ACN/WRP – Senior Advisor
Overview:
The Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation’s Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Response and Planning (ACN/WRP) safeguards the Homeland, American citizens, and U.S. national security interests by countering threats from state, non-state, and other malicious actors seeking to acquire or use WMD and related delivery systems. ACN/WRP enables foreign governments to anticipate, counter, and respond to WMD-enabled threats—including those involving unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)—by promoting U.S. best practices, legal frameworks, operational standards, and American technology.
Company: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation, Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Response and Planning
Location: Washington, DC 20520
Industries: Government
Job Type: Full Time
Years of Experience: 5+
Education Level: Bachelor’s. in International Relations, National Security, or Related Fields
Career Level: Experienced (non-manager)
Salary: $169,279 to $197,200
Job Reference Code:
Number of Positions: Multiple positions may be selected from this announcement
Job Description:
THIS IS A NON-PERMANENT POSITION. YOU DO NOT ACQUIRE COMPETITIVE OR EXCEPTED SERVICE STATUS FROM THIS POSITION.
This position is located in the Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation (ACN), Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Response and Planning (ACN/WRP), U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC. ACN/WRP enables foreign governments to anticipate, counter, and respond to WMD-enabled threats—including those involving unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)—by promoting U.S. best practices, legal frameworks, operational standards, and American technology. ACN/WRP also works with foreign governments to strengthen their response capabilities in the event of a catastrophic chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) incident, ensuring they can respond effectively, protecting American citizens, safeguarding U.S. economic interests, and supporting the security of U.S. military personnel and assets abroad. In line with the National Security Strategy and the Administration’s America First policy, ACN advances initiatives to shift the financial burden for global CBRNe security to foreign countries by leveraging ACN/WRP leadership of global nonproliferation forums, reducing the dependency on U.S. taxpayer funding foreign security assistance.
The individual(s) will focus on the following programming and operational areas:
· Develop, implement, and facilitate bilateral or multilateral engagements that test, evaluate, and strengthen at-risk partners’ capabilities, protocols, and information sharing mechanisms;
· Research and analyze evolving CBRN state, non-state, and other malicious actor threats, policies, and strategies and integrate into programming to address gaps;
· Lead the planning and execution of WRP programming, and organize WRP, ACN, and interagency meetings to coordinate and deconflict regional programming and policy priorities;
· Strengthen cross-team collaboration and use of exercises to reinforce other WRP policy, operational, and programming priorities;
· Assist WRP leadership with implementing outcomes of strategic reviews;
· Develop effective outreach and messaging strategies;
· Support monitoring and evaluation of multilateral programming, including the development and use of new metrics and indicators to assess the impact of multilateral programming.
· Lead U.S. CBRN incident preparedness and response in support of U.S. Embassies around the world and coordinate response efforts with U.S. partners and international partners.
Within the assigned portfolio(s), the Senior Advisor is expected to: represent ACN/WRP in policy, program, and operational coordination mechanisms to ensure that WRP assistance conforms with and supports U.S. nonproliferation, counterterrorism, and response initiatives as well as country- or region-specific strategies; lead strategic planning processes specific to the country, region, or threat; ensure the timely and effective management of WRP program funds, including compliance with all legal, financial, and reporting requirements; raise awareness with internal and external stakeholders of how WRP can support key security priorities; and contribute to office-wide improvement initiatives in areas such as distance learning, monitoring and evaluation, and financial management.
Specifically, the individual(s) shall:
· Lead C-UAS coordination across WRP, the ACN Bureau more broadly, as well as the U.S. interagency and in accordance with E.O. 14305 and 14307 (experience required);
· Lead WRP cross-team CBRN response coordination efforts including liaising with the U.S. interagency (experience required);
· Liaise with White House officials on C-UAS and CBRN Response threat equites and related coordination functions (experience required)
· Research and keep appraised of evolving CBRN threats, policies, and strategies, and assist in developing WRP policies and related programmatic efforts designed to reduce state and non-state actor CBRN and unmanned vehicle threats;
· Liaise and work collaboratively within Department of State and interagency partners to develop, synchronize, and support CBRN-related threat reduction engagements, measures, and overseas response operations; including post incident forensics.
· Research and keep appraised of evolving strategic competition policies and strategies, and assist in leveraging multilateral programming to address them;
· Coordinate and oversee the implementation of bilateral and multilateral CBRN-related programmatic efforts designed to reduce CBRN threats.
· Support the Department’s foreign assistance budget planning and reporting processes in order to meet ACN/WRP objective of obtaining adequate funding to conduct priority activities (experience required);
· Use the strategic mandate to ensure WRP program activities support U.S. nonproliferation initiatives as well as priority needs in partner countries;
· Work collaboratively with ACN colleagues as well as interagency colleagues, Embassy staff, and program implementers to meet program planning, award, implementation, documentation, reporting and compliance requirements;
· Compile and maintain program narratives and data for dissemination to relevant stakeholders; Coordinate, advocate for, and publicize international response activities.
· Provide oral presentations for senior U.S. government officials and foreign partner interlocutors;
· Prepare on-demand memos, policy papers, cables, briefing and background materials, talking points, press releases, reports to Congress, and other documents related to functional and regionally cross-cutting issues. Provide interagency coordination in support of the same;
General
· Comply with appropriate regulations, internal controls, management directions, and SOPs to protect organizational integrity and prevent unauthorized use or misappropriation of classified and sensitive (but unclassified) material and equipment in assigned areas; and report security violations/problems to appropriate authority.
· Serve as a Contracting Officer’s Representative and/or Grants Officer’s Representative, as assigned.
· Perform other related duties as may be assigned by ACN/WRP.
Required Qualifications:
· Experience working with U.S. embassies, interagency, international organizations, NGOs and/or foreign governments on countering WMD terrorism threats;
· Must have direct and demonstrable professional experience engaging senior government and/or private sector officials engaging on WMD terrorism policy, diplomatic, and programming topics;
· Experience writing and clearing State Department documents such as Action Memos, BCLs, opening remarks, and others;
· Experience supporting principals on trip planning and travel;
· Previous policy, program, or project management experience;
· Ability to weigh information and options and determine the most appropriate and high impact solutions to complex challenges; and
· Excellent communication, time management skills, collaborative work style, and strong interpersonal and team skills.
Desired Qualifications:
· Demonstrable experience in program/project management, and previous experience working with U.S. and foreign government, NGO, and academia officials;
· Active Secret security clearance;
· Familiarity with U.S. nonproliferation and foreign policy objectives concerning non-state actors; and
· Familiarity with Department of State and/or USG processes.
Conditions of Employment
U.S. Citizenship is required. Individual must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. Top Secret/SCI may be required based on specific portfolio needs. Individual must be able and willing to travel, potentially to remote or hazardous locations.
BENEFITS:
Annual and Sick Leave
The Contractor will accrue and request annual and sick leave (paid time off) in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations. For full-time employees, annual leave accrual rates start at 4 hours every biweekly pay period, while sick leave accrual is 4 hours every pay period. Those entering on duty with prior military service and/or federal service can credit their years of service for higher annual leave accrual rates.
The employee will also be paid for federal holidays that fall within their regularly scheduled tour of duty. While serving abroad, the Contractor will also be entitled to all holidays granted by the U.S. Embassy to U.S. citizen Civil Service and Foreign Service employees.
Health & Life Insurance Reimbursement
If eligible: The individual selected will be provided a contribution (reimbursement) of 72 percent against the Contractor’s health insurance premium costs toward either an individual or family policy, provided that such costs may not exceed the maximum U.S. Government contribution for direct-hire personnel as announced annually by OPM. The Contractor will also be provided a contribution (reimbursement) of 50 percent against the actual costs of an individual annual life insurance policy not to exceed $500.00 per year.
The Contracting Officer will confirm the individual’s contribution is compliant with the contract requirements prior to submitting for reimbursement. Proof of health and life insurance coverage, including a receipt showing the individual’s payment for coverage, shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer before any contribution is paid.
401K Plan
A non-matching, privately administered 401(k) plan is available through the Department.
Relocation Assistance Available:
None
How to Apply:
Please apply through BetterTeam.com and submit the following as a single attachment:
1. Cover letter
2. Resume
3. A list of at least three professional references
Failure to submit a complete package may disqualify the applicant from consideration.
You will be evaluated against the requirements outlined in this announcement, so your resume and cover letter should demonstrate that you meet the required qualifications above to undertake this position. Your references will only be contacted with your permission following an interview.
State/ACN/WRP expects to screen and interview candidates within 7 days of close of announcement. ONLY APPLICANTS SELECTED FOR INTERVIEWS WILL BE CONTACTED. Offers of employment will be dependent on ability to obtain security clearance through the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security bureau.
There may be unanticipated vacancies that occur during the period of this job posting or soon after its close. Candidates who apply to this announcement may also be provided the same consideration for these vacancies.
Note: This is a Personal Services Contract. This is NOT a federal direct-hire position.
THIS ADVERTISEMENT CLOSES ON April 9, 2026