Colleagues,

We have had a number of questions from DLI mid-level officers in recent weeks about AFSA’s policy on USAID mid-level hiring.  These questions suggest some confusion stemming from conflating our concerns about the impact of open-ended mid-level hiring on the career service with our support for mid-level hires themselves who are already part of the service.  It seems timely, and we hope useful, to address this issue.

The American Foreign Service Association has always supported, and continues to support, the interests of all Foreign Service personnel.  We represent Foreign Service employees irrespective of the rank or grade and the level at which they entered the Service.

AFSA has expressed to management at the US Agency for International Development our concerns on the policy issue of sizable hiring at the mid-levels.  It is true that years of underfunding have left USAID with a significant shortfall of mid-level officers.  Limited and targeted hiring may be required to bring in seasoned experts in specific areas.

AFSA questions, however, the large-scale, non-targeted hiring of officers at the mid-levels, when there is already so much underutilized and underpaid talent among the “entry level” ranks.  AFSA also questions the practice at USAID of historically hiring at the FS-6 grade for entry-level employees, where other agencies hire entry-level employees at the FS-6, FS-5, and FS-4 ranks.  As a result of AFSA advocacy to date, future entry-level employees meeting certain qualifications will be considered at the FS-5 levels.

Many USAID entry level officers bring with them years of professional experience including relevant experience with the federal government and overseas experience.  Very often, the grade and salaries of those hired at the entry level contrast sharply with the grades and salaries accorded to those hired (in significant numbers) at the mid-levels, whose experience may not be markedly deeper than that of their entry-level colleagues.  This implicit under-valuation of those hired at entry level sows dissatisfaction and can be damaging to morale within the agency.  AFSA has drawn attention of USAID management to this issue to review the recruitment policy in the interest of the agency and its entry level officers.

AFSA’s concern about mid-level hiring at USAID relates to a policy matter and has nothing to do with highly qualified officers already hired at the mid-level who are very much part of the agency, and many of whom have joined AFSA and we are privileged to represent.  In fact, the mid-levels who are currently hired were brought into the Agency with the full support of the AFSA based on an analysis of hiring needs at that time.  These officers deserve and have our full support as they begin new careers in a challenging environment.  We are proud to represent them.  AFSA works for all of our members and the Foreign Service as a whole.  We regularly provide individual services to mid-level officers and they are included in all of our advocacy work for the Foreign Service, from lobbying on the Hill for Overseas Comparability Pay to supporting the use of relocation bonuses at USAID to attract top talent.

These are tough times for the Foreign Service, as we face unprecedented challenges with uncertain resources.  Now more than ever, we must stand together and be prepared to make changes, where necessary, for better management, cohesion and morale within the Service.  If you have any questions or comments, please contact USAID AFSA Vice President Francisco Zamora at FZamora@usaid.gov or AFSA President Susan Johnson at johnson@afsa.org.

Thank you,

Susan R. Johnson

President
American Foreign Service Association