job opportunities

Vacancy Announcement

The U.S. Consulate in Adana, Turkey is seeking an individual for the Consular Assistant position in the Consular Section.

OPEN TO:      All Interested Candidates
POSITION:    Consular Assistant, FSN-8*, FP-6**

OPENING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS:  OOB May 05, 2008
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS:  COB May 20, 2008

WORK HOURS:  Full-time; 40 hours/week
SALARY:

• Ordinarily Resident (OR): YTL 52,695 p.a. (Starting salary)
  (Position Grade:  FSN-8)
• Not-Ordinarily Resident (NOR): US$ 36,762 p.a. (Starting salary)
  (Position Grade: FP-6 to be confirmed by Washington)

If the applicants do not meet all the qualification requirements as announced, trainee level may be established and the starting grade level may be lowered accordingly.

NOTE:  ALL ORDINARILY RESIDENT (OR) APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED MEDICAL WORK AND RESIDENCY PERMITS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION: 

The position involves contact with public and calls for excellent customer service skills in the performance of the following duties: 
The incumbent being the sole consular Locally Employed Staff, performs the full range of U.S. passport and citizenship services and special consular services; serves as the public’s main point of contact for all consular inquiries; maintains contact lists for all sections and prepares guest lists and invitations for official functions; drafts routine consular correspondences and maintains files for the section.
A copy of the complete position description listing all duties and responsibilities is available in Management Office. Contact (0090) (322) 346-6262.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: 

NOTE: All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.

A.      Following are the MINIMUM qualifications required for the training level at at FSN-6 (FP-8) level: 

1.   Education:  Four-year university diploma is required in the field of law, international relations, public management or in liberal arts such as English language and literature, political science or psychology. 
2.   Work Experience:  At least ONE year of experience in a service-oriented position with extensive contact with the public, and computer experience with data-entry software and Microsoft Office applications is required.
3.   Language:  Level 4 (Fluency) Speaking/Reading/Writing English, and level 4 (Fluency) Speaking/Reading/Writing Turkish, and the ability to translate and draft correspondence in both languages are required.  Language proficiency, translation and drafting skills will be tested.
4.   Other Skills: Level II (40 wpm) typing and ability to use Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint are required.  Typing skills will be tested.
5.   Interpersonal Skill Requirements: Ability to work calmly, quickly, and accurately under continuous pressure; strong interpersonal and customer service skills; and tactfulness in serving customers of all levels; ability to brief Embassy personnel on areas of expertise and develop and maintain high level contacts are required. 

B. Following are the MINIMUM qualifications required for the second training level at FSN-7 (FP-7) level:

1.  Education: Four-year university diploma is required in the field of law, international relations, public management or in liberal arts such as English language and literature, political science or psychology.
2.  Work Experience: At least TWO years of experience in a service-oriented position with extensive contact with the public, and computer experience with data-entry software and Microsoft Office applications is required.
3.  Language:  Level 4 (Fluency) Speaking/Reading/Writing English, and level 4 (Fluency) Speaking/Reading/Writing Turkish, and the ability to translate and draft correspondence in both languages are required.  Language proficiency, translation and drafting skills will be tested.
4.  Other Skills:  Level II (40 wpm) typing and ability to use Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint are required.  Typing skills will be tested.
5.  Interpersonal Skill Requirements:  Ability to work calmly, quickly, and accurately under continuous pressure; strong interpersonal and customer service skills; and tactfulness in serving customers of all levels; ability to brief Embassy personnel on areas of expertise and develop and maintain high level contacts are required. 

C.  Following are the MINIMUM qualifications required for the target grade at FSN-8 (FP-6) level:

1.  Education: Four-year university diploma is required in the field of law, international relations, public management or in liberal arts such as English language and literature, political science or psychology.
2.  Work Experience: At least THREE years of experience in a service-oriented position with extensive contact with the public, and computer experience with data-entry software and Microsoft Office applications is required, ONE YEAR of which should be acquired in the performance of CONSULAR WORK with a thorough working knowledge of the applicable U.S. laws and regulations, State Department procedures, local laws and practices relevant to consular work.
3.  Language:  Level 4 (Fluency) Speaking/Reading/Writing English, and level 4 (Fluency) Speaking/Reading/Writing Turkish, and the ability to translate and draft correspondence in both languages are required.  Language proficiency, translation and drafting skills will be tested.
4.  Other Skills:  Level II (40 wpm) typing and ability to use Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint are required.  Typing skills will be tested.
5.  Interpersonal Skill Requirements:  Ability to work calmly, quickly, and accurately under continuous pressure; strong interpersonal and customer service skills; and tactfulness in serving customers of all levels; ability to brief Embassy personnel on areas of expertise and develop and maintain high level contacts are required.
6. Other Criteria:  Thorough working knowledge of the applicable U.S. laws and regulations, State Department procedures, local laws and practices relevant to consular work is required.

SELECTION PROCESS
When fully qualified, U.S. Citizen Eligible Family Members (USEFMs) and U.S. Veterans are given preference.  Therefore, it is essential that the candidate specifically address the required qualifications above in the application.

ADDITIONAL SELECTION CRITERIA:

1. Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, residency status and medical work permit status in determining successful candidacy.
2. Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible to apply.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Military Service (for male applicants):  Completion of compulsory military service is required.

TO APPLY

Interested applicants for this position must submit the following in English language or the application will not be considered:

1. Application for U.S. Federal Employment that can be obtained from Consulate Main Gate  or downloaded by clicking “the application form”; or for American citizens OF-612; or a current resume or curriculum vitae that provides the same information listed on the application forms; plus
2.  Candidates who claim U.S. Veterans preference must provide a copy of their Form DD-214 with their application.
3. Any other documentation (e.g., university diploma, ID card, military discharge document, essays, certificates, awards, copies of degrees earned) that addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.

SUBMIT APPLICATION TO:

Human Resources Office
Attention: Recruitment Assistant
American Consulate, Adana, Turkey
Telephone: (0090) (322) 346-6262
Fax:  (0090) (322) 346-7916

Please note: Short listing and interviews are normally completed within six weeks of the closing date. Please assume that your application has been unsuccessful if you have not heard from us within six weeks of the closing date.

CLOSING DATE FOR THIS POSITION:  COB MAY 20, 2008

The U.S. Mission in Turkey 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.

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DEFINITIONS
1. 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 U.S. Government agency that is under Chief of Mission (COM) authority in Turkey; and either:
·                              Resides at the sponsoring employee's or uniformed service member's post of assignment abroad; or
·                              Resides at an Involuntary Separate Maintenance Allowance (ISMA) location authorized under 3 FAM 3232.2.

2. EFM:  An individual related to a U.S. Government employee in one of the following ways:
-                      Spouse;
-                      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.

3. Member of Household (MOH): An individual who accompanies a direct-hire Foreign, Civil, or uniformed service member permanently assigned or stationed at the U.S. Mission in Turkey.  An MOH is:
-                      Not an EFM; and,
-                      Not on the travel orders of the sponsoring employee; and,
-                      Has been officially declared by the sponsoring U.S. Government employee to the COM as part of his/her household.
An 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.  An MOH does not have to be a U.S. Citizen.

4. 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 Local Compensation Plan.

5. 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 LCP.