CONSULAR ASSISTANT

Open Period: 08/08/2024 – 08/22/2024 Format MM/DD/YYYY
Vacancy Time Zone:  GMT+1
Series/Grade:  LE – 1405 7
Salary:  XAF FCFA10,053,236 /Per Year
Work Schedule: Full-time – 40 hours per week
Promotion Potential:
LE-7
Duty Location(s): 1 Vacancy in

Yaounde, CM
Telework Eligible:  No
For More Info:
 HR Section
 000-000-0000
 ydeapplicants@state.gov

Overview
Hiring Path:
• Open to the public
Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:
For USEFM – FP is 07.  Actual FP salary determined by Washington D.C.

•    All Interested Applicants / All Sources

Security Clearance Required:
Public Trust – Background Investigation
Appointment Type
Permanent
Appointment Type Details:
Indefinite subject to successful completion of probationary period
Marketing Statement:
We encourage you to read and understand the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply.

Summary:
The work schedule for this position is:

All applications must be submitted ONLINE at : https://bit.ly/3cImd1A

Full Time (40 hours per week)


Start date: Candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.

Supervisory Position:
No
Relocation Expenses Reimbursed:
No
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Duties
This position combines responsibilities in the American Citizen Services (ACS), Immigrant Visas (IV), and Non-immigrant Visas (NIV) Units along with correspondence, cashiering and administrative duties. The incumbent assists with the full range of consular services in all units of the Consular Section as needed:

The incumbent assists applicants seeking passport and citizenship services and obtains key biographic information.

The incumbent provides standard services in response to requests from the public, both in person and by email and telephone, exercising independent judgment and responding with little supervision from the Team Leader or Consular Officer.

The incumbent provides high level customer service to several applicants daily.

The incumbent receives and responds to public inquiries from visa applicants inquiring about case status and requesting procedural guidance.

The incumbent backs up the primary cashier for collection, collation, and deposit of all consular fees collected at post, including daily cash counts, daily deposits to Class-B Cashier.

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Qualifications and Evaluations
Requirements:
EXPERIENCE: At least two (02) years of experience in office administrative work involving contact with the public is required.

JOB KNOWLEDGE: Basic computer skills and familiarity with office procedures. Thorough and complete knowledge of U.S. laws, regulations, and policies regarding the administration of consular visa, citizenship, and special citizen services.

Education Requirements:
Completion of High school is required.

Evaluations:
LANGUAGE: Good Working Knowledge (speaking/reading/writing) in English and French is required. This may be tested.


SKILLS AND ABILITIES:


• Must be able to deal with the public under pressure and to work carefully and efficiently while meeting established deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to maintain confidentiality.
• Must communicate effectively in person, on the telephone, and in writing providing accurate information complex visa and U.S. citizen services while exercising tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to keep accurate case records and organize documents efficiently.
• Requires basic mechanical skills to operate specialized office machines related to issuance of visas and passports.
• Possess keyboarding and data entry skills and be able to learn and use new data-based computer programs.


 This may be tested.


EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO):  The U.S. Mission provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation.


« Recruiting for diversity, hiring based on merit »

Qualifications:
All applicants under consideration will be required to pass U.S. Embassy issued medical and security certifications.

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Benefits and Other Info
Benefits:
Agency Benefits:
SALARY: The annual gross salary includes: the Basic Rate, the Miscellaneous Benefits Allowance, and the End-of-the-Year Bonus.  Seniority Allowance is paid in accordance with local labor law. A Cashier allowance is paid for eligible positions.


MEDICAL BENEFITS: The U.S. Mission in Yaounde directly reimburse eligible employees for covered medical expenses incurred for them and/or eligible dependents, subject to the stated limits of the Local Compensation Plan.


LEAVE BENEFITS: Subject to the stated limits and rules of the Local Compensation Plan, employees are entitled to the following types of leaves: Annual Leave, Sick Leave, Maternity Leave, Special Leave.


HOLIDAYS: The U.S. Mission in Yaounde and the Embassy Branch Office in Douala observe American and Cameroonian public holidays, about 19 holidays per year.


For Eligible Family Members (EFMs), benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources Office.


The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.

Other Information:
HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS:  Applicants in the following hiring preference categories are extended a hiring preference in the order listed below.  Therefore, it is essential that these applicants accurately describe their status on the application. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not eligible for a hiring preference.


HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER:
1. AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
2. AEFM / USEFM
3. FS on LWOP and CS with reemployment rights **


* IMPORTANT:  Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”), Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability dated within the past six months, equivalent documentation, or certification.  A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant. The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.  Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.


** This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.


For more information (i.e., what is an EFM, USEFM, AEFM, MOH, etc.?) and for additional employment considerations, please visit the following link.

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How to Apply
How to Apply:

All candidates must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Embassy issued Security and Medical clearance (See “Next Steps” below for more information).

Please make sure you enter ALL your work experience(s) and education. Attached Curriculum files will not be considered. Please enter your primary private email address, as this will be used by the HR Office to contact you if you are shortlisted.

To apply for this position, click the “Submit Application” button. For more information on how to apply, please visit: https://cm.usembassy.gov/jobs/

Required Documents:
To qualify based on education, you MUST submit the requested degree and / or transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide requested information, or the information is insufficient to verify eligibility, may result in disqualification for this position.


All Applicants:



Residency and/or Work Permit (if applicable)

Completion of High School Diploma or equivalent

Attestation of work or proof of experience


Eligible Family Member Applicants:



Copy of Sponsor’s Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)

Passport copy

DD-214 – Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)

SF-50 (if applicable)

Next Steps:
Once the Vacancy Announcement (VA) closes:



Applications meeting the minimum education and experience requirements will be screened by HR Office and the Selecting Official(s).

ONLY shortlisted applicants will be contacted by email for mandatory language and/or subject matter tests.

ONLY successful tested applicants will be contacted by email for interview.

ONLY tested and/or interviewed applicants will be notified by email of the results.


For Selected Applicants:



HR Office will send a Conditional Offer with the security certification and medical clearance requirements.

The security certification is a 2-4 months process, and is done by the Regional Security Office (RSO), who will contact the applicant once he/she completed the requirements provided with the Conditional Offer

The medical clearance is covered by the U.S. Embassy, and will be completed by the applicant separately, during the security certification process.

Once HR Office receives the medical clearance and the security certification, the applicant will receive a Formal Offer with an agreed start date.


For Eligible Family Members (EFMs), the Human Resources Office will provide appropriate information and guidance.