Job Openings at U.S. Embassy to Kenya

Duties

• The Political Associate is responsible for a broad range of analytical reporting, information gathering, and advocacy on host country political issues.
• Assists the political section in developing policies and programs for the host country, taking into account local social and political conditions and trends and U.S. objectives. 
• Monitors media and other sources to report and advise on portfolio-relevant topics in host country, including government policy making, national initiatives, the legislative process, and civil society movements.
• Engages government and civil society contacts to promote U.S. policy objectives.  Articulates and advances U.S. policies in portfolio-relevant topics.  Leads sections efforts to build relationships with influential host-government personnel to advance U.S. and Mission priorities.
• Coordinates, researches, and drafts political section reporting on portfolio-relevant topics, including via spot reports, cables, briefing memos, and Congressionally-required reports, in cooperation with U.S. and LE colleagues from the section and across the Embassy.  
• Contributes to internal knowledge management and data tracking / processing systems, which could include tracking demarches received and their delivery as well as supporting the vetting of security force units for human rights violations.
• In support of section goals, supports travel and visits by Embassy officials and VIP visitors.  Serves as site officer or control officer for some visits.

Qualifications and Evaluations

Requirements:

EXPERIENCE:

• At least three years in a job involving research, analysis, advocacy, and/or program management on issues related to political science, national security, international business and economics, international relations, education, communications, law, or development is required.

JOB KNOWLEDGE:

• Familiarity with U.S. foreign policy objectives in Kenya. 
• Familiarity with Kenyan domestic affairs and regional issues.  Familiarity with U.S. national security and foreign policy priorities.

Education Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in political science, law, history, international relations or public policy is required.

Evaluations:

LANGUAGE: 

• English Level 4 - Fluent; written/spoken, including the ability to translate.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Strong oral and written communication skills are required to develop and maintain relationships with external contacts, analyze and report on human rights and political issues, and provide policy and program recommendations to Embassy officials.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced, high productivity environment independently with limited supervision of day-to-day activities.

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Duties

Basic Function of the Position:

• Under the direct supervision of a Consular Officer the Consular Associate is assigned a wide range of responsibilities in the American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit, Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) Unit, Immigrant Visa Unit, and/or Fraud Prevention Unit (FPU). 
• The jobholder may provide consular services to U.S. citizens, conducts non-adjudicatory visa processing, and assists in investigation and validation studies. Incumbent also handles correspondence with the public, attorneys, U.S. and host governments, Congress, and other parties. 
• Must be able to secure and maintain a Secret level security clearance. 

Education Requirements:

EDUCATION: 

• Completion of High School is required. 

LANGUAGE: 

• Level IV (Fluent) Speaking/Reading/Writing of English is required.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 

• Must be able to input data in consular systems with minimum errors, and spot and correct errors made by others (applicants and fellow staff).
• Demonstrated skills in MS Office Suite and general computer skills including information and database management.
• Organizational skills, including task management and filing skills; communication skills including writing skills appropriate for drafting official correspondence and reports.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOS Secret Security clearance.
• Tact and good judgment in dealing with the public, often under difficult and sensitive circumstances.
• Sensitivity in evaluating evidence and applying complex regulations correctly.
• Ability to learn applicable U.S. and host country laws, regulations, legal precedents, and court decisions.
• Good interpersonal skills.

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Duties

• The incumbent, the senior LE Staff member in the Political Section, serves as the senior policy advisor to the Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission, and Political Section staff.
• The incumbent leads a three-person LE Staff team covering the full spectrum of political issues in Kenya and U.S.-Kenya relations. Within the three-person team, the incumbent is the line supervisor with rating responsibility for one person.
• The incumbent serves as the primary liaison between the Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission, and Political Section staff and senior leaders across the full range of Kenyan society.
• The incumbent maintains the Political Section’s contacts with senior Kenyan government officials at both the national, regional, and county level, including officials in the office of the president, deputy president, members of the cabinet, parliamentarians, political party leaders, trade unions, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, religious organizations, multilateral organizations, and media houses. 
• The incumbent influences and negotiates with these Kenyan contacts in furtherance of U.S. foreign policy goals and further advises the Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission, and Political Section staff on optimal ways to undertake both private and public diplomacy outreach.
• In addition, the incumbent briefs visiting U.S. officials on the stability of the Kenyan government, attitudes toward the United States, and implications for U.S. policy objectives in the region.
• The incumbent possesses significant analytical writing skills, including the ability to adhere to stringent State Department writing guidelines, and produces written work that is often passed on to Washington, and which requires minimal edits and supervision.
• The incumbent regularly monitors and analyzes the Kenyan political and security landscape to advise the Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission, and Political Section staff on optimal ways to advance U.S. interests.
• To develop specialized knowledge and draft predictive reports, the incumbent must obtain information from a variety of senior Kenyan government officials and civil society organizations that is unavailable in the public domain and assess the information against the known biases and agendas of those who provide it.
• The incumbent occasionally facilitates roundtable discussions with a broad range of participants on political topics of interest for the benefit of the Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission, and Political Section staff.
• The incumbent briefs visiting U.S. officials on current political trends and arranges meetings for U.S. officials with their Kenyan counterparts to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives.

Qualifications and Evaluations

Education Requirements:

• University Degree in Political Science, International Relations, Law, Business Studies or related field is required.

Evaluations:

• You will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement. 
• You may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test.
• You must complete the application form and provide the required documents. 
• Your application must address all the position qualifications and requirements including education, experience, language, and any knowledge/skills/abilities listed. 
• If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position. 

Qualifications:

Language: 

• English: Level IV (Fluent)
• Kiswahili: Level IV (Fluent)

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Duties

Basic Function of the Position:

• The CLO is responsible for developing and managing a program based on community demographics and post-specific needs.
• Development and implementation of the program has direct impact on post morale and affects overall work performance, productivity, retention, community spirit, and individual and family well-being in a foreign environment.
• The CLO develops evaluation criteria and conducts periodic surveys to assess program efficacy.
• Based on analysis of formal and informal surveys, the CLO develops and implements a long-range program plan that outlines goals to maintain and enhance morale at post.

Qualifications and Evaluations

EXPERIENCE: 

• Minimum of five years of professional work experience required. Minimum of six months of supervisory experience required.

JOB KNOWLEDGE:

• Pertinent DOS regulations, programs, and policies, as well as host-country laws, practices, and mores.
• Critical to duties in employment liaison, education liaison, crisis management, and security liaison where USG and DOS regulations, policies and initiatives govern programs and benefits critical to the general well-being of FS employees and family members overseas.

Education Requirements:

• Completion of Secondary school is required.

LANGUAGE: 

• Level III (Good Working Knowledge) English Speaking/Reading/Writing required.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Standard knowledge of Microsoft computer environment required; ability to draft and edit material for correspondence and publication required.
• Ability to demonstrate good interpersonal customer service skills required.
  
  
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