U.S Embasy
Summary: The U.S. Mission in Uganda is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the position of Public Engagement Specialist.
The work schedule for this position is:
- Full Time, 40 hours per week
Start date: Candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time following receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
Supervisory Position: Yes.
Duties: The Public Engagement Specialist is the leading locally employed (LE) staff adviser for the Mission’s Public Diplomacy (PD) engagement with Emerging Voices (EV) and Established Opinion Leaders (EOL) audience sectors. Plans, oversees, and evaluates the impact of all PD activities, projects, and initiatives to engage EV and EOL audience sectors, and supervises staff responsible for the Mission’s education, exchanges, and youth-focused portfolios. Designs and implements Mission PD outreach strategy to EV audiences, primarily youth, underrepresented groups, and those who influence them, and to EOL audiences, primarily through professional exchanges. Designs and recommends PD strategies to connect with EV and EOL audience sectors to promote an understanding of and support for U.S. policy and dispel inaccurate perceptions. This position receives direct supervision from the Public Diplomacy Officer (PDO) for Public Engagement or Public Affairs Officer (PAO) designee.
Download: Detailed Position Description | PD – Public Engagement Specialist
Qualifications and Evaluations
EDUCATION: A university degree in Communications, International Affairs, Public or Business Administration, Marketing or local equivalent is required.
Requirements:
EXPERIENCE: Non-Supervisory: Four years of experience is required, with communications, public engagement management, or education duties as components of the work. Prior experience in an international, academic, or governmental work environment is required. Supervisory: At least one year of supervisory experience is required.
Evaluations: (This may be tested)
LANGUAGE: English: Level 4 (Fluent) Speaking/Reading/Writing English is required.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Analytic Skills: Must have strong analytic skills. Must be able to identify, analyze, predict, and assess EV and EOL audience attitudes and the impact of projects and modify approaches for the greatest outcome. Must be able to perceive the emergence of new influencers and adjust operations and programming accordingly.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Must have excellent customer relations, interpersonal, and 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 for public speaking, interviewing for evaluation purposes, and writing reports and material for publication. Must be able to tailor communications to fit formal and informal situations and different ethnic, religious, and linguistic cultures. Must be able to brief on a variety of issues for public programs.
Management Skills: Strong project management skills are required, including the ability to develop and oversee project budgets and to organize, run, and present 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. Knowledge of various computer software programs, specifically Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and graphic design and photo editing software, is required. Detailed knowledge of and the ability to use social media and mobile platforms, photo and video sharing sites, podcast creation tools, and basic photo and video skills are required. Must have good numerical skills to be able to develop and manage project and grant budgets.
Qualifications: All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.
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.
Required Documents:
In order to qualify based on education, you MUST submit the requested degree 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)
- Degree certificate with transcript
- DD-214 – Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
- SF-50 (if applicable)
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: https://careers.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/VA-Definitions-and-Additional-Employment-Considerations.pdf
How to Apply:
- All candidates must be able to obtain and hold a Local Security Certification or Public Trust clearance.
All applications must be submitted online. Applicants shall be required to register under the careers page for U.S. Embassy Kampala following instructions on the link below:
https://ug.usembassy.gov/embassy/jobs/
- For further assistance call 0414-306001
- 3. You will receive confirmation of registration and proceed to apply.
- On completion of this process, you will receive an auto response via your email.
What to Expect Next: 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 the duties, responsibilities, required qualifications, etc. may be obtained by contacting the Human Resources office.
Thank you for your application and your interest in working at the U.S. Mission in Uganda.