UNCLASSIFIED (U)

3 FAM 7320

DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

(CT:PER-933; 11-1-2018)
(Office of Origin: HR/OE)

3 FAM 7321 DEPARTMENT OF STATE

3 FAM 7321.1 Office of Overseas Employment

(CT:PER-926; 09-27-2018)
(State/Agriculture/USAGM/Commerce/USAID)
(Applies to Foreign Service Nationals Only)

The Secretary of State, through the Director General, has delegated responsibility to the Director of the Office of Overseas Employment (HR/OE) for:

(1) Developing the FSN Position Classification Systems interagency rules, regulations, standards, and guidelines in consultation with Department of State bureaus and participating agencies;

(2) Implementing and evaluating the system and monitoring its administration at posts; and

(3) Modifying the system to meet the needs of the agencies.

3 FAM 7321.2 Chief, Human Resources Management Division

(CT:PER-933; 11-01-2018)
(State/Agriculture/USAGM//Commerce/USAID)
(Applies to Foreign Service Nationals Only)

a. The Chief of the Human Resources Management Division of the Office of Overseas Employment (HR/OE) is designated as the Department of States FSN position classification authority.

b. The Chief of HR/OE is delegated authority to classify all Department of State FSN direct-hire and personal services contract and agreement positions in consultation with the executive office of the employing bureau. This authority includes but is not limited to the following:

(1) Positions that are not covered by the classification authority delegated to post officials (see 3 FAM 7523);

(2) Classification assistance requested by posts;

(3) Post classification appeals;

(4) Positions audited by survey teams; and

(5) Positions at those posts that do not have FSN classification authority.

c. For participating agencies, HR/OEs authority is exercised jointly with an agencys designated FSN classification authority. This authority does not extend to:

(1) Any foreign national positions of the Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA);

(2) The foreign national personal service contract positions of the Agency for International Development (USAID) unless the chief of mission or an interagency agreement specifically extends FSN classification authority to a posts personnel or management officer; and

(3) Foreign national personal services contracts of the Foreign Agricultural Service and Peace Corps.

3 FAM 7321.3 Extending or Withdrawing Authority

(CT:PER-926; 09-27-2018)
(State/Agriculture/USAGM/Commerce/USAID)
(Applies to Foreign Service Nationals Only)

HR/OE may extend, limit, or rescind a posts or a specific employees FSN classification authority after consulting with the appropriate Department of State bureaus executive director and participating agencies.

3 FAM 7322 PARTICIPATING AGENCIES

(CT:PER-926; 09-27-2018)
(State/Agriculture/USAGM/Commerce/USAID)
(Applies to Foreign Service Nationals Only)

In the interest of consistency, compatibility, uniformity, and the intent of Section 204 of the Act, the Department of State and the participating agencies will coordinate all headquarters level classification actions. Disagreements on the classification of a participating agencys position will be resolved according to Washington Interagency FSN Position Classification Review Board procedures. If a Review Board decision is unacceptable to an employing agency, the decision may be overruled by that agencys designated senior management official (see 3 FAH-2 H-400 for procedures).

3 FAM 7323 POSTS ABROAD

3 FAM 7323.1 Embassy Human Resources Officials

(CT:PER-933; 11-01-2018)
(State/Agriculture/USAGM/Commerce/USAID)
(Applies to Foreign Service Nationals Only)

Embassy Human Resources (HR) officials are responsible for administering the FSN position classification system for participating agencies according to regulations; the standards, guidelines, and procedures contained in 3 FAH-2 H-400, Foreign Service National Position Classification; and any additional requirements and guidelines issued by HR/OE in consultation with Department of State bureaus and the headquarters of participating agencies. Embassy HR officials are delegated the authority to classify FSN positions subject to the following restrictions. At those embassies without an HR officer, the authority and responsibility for position classification is delegated to the embassy management officer.

3 FAM 7323.1-1 Classification Limitations Relating to Other Agencies

(CT:PER-933; 11-01-2018)
(State/Agriculture/USAGM/Commerce/USAID)
(Applies to Foreign Service Nationals Only)

Embassy HR officials are not delegated authority to classify foreign national positions of the FBIS and VA, or the personal service contract positions of USAID, the Foreign Agricultural Service, and Peace Corps. In the case of USAID PSC positions, a posts HR or management officer is authorized to classify these positions when so required, in writing, by the chief of mission or an interagency agreement.

3 FAM 7323.1-2 Classification Limitations Based on Criteria

(CT:PER-933; 11-01-2018)
(State/Agriculture/USAGM/Commerce/USAID)
(Applies to Foreign Service Nationals Only)

Embassy HR officials are not delegated authority to classify foreign national positions meeting any of the following criteria. Positions meeting these criteria must be sent to HR/OE and the employing Department of State bureau or appropriate office of a participating agency for classification action:

(1) Positions assigned duties and responsibilities that are not covered by classification standards and guidelines contained in 3 FAH-2 H-400.

(2) Positions assigned duties and responsibilities that are classifiable to grades above or below the levels authorized by the posts local compensation plan (LCP). For example, a post with an LCP covering grades FSN-3 through 10 is not delegated authority to classify positions below FSN-3 or above FSN-10.

(3) Positions assigned duties and responsibilities that are classifiable above or below the highest or lowest grade levels defined in the standards for an occupational series. This limitation does not apply to developmental or trainee positions, which may be classified below the lowest grade in a series or for supervisory positions, which may be classified above the highest non-supervisory grade in a series, in accordance with the instructions contained in 3 FAH-2 H-400.

3 FAM 7323.2 Reclassification of Certain Positions

(CT:PER-933; 11-01-2018)
(State/Agriculture/USAGM/Commerce/USAID)
(Applies to Foreign Service Nationals Only)

Positions classified by HR/OE, a participating agency headquarters, or the Washington Interagency FSN Position Classification Review Board may only be reclassified by embassy HR officials when the assigned duties and responsibilities, the complexity of the work, and/or the classification standards and guidelines have changed sufficiently to justify a reclassification.

3 FAM 7323.3 Constituent Posts

(CT:PER-933; 11-01-2018)
(State/Agriculture/USAGM/Commerce/USAID)
(Applies to Foreign Service Nationals Only)

An embassys HR official may authorize administrative and/or HR officials of constituent posts to classify FSN positions subject to HR/OE and the appropriate regional bureau executive directors conditions and written approval. Personnel officials must contact HR/OE for guidance before taking action.

3 FAM 7324 THROUGH 7329 UNASSIGNED

 

UNCLASSIFIED (U)