Jobs at US Embassy in Uganda- Political Economic Assistant

Job Title: Political Economic Assistant
Vacancy Announcement

U. S. Mission, Uganda
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Number: 009/2013 Date: 02/05/2013

OPEN TO:            All Qualified Candidates
POSITION:          Political Economic Assistant; FP-5; FSN-9
OPENING DATE:  February 5, 2013
CLOSING DATE:  February 18, 2013
WORK HOURS:     Full-time; 40 hours/week

ALL ORDINARILY RESIDENT (OR) APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENCY PERMITS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.
"The American Embassy is seeking an individual for the position of Political Economic Assistant in the Political Section."

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION
Incumbent is the Political and Economic Specialist at Embassy Kampala who serves as the principal LES handling  macroeconomic analysis; environment, science, technology, and health (ESTH) issues; Uganda’s oil and gas sectors; the financial sector; information and communications technology; and cross-cutting issues such as corruption efforts, government accountability, and transparency issues. The incumbent also tracks overall foreign investment and the business environment, and analyses and reports on foreign investment from non-U.S. destinations.   The incumbent is a member of Embassy Kampala’s interagency health team, and serves as a liaison with the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI), which focuses on issues relating to Uganda’s nascent oil industry and attends meetings with the Mission’s Petroleum Working Group.  The incumbent also works closely with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, World Bank and International Monetary Fund, and coordinates activities with the regional environment, science, technology, and health office in Addis Ababa.
Incumbent frequently functions as the de facto control officer  for high level visits by ensuring all scheduling needs are met and providing assistance to American Officers.   The incumbent briefs visiting officials on current and political developments and trends, and accompanies them to meetings with host government officials.  Frequent visits by U.S. government officials require an attention to detail and ability to multitask when planning multiple visits. Visits also often require work outside office hours to coordinate events and to communicate with American officers on urgent matters or last-minute developments.

The job requires astute judgment, quick decision-making skills and the ability to form thoughtful connections between different political and social developments. The job also requires significantly high diplomatic and communications skills to be able to engage with career and elected government officials at the highest levels.  This job also requires the ability to independently interact with U.S. officials in Washington on key substantive issues and informational requests, as well as trip planning and visit strategies.  The job requires superior writing and communication skills so as to minimize editing by the American supervisors thereby allowing them to focus their time more efficiently.
Often at his/her own initiative, the incumbent prepares extensive spot and in-depth analytical reports on a wide range of sensitive political and economic issues in the context of national issues ,as well as the implications for U.S. interests.   The incumbent drafts analytical and factual reports, researches and gathers information, prepares briefing memos and establishes a wide range of contacts in the government and NGOs which with  legislative and policy developments in the areas of macroeconomic, oil and gas, ESTH, and government-led anti-corruption efforts.  The incumbent must be able to brief the Pol/Econ Chief, Deputy Chief of Mission and Ambassador and TDY visitors on developments and issues with authority and accuracy.  This involves oral or written briefings and inputs, evaluating events in historical perspective and identifying their relationships to national trends and to the interests of the U.S.  Incumbent must be able to make reasonable projections about the future course of politics and social changes, demonstrating critical judgment and as strong integration of social, political and economic factors.  

Incumbent must maintain a wide range of contacts at the highest level of government including ministers, legislature, judiciary, media, academia, businesses, and civil society.  Incumbent advises American officers on a variety of sensitive political and economic issues and related matters, such as gauging the probable reaction of government officials and the Ugandan public to U.S. views or proposals.  The incumbent advises the Embassy’s interagency Small Grants selection committees, managed by the Political Section. The incumbent backs up the Section’s Economic Specialist and must be conversant on financial and commercial issues.

A copy of the complete position description listing all duties and responsibilities is available online.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
NOTE:  All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.
1.    Education required: Completion of a university degree in political science, political economy, economics, history, journalism and human rights is required.
2.  Work Experience required:  Five years experience in foreign policy, political, social development, academia or journalism is required
3.   Language required:  Level IV English ability (fluent written, spoken and reading) and Level III (Good working knowledge) in Luganda is required.
4.  Knowledge required:  Thorough knowledge of Uganda’s economic and political system, as well as a broad understanding of energy, environment, health, science and technology (ESTH) issues.
5.     Skills and Abilities required:  Ability to interact with Uganda officials, civil society groups, scientists, economists, members of the business community, and political leaders at all levels.

SELECTION PROCESS

When equally qualified, US Citizen Eligible Family Members (USEFMs) and U.S. Veterans are given preference.  Therefore, it is essential that the candidate specifically address the required qualifications above in the application.

ADDITIONAL SELECTION CRITERIA

1.  Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, and visa status in determining successful candidacy.

2.  Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible to apply.

3.  Current Ordinarily Resident employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement or Unsatisfactory on their most recent Employee Performance Report are not eligible to apply.

4.   Currently employed US Citizen EFMs who hold a Family Member Appointment (FMA) are ineligible to apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of their appointment.

5.   Currently employed NORs hired under a Personal Services Agreement (PSA) are ineligible to apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of their employment unless currently hired into a position with a When Actually Employed (WAE) work schedule.




HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates for this position must submit the following for consideration of the application:

1.  Universal Application for Employment as a Locally Employed Staff or Family Member (DS-174).

2.  A combination of both; i.e. Sections 1-24 of the UAE along with a listing of the applicants work experience attached as a separate sheet.

3.  A current resume or curriculum vitae.

4. Candidates who claim US Veterans preference must provide a copy of their Form DD-214 with their application.  Candidates who claim conditional US Veterans preference must submit documentation confirming eligibility for a conditional preference in hiring with their application.

5.  Any other documentation (e.g. essays, certificates, awards) that addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.


SUBMIT APPLICATION TO
Human Resources Office
By email at KampalaHR@state.gov.
ONLY ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AND ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.
Please use standard file types such as Microsoft Word (.doc) and Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) and please send all documents in one file attachment.
Telephone:  0414-259-791/5


Deadline: 18th Feb 2013