on other issues for the Director of Membership and Outreach. 

Required Competencies

• A college degree.
• High-level research and writing skills and the ability to brief clearly and concisely. 
• Excellent organizational ability. 
• Ability to juggle competing priorities and multiple projects. 
• Familiarity with the organization of data, including spreadsheets. 
• Superb oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, to include email and phone.
• Well versed with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Must be experienced and comfortable running events via videoconferencing, including on both the Zoom and Microsoft Teams platforms.
• The ability to obtain a State Department badge.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in or knowledge of the Foreign Service.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $48,000-$54,000, depending on experience and hours worked, with excellent benefits.

To Apply

Please email a detailed cover letter that explains why you are interested and qualified in this position and your resume, along with a brief writing sample, to jobs@afsa.org.