What department is incharge of Ambassadors/diplomats?

Question

Obviously the government employs the diplomats/Ambassadors but specifically which department is in charge of them and how are they selected? Are they assigned the job or recruited, do they run against others and are elected within the department?

Answer 1

In all major countries, the recruitment and hiring of diplomatic staff is done by the ministry of foreign affairs (in the USA: the State Dept.) Hiring is normally by competitive exam, although some mid-level staff are hired laterally, usually from the civil service, sometimes from clerical staff. Clerical and administrative staff may be hired with less rigor than officer staff.

Some ambassadors may be politically appointed, often from big contributors to the winning party.

For the USA, see the Foreign Service exam system: http://www.careers.state.gov/

That info relates mainly to economic, political, consular and administrative staff. For the USA and some other countries commercial, agricultural, intelligence, military attaché and other specialized agency staff (including short-term overseas postings of finance, tax, customs, etc. personnel) are made according to rules of the sending agencies. Cultural and foreign aid staff have their own similar hiring and promoting systems. Some countries accept attachés seconded directly from industry and paid from outside government.

Finally, there are local-hire staff (either local nationals, third-country nationals, or citizens of the Embassy's own country who happen to live abroad), interns just out of college, and contractors. Decisions on such personnel are made by the embassy itself in accordance with established rules.

Answer 2

Andy is correct, as always. Just to reinforce what he wrote, nearly all ambassadors are selected by the service from their highest-ranked personnel. The candidates ask for the job the same way the rest of the officers do, and are selected by the same kind of committee. The only difference is that all ambassadors have to be confirmed by Congress, as well.

There are a few political appointees - such as others have described - to very, very nice places, but more than 90% of ambassadors are regular, professional, senior members of the diplomatic corps.

Answer 3

I believe they are personally appointed whether by recommendation by the POTUS (or have just moved up) within each mission assignment. More of the time they are usually in the upper eschelon of the society. I worked in the Ambassadors office for a mission in Europe and from what I learned they are usually hand-picked by the President.

Answer 4

I believe it is the State Dept and they are picked by the president and he decides where they will be assigned. This is what I think and hope I am right.

Answer 5

Bill Nye the Science Guy

Answer 6

state dept.