VACANCY AT THE US EMBASSY: SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Introduction

The U.S. Mission, STATE/USAID PEPFAR Team in Botswana is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the position of Senior Communications Specialist. OPEN TO: All Interested Candidates / All Sources OPENING DATE: November 11, 2015 CLOSING DATE: November 24, 2015

Description

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION
Incumbent works as the lead communications officer, develop and implement a comprehensive communications program for Botswana to promote public understanding of United State Government health programs and accomplishments; plans and coordinates the dissemination of information relating to the organization's programs, objectives and functions through various media.

SELECTION PROCESS:  When qualified, applicants who are U.S. Citizen Eligible Family Members (USEFMs) and/or preference-eligible U.S. Veterans are given a preference in hiring.  Therefore, it is essential that these applicants make themselves known as having a hiring preference and specifically address the required qualifications above in their application.

 HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER:

1. USEFM who is ALSO a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran

2. USEFM OR a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran

3. FS 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 security clearance.

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.

IMPORTANT:
Applicants claiming a U.S. Veteran’s preference must submit written documentation confirming eligibility (e.g., Member Copy 4 of Form DD-214, Letter from the Veteran’s Administration, or certification documenting eligibility under the VOW Act with an expected discharge no later than 120 days after the certification is submitted) by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.  If the written documentation confirming eligibility is not received in the HR office by the closing date of the vacancy announcement, the U.S. Veteran’s preference will not be considered in the application process.  Specific criteria for receiving a U.S. Veteran’s preference may be found in HR/OE’s Family Member Employment Policy (FMEP).

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 3FAM 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):  A MOH is an individual who meets all of the following criteria.

A MOH is someone who accompanies or joins a direct-hire Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member permanently assigned to or stationed abroad or, as appropriate, at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; and

A MOH must be officially declared to the COM by the sponsoring employee as part of his/her household; and

A MOH is under COM authority;

A MOH may include a parent, unmarried partner, other relative, or adult child;

A MOH may or may not be a U.S. Citizen;

A MOH is not an EFM;

A MOH is not listed on the travel orders or approved Form F-126 of a sponsoring employee.

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.

Profile

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:  Master’s degree in communications, journalism, marketing, or a related field is required.

2.  EXPERIENCE:  Five years of experience working in a communications or public affairs environment is required.

3.  LANGUAGE:  English Level IV, fluency speaking, reading and writing.

       (This will be tested.)

4.  SKILLS AND ABILITIES:  Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, are required, Intermediate user level of word processing, graphics, spread sheets and databases is required. Keyboarding skills that include both speed and accuracy are required. Photography skills to capture the essence of program activities are also required.  (This will be tested.)

5.  JOB KNOWLEDGE:  An in-depth understanding of overall communications principles, guidelines and procedures related to the management of public relations is required.

We offer

FSN-11; BWP344,535 p.a. (starting salary)

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