Expired: CULTURAL AFFAIRS ASSISTANT AT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN PRETORIA

5th February 2018 /
logo

Deadline

16 February 2018

Website

za.usembassy.gov

Opportunity Description

Open To: All Interested Candidates / All Sources

Position: Cultural Affairs Assistant, FSN-9; FP-05*
Full Performance Level

Opening: February 2, 2018

Closing: February 16, 2018 (Close of Business)

Work Hours: Full-Time; 40 hours/week

Salary: Ordinarily Resident (OR): FSN-9 (Full Performance Level)
Basic Salary: R342,525 – R479,585 per annum
Cash Benefits: R68,603 – R80,025 per annum
Non-cash benefits include medical, pension and others where applicable
Final salary is based upon a variety of factors

*Not-Ordinarily Resident (NOR): FP-05 (Full Performance Level)
Final grade/step for NORs will be determined by Washington
Starting base rate – $53,844 per annum

START DATE: The selected candidate must be able to start work within (12) weeks of receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications, or their candidacy may not be considered.

The “Open To” category listed above refers to candidates who are eligible to apply for this position. The “Open To” category should not be confused with a “hiring preference” which is explained later in this vacancy announcement.

ALL ORDINARILY RESIDENT (OR) APPLICANTS (See Appendix for definition) MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENCY PERMITS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.

The U.S. Mission in Pretoria is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for a position of Cultural Affairs Assistant in the Public Affairs Section (PAS).

NOTE: Due to the high volume of applications received, we will only contact applicants who are being considered. Thank you for your understanding.

Basic Function of the Position:

Incumbent serves as principal advisor and program manager to the Country Cultural Affairs Officer (CAO) and Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer (ACAO) on all youth professional and academic exchange programs and PAS-led youth programs. S/he manages all components of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, Community College Initiative and other youth exchange programs. Serves as Grants Officer Representative (GOR) on at least 10 alumni and youth focused grants totaling over $500,000 annually.

Qualifications Required:

Applicants must address each required qualification listed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not qualified.

1. Education:

  • University degree in international relations, communications, marketing, public relations, American Studies, or intercultural/multicultural studies is required.

2. Work Experience:

  • A minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in a multilingual, multicultural, or multinational work environment is required, with project management, marketing, public relations, communication, or education duties as a significant part of the job.

OR In the absence of a University degree in international relations, communications, marketing, public relations, American Studies, or intercultural/multicultural studies:

  • Two years of general college studies, and
  • Five years of progressively responsible experience in a multilingual, multicultural, or multinational work environment is required, with project management, marketing, public relations, communication, or education duties as a significant part of the job.

3. Language:

  • Level 4 (Fluent) Speaking/Reading/Writing of English is required. (This will be tested.)
  • Level 4 (Good Working Knowledge) Speaking/Reading/Writing of one additional South African official language is required.

4. Skills and Abilities:

  • Ability to: work independently; determine priorities regarding work schedule and incoming requests; draft official correspondence and other written work; demonstrate excellent organizational skills, including the ability to monitor grants; develop and maintain contacts at the highest level among target audiences in government, education, cultural, and professional circles.
  • Familiarity with MS Word and Excel is required. (This will be tested.)

5. Job Knowledge:

  • Extensive knowledge and understanding of South African history, politics, economics, and society; in-depth knowledge of key South African personalities and institutions required, especially educational institutions, NGOs and professional organizations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: The complete position description listing all of the duties and responsibilities may be obtained by contacting the Human Resources Office (Linda Skhakhane on 012 431 4000).

HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS: When qualified, 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**

* IMPORTANT: Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of the most recent Member Copy Four (4) of the DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and, if applicable, a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. If claiming conditional eligibility for U.S. Veterans’ preference, applicants must submit proof of conditional eligibility. If the written documentation confirming eligibility is not received in the HR office by the closing date of the vacancy announcement, the U.S. Veterans’ preference will not be considered in the application process. Mission HR’s decision on eligibility for U.S. Veterans’ preference after reviewing all required documentation is final.

** This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP.

ADDITIONAL SELECTION CRITERIA:

1. Management may consider the following when determining successful candidacy: nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status.

2. Current OR employees serving a probationary period are not eligible to apply. Current OR employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement or Unsatisfactory on their most recent Employee Performance Report (EPR) are not eligible to apply.

3. Current NOR employees hired on a Family Member Appointment (FMA) or a Personal Service Agreement (PSA) are not eligible to apply within the first 90 calendar days of their employment, unless they have a When Actually Employed (WAE) work schedule.

4. The candidate must be able to obtain and hold a local security certification.

5. Candidates who are EFMs, USEFMs, AEFMs, or MOHs must have at least one year remaining on their sponsor’s tour of duty to be considered eligible to apply for this position.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit the following documents to be considered. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not qualified.

  1. Universal Application for Employment (UAE) (Form DS-174), which is available on our website or by contacting Human Resources. (See “For Further Information” above);
  2. Any additional documentation that supports or addresses the requirements listed above (e.g. transcripts, degrees, etc.)

Where to apply:

Internal applicants and MOHs should send their resume and completed Universal Application for Employment (Form DS-174) by e-mail to: HRRecruitment@state.gov and include in the Subject line: Cultural Affairs Assistant, SA VA 18-009.

USEFMs should send their resume and completed Universal Application for Employment (Form DS-174) by e-mail to: PretoriaEFMRecruitment@state.gov and include in the Subject line: Cultural Affairs Assistant, SA VA 18-009.

Point Of Contact:
Linda Skhakhane
Telephone: 012-431-4000

Equal Employment Opportunity:

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. The Department of State also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs. The EEO complaint procedure is not available to individuals who believe they have been denied equal opportunity based upon marital status or political affiliation. Individuals with such complaints should avail themselves of the appropriate grievance procedures, remedies for prohibited personnel practices, and/or courts for relief.
Appendix A – DEFINITIONS

Eligible Family Member (EFM): An EFM for employment purposes is defined an individual who meets all of the following criteria:

  • U.S. Citizen or not a U.S. Citizen; and
  • Spouse or same-sex domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610); or
  • Child, who is unmarried and under 21 years of age or, regardless of age, is incapable of self-support. The term “child” shall include, in addition to natural offspring, stepchild, adopted child, and a child under legal guardianship of employee, spouse, or same-sex domestic partner when such child is expected to be under legal guardianship until 21 years of age and when dependent upon and normally residing with the guardian; or
  • Parent (including stepparents and legally adoptive parents) of employee, spouse, or same-sex domestic partner, when such parent is at least 51 percent dependent on the employee for support; or
  • Sister or brother (including stepsisters and stepbrothers, or adoptive sisters or brothers) of the employee, spouse, or same-sex domestic partner when such sibling is at least 51 percent dependent on the employee for support, unmarried, and under 21 years of age, or regardless of age, incapable of self-support; and
  • Listed on the travel orders or approved Form OF-126 of a sponsoring employee, i.e., a direct-hire Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member who is permanently assigned to or stationed abroad or, as appropriate, at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; and
  • Is under chief of mission authority.

U.S. Citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM): A USEFM is an individual who meets all of the following criteria:

  • U.S. Citizen; and
  • Spouse or same-sex domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610) of the sponsoring employee; or
  • Child of the sponsoring employee who is unmarried and at least 18 years old; and
  • Listed on the travel orders or approved Form OF-126 of a sponsoring employee, i.e., a direct-hire Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member who is permanently assigned to or stationed abroad or, as appropriate, at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; and resides at the sponsoring employee’s post of assignment abroad, or as appropriate, at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; and is under chief of mission authority; or
  • resides at an Involuntary Separate Maintenance Allowance (ISMA) location authorized under 3 FAM 3232.2; or
  • Currently receives a U.S. Government retirement annuity or pension from a career in the U.S. Foreign Service or Civil Service.

Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM): An AEFM is an individual who meets all of the following criteria:

  • U.S. Citizen; and
  • Spouse or same-sex domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610) of the sponsoring employee; or
  • Child of the sponsoring employee who is unmarried and at least 18 years old; and
  • Listed on the travel orders or approved Form OF-126 of a sponsoring employee, i.e., a direct-hire Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member who is permanently assigned to or stationed abroad or, as appropriate, at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT); and
  • Is under chief of mission authority; and
  • Is residing at the sponsoring employee’s post of assignment abroad or, as appropriate, at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; and
  • Does NOT currently receive a U.S. Government retirement annuity or pension from a career in the U.S. Foreign Service or Civil Service.

Member of Household (MOH): An individual who accompanies or joins a sponsoring employee, i.e., sponsor is a direct hire employee under Chief of Mission authority, either Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member who is permanently assigned to or stationed abroad at a U.S. mission, or at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan. A MOH is an individual who meets the following criteria:

(1) Not an EFM and therefore not on the travel orders or approved through form OF-126 Foreign Service Residence and Dependency Report of the sponsoring employee; and

(2) Officially declared by the sponsoring U.S. Government employee to the Chief of Mission (COM) as part of his or her household and approved by the COM; and

(3) Is a parent, grandparent, grandchild, unmarried partner, adult child, foreign born child in the process of being adopted, father, mother, brother, sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, or half-sister who falls outside the Department’s current definition of Eligible Family Member 14 FAM 511.3. A MOH may or may not be a U.S. Citizen.

Not Ordinarily Resident (NOR) – An individual who meets the following criteria:

  • An EFM, USEFM or AEFM of a direct-hire Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member permanently assigned or stationed abroad, or as appropriate, at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; or
  • Has diplomatic privileges and immunities; and
  • Is eligible for compensation under the FS or GS salary schedule; and
  • Has a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN); and
  • Is not a citizen of the host country; and
  • Does not ordinarily reside in the host country; and
  • Is not subject to host country employment and tax laws.

Ordinarily Resident (OR) – An individual who meets the following criteria:

  • A citizen of the host country; or
  • A non-citizen of the host country (including a U.S. citizen or a third-country national) who is locally resident and has legal and/or permanent resident status within the host country and/or who is a holder of a non-diplomatic visa/work and/or residency permit; and/or
  • Is subject to host country employment and tax laws.