Foreign Service Consular Fellow - Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, and/or Spanish Proficiency Job in Department of State Posts - Overseas and Domestic

Vacancy No. CFP-2025-0001 Department Department of State - Agency Wide
Salary $57,932.00 to $117,444.00 Grade 06 to 06
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 10/3/2024 Close Date 9/30/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Department of State Posts - Overseas and Domestic


Summary

The U.S. Department of State, our country’s lead foreign policy agency, provides a rich international experience.  A Limited Non-Career Appointment (LNA) in the Foreign Service is a distinct opportunity to serve your country for up to 60 months and offers candidates considering a career in the Foreign Service first-hand insights and exploration of potential Foreign Service career paths.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and available for work outside the United States. U.S. citizen candidates with dual nationality are ineligible for assignment within their country of dual nationality. Applicants may reapply one year after completing the Consular Fellows Program Test (CFPT) for the same position. Applicants may not reapply for two years after a State Department Suitability Review Panel denies them suitability.

Duties

Please visit the Department’s Career Site for more details on the duties and responsibilities of a Consular Fellow.  

Special Circumstances

This Consular Fellow Limited Non-Career Appointment (LNA) is up to 60 months, but the Department may terminate the appointment at any time based on the needs of the Service.  The Department assigns a Consular Fellow to a U.S. embassy or consulate overseas with the expectation that the appointment and potential extensions will permit completion of a standard two-year tour of duty.  Upon completion of the first tour of duty, the Department may assign the Consular Fellow to a different overseas post.  Consular Fellows are full professional members of embassy and consulate teams.  Consular Fellow appointments, however, do not provide expedited, alternate, or otherwise special access or a pathway into the Department of State Foreign Service.  These appointments do not lead to onward employment with the Department of State or with the U.S. government.  Consular Fellows may apply to become career Foreign Service Specialists or Officers, as well as Civil Service employees, but they must meet all applicable qualifications and complete the standard application and assessment processes.  Consular Fellows who subsequently enter the career Foreign Service as Entry Level Officers are still required to fulfill the consular service requirement.  Consular Fellows must also complete 24 months of service as a Consular Fellow before joining the career Foreign Service, if after completing the standard application process they are offered such a position.

The Department hires candidates applying for the Portuguese and Chinese language programs primarily for service in Brazil and China.  Per the Foreign Affairs Manual (3 FAM 2424.5), the Department does not permit assignment of U.S. employees to posts in countries of which they are nationals.  Additionally, candidates and their family members should be aware that, in general, countries do not extend diplomatic privileges and immunities to family members who are dual nationals.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

The U.S. Department of State maintains a rank-ordered list of eligible hires for LNA Consular Fellow positions.  To learn more about the Department of State and the Consular Fellows Program visit the Department of State’s Careers website at https://careers.state.gov and careers.state.gov/career-paths/foreign-service/consular-fellows.

Qualifications for Employment: 

  • Be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain authorization to work in country or countries of assignment.  (Note:  Candidates with dual nationality are ineligible for assignment within their country of dual nationality.  Recruitment for Portuguese and Chinese languages is targeted for service in Brazil and China, and candidates who are nationals of these countries are unable to meet this qualification).  
  • Be able to obtain a Top Secret Security Clearance. 
  • Be able to obtain a medical clearance to serve abroad at the post of assignment. 
  • Be able to obtain a favorable Suitability Review Panel determination.
  • Be at least 20 years old at the time of application; at least 21 years old at the time of appointment. 
  • E-Verify:  Verification of employment eligibility in the United States is required. 
  • Must speak and read an eligible foreign language at the required proficiency level (current eligible languages are Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, and Spanish).  

For more details on language proficiency, review information at Language Tests - Careers (state.gov). 

The Consular Fellow LNA continues for up to 60 months but may be terminated at any time, with 30 days’ notice, by either the Consular Fellow or the Department.  The Department assigns a Consular Fellow overseas to a U.S. embassy or consulate with the expectation that the appointment and potential extensions will permit completion of a standard two-year tour of duty.  Upon completion of the first tour of duty, the Department may assign a Consular Fellow to a different overseas post for the remainder of the 60-month LNA. 

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

General knowledge of the United States, including customs and culture, society, trends, history, economy, government, political system, and the Constitution.

Skill in written and oral communication, including English grammar and usage, techniques for effective interpersonal communication, techniques for handling interviews, complaints, sources of information, and public speaking ability.

General skills in computers, including computer operations, common office software programs (e.g., Microsoft), e-mail systems, internet.  The Department will provide successful applicants with training on specialized Consular software applications.

General subject matter, including psychology and human behavior, interacting with individuals undergoing stress.  Basic mathematics.

Required language fluency as outlined above.

Education

There is no minimum education requirement for this position.

Additional information

Other Information:  *The Department of State Suitability Review Panel and its standards are described in Chapter 3 of the Foreign Affairs Manual.  For more information please visit:  Home Page : Foreign Affairs Manual (state.gov).  **Please visit the Department of State’s Careers website for more information about Veteran’s Preference and how it is applied in the FS Selection Process. 


E-Verify: EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION PROGRAM (E-Verify) – U.S. law requires organizations to employ only individuals who may legally work in the United States – either U.S. citizens, or foreign citizens who have the necessary authorization.  This agency utilizes E-Verify to compare information from the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) records to confirm employment eligibility.  If the employee’s information does not match DHS and/or SSA records, the employee is given an opportunity to resolve the problem.  If eligibility cannot be verified, employment will be terminated. 

No applicant will be considered who has previously been separated from the Foreign Service under sections 607, 608, 610 or 612 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or retired in lieu of separation under these provisions.  In addition, no applicant will be considered who has previously been separated for failure to receive a career appointment under section 306 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, or who resigned or retired in lieu thereof. 
 
Executive Branch agencies are barred by 5 U.S.C. § 3303, as amended, from accepting or considering prohibited political recommendations and are required to return any prohibited political recommendations to sender.  In addition, as mandated by 5 U.S.C. § 3110, relatives of federal employees cannot be granted preference in competing for these employment opportunities, and employees may not influence or participate in the hiring process of a relative. 
 
It is the policy of the Federal Government to treat all employees with dignity and respect and to provide a workplace that is free from discrimination—whether based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy), national origin, disability, genetic information, age, political affiliation, marital status, or other non-merit factors—and retaliation. 
 
The Department of State provides reasonable accommodation to qualified candidates with disabilities.  Procedures vary by test type, and all candidates must request reasonable accommodations in advance.  See here for more information.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Benefits include optional participation in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program as well as participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).  Overseas benefits may include paid housing at post, paid education allowance for eligible dependent children between K-12, ability to earn Non-Competitive Eligibility to apply for civil service positions in the federal government after 48 months of continuous service as a Consular Fellow, recruitment bonus of up to 10% of initial salary depending on language ability at the time of appointment as well as needs of the Service, and eligibility to apply for the Student Loan Repayment Program. 

Effective October 1, 2024, the Department of State will award additional points to candidates pursuing Foreign Service Generalist or Specialist career candidacies who can adequately demonstrate verifiable, prior overseas Foreign Service experience, including experience as an (LNA) Consular Fellow.  Candidates must fully pass the career candidacy exam process and successfully obtain all required pre-employment qualifications and clearances for Foreign Service Generalist or Specialist candidacies.  The Department will then add these points to their assessment score for ranking purposes on the Foreign Service Generalist or Foreign Service Specialist hiring registers.  Please see here for additional information.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The Department will evaluate candidates on their total background including experience, education, awards, training, and self-development as it relates to the position.  Selection for this position will be made only from among candidates possessing dimensions of a successful Foreign Service employee.

Qualifications: 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

General knowledge of the United States, including customs and culture, society, trends, history, economy, government, political system, and the Constitution. 
 
Skill in written and oral communication, including English grammar and usage, techniques for effective interpersonal communication, techniques for handling interviews, complaints, sources of information, and public speaking ability. 
 
General skills in computers, including computer operations, common office software programs (e.g., Microsoft), e-mail systems, internet.  The Department will provide successful applicants with training on specialized Consular software applications. 
 
General subject matter, including psychology and human behavior, interacting with individuals undergoing stress.  

Required language fluency in Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, or Spanish as outlined at Language Tests - Careers (state.gov)  


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

Information on how to submit your application and register to take the Consular Fellow Professional Test is available via the Pearson VUE site, please see:  U.S. Department of State Consular Fellows Program Test (CFPT) :: Pearson VUE.  Please do not apply through USAJobs.  The How to Apply information below provides detailed instructions. 

Personal Narratives and Statement of Interest: 

These required questions provide an opportunity to describe examples and accomplishments from your education, life, and/or work experience that demonstrate your qualifications for becoming a Consular Fellow.  Examples can be drawn from any part of your professional or personal experience.  The information you give is an important factor in the competitive evaluation of applicants.  Responses are limited to 300 words or fewer (maximum length 2,000 characters) for each item.  You should compose your replies carefully, as one of the skills necessary to succeed as a Consular Fellow is the ability to write clearly and concisely.  Answers to all items in the Personal Narrative and Statement of Interest are required and the following areas are evaluated as part of the online application:  substantive knowledge, intellectual skills, interpersonal skills, communication skills, managerial skills, leadership skills, and motivation for applying. 

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements: 

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating. 

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Steps to Apply:

  1. Visit PearsonVUE.com to complete the online application and register for the Consular Fellows Program Test (CFPT).  Please note the Pearson VUE site contains information on how to request reasonable accommodations for the CFPT.
  2. Submit resume information through Pearson VUE’s online portal.  Your online resume may be typed, or you may cut and paste an existing resume into the space provided.  Your resume must include your work history for the last 10 years or since completing formal education, whichever is the shorter period. 
  3. Follow the instructions to answer self-assessment questions for the specific job to which you are applying, completing the required Accomplishments Questionnaire (Personal Narratives) and Statement of Interest in the online application. 
  4. Your application is automatically saved as you proceed through it.  You may interrupt your application process and return to it until you submit it.
  5. Complete, review, and submit. 
    • After you complete and submit the above information this becomes your online application and will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position. 
    • You have six months to complete the application process outlined in this announcement and take the CFPT.  If you have not done so within six months, you must restart the application process. 
    • Application packages must be complete before you can register for the CFPT. 
    • It is strongly recommended that you go back into your application and verify that everything is completed properly.

If you are having technical difficulty with the application process, please contact the Customer Service Desk by calling 1-866-389-8339 (toll free), 1-952-905-7483 (toll) or by utilizing the Chat function on www.pearsonvue.com.  The Help Desk is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time; closed on local holidays. 
 
For more information on the Consular Fellows hiring process, please visit www.pearsonvue.com/cfpt/ or http://careers.state.gov/work/foreign-service/consular-fellows/selection-process.  If you have any questions regarding the program, email CFPInfo@state.gov. 

Agency contact information

Consultant
Phone
000-000-0000
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
CFPInfo@state.gov
Address
U.S. Department of State
2401 E Street NW
Washington, District of Columbia 22502
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Pearson VUE forwards candidates’ Consular Fellow Program Test results as well as their applications to the Department of State on a quarterly basis.  After the Department of State receives the information, the Department will notify all applicants via the e-mail they provided during the application process of the next steps in the process.  We recommend adding the Department of State domain (@state.gov) as an approved sender to your inbox. 


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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