Jobs at AFSA

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Employment at AFSA

The Foreign Service Act of 1980, the legal foundation for the Foreign Service, opens by declaring that “a career Foreign Service, characterized by excellence and professionalism, is essential in the national interest.” AFSA speaks for its members individually, ensuring that the law is upheld and due process followed, but also, crucially, for the long-term health and vigor of the Foreign Service as an institution, certain in the conviction that a career Foreign Service, characterized by excellence and professionalism, is in America’s national interest.

AFSA’s membership include active-duty and retired Foreign Service officers and specialists at the Department of State, as well as members of the Foreign Service from the U.S. Agency for International Development, Foreign Agricultural Service, Foreign Commercial Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and U.S. Agency for Global Media. AFSA exists to support the United States Foreign Service, which deploys worldwide to protect and serve America’s people, interests and values. The Foreign Service is the only U.S. government entity that is globally deployed with an enduring physical presence in almost every country in the world, creating an enormous competitive advantage for America and for Americans from all walks of life. AFSA’s members are career professionals who spend roughly two thirds of their careers abroad representing America to the people and leaders of other countries. Members of the Foreign Service are posted to more than 270 U.S. embassies, consulates and other missions around the globe—most in difficult and many in dangerous environments.

Our AFSA staff are hired from across the Foreign Service and international affairs communities. If you are interested in supporting the Foreign Service mission and working for AFSA, please keep an eye on our website below for available jobs. In the meantime, we have posted our Employee Handbook here for your information.

Executive Assistant

The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), the labor union and professional association of the United States Foreign Service, seeks a full-time Executive Assistant at its Washington, D.C. headquarters located at 2101 E St NW, Washington DC 20037. Limited telework during the week is allowed and the incumbent must reside in the D.C. metro region (DC, VA, MD). Applications will be accepted through Sunday, July 14th, 2024.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $65,000-78,000, depending on experience. As a full-time employee, benefits include but are not limited to Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, paid vacation and sick leave, and a 401(k)-retirement account.

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.

The Position and Its Principal Responsibilities

AFSA is seeking highly organized and motivated individual to provide high-level administrative support to the elected AFSA President and the executive director, as well as performing routine administrative functions such as preparing correspondence, receiving visitors, arranging conference calls, and scheduling meetings. Essential functions include:

  • Manage all aspects of the President's schedule and travel.
  • Writing minutes of meetings.
  • Managing primary communication between AFSA staff and the governing board.
  • Advising the President on alternative solutions to problems that will arise.
  • Manage the flow of all information coming from external contacts to the President.
  • Assists the Executive Director with correspondence related to fundraising.
  • Compile the monthly President's report to the Governing Board and Board Agenda.
  • Assist the President as needed with drafting a monthly Foreign Service Journal column.
  • Conduct regular 1-1 check-ins with the President to review action items and next day prep.
  • Assist with timekeeping of the President's direct reports.
  • Prepare the Governing Board and Executive Committee agendas and meeting minutes and get approval from the Minutes Approval Committee.
  • Plan Governing Board and Executive Committee meetings, including ordering food and setup.
  • Keep the President appraised of internal AFSA opportunities, issues, and updates.
  • Manage the executive office’s $250,000 budget.
  • Oversee biennial board term report.

Required Qualifications

  • Associates degree or higher.
  • Minimum of 2 years relevant work experience
  • Must be able to lift 25 pounds at a time.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher
  • Strong interest or experience in foreign affairs.

Professional Skills

  • A high degree of professionalism is required.
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Critical thinking.
  • Creativity in resolving problems.
  • Ability to navigate bureaucracies to overcome obstacles.
  • Ability to interact professionally with external partners.

Work Environment

  • Prolonged periods sitting at a desk working on a computer. Will occasionally need to move heavy equipment and furniture. Primary work location will be AFSA HQ located at 2101 E St NW, Washington DC 20037.
  • AFSA offers telework opportunities (locally in the D.C. metro area that includes Maryland and Virginia) but the nature of this position may limit such opportunities to some degree depending on the preferences of the incumbent President.

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.

AFSA Employee Handbook