Local Employment Policy Handbook - ICASS

USE OF STATE’S PSA AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF
OTHER AGENCIES UNDER CHIEF OF MISSION AUTHORITY
Refs: A. 02 State 42854
B. 03 State 51440
The Department of State may use its PSA hiring authority to hire individuals overseas on behalf of
another department or agency under Chief of Mission (COM) authority. State may only use its PSA
authority to hire individuals on behalf of another agency under Chief of Mission (COM) authority if the
agency signs the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with State (specifically, HR/OE) authorizing State
to use its PSA authority to recruit and hire on behalf of that agency. An Agency or department’s US
headquarters must make the decision to use this authority and the Local Employment Policy (LEP).
Mission management may not make the decision on an agency case-by-case basis.
A current list of signatory agencies is on the HR/OE Intranet website.
The following are some of the conditions in the MOA of possible interest to Mission management:
a. Individuals employed under this authority are employees of the funding or supervising agency
or department.
b. The Chief of Mission must approve any proposed additions and changes to an agency’s or
department’s position complement using this authority. The Chief of Mission may decide to use
any employment mechanism which works well at the Mission, keeping in mind resources
restraints.
Note: This authority does not impact National Security Decision Directive (NSDD-38) or the
formal NSDD-38 process required in order to change the size, composition, or mandate of fulltime,
permanent direct-hire positions (American and foreign national) overseas. But when using a
PSA to employ staff, the department or agency head may use an informal notification (E-mail or
memorandum) to the COM to document changes in staff levels at the Mission.
c. A department or agency using this authority must allow Eligible Family Members, Members of
Household, and Locally Employed Staff of all agencies under COM authority to compete for
employment opportunities.
d. HR management of individuals hired under this authority is according to this policy guidebook,
3 FAM 7000, 3 FAM 8000, and other Department of State policies, procedures, regulations, and
guidance, as they may evolve over time.
HR may use State’s PSA authority on behalf of a department or agency at post when:
--There is COM approval for the position; and