Desk Officer, Office of the Secretary – Assistant Secretary, Office of Insular Affairs Job in Honolulu

Salary: $64,438 per year.

To qualify for this Desk Officer position, you must meet the specialized experience or education requirements for the grade level you are applying to (GS-9, GS-11, GS-12, or GS-13).

• GS-9: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-7, including assisting with planning travel, researching legislation, and preparing status updates. OR a Master's degree or 2 years of graduate education. OR a combination.
• GS-11: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-9, including planning travel, interpreting federal legislation, researching policies, and preparing high-level status updates. OR a Ph.D. or 3 years of graduate education. OR a combination.
• GS-12: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-11. Education cannot be substituted at this grade.
• GS-13: One year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-12. Education cannot be substituted.
• Your resume must state full-time or part-time hours per week for each position to receive credit for experience.
• If using education to qualify, you must submit transcripts (unofficial accepted) by the closing date.
• Foreign education must be evaluated by a credential evaluation service.
• Volunteer experience, including National Service programs, is qualifying.
• Veterans must provide DD-214 or Statement of Service to verify hours.
• All qualifications must be met by the closing date of the announcement.

Conduct complete, high-level policy analysis grounded in federal statutes, regulations, and Executive Branch directives.

• Develop strategic policy options for leadership outlining political, fiscal, developmental, and operational implications.
• Lead complete oversight of federal program implementation in assigned insular areas.
• Serve as principal liaison for one or more insular jurisdictions, coordinating with federal agencies and local governments.
• Provide authoritative policy guidance and advanced analysis to support strategic decision-making.
• Prepare briefing materials, status updates, and reports for senior leadership and interagency partners.
• Coordinate interagency meetings and stakeholder engagements.
• Support official travel planning and on-site staffing during visits to insular areas.
• Research legislation, regulations, and federal programs affecting insular areas.
• Contribute to the development of policies and programs that advance U.S. interests in the insular areas.

Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship.

• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Must complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• May be required to travel overnight up to 1-5 nights every other month.
• Must serve a 1-year probationary period.
• Must obtain a government charge card for travel purposes.

Complete federal benefits package including health, dental, vision, and life insurance.

• Retirement benefits through the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with employer matching contributions.
• Paid annual leave, sick leave, and federal holidays.
• Flexible work schedules and telework eligibility (as determined by agency policy).
• Access to training and career development programs.
• Eligibility for student loan repayment programs (if applicable).
• Workers' compensation and disability benefits.

Your application will be evaluated based on your resume, supporting documents, and responses to the application questionnaire.

• Candidates will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures, placing veterans with preference above non-preference eligibles.
• Categories: Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified.
• You will be assessed on competencies including Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Decision Making, Flexibility, Integrity/Honesty, Interpersonal Skills, Learning, Reading Comprehension, Reasoning, Self-Management, Stress Tolerance, and Teamwork.
• This position requires successful completion of the USA Hire Assessment, if required.
• If fewer than three eligible candidates result, the agency may expand the candidate group.
• Overstating qualifications or providing false information may result in removal from consideration.
• Applicants who include vulgar or offensive language will be ineligible.

Resume (maximum 2 pages, 10-point font minimum, 0.5-inch margins) including job titles, duties, month/year dates, hours per week, and grade/rank for federal experience.

• College transcripts (unofficial accepted) if qualifying based on education.
• Veterans Preference Documentation: DD-214 (member 4 copy) or other documentation of service and separation under honorable conditions. Disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, or parents/spouses of disabled/deceased veterans must submit SF-15 and additional proof.
• Interagency/Career Transition Assistance Plan (I/CTAP) eligibles must submit agency notice, SF-50s, and most recent performance appraisal.
• Do not submit photographs or Adobe portfolio documents.
• All documents must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/07/2026.

Read the entire announcement and instructions before starting your application.

• Go to the official application portal and with your the official application portal/Login.gov account.
• Click the Apply Online button for this announcement.
• Answer all questions in the application questionnaire and attach all required supporting documentation.
• Preview the application questionnaire using the provided link before submitting.

This announcement is open to U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, and Career Transition eligibles (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).

• Veterans, military spouses, and individuals with derived preference are encouraged to apply.
• The position is located in Honolulu, HI, but the mailing address for the agency is in Sterling, VA.
• Telework is eligible as determined by agency policy; this is not a remote position.
• The full performance level of this position is GS-13.
• Applicants who apply under this announcement agree to have their application shared with other DOI bureaus with vacancies in the same series, grade, and location.
• Agency contact: Kelly Souza, [email protected].
• You may check your application status anytime by logging into your the official application portal account.
• If selected, you will be contacted by the Human Resources Office.
• Any exaggeration of experience or false statements may disqualify you.

The Office of the Secretary (OS) is the principal staff element of the Secretary of the Interior, providing leadership and policy guidance for the Department of the Interior's diverse missions. Within OS, the Assistant Secretary for Insular, International, and Ocean Affairs oversees the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA), which administers U.S. Policy and programs for the insular areas: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the freely associated states. This Desk Officer position directly supports OIA's mission by serving as a senior analyst and liaison for one or more of these jurisdictions.

Office of the Secretary - Assistant Secretary, Office of Insular Affairs employment opportunities