Political Assistant (U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City)

Job Description

Announcement Number: HOCHIMINH-2023-41
Hiring Agency: Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Position Title: Political Assistant - All Interested Applicants
Open Period: 11/24/2023 - 12/08/2023
Vacancy Time Zone: GMT+7
Series/Grade: LE - 1605 9
Salary: USD $20,075 /Per Year
Work Schedule: Full-time - The work schedule for this position is: 40 hours per week, from Monday to Friday.
Promotion Potential: LE-9
Duty Location(s): 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, VM
Deadline: 08/12/2023

Duties

The Political Assistant serves as the locally-employed subject matter expert on internal politics and rule of law issues. This is a professional level position responsible for coordinating the politically-sensitive human rights and religious freedom portfolio for Consulate general Ho Chi Minh City. This position builds contacts, reports on, and analyzes on a wide variety of issues related to political, and social developments for the Front Office, the POL/ECON section, and official visitors. Collects, compiles and analyzes complex and sensitive data from multiple sources on important events, trends and leading personalities in the political spheres for reporting purposes. Develops and maintains expert and senior-level contacts in government, the Communist Party of Vietnam, academia, the legal and judicial community, business, and the media for HCMC and the 31 provinces in the Consular District. Also responsible for sharing a wide range of clerical and administrative duties with the section's other assistants, including drafting correspondence and diplomatic notes and securing diplomatic approval and arranging logistics for visits, travel and appointments. Acts as interpreter/translator and backup to the other assistants as needed.

Qualifications and Evaluations

EXPERIENCE

At least three years of progressively responsible experience in one of the following fields: government, international relations, social sciences, policy, law, marketing, journalism, economics, other research and analysis.

EDUCATION

University degree in one of the following fields: political science, international relations, history, government, journalism, economics, business administration, international law is required.
Please upload degree and/or transcript as verification of educational requirement

LANGUAGE

Fluency Level Speaking/Reading/Writing of English is required.
Fluency Level Speaking/Reading/Writing of Vietnamese is required.
Please clarify level of your English and Vietnamese language skill on your application.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Strong information analysis skills are required.
Must be discreet to protect the confidentiality of personnel information and must possess excellent interpersonal skills.
Good interviewing skills.
Good presentation skills to deliver orientation/briefing/training.

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.

Benefits

Agency Benefits: Locally Employed Staff working at the U.S. Mission in Vietnam will receive the following allowances and benefits in addition to the annual basic salary listed above.

Allowances:

Unique Conditions of Work Allowance: 7% of Annual basic salary (subject to review every two years).
Miscellaneous Benefits Allowance: US$1,000 per annum for FSN-09 and below, and US$3,000 per annum for FSN-10 and above.

2. Benefits

Tet Bonus: one-month basic salary. Merit Based Compensation - annual salary increase based on performance.
Annual leave: 120 hours per year and the annual leave hours will increase every 5 years of creditable service according to local labor law. Sick leave according to local labor law Family leave: up to 5 days and other special leave as stipulated in the local labor law. American and Vietnamese holidays up to 21 days per year. Invest in yourself - 1 day
Contribution to mandatory insurances according to Vietnam's Government law and regulation including social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance.
Supplemental Health Insurance that the U.S. Mission covers 90% of the premium for employees and each eligible family member. Mission cash award for outstanding performance. Training opportunities abroad, in-country, on-the-job and online sources for professional career development.

For EFMs, benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources Office. The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.

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. (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”), Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability dated within the past six months, 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.

How to apply

Position Description (PDF-1.32MB)

All candidates must be able to obtain and hold a Public Trust / Background Investigation clearance.

To apply for this position click the “Submit Application” button in this page. For more information on how to apply visit the Mission internet site.

Required Documents:

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. Failure to provide requested information, or the information is insufficient to verify eligibility, may result in disqualification for this position.

All Applicants:

Residency and/or Work Permit
University Degree
Language Scores (if available)
Certificate or License

Eligible Family Member Applicants

Copy of Sponsor's Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)
Passport copy
DD-214 - Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
SF-50 (if applicable)

Next Steps:

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 of 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. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.