Political Assistant - All Interested Applicants / All Sources , US Embassy

Salary:
XAF FCFA13,507,338 /Per Year
Work Schedule:
Full-time - 40 hours per week

Duties
 

Under the Political/Economic Section Chief and direct supervision of the Political Officer, the Political Assistant serves as the Embassy's in-house expert on Cameroonian politics and society. The Political Assistant conducts research, analysis, and reporting on internal political developments, external relations, and biographical matters affecting U.S. interests in Cameroon. Duties include drafting cables, speeches, and reports on political, human rights, and security topics, as well as building and maintaining relationships with government officials, civil society leaders, and other key contacts. The Political Assistant supports Front Office and Political/Economic Section colleagues through briefings, meeting preparation, and outreach activities, and contributes to major annual reports such as the International Religious Freedom Report and Country Reports on Terrorism.

Key Responsibilities:

Internal Political Analysis:

•  Conducts research, drafts cables, and prepares reports on religious freedom, political-military affairs, counterterrorism, rule of law, corruption, and other political issues affecting Cameroon. 
• Works both independently and with Political/Economic Section colleagues to compile first drafts of complex reports, including the annual International Religious Freedom Report and Country Reports on Terrorism.
•  Facilitates ongoing relationships with public officials and civil society actors, and maintains up-to-date knowledge of Cameroon's legal and institutional framework. 
• Backs up the Political Specialist and assists with the internal political portfolio.

External Relations Analysis:

•  Observes and reports on Cameroon's relationships with the United States, third countries, and international organizations such as the United Nations, the African Union, and la Francophonie. 
• Analyzes the foreign policy implications of Cameroonian domestic developments and forecasts future political and social trends to advise embassy officers.

Oral Briefing and Presentations: 

• Provides planned and impromptu briefings—both written and verbal—to the Front Office, Political/Economic Section colleagues, and other audiences.
•  Prepares briefing checklists ahead of key meetings and provides context to the Front Office during media engagements.

Outreach and Contact Development: 

• Establishes and maintains senior- and mid-level contacts across government, political parties, unions, security services, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. 
• Prepares groundwork materials, talking points, and biographical notes for official meetings and regional trips, and accompanies officers to engagements conducted in English or French.
•  Schedules meetings, escorts officers to demarches at government ministries, and prepares meeting reports.
• Represents the embassy at public events to build new contacts and communicate U.S. policy.

Biographical Reporting: 

• Gathers and analyzes biographical information on individuals of interest to the U.S. government. 
• Builds and maintains unclassified biographical files, tracks the career development of emerging Cameroonian figures, and verifies reports and translations prepared by other section staff.

Qualifications and Evaluations
Requirements:
All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a:

Security certificate; or

Public Trust - background investigation security clearance.

All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and may be subject to a pre-employment medical exam. 
Selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.

Education Requirements:
A Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, Economics or Journalism is required.

Evaluations:
 

• You will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement. 
• You may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test.
• You must complete the application form and provide the required documents.  
• Your application must address all the position qualifications and requirements including education, experience, language, and any knowledge/skills/abilities listed.  
• If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.

Qualifications:
Experience:  A minimum of three (3) years of experience in an international institution or any organization that executes international programs/policy (e.g. NGO, IO, or Embassy), including at least one year of political reporting.

Language:  Fluent (speaking, reading, writing) in English and French is required.  This may be tested.

Job Knowledge:  

• A good understanding of the customs and cultures of Cameroon. 
• A good understanding of Cameroonian political, economic, and diplomatic practices ; including social and government structures, institutions, political parties, historical development, key problem areas, and major political figures.
• Familiar with U.S. foreign policy and objectives for Cameroon and the background of the U.S. presence in the country. An understanding of section reporting requirements and office procedures.

Skills And Abilities:  

• Adaptability and the ability to manage multiple projects at once, while staying on-task. 
• Ability to complete tasks accurately, in an expedient manner. 
• Tact and diplomacy to deal with local government authority, must have excellent communication skills to be able to get sensitive information.
• Ability to analyze and process political and economic issues and inter-related political, economic, and social forces/events at work in-country and how they relate to U.S. foreign policy, as well as how they will affect the host country and U.S. foreign policy objectives in the near- and long-term. 
• Evaluate and analyze data for the preparation of reports for submission to the Department. Ability to determine relevance/truth of materials. 
• Develop, maintain, manage and organize an extensive range of high-level and mid-level contacts within and outside of the country. 
• Independently draft concise, factual, and useful reports. 
• Plan and manage regular, independent research projects that are relevant to section needs. 
• Submit the final results of independent projects to section officers.

This may be tested.

Benefits and Other Info
Benefits:
Agency Benefits:
Benefits Summary - U.S. Mission Cameroon

SALARY & COMPENSATION: 

• The annual gross salary includes: the Basic Rate, theMiscellaneous Benefits Allowance, and the End-of-the-Year Bonus (equal to 1/12 of annual basic salary, paid in December). 
• Seniority Allowance is paid in accordance with local labor law. 
• Merit-based compensation rewards are available for high performers. 
• A Cashier allowance is paid foreligible positions.

LEAVE BENEFITS: Subject to the stated limits and rules of the Local Compensation Plan, employees are entitled to: Annual Leave, Sick Leave, Maternity Leave, Special Leave, and Family Leave.

MEDICAL BENEFITS: The U.S. Mission in Cameroon directly reimburses eligible employees for covered medical expenses incurred for them and/or eligible dependents, subject to the stated limits of the Local Compensation Plan.

HOLIDAYS: The U.S. Mission in Cameroon observes American and Cameroonian public holidays, about 19 holidays per year.

For Eligible Family Member (EFM) applicants, benefits should be discussed with the HR Office. The pay plan is assigned by the HR Office and confirmed by Washington, D.C.

Required Documents:
All Applicants:

• Residency Permit (if applicable)
• Work Permit (if applicable)
• University Degree (or equivalent.
• Work Attestation(s)
   

For Selected Applicants:

• HR Office will send a Conditional Offer with the security certification and medical clearance requirements.
• The security certification is a 2–4-month process and is done by the Regional Security Office (RSO), who will contact the applicant once he/she completes the requirements provided with the Conditional Offer.
• The medical clearance is covered by the U.S. Embassy, and will be completed by the applicant separately, during the security certification process.
• Once HR Office receives the medical clearance and the security certification, the applicant will receive a Formal Offer with an agreed start date.

https://erajobs.state.gov/dos-era/vacancy/viewVacancyDetail.hms?_ref=zeeryjzrpt0&returnToSearch=true&jnum=76631&orgId=73