Local Employment Policy Handbook - ICASS

DETERMINING THE GRADE AND STEP
FOR NOT ORDINARILY RESIDENTS
Grade
HR evaluates all positions to determine the full performance FSN grade level before recruiting, even if the
supervisor chooses to restrict recruitment only to US Citizen EFMs. (Exception: The CLO and Consular
Associate positions are not CAJE evaluated.) This ensures that the supervisor completes a Position
Description (PD) on the DS-298 and Job Discussion Help Sheet (JDHS). It also helps the US
headquarters office authorize the appropriate American pay plan grade.
1. For State Positions staffed by an Appointment Eligible Family Member under an FMA or Temporary
Appointment:
HR forwards the PD, JDHS, and CAJE Job Report to the appropriate regional or functional bureau Family
Member Employment (FME) Coordinator. The FME Coordinator reviews all documentation and
authorizes the FP grade.
For grades FP-4 or higher, the FME Coordinator sends the documentation to the International HR
Manager in HR/OE/HRM for review and grade determination.
Grade determinations authorized by the Regional or Functional bureau FME Coordinator, or the
HR/OE/HRM International HR Manager are final.
2. For State Positions staffed by EFMs who don’t meet the definition of AEFM and all other NORs with
US Social Security Numbers hired under a PSA:
HR forwards the PD, JDHS, and CAJE Job Report to the International HR Manager in HR/OE/HRM,
who reviews HR’s CAJE results and authorizes the final FP grade by E-mail to HR. HR/OE/HRM’s
grade determination is final.
HR attaches a copy of the E-mail to the PD and includes the HR/OE/HRM grade authorization in the
remarks section of the JF-62A as: “HR/OR/HRM authorization of grade received in E-mail dated (insert
E-mail date).”
3. For Participating Agency positions encumbered by AEFMs, EFMs, and other NORs on an (other
agency) PSA, PSC, or direct hire (DH) appointment:
HR forwards the PD, JDHS, and CAJE Job Report to the appropriate International HR Manager in
HR/OE/HRM. HR/OE/HRM, in consultation with the participating agency US headquarters, as