Political Assistant, FSN-9*, FP-5**

DATE:                       Sunday, February 24, 2013

 OPEN TO:                 All Interested Candidates

 POSITION:               Political Assistant, FSN-9*, FP-5**  

 OPENING DATE:    Sunday, February 24, 2013

 CLOSING DATE:    Sunday, March 10, 2013

 WORK HOURS:       Full time, 40 hours/week

 SALARY:                  *Ordinarily Resident (OR):  OMR 13,582.000 p.a. (Starting salary including allowances)                     

**Not-Ordinarily Resident (NOR): USD 50,043 p.a. (Starting salary)

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

 ONLY QUALIFIED APPLICANTS who have submitted the application form (DS-174) WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR AN INTERVIEW.

 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE CLOSING DATE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. ____________________________________________________________________

 The U.S. Embassy in Muscat is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Political Assistant in the Political/Economic Section.

 BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION

 The Political Assistant provides the Political/Economic Section with press reviews, research, reporting, biographic information, protocol assistance, and translation services when necessary from Arabic to English and vice versa. The Political Assistant also assists in analyzing and evaluating various political reports and backs up the Economic and Commercial Assistants.

 QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

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

•  Education: College degree in Political Science, International Relations, History, International Law or other closely related fields is required.
•  Prior Work Experience: At least 3 years of progressively responsible work in social science research and analysis, newspaper reporting of political matters, university teaching, or closely related fields.
• Language Proficiency: Level III (good working knowledge) English and Level IV (fluent) Arabic are required.
•  Knowledge: A good knowledge of the host country's political institutions and structure/system.
•  Abilities and Skills: Proficiency with computers, Microsoft Word, Excel and preferably Access is required. Ability to interpret the needs of Embassy officers for press and related coverage of current political developments. Ability to maintain contacts at the working level in the public and private sector. Ability to obtain material from varied sources and prepare reports of a factual nature in precise and accurate form.

 SELECTION PROCESS:

 When equally qualified, U.S. citizen Eligible Family Members (USEFMs), Members of Household (MOHs), and U.S. Veterans will be given preference. Therefore, it is essential that the candidate address the required qualifications above in the application.

 ADDITIONAL SELECTION CRITERIA: 

1.  Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, and residency 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.

 TO APPLY:

 Interested candidates for this position must submit the following for consideration:

1.  Universal Application for Employment as a Locally Employed Staff or Family Member (DS-174);
2. For candidates who claim U.S. Veterans preference, a copy of their Form DD-214 with their application.  For candidates who claim conditional U.S. Veterans preference, documentation confirming eligibility for a conditional preference in hiring.
3. Any other documentation (e.g., essays, certificates, awards) that addresses the qualification

      requirements of the position as listed above.

SUBMIT APPLICATION TO:

 Embassy of the United States of America

Attention: Human Resources Officer

P.O. Box 202, Postal Code 115,

Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat Sultanate of Oman

Email:  Muscat-Recruitment@state.gov

 POINT OF CONTACT:

 Telephone: 2464-3400

FAX:   2464-3770 

Email:  Muscat-Recruitment@state.gov

 CLOSING DATE: Sunday, March 10, 2013

 The U.S. Mission in Muscat 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.