Local Employment Policy Handbook - ICASS

ADVERTISING POSITIONS
1. HR must use the Model Vacancy Announcement (VA) for advertising all positions for State and
participating agencies that have signed the MOA to use State’s PSA authority.
The Model VA is available on the HR/OE website.
2. HR advertises the position on the Vacancy Announcement by the official job title (Example: Visa
Assistant). HR may not include the employment mechanism (e.g., PSA Visa Assistant, FSN Direct Hire
Maintenance Supervisor) on the VA.
3. HR includes the appropriate FSN grade as CAJE evaluated and reference to the American pay plan. If
HR restricts recruitment to US Citizen Eligible Family Members (USEFMs) only, then HR advertises
only the American pay grade which is subject to change if an agency headquarters review results in a
grade change after selection.
For Ordinarily Residents: Once HR staffs a permanent position with an Ordinarily Resident under a PSA,
HR does not have to advertise and recruit the position at any time during the 10-year length of the PSA.
At the end of 10 years, HR terminates the current PSA and processes a new PSA for the current
incumbent with no break in service and no recruitment. HR continues this process until the incumbent
permanently leaves USG service via resignation, retirement, or other separation action.
Exception for State Positions Requiring a Security Clearance: It is the policy of the
Department of State that Mission HR first restricts the Vacancy Announcement for all
State positions requiring a security clearance to U.S. Citizen Eligible Family Members
(USEFMS) only off all agencies under COM authority.
Participating agencies under Chief of Mission (COM) authority that have signed the
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to use State’s Personal Services Agreement (PSA)
authority are encouraged, but not required to follow this policy.
If no U.S. Citizen EFMs apply, or if none are fully qualified after the HR eligibility and
qualifications review and interview with the supervisor, then HR may staff the position
with a U.S. Citizen Member of Household (MOH) or other Ordinarily Resident U.S.
Citizen eligible to obtain the required security clearance. HR may staff the position for a
fixed-term of two years, or the maximum amount of time local labor law allows
termination without cause (without a reason). At the end of the fixed-term position, HR
advertises the position open only to USEFMs.
Additional information on advertising positions is in the Local Employment Recruitment Policy
Guidebook on the HR/OE website.