3 FAM 2650
Foreign Service Position Classification
(CT:PER-1164; 11-30-2023)
(Office of Origin: GTM/OTA)
3 FAM 2651 Authorities
(CT:PER-946; 05-20-2019)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees)
a. Section 501 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, authorizes the Secretary of State to classify positions in the Foreign Service;
b. 1 FAM 014 Organizational Control, Policies, and Functional Statements; and
c. 3 FAM 2610 Position Management.
3 FAM 2652 Exclusions
(CT:PER-1164; 11-30-2023)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees)
This section applies to positions in the Foreign Service (FS), and excludes:
a. Civil Service (CS) positions, including Senior Executive Service (SES) and Senior Level (SL) positions;
b. Consular Agent positions (see 3 FAM 8900);
c. Chiefs of Missions (COM) and Ambassador-at-Large positions (see Section 501 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended);
d. Positions for overseas employees (as defined at 3 FAM 7120); or
e. Other positions specifically excluded from FS position classification by law, Executive Order, or regulation.
3 FAM 2653 Definitions
(CT:PER-1164; 11-30-2023)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees)
Class – The grade level of a FS employee/position.
Classification Standard – A document issued to relate the grade level definitions to specific work situations and thereby provide the basis for assigning each position the appropriate title, series/skill, and grade/class. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) develops CS classification standards and GTM/OTA develops and implements FS classification standards.
Deputy – A position with the official designation of “deputy” serves as an alter ego to a manager of high rank or level and either fully shares with the manager the direction of all phases of the organization's program and work, or is assigned continuing responsibility for managing a major part of the manager's program when the total authority and responsibility for the organization is equally divided between the manager and the deputy.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Designation – A status assigned to employees and positions that designates whether or not an employee/position meets one or more of the exemption criteria found in part 551 of Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), and supplemental guidance issued by OPM. The actual duties performed by the employee drive the FLSA determination for the employee. The FLSA determination is documented on the DS-5105.
Foreign Service Officer (FSO, Generalist) – An employee who is appointed under section 302(a)(1) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended. FS Generalist positions are designated with the FO pay plan. (Note that FSO career candidates (i.e., pre-tenure generalists) are appointed under section 303 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended, and designated with the FP pay plan.)
Foreign Service Specialist – An employee who is appointed under section 303 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended. FS Specialist positions are designated with the FP pay plan.
Maintenance Review – A planned, strategic review of the classification of positions. GTM/OTA reviews the classification of all FS positions on a regular basis (every 1-2 years), or as necessary.
Pay plan – A two-digit code used to identify federal pay systems.
Position Description (PD) – The official description of duties and responsibilities assigned and performed that designates the correct title, pay plan, skill/series, and class/grade. PDs should include an evaluation report that describes which classification standards were considered and how each factor level is applied in determining the final grade of the position. PDs should also be accompanied by an FLSA determination. In the Foreign Service, Standard Form Position Descriptions (SFPDs) are used for overseas positions. All SFPDs are developed and approved by GTM/OTA.
Position Title – Official position titles are descriptive of the primary purpose of the work being performed. Official position titles may also incorporate supervisory status or managerial status if allowed by the classification criteria, as prescribed by OPM and/or GTM/OTA. Functional/Working titles are unofficial descriptive titles that further describe the work/role being performed.
Reconsideration – A process where the classification of a position is reviewed after a formal request is made by the supervisor and/or executive office.
Senior Foreign Service Officer (SFS) – An employee who is appointed under section 302(a)(1) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended. SFS positions are designated with the FE pay plan.
Skill Code – A four-digit code assigned to skills that are performed in the Foreign Service. All skill codes must be developed and assigned by GTM/OTA.
Span of control – The number of employees supervised by a supervisory/managerial position. Per 1 FAM 014.5, span of control is a significant aspect of organizational design, and organizational layers should be limited to the number of layers consistent with effective span of control.
3 FAM 2654 Responsibilities for FS Position Classification
(CT:PER-1164; 11-30-2023)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees)
a. Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Global Talent (DGTM):
· Assists the Secretary of State and Under Secretary for Management (M) by directing the formulation and implementation of human resources policies and programs.
b. Office of Organization and Talent Analytics (GTM/OTA):
(1) Manages the Department’s worldwide position management program. All policies outlined in 1 FAM 014 and 3 FAM 2610 must be strictly adhered to when implementing the Department’s position management program, including maintaining an efficient span of control, minimizing organizational layers, and preventing duplication of work functions.
(2) Establishes and administers policies and procedures for the conduct of organizational and workload studies. Conducts Department organizational and competency studies and reviews organizational proposals prior to final approval, consistent with 1 FAM 014, to determine potential impact on organizational functions and alignment, position management, and FS position classification.
(3) Develops, modifies, and implements position classification programs, policies, and standards, and develops operational procedures for the classification of Foreign Service positions. Oversees FS position classification policy, including the development and maintenance of FS skill codes, with full authority to review, alter, cancel, or correct FS position classification determinations. Makes recommendations to the Director General regarding the approval and revocation of all delegations of FS position classification authority.
(4) Approves the establishment of all assistant, chief, deputy, and director positions at the Office Director-level and below. See 1 FAM 014 and 3 FAM 2610 for further information on the establishment of these types of positions.
(5) Reviews the classification of Foreign Service positions to ensure they are properly classified to attract and retain the appropriate level of experienced candidates for each position in support of a regular, predictable flow-through of the Foreign Service; effective career development patterns to meet the needs of the Foreign Service; and a regular, predictable flow of talent upward through the ranks.
c. Bureau Executive Offices:
(1) Submit requests to GTM/OTA to classify FS positions on behalf of managers and supervisors in their bureau, using guidance provided by GTM/OTA.
(2) Ensure all FS classification requests comply with 1 FAM 014 and 3 FAM 2600 regulations.
d. Managers and Supervisors:
(1) Ensure job duties and responsibilities are properly described in FS position descriptions. Note: Intentional misrepresentation of actual duties and responsibilities of a position may constitute fraud and misuse of the resources of the government and may result in disciplinary and/or legal action. Managers and supervisors must certify each FS position description, which ensures the accuracy of the position description and its necessity for the performance of government work under the control of the supervisor.
(2) Remain aware of changes in position content and initiate a redescription of duties, when warranted, to ensure that all position descriptions are up-to-date and consistent with work actually being performed by subordinates in support of their organizational mission and functions.
(3) Advise and consult with HR Specialists, through their executive offices, on potential or impending programmatic, operational, or position changes that may affect their subordinates. This includes establishing and maintaining within each supervisor’s specific area of responsibility an effective position structure consistent with 1 FAM 014 and 3 FAM 2610 regulations and approved FTE allocations.
3 FAM 2655 Foreign Service Pay Plans
(CT:PER-946; 05-20-2019)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees)
FS Pay plans typically utilized within the Department include:
a. FA – Chiefs of Mission appointed under:
(1) Section 302(a)(1) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended (career or non-career appointments by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate) or assigned under; and
(2) section 502(c) of the Foreign Service Act, as amended (career members of the Foreign Service appointed by the President, as delegated to the Secretary of State and through the Secretary to the Under Secretary for Management).
b. FE – SFS employees. Requires appointment by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
c. FO – FS Officers commissioned by the President. Requires appointment by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
d. FP – FS Officer career candidates (pre-tenure Generalists), FS specialists, PIT (part-time or intermittent work schedule or a temporary appointment), appointments for American Family Members, and non-career limited appointments overseas.
3 FAM 2656 Foreign Service Skill Codes
(CT:PER-1164; 11-30-2023)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees)
a. FS skill codes are four-digit numerical codes that GTM/OTA assigns to approved Foreign Service occupational skills. These are used in the human resources data system for both classifying positions and describing the skills of FS members.
b. GTM/OTA approves and maintains all Foreign Service skill codes and skill code definitions for the Department.
3 FAM 2657 Foreign Service Class – Civil Service Grade Level Equivalency
(CT:PER-946; 05-20-2019)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees)
a. The Foreign Service position class levels and their equivalent Civil Service position grade levels are as follows:
Foreign Service Civil Service
FO-01 FP-01 GS-15
FO-02 FP-02 GS-14
FO-02 FP-02 GS-13
FO-03 FP-03 GS-12
FO-04 FP-04 GS-11
FO-05 FP-05 GS-10
FO-05 FP-05 GS-09
FO-06 FP-06 GS-08
FO-07 FP-07 GS-07
FO-08 FP-08 GS-06
FO-09 FP-09 GS-05
b. “FO” and “FP” are different pay plans, but the pay rates associated with these plans are both linked to the Foreign Service schedule. Employees with the “FP” designation are generally eligible for Title 5 premium compensation. Commissioned FSOs with the “FO” designation may not receive Title 5 premium compensation.
3 FAM 2658 Foreign Service Position Classification Reconsiderations
(CT:PER-991; 09-18-2020)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees)
a. GTM/OTA makes all position classification determinations for Foreign Service positions, including Senior Foreign Service positions. Reconsideration for such determinations is entirely at the discretion of GTM/OTA. All requests for reconsideration must be made in writing to GTM/OTA by the bureau Executive Director with jurisdiction over the FS positions. Requests for reconsideration are not the same as position classification appeals (covered in 3 FAM 2659).
b. All requests for reconsideration must:
(1) Clearly state the reason(s) for reconsideration with reference to established or approved position classification criteria;
(2) Specify the requested pay plan, title, skill code, and class level;
(3) Provide relevant supporting materials, information and/or documentation, including a valid organizational chart; and
(4) Be received within 15 calendar days of the date the FS position was classified.
3 FAM 2659 Position Classification Appeals
(CT:PER-946; 05-20-2019)
(State Only)
(Applies to Foreign Service Employees)
Foreign Service employees may not file position classification appeals. The Foreign Service is a rank-in-person HR system, and as such, FS employee ranks do not necessarily equate to the rank of the positions on which they may bid, nor to which they are assigned.