Foreign Service Consular Fellow - Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, and/or Spanish Proficiency

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.

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 career 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.