Action Officer at Guidehouse in Washington, DC

Job description

Job Family : Operational Effectiveness Travel Required : Up to 10% Clearance Required : Active Top Secret (TS) What You Will Do : 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. What You Will Need : An ACTIVE and MAINTAINED "TOP SECRET" Federal or DoD security clearance. Bachelors Degree SIX (6) years of professional experience, including 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 5 days/week What Would Be Nice To Have : 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 Guidehouse when participating and leading client-facing discussions and meetings Excellent attention to detail Excellent organizational, written, and oral communication skills Proficiency in the use of cloud-based and traditional word processing software, spreadsheets, presentations (e.g., G Suite, Microsoft, et al), databases and project management tool