3 FAM 2260
THE SENIOR FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER CAREER CANDIDATE PROGRAM
(CT:PER-988; 05-13-2020)
(Office of Origin: GTM/PE)
3 FAM 2261 AUTHORITY
(CT:PER-861; 07-18-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Only)
Sections 211, 301, 302, 303, 305, 306, 308, 309, 310, 402, 404, 405, 502, 601, 602, 603, 605, 607, 608, 610, 2103, and 2106 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended (the Act).
3 FAM 2262 PURPOSE
(CT:PER-861; 07-18-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Only)
a. The purpose of the Senior Foreign Service (SFS) Career Candidate Program is to permit on-the-job evaluation of a candidate’s fitness and aptitude to fill the most demanding and sensitive position involved in the formulation, organization, direction, coordination, and implementation of U.S. foreign policy. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate career capability in their particular skill code or functional field. They must demonstrate the necessary substantive knowledge, leadership, managerial, and interpersonal skills and abilities to direct from senior positions the effective promotion of U.S. interests in the given functional or specialist area.
b. Guidelines and procedures to implement these regulations are published in 3 FAM 2260.
3 FAM 2263 APPLICABILITY
(CT:PER-861; 07-18-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Only)
These regulations apply to all senior candidates appointed under the authority of 3 FAM 2217. Such appointments may not exceed 5 years.
3 FAM 2264 ASSIGNMENTS
(CT:PER-988; 05-13-2020)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Only)
a. Assignments for senior candidates are made by the Office of Career Development and Assignments (GTM/CDA).
b. Senior candidates are assigned exclusively to SFS positions in the occupational or functional category for which the Board of Examiners certified their qualifications for career status. No assignments in other skill codes will be authorized for senior candidates.
c. SFS positions may be in the United States or abroad as required by the needs of the Service. However, each senior candidate must serve at least 2 years abroad before review for career tenure.
d. Changes in career functional skill codes can be made only following tenure in accordance with applicable regulations and procedures.
3 FAM 2265 EVALUATION OF SENIOR CANDIDATES
3 FAM 2265.1 Purpose
(CT:PER-861; 07-18-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Only)
The primary purposes of the performance evaluation process for senior candidates are to:
(1) Provide performance information to permit rank-ordering by Selection Boards for promotion purposes;
(2) Furnish the assessments on which Performance Pay Boards base their recommendations for the award of performance pay;
(3) Furnish the assessments on which the Senior Commissioning Board will base its decision on whether a senior candidate should be offered career status in the SFS; and
(4) Provide senior candidates with information to assist in improving work performance.
3 FAM 2265.2 Promotion and Performance Pay
(CT:PER-841; 04-12-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Only)
Senior candidates are eligible to compete for promotion and performance pay under the same conditions as career members of the SFS.
3 FAM 2265.3 Rating Cycle and Procedures
(CT:PER-988; 05-13-2020)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Only)
a. Senior candidates are evaluated on Form DS-5055, Employee Evaluation Report, following the instructions applicable to career candidates.
b. Except as provided in this subchapter, the rating cycle, procedures, and regulations applicable to career members of the Service (see 3 FAM 2810) apply to senior candidates.
c. During senior candidacy, the reviewing officer normally shall be at least of DCM or deputy assistant secretary rank.
d. If the Office of Performance Evaluation (GTM/PE) considers that the performance of a senior candidate being reviewed by a Senior Commissioning Board is not sufficiently documented in their personnel file, GTM/PE may request an interim performance appraisal for a period in excess of 120 days.
e. Other evaluation material prepared on senior candidates may include commendations and Inspectors’ evaluation reports.
f. The same rules of inclusion and admissibility apply to all evaluation material on senior candidates as apply to evaluation material prepared on other members of the Foreign Service.
3 FAM 2266 ATTAINMENT OF CAREER STATUS
3 FAM 2266.1 Policy
(CT:PER-861; 07-18-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Only)
a. The decision to offer a senior candidate a career appointment in the SFS will be based on the recommendation of the Senior Commissioning Board which reviews all senior candidates.
b. The criterion for a positive career appointment recommendation is the senior candidate’s demonstrated ability to perform at or above the standard of performance of other members of the class in the functional or occupational category. This criterion is amplified or more fully expressed in Precepts which have been negotiated with the exclusive bargaining representative and provided for the Senior Commissioning Board’s guidance. (See 3 FAH-1 Exhibit H-2261.3, Precepts for the Senior Foreign Service Commissioning Board.)
c. No numerical limit is placed on the number of positive career appointment decisions of the Senior Commissioning Board since senior candidate appointments are subject to a certification of need at the time of appointments as provided in 3 FAM 2217.1
d. Senior candidates’ records are reviewed on their merits, not in competition or comparison with one another.
e. Senior candidates not recommended for a career appointment in the SFS will be separated from the Service at the expiration of their limited appointment or at an earlier date if so recommended by the Senior Commissioning Board.
3 FAM 2266.2 Eligibility for Board Review
(CT:PER-861; 07-18-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Only)
a. Senior candidates are not eligible for review for career status by a Senior Commissioning Board until:
(1) They have served under their limited appointment for a period of at least 4 years; and
(2) Until they have served 2 years abroad.
In addition, before career tenure review, a candidate who was appointed while serving in a limited noncareer candidate appointment must have served at least 1 year while designated as a senior career candidate. A senior candidate will be reviewed for tenure as soon as practicable after these conditions have been met.
b. In calculating the 4-year period required for eligibility for tenure review, all periods of service in senior-level limited appointments in the occupational category for which the candidate’s career status is sought, both before and after conferral of senior candidate status, will be included.
3 FAM 2266.3 Number of Board Reviews
(CT:PER-841; 04-12-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Only)
a. Senior candidates will normally be reviewed only once by the Senior Commissioning Board.
b. In unusual circumstances, the Board may recommend a second review of the senior candidate to take place approximately 60 days before the expiration of the candidate’s limited appointment.
3 FAM 2266.4 Implementation of Board Decisions
(CT:PER-861; 07-18-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Only)
Upon receipt of the Senior Commissioning Board’s recommendations, the Director General will take all necessary administrative action on behalf of the Secretary to recommend to the President the names of the senior candidates recommended for career appointments in the SFS under section 302(a) of the Act. Board recommendations to grant career status must be forwarded to the President except as otherwise explicitly authorized in 3 FAH-1 H-2260. Any senior candidates not recommended for career status will be notified immediately in writing by the Director General of the Board’s decision not to offer career status and of the date the candidate’s appointment is to be terminated. Time permitting, at least 30 days' notice of termination will be provided.
3 FAM 2267 TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT REMOVAL OF NAMES FROM COMMISSIONING LISTS
(CT:PER-861; 07-18-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Only)
The Director General may order the temporary exclusion of the name of any senior candidate from the Senior Officer Commissioning list if, in the Director General’s opinion, such granting of career status would be inconsistent with the national interest or the efficiency of the Service. Such reasons must be based upon either:
(1) Issues of loyalty, security, misconduct, or malfeasance; or
(2) Indications that documentation available to the Senior Commissioning Board regarding a senior candidate’s performance may have been significantly inaccurate or incomplete.
The procedures governing temporary or permanent removal of names from the Senior Officer Commissioning List are found in 3 FAH-1 H-2262.
3 FAM 2268 SEPARATION OF SENIOR CANDIDATES FOR UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE
3 FAM 2268.1 Policy
(CT:PER-861; 07-18-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Only)
a. As the purpose of the Senior Candidate Program is to permit an on-the-job evaluation of the candidate’s fitness and aptitude to fill the most demanding and sensitive positions in the Senior Foreign Service, this judgment will be made normally by the Senior Commissioning Board as described in this subchapter and 3 FAH-1 H-2260
b. In exceptional cases, a senior candidate may, prior to Board review, prove unable to perform currently assigned duties satisfactorily. In such circumstances, it serves neither the interest of the Service nor the individual to retain the senior candidate for the full trial period originally intended. In such instances, the Director General will terminate the senior candidate’s limited appointment without a delay, as authorized by section 612 of the Act.
3 FAM 2268.2 Date of Separation
(CT:PER-861; 07-18-2017)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Only)
When ordering separation under section 3 FAM 2268.1, the Director General will set the effective date, which may be no less than 30 days following notification of that action, not counting necessary travel time to Washington, DC if the candidate is assigned abroad.
3 FAM 2269 UNASSIGNED