Job Title:
Refugee Specialist - All US Citizens Only
REF: VA-86-12
Recruiter: U.S. Embassy Updated on: 2012-06-14 15:50:10
AA/EE: Not Applicable Contract Permanent
Location: Nairobi Available: Immediately
Category: Public Sector Offer: FS-05
Introduction
Open to : US Citizens Only
The Political Refugee Section has an opening for the position of Refugee Specialist. The position will be available immediately.
The closing date for this position is June 22,2012.
Note: You will be notified when the decision is made.
Minimum Requirements
Qualifications Required: NOTE: All must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.
Bachelor’s Degree in political science, international relations, humanitarian assistance, or related field is required.
Three years of professional work on refugee and/or humanitarian issues is required.
English – Level IV speaking, reading and writing is required.
Other Criteria:
Familiarity with the mandate and operations of UNHCR, DHS/CIS, PRM, and relevant embassy offices required.
Familiarity with the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program required.
Knowledge of Kenyan refugee policy.
Familiarity with international refugee law and humanitarian norms required.
Computer skills: Microsoft applications including Excel, Power Point, Word and Outlook Express required.
Job Specification
BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION
The Refugee Specialist assists the Political Section’s Regional Refugee Coordinator in all aspects of State/PRM’s Nairobi-based Refugee Admissions Program. This program covers refugee resettlement from all of sub-Saharan Africa to the United States. The program supports embassy goals in Humanitarian Assistance, Regional Security, and Human Rights. The Refugee Specialist vets UNHCR and NGO resettlement submissions and coordinates with representatives of the Resettlement Support Center, IOM, and the embassy’s DHS/CIS Officer-in-Charge to ensure continuity of refugee admissions to the United States. The Refugee Specialist is also called upon to monitor and report upon refugee protection issues in Kenya and Somalia. The Refugee Specialist backs-up the Regional Refugee Coordinator, and may have contact with Government of Kenya officials and senior UN officials. The Refugee Specialist will travel to refugee camps in Kenya and throughout the region.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Reviews and evaluates all UNHCR, NGO, and embassy referrals to determine suitability for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program under State/PRM’s guidelines and the Worldwide Refugee Admissions Processing System (WRAPS); prepares letters authorizing processing. 40%
Coordinates with the Department of Homeland Security’s Bureau of Citizens and Immigration Service (CIS), the Joint Voluntary Agency (JVA), The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to resolve issues and problems in refugee resettlement and program operations. Tracks resettlement case progress and resolves case problems. 20%
Represent the refugee coordinator at meetings with international organizations and NGOs and draft reports on the content for senior Embassy staff and Washington.. 15%
Reports on refugee populations in Kenya and Somalia, including size, refugee flows, security, prospects for durable solution, protection needs and issues affecting first asylum; advises and Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) on refugee admissions related issues for East, Central and southern Africa. 10%
Examines political, Social and other developments that affect refugees’ need for resettlement; monitors refugee protection issues and promotes refugees’ right to first asylum. 5%
Travels on an as needed basis to cover refugee admissions related issues. 5%
Prepares monthly reports on refugee referrals and departures in the region and drafts briefing papers and other program documents. 5%
Selection Process:
WHEN EQUALLY QUALIFIED, U.S. CITIZEN ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBER (USEFMs) AND U.S. VETERANS WILL BE GIVEN PREFERENCE. THEREFORE, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE CANDIDATES SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS ABOVE IN THE APPLICATION.
Additional Selection Criteria:
à Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, and residency status in determining successful candidacy.
à Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible to apply.
à 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.
à Currently employed U.S. Citizen EFMs who hold a Family Member Appointment (FMA) are ineligible to apply for
advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of their employment.
à 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.
à Applicants must be available for an interview and for proficiency testing as required by the selecting official.
Selection Process:
WHEN EQUALLY QUALIFIED, U.S. CITIZEN ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBER (USEFMs) AND U.S. VETERANS WILL BE GIVEN PREFERENCE. THEREFORE, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE CANDIDATES SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS ABOVE IN THE APPLICATION.
Additional Selection Criteria:
à Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, and residency status in determining
successful candidacy.
à Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible to apply.
à 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.
à Currently employed U.S. Citizen EFMs who hold a Family Member Appointment (FMA) are ineligible to
apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of their employment.
à 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.
à Applicants must be available for an interview and for proficiency testing as required by the selecting official.
The U.S. Mission in Nairobi 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.
DEFINITIONS
1. Eligible Family Member (EFM): An individual related to a U.S. Government employee in one of the following ways:
Spouse or same-sex domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610);
Child, who is unmarried and under 21 years of age or, regardless of age, is incapable of self-support. The term shall include, in addition to natural offspring, stepchildren and adopted children and those under legal guardianship of the employee or the spouse when such children are expected to be under such legal guardianship until they reach 21 years of age and when dependent upon and normally residing with the guardian;
Parent (including stepparents and legally adoptive parents) of the employee or of the spouse, when such parent is at least 51 percent dependent on the employee for support;
Sister or brother (including stepsisters and stepbrothers, or adoptive sisters or brothers) of the employee, or of the spouse, 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.
2. U.S. Citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM): For purposes of receiving a preference in hiring for a qualified position,
an EFM who meets the following criteria:
U.S. Citizen; and,
EFM (see above) at least 18 years old; and,
Listed on the travel orders of a direct-hire Foreign, Civil, or uniformed service member assigned to or stationed abroad with a USG agency that is under COM authority, or at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; and either:
Resides at the sponsoring employee's or uniformed service member's post of assignment abroad or at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; or
Resides at an Involuntary Separate Maintenance Allowance (ISMA) location authorized under 3 FAM 3232.2.
3. Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM): EFM (see above) eligible for a Family Member Appointment for purposes of Mission employment:
· Is a U.S. citizen; and
· Spouse or same-sex domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610) or a child of the sponsoring employee
who is unmarried and at least 18 years old; and
· Is listed on the travel orders or approved Form OF-126, Foreign Service Residence and
Dependency Report, 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 at a U.S. mission, or at
an office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), and who is under chief of mission authority; and
· Is residing at the sponsoring employee's post of assignment abroad or, as appropriate, office of the
American Institute in Taiwan.
· Does not receive a Foreign Service or Civil Service annuity
4. Member of Household (MOH): An individual who accompanies a direct-hire Foreign, Civil, or uniformed service member permanently assigned or stationed at a U.S. Foreign Service post or establishment abroad, or at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan. An MOH is:
Not an EFM; and,
Not on the travel orders of the sponsoring employee; and,
Has been officially declared by the sponsoring USG employee to the COM as part of his/her household.
A MOH is under COM authority and may include a parent, unmarried partner, other relative or adult child who falls outside the Department’s current legal and statutory definition of family member. A MOH does not have to be a U.S. Citizen.
5. Not Ordinarily Resident (NOR) – An individual who:
Is not a citizen of the host country; and,
Does not ordinarily reside (OR, see below) in the host country; and,
Is not subject to host country employment and tax laws; and,
Has a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN).
NOR employees are compensated under a GS or FS salary schedule, not under the LCP.
6. Ordinarily Resident (OR) – A Foreign National or U.S. citizen who:
Is locally resident; and,
Has legal, permanent resident status within the host country; and,
Is subject to host country employment and tax laws.
EFMs without U.S. Social Security Numbers are also OR. All OR employees, including U.S. citizens, are compensated in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan (LCP).
or to apply for this vacancy.
When applying for this position, kindly email us with the additional documents as specifically required for the position (e.g. licenses, certificates, diplomas, degrees) to nairobidocs@state.gov. Kindly set the subject of the email in the following format: Job ref/Job title/Your Full Name/ID
DISCLAIMER: The US Diplomatic Mission to Kenya uses My Jobs in Kenya, a commercial Internet recruitment site, to advertise all of its positions, and to provide an online facility for submitting applications.
Deadline : June 22,2012.
