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.
The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), the professional association and labor union for the United States Foreign Service, seeks a Grievance Counselor to work within the AFSA Office of the General Counsel (OGC) located at 2201 C St NW Washington DC 20520. The position will report to the Senior Attorney Advisor.
Applications will be accepted through August 21. The start date will be as soon as possible.
The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), created in 1924, is the professional association for the U.S. Foreign Service. AFSA’s 17,000+ members include active and retired Foreign Service officers and specialists at the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM).
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 procedures affecting members’ conditions of employment and represents members in grievance proceedings, administrative investigations, and disciplinary proceedings. For more information about AFSA, please go to www.AFSA.org.
AFSA is seeking a highly motivated self-starter to serve in a full-time position as a Grievance Counselor. This individual would directly engage with and assist dues-paying members of AFSA with grievances, administrative investigations, and disciplinary proceedings. Knowledge of the policies and personnel system for agencies, particularly the U.S. Agency for International Development, is highly desirable.
Specific duties include:
Please email a detailed cover letter, a writing sample, and your resume to jobs@afsa.org, subject line “Grievance Counselor Position.” The deadline is Aug 21, 2024.