Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs: Career Opportunities

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Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs: Career Opportunities

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The Under Secretary of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (R) offers opportunities for U.S. citizens to work as Civil Service or as Foreign Service Officers or Specialists dealing with cultural, press or information programs, policy and activities. The mission of American public diplomacy is to support the achievement of U.S. foreign policy goals and objectives, advance national interests, and enhance national security by informing and influencing foreign publics and by expanding and strengthening the relationship between the people and Government of the United States and citizens of the rest of the world.

Civil Service
Foreign Service

R family bureaus and regional and functional bureau public diplomacy offices actively recruit mid- to upper-level professionals and welcome participants in various fellowships to contribute their expertise and experience:

The U.S. Embassy public diplomacy team presents at the U.S. Expo in Dili, Timor-Leste, March 15, 2014.

Presidential Management Program

Franklin Fellows Program

Virtual Fellows Program

AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships

Graduate and undergraduate students are also encouraged to apply for internships with us:

Student Programs

The U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program is an unpaid internship with the opportunity to work in U.S. embassies and consulates throughout the world, as well as in various bureaus located in Washington, D.C. and at Department offices around the United States. The Pathways Internship Program is available for U.S. citizens enrolled in a variety of educational institutions from high school to graduate school, and professional academic levels. The internship is a paid, domestic opportunity working in Washington, D.C.

Student and Pathways internships with R family bureaus and regional and functional bureau public diplomacy offices are available in Washington, D.C. throughout the year. Learn more and apply..

Application Deadlines - applications are due six months in advance in order to process security clearances:

Deadline for summer internships: mid-October
Deadline for fall internships: March 1^st
Deadline for spring internships: July 1^st

Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Rick Stengel talks with Katie Couric about fight against ISIL on the digital battlefield, September 17, 2015.

The Virtual Student Foreign Service (VSFS) is the largest virtual internship in the world. Led by the U.S. Department of State, VSFS opens the doors of government to the excellence and energy of U.S. citizen students. Working from college and university campuses in the United States and throughout the world, eInterns are partnered with our U.S. diplomatic posts overseas and at home and eleven other agencies. All VSFS eInterns volunteer ten hours a week from September to May. VSFS eIntern duties and responsibilities vary according to the location and needs of the individual office. Most projects are internet-based and some have language requirements. The application period for the eInternship program is July 2-22 on USAJOBS.gov each year. Those selected will be notified in early September. Learn more at

Learn more about internships and careers at Careers.State.Gov, and sign up under Keep Me Informed to receive email alerts for openings.