The Under Secretary is appointed by the President of the United States with the consent of the United States Senate to serve at the request of the President.

In 2021, President Joe Biden nominated John R. Bass, a career foreign service officer and former ambassador, to the position.

In an Act of February 7, 1953, Congress created for a 2-year period the position of Under Secretary of State for Administration as the third ranking officer in the Department.

The position was not renewed, however; and between 1955 and 1978, the ranking officer in the Department handling administration and management questions was either a Deputy Under Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of State.

On October 7, 1978, an Act of Congress created the permanent position of Under Secretary of State for Management.