Action Officer

Job Family

Operational Effectiveness Consulting

Travel Required:

Up to 10%

Clearance Required:

Active Secret

Guidehouse is seeking an experienced Action Officer to support a public diplomacy office at the Department of State to strengthen cross‑bureau coordination, interagency engagement, and policy support across national security and public diplomacy priorities. The ideal candidate brings prior experience within the Department of State, proven effectiveness navigating interagency processes, and subject matter expertise related to countering foreign malign influence. The Action Officer serves as a key integrator, coordinator, and advisor, responsible for driving cross‑bureau efforts, maintaining awareness of priority issues, and ensuring timely, accurate execution of operational and policy tasks.

This role supports senior leadership by orchestrating interagency engagement, synthesizing complex information, and advancing initiatives related to national security priorities, including issues involving countering foreign malign influence.

Core Responsibilities may include but not limited to:

• Interagency Coordination

  Serve as a liaison between State Department bureaus, interagency partners, and the intelligence community. Facilitate information exchange, synchronize operational activities, and ensure alignment on priority national security objectives. Track emerging issues and coordinate rapid responses across interagency stakeholders.

• Policy & Operational Support

  Provide high‑quality analytical and operational support to leadership, including briefings, talking points, readouts, and issue papers. Support development and implementation of policies related to countering foreign malign influence and other national security threats. Coordinate internal workflows, taskings, and clearance processes to ensure timely and accurate delivery of Department products.

• Strategic Analysis & Subject Matter Expertise

  Apply subject matter expertise (SME) related to countering foreign malign influence—its actors, mechanisms, and impacts—to inform Department decision‑making. Conduct structured research, distill large volumes of information, and generate actionable insights for both internal and external stakeholders. Assist in developing strategies, frameworks, and communication approaches to counter foreign malign influence efforts.

• Stakeholder Engagement

  Build and maintain partnerships with relevant bureaus, offices, and external agencies. Represent the Department in working groups, coordination meetings, and strategic discussions. Ensure leadership is apprised of key developments, risks, and required follow‑up actions.

• Program & Task Management

  Manage logistics and sequencing for meetings, deliverables, and special projects. Track commitments, identify gaps, and ensure operational continuity across fast‑moving priorities. Produce well‑organized, high‑quality documentation and maintain effective knowledge‑management practices.

• An ACTIVE and MAINTAINED  SECRET  Federal or DoD security clearance. Once onboard with Guidehouse, new hire MUST be able to OBTAIN and MAINTAIN a Federal or DoD  TOP SECRET  security clearance.
• Bachelors Degree FIVE (5) years’ experience working in the Department of State.
• Demonstrated experience with interagency processes and collaboration.
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise related to countering foreign malign influence.
• Ability to work on client site in Washington, DC 4-5 days/week

• An ACTIVE and MAINTAINED  TOP SECRET  Federal or DoD security clearance
• Ability to synthesize complex topics clearly and succinctly.
• Ability to view problems from multiple angles and apply a variety of solutions to solving them
• Ability to professionally represent…