JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. Mission Uganda
Announcement Number: Kampala-2021-034
Position Title: Public Engagement Assistant (American Center Director)
Opening Period: 09/27/2021 – 10/06/2021
Series: 6510
Grade: FSN 9/FP-5
Salary: UGX 86,951,739
For More Info: KampalaHR@state.gov
Who May Apply: All Interested Applicants / All Sources (Actual FS salary determined by Washington D.C.)
Security Clearance Required: Public Trust- Background Investigation
Duration Appointment: 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.
https://careers.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Eight-Qualities-of-Overseas-Employees.pdf
Summary: The U.S. Mission in Uganda is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the position of Public Engagement Assistant (American Center Director).
The work schedule for this position is:
• Full Time, 40 hours per week
Start date: Candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time (4 weeks) following receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
Supervisory Position: Yes
Duties: The American Center Director works under the direct supervision of the Public Affairs Officer (PAO) or PAO Designee. Develops and maintains ties with the Emerging Voices (EV) sector in the host country to support foreign policy goals. Is responsible for the day-to-day oversight, management, and operations of the Mission’s USG-owned and operated American Center. Develops Center-specific activities and programs to attract EV audiences at the Center, to engage audiences through post’s mobile American Space, the Nile Explorer bus, and support Partner American Center audiences throughout the country; collaborates with non-Center Public Diplomacy (PD) staff on a range of other PD activities and projects to broaden the Center’s EV activities and programs. This position has a large degree of autonomy as Director of a public access facility that is open during hours when the Embassy may be closed, may not be co-located with other Mission facilities, and must maintain a dynamic schedule of simultaneous activities and projects of interest to the public.
Supervises one IRC Technician, Grade 7 and position number 600065. Provides day-to-day work guidance to implementing partner program staff at the American Center in Kampala and the Nile Explorer mobile American Space.
Download: detailed Position Description | PD-American Center Director
Qualifications and Evaluations
EDUCATION: University degree in communications, library science, museum education, international affairs, American Studies, marketing, or local equivalent degree is required.
Requirements:
EXPERIENCE: This position requires a total of at least four years of experience. Specifically: a) Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in a multilingual, multicultural, or multinational institution (such as a museum, public or community center, or education facility) that provides information resources or American Studies or International Relations content to the public is required, with communications, marketing or public relations duties as a significant part of the job; and b) at least an additional one year of supervisory experience is required.
JOB KNOWLEDGE: Understanding of regional, ethnic, socio-economic, cultural and linguistic factors and the influence of religious, cultural and educational institutions in shaping EV perceptions of the U.S. are all required. Must have general knowledge of project management, including defining project objectives, outcomes, and assessment methods.
Knowledge of marketing techniques, market analysis and analytics, and customer service standards in the host country; knowledge of trends in experiential learning and audience engagement; understanding of the communications/information environments in the host country and international environment; detailed knowledge of PD engagement tools, related policies and procedures for each; and knowledge of multiple PD resource streams and regulations for their use are all required.
Evaluations: (This may be tested)
LANGUAGE: (Fluent) speaking/reading/writing of English is required.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Analytic skills: Must have strong analytic skills and the ability to conceptualize how best to use PD programs and projects to move host-country attitudes in positive ways. Must be able to advise senior PD /Mission leaders of opportunities to promote Mission objectives; identify, analyze, predict and continually assess EV audience attitudes; evaluate the impact of projects and modify approaches for greatest outcomes. Must be able to perceive the emergence of new influencers and adjust operations and programming accordingly.
Communication / Interpersonal skills: Must have excellent customer relations, interpersonal cross-cultural communication skills, and be able to identify and engage key figures critical to shaping local public opinion. Must have excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking, interviewing for evaluation purposes, writing reports and contributing materials for publication in both English and host-country language. Must be able to tailor communications to fit formal and information situations and different ethnic, religious and linguistic cultures, and, as necessary, through multi-media channels. Must be able to brief U.S. officers and visitors on a variety of issues and interpret between English and the host-country language for public programs.
Management skills: Strong management skills are required, including the ability to develop and oversee project budgets and to organize, run, and present professional and cultural projects such as workshops, seminars, digital video conferences, panel discussions, lectures and camps. Must be able to negotiate agreements with partner institutions and manage their fulfillment.
Technical skills: Good keyboarding and data entry skills and excellent familiarity with electronic discovery tools, in particular the Internet, and standard information retrieval practices and procedures are required. Thorough, detailed knowledge of various computer software programs, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, graphic design and photo editing software, and PD-specific software, databases, and reporting tools is required. Full understanding of PD-specific funding authorities and their planning and reporting tools is required. Detailed knowledge of and ability to use social media and mobile platforms, photo and video sharing sites, podcast creation, and basic photo and video skills are all required. Must have good numerical skills to be able to develop and manage project and grant budgets; must be able to develop descriptive statistical analysis of target audience segments and impact of American Space activities and initiatives.
Availability: Must be available to travel throughout the host country to support American Center projects and activities.
Qualifications: All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.
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.
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”), 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: https://careers.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/VA-Definitions-and-Additional-Employment-Considerations.pdf
How to Apply:
1. All candidates must be able to obtain and hold a Local Security Certification or Public Trust clearance.
All applications must be submitted online. Applicants shall be required to register under the careers page for U.S. Embassy Kampala following instructions on the link below:
https://ug.usembassy.gov/embassy/jobs/
2. For further assistance call 0414-306001
3. You will receive confirmation of registration and proceed to apply.
4. On completion of this process, you will receive an auto response via your email.
Required Documents:
In order to qualify based on education, you MUST submit the requested diploma and / or transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to provide requested information, or the information you submit is insufficient to verify your eligibility, you will not be considered for this position.
- Copy of Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)
- Bachelor’s degree certificates
- DD-214 – Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
- SF-50 (if applicable)
What to Expect Next: Applicants who are invited to take a language or skills test, or who are selected for an interview will be contacted via email.
For further information: the complete position description listing all of the duties, responsibilities, required qualifications, etc. may be obtained by contacting the Human Resources office.
Thank you for your application and your interest in working at the U.S. Mission in Uganda.
