Offices and Departments

Management Section

The Management Section provides the administrative support platform for the entire U.S. Mission to the Bahamas and is part of the Department of State. It is comprised of both direct-hire American Officers as well as locally engaged Bahamian and American staff. There are approximately 50 people detailed to the Management section. The head of section is a Foreign Service Management Officer, who oversees the following sub-sections: Budget and Fiscal, Facilities Maintenance, General Services Operations, Human Resources, Information Technology, Medical/Health Unit Services and Community Liaison Office Operations.

The Budget and Fiscal Section (B&F) is headed by a LE staff member, under the direct supervision of a Regional Financial Management Officer from the Florida Regional Center in Ft Lauderdale; daily local oversight is also assisted by Nassau’s Management Officer.  B&F handles not only cashiering operations but also time and attendance, utility and housing payments, as well as payments to all mission vendors.

The General Services Office is headed by a Senior General Services Officer (S/GSO).  The GSO section assists the mission and official personnel in the areas of housing, customs and shipping, motor pool, procurement and supply.  Of particular importance to Americans assigned to the Embassy is information related to housing, including the Housing Handbook and Housing FAQ, which can be downloaded by clicking on the respective links.  In addition to the S/GSO, the section also has an Assistant GSO, who oversees various subsections and backs up the S/GSO.  Both the S/GSO and A/GSO are Foreign Service Officers.

The Facilities Maintenance Section maintains four large U.S. government-owned properties including the chancery and the Chief of Mission Residence (CMR).  The section is headed by an engineer, a locally employed Facilities Maintenance Supervisor.

The Human Resources Section is headed by a LE staff member, under the direct supervision of a Regional Human Resources Officer from the Florida Regional Center in Ft Lauderdale; daily local oversight is also assisted by Nassau’s Management Officer.  The HR office is responsible for all personnel matters including adherence to local labor laws and practices, the Local Compensation Plan for locally engaged staff, as well as maintaining post personnel records for both American and LES staff.

The Information Technology (IT) office, under the direction of the Information Management Officer (IMO) oversees all communications and IT assets including Wide Area Networks (WANS), software applications, computer hardware, IT procurement, satellites, cryptographic equipment, phone systems, UHF and HF radios and diplomatic pouch services.  In addition to the IMO, the IT section also has an Information Systems Officer and Information Management Specialist, both of which are Foreign Service Officers, who assist with various security and technology related issues.

A locally engaged American nurse heads the Medical Office/Health Unit with technical support from the Ft. Lauderdale Regional Center. Services are provided for American Embassy employees and their families.  The Health Unit is co-located at the Walk-In Clinic in Sandyport (on the west side of New Providence) and handles medical evacuations, vaccinations, medical consultations and referrals.  

Finally a locally engaged American Community Liaison Officer leased our interaction with our internal and external Embassy community.  Services provided include: sponsorship and orientation management, crisis management support, community relations and activities and family advocacy.