Deadline: 17-May-21
The Global Talent Management, Office of Talent Acquisition (GTM/TAC), of the US Department of State and Bureau of Human Resources has announced an open competition for one assistance award to conduct programmatic, financial and administrative activities for the 2022 Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program.
Program Goals
- Contribute to a Foreign Service that reflects the diversity of the United States.
- Develop new talent for the Department of State’s Foreign Service at the graduate level; individuals who are dedicated to pursuing Foreign Service careers and representing America’s interests abroad.
- Promote the Department’s diversity goals.
Program Objectives
- Attract and recruit highly talented and qualified candidates from across the United Sates who represent ethnic, racial, gender, social and geographic diversity to a Foreign Service career in the U.S. Department of State through a program of educational support and professional development.
- Provide candidates and fellows with information on the service elements, benefits, challenges, and requirements of a Foreign Service career.
- Provide candidates and fellows with information on the benefits and obligations of the fellowship and need to complete Foreign Service entry requirements including obtaining and maintaining required clearances (security, suitability and medical) and taking the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) and passing the Foreign Service Oral Assessment (FSOA).
- Provide funding to assist fellows towards completing graduate degrees in academic disciplines representing the skill needs of the Department’s Foreign Service.
- Enhance fellows’ understanding of U.S. foreign policy and the work and lifestyle of the Foreign Service through a domestic internship in Washington D.C. and an overseas internship at an embassy, consulate, or mission.
- Provide fellows with mentoring and professional development training to expose them to information that will help to prepare them to be successful Foreign Service Officers. Emphasis will be placed on the contributions of all five career tracks to the Department’s mission to assist fellows with career track selection reflecting the importance of all career tracks.
- Administer the program in a strategic and efficient way that produces the intended results.
Funding Information
- Award Ceiling: $6,065,980
- Award Floor: $6,065,980
Expected Results
Based on the goals and objectives of the program, expected results include, but are not limited to the following:
- Recruitment activities will target diverse candidates and institutions across the United States and highlight the Department of State’s commitment to building a workforce that represents the broad and inclusive elements of the nation’s diversity.
- The applicant pool will represent ethnic, racial, gender, social, and geographic diversity.
- Candidates’ knowledge of the benefits, challenges and requirements of a Foreign Service career will increase.
- 45 fellows will be selected through a highly competitive nationwide selection process.
- Fellows will be prepared for careers with the Department of State as Foreign Service Generalists through a program that includes financial assistance towards the completion of a two-year master’s degree, mentoring, internships, and professional development.
- Fellows will complete graduate degrees in academic disciplines representing the skill needs of the Department’s Foreign Service.
- Fellows will complete Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT), Foreign Service Oral Assessment (FSOA), medical, security and suitability clearance requirements as outlined in the fellowship agreement in a timely manner.
- The program will be administered in a cost-effective manner, resources will be matched to program objectives, and all program elements will be completed within budget.
Eligibility Criteria
Pickering Graduate Fellowship Program requirements include:
- Proof of US citizenship at time of application;
- Seeking admission to a two-year full time master’s degree program for the following academic year (fall entrance) in selected fields of study representing the needs of the Department including public policy, public administration, international relations, business administration, economics, history, political science, communications, foreign languages, management science, and organizational development/leadership. Degrees must have an international component.;
- Minimum 3.2 undergraduate grade point average or higher on a 4.0 scale;
- Maintenance of a 3.2 grade point average throughout participation in the program; and
- In addition to outstanding leadership and academic achievement, demonstration of financial need.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=332490