Secretary – U.S. Citizens only

U.S. Consulate Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Vacancy Announcement Number:  2018/06

 

Open to:                     U.S. Citizens Only / All Sources 

The “Open To” category listed above refers to candidates who are eligible to apply for this position.  The “Open To” category should not be confused with a “hiring preference” which is explained later in this vacancy announcement.  

Position:                    Secretary, FP-8, 98-310000

Opening Date:           Friday, February 9, 2018 

Closing Date:            Friday, March 2, 2018 

Work Hours:              Full -time, 40 hours/week 

Salary:                        Not-Ordinarily Resident (NOR):  FP-8* – US$ 38,468

*Final grade/step for NORs will be determined by Washington. 

Note: Only qualified U.S. Citizen Eligible Family Members (AEFM) (as defined below) of U.S. Government employees assigned to post under Chief of Mission (COM) authority are eligible for consideration.  A U.S. Citizen EFM does not have to be residing in country to be considered, but the sponsoring officer under COM authority does have to be officially assigned to post and the AEFM must be on the travel orders. 

*This is a sensitive level FMA position graded at FP-8 level. Candidates for employment are normally hired at the first step, but additional steps may be considered if experience in a similar USG position at a higher pay level can be verified (see definitions on HPR and SQR below).  If the selected candidate does not qualify at the full performance level, he/she will enter at a lower grade level and will receive an upgrade after one year.  

The U.S. Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the position of Secretary to work in the Regional Security Office. 

Basic Function of Position

Incumbent provides administrative support to the Regional Security Officer (RSO) and the Assistant RSO performing secretarial duties. Incumbent must be able to obtain or hold a Top Secret Clearance.

Qualifications Required

Note: Applicants must address each required qualification listed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.  Applicants are required to submit their applications in English using the DS-174 form.  Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not qualified.

1. Education: Completion of secondary (high school) is required.

2. Experience: At least two years in secretarial work, administrative and/or office management supporting services is required.

3. Language (This will be tested):

• Level 3 (Good Working Knowledge) Speaking/Reading/Writing of English is required.
• Level 1 (Rudimentary Knowledge) Speaking/Reading/Writing of Portuguese is required.

4. Skills and Abilities (This will be tested):

• Ability to use Microsoft Office Suites, especially Microsoft Excel is required.

For further information:

The complete position description listing all of the duties and responsibilities may be obtained by contacting the Human Resources Office – Daisy Barbosa at (21) 3823-2608. 

Hiring Preference Selection Process: 

When qualified, 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: 

• AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
• AEFM / USEFM
• FS on LWOP**

* Important:  Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of the most recent Member Copy Four (4) of the DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, and, if applicable, a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  If claiming conditional eligibility for U.S. Veterans’ preference, applicants must submit proof of conditional eligibility.  If the written documentation confirming eligibility is not received in the HR office by the closing date of the vacancy announcement, the U.S. Veterans’ preference will not be considered in the application process.  Mission HR’s decision on eligibility for U.S. Veterans’ preference after reviewing all required documentation is final.

** This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP.

Additional Selection Criteria: 

1. Management may consider the following when determining successful candidacy:  nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status.

2. Current OR employees serving a probationary period are not eligible to apply.  Current OR employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement or Unsatisfactory on their most recent Employee Performance Report (EPR) are not eligible to apply.

3. Current NOR employees hired on a Family Member Appointment (FMA) or a Personal Service Agreement (PSA) are not eligible to apply within the first 90 calendar days of their employment, unless they have a When Actually Employed (WAE) work schedule.

4. The candidate must be able to obtain and hold the following: Top Secret Clearance.

5. Candidates who are EFMs, USEFMs, AEFMs, or MOHs must have at least one year remaining on their sponsor’s tour of duty to be considered eligible to apply for this position.

 How to Apply: 

Applicants must submit the following documents to be considered:

1. Universal Application for Employment (UAE) (Form DS-174), which is available on our website or by contacting Human Resources.  (See “For Further Information” above); Plus
2. Any additional documentation that supports or addresses the requirements listed above (e.g. transcripts, degrees, etc).

Where to Apply: 

Human Resources Office:   Daisy Barbosa

Submit with vacancy title:   RSO Secretary

E-mail Address:                    riorecruitment@state.gov   

Closing date for this position: March 2, 2018.

Equal Employment Opportunity:  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.  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.

Appendix A – Definitions

 

Eligible Family Member (EFM):  An EFM for employment purposes is defined an individual who meets all of the following criteria:

• U.S. Citizen or not a U.S. Citizen; and
• Spouse or same-sex domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610); or
• Child, who is unmarried and under 21 years of age or, regardless of age, is incapable of self-support.  The term “child” shall include, in addition to natural offspring, stepchild, adopted child, and a child under legal guardianship of employee, spouse, or same-sex domestic partner when such child is expected to be under legal guardianship until 21 years of age and when dependent upon and normally residing with the guardian; or
• Parent (including stepparents and legally adoptive parents) of employee, spouse, or same-sex domestic partner, when such parent is at least 51 percent dependent on the employee for support; or
• Sister or brother (including stepsisters and stepbrothers, or adoptive sisters or brothers) of the employee, spouse, or same-sex domestic partner 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; and
• Listed on the travel orders or approved Form OF-126 of a sponsoring employee, i.e., a direct-hire Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member who is permanently assigned to or stationed abroad or, as appropriate, at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; and
• Is under chief of mission authority.

U.S. Citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM):  A USEFM is an individual who meets all of the following criteria: 

• U.S. Citizen; and
• Spouse or same-sex domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610) of the sponsoring employee; or
• Child of the sponsoring employee who is unmarried and at least 18 years old; and
• Listed on the travel orders or approved Form OF-126 of a sponsoring employee, i.e., a direct-hire Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member who is permanently assigned to or stationed abroad or, as appropriate, at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; and resides at the sponsoring employee’s post of assignment abroad, or as appropriate, at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; and is under chief of mission authority; or
• resides at an Involuntary Separate Maintenance Allowance (ISMA) location authorized under 3 FAM 3232.2; or
• Currently receives a U.S. Government retirement annuity or pension from a career in the U.S. Foreign Service or Civil Service.

Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM):  An AEFM is an individual who meets all of the following criteria:

• U.S. Citizen; and
• Spouse or same-sex domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610) of the sponsoring employee; or
• Child of the sponsoring employee who is unmarried and at least 18 years old; and
• Listed on the travel orders or approved Form OF-126 of a sponsoring employee, i.e., a direct-hire Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member who is permanently assigned to or stationed abroad or, as appropriate, at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT); and
• Is under chief of mission authority; and
• Is residing at the sponsoring employee’s post of assignment abroad or, as appropriate, at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; and
• Does NOT currently receive a U.S. Government retirement annuity or pension from a career in the U.S. Foreign Service or Civil Service.  

Member of Household (MOH):  A MOH is an individual who meets all of the following criteria.

• A MOH is someone who accompanies or joins a direct-hire Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member permanently assigned to or stationed abroad or, as appropriate, at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; and
• A MOH must be officially declared to the COM by the sponsoring employee as part of his/her household; and
• A MOH is not under COM authority;
• A MOH may include a parent, unmarried partner, other relative, or adult child;
• A MOH may or may not be a U.S. Citizen;
• A MOH is not an EFM;
• A MOH is not listed on the travel orders or approved Form F-126 of a sponsoring employee. 

Not Ordinarily Resident (NOR) – An individual who meets the following criteria:

• An EFM, USEFM or AEFM of a direct-hire Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member permanently assigned or stationed abroad, or as appropriate, at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; or
• Has diplomatic privileges and immunities; and
• Is eligible for compensation under the FS or GS salary schedule; and
• Has a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN); and
• Is not a citizen of the host country; and
• Does not ordinarily reside in the host country; and
• Is not subject to host country employment and tax laws.

Ordinarily Resident (OR) – An individual who meets the following criteria:

• A citizen of the host country; or
• A non-citizen of the host country (including a U.S. citizen or a third-country national) who is locally resident and has legal and/or permanent resident status within the host country and/or who is a holder of a non-diplomatic visa/work and/or residency permit; and/or
• Is subject to host country employment and tax laws.

Highest Previous Rate (HPR):  The purpose of HPR is to provide the maximum payable rate based on the candidate’s highest pay rate paid on a prior federal government appointment of at least 90 consecutive days. HPR is not an entitlement nor can it be authorized based on non-federal government pay scales. It is designed as a recruitment tool and is requested at post management discretion before the candidate’s entry-on-duty (EOD). 

Superior Qualifications Rate (SQR):  A superior qualifications rate (SQR) is a higher rate of pay granted in recognition of an Appointment Eligible Family Member’s (AEFM) “unusually high and unique” qualifications. SQR is not an entitlement.  It is designed as a recruitment tool and is requested at post management discretion before the candidate’s entry on duty (EOD). It can be applied for any Family Member Appointment (FMA) position at grade levels FP-1 and above.