American Center Director at Embassy of The United States

Duties

The American Center Director works under the direct supervision of the American Spaces Program Specialist and supervises two American Center program staff.  Develops and maintains ties with the Emerging Voices (EV) sector in Kenya 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 and for partner American Spaces 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

Qualifications and Evaluations

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:  

Detailed knowledge of U.S. foreign policy objectives and American interests in host country, especially the EV sector; understanding of U.S. historical, political, economic, social and cultural forces that shape U.S. foreign policy; comprehensive knowledge of the attitudes and preferences of the EV audience sector(s); 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. Familiarity with country-wide American Spaces operations is also 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 U.S. and host country; knowledge of trends in experiential learning and audience engagement; understanding of the communications/information environments in Kenya 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

Education Requirements:

• University Degree in communications, library science, museum education, international affairs, American Studies, marketing, or local equivalent is required

Evaluations:

LANGUAGE:  Level 4 English (Fluent, Speaking/Reading/Writing) 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 Kenyan 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.  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.
• 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 Kenya to support American Center projects and activities.

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.

Qualifications:

• All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.

Benefits and Other Info

Benefits:

Agency Benefits:

• Locally Employed Staff, including Members of Household (MOHs), and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), working at the U.S. Mission in Nairobi, Kenya may receive a compensation package that may include health, separation, and other benefits.
• For 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”), 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.

COVID-19 Requirements for Eligible Family Members
As required by Executive Order 14043, Eligible Family Members who will be employed on a Family Member Appointment (FMA) or a Temporary Appointment (TEMP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee’s duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law. If selected for the position, the agency will provide you additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a medical or religious accommodation.

Eligible Family Members who will be employed on a Personal Services Agreement and compensated under the USG pay plan will be required to attest to their vaccination status using the Vaccine Attestation Form. If you are not fully vaccinated or decline to provide this information, you will be required to demonstrate proof of a negative COVID-19 test completed within 72 hours of entry to a Mission facility and comply with enhanced COVID-19 mitigation protocols. If selected for the position, the agency will provide you additional information regarding these requirements.

COVID-19 Requirements for Local Candidates
Candidates who will be employed on either a Personal Services Agreement or a direct hire appointment and compensated under the Mission’s Local Compensation Plan will be required to follow all Mission COVID-19 policies applicable to Locally Employed Staff. If selected for the position, the agency will provide you additional information regarding these requirements.

How to Apply:

• All candidates must be able to obtain and hold a Public Trust clearance. 
• To apply for this position click the “Submit Application” button.  For more information on how to apply visit the Mission internet site.

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)
• Residency and/or Work Permit
• University degree in communications, library science, museum education, international affairs, American Studies, marketing, or local equivalent
• Curriculum-Vitae (cv)
• DD-214 - Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
• SF-50 (if applicable)

Next step:

• 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.

Deadline: 03/07/2022