This position is advertised under the Locally Employed Staff Program of the United States Mission in China. Interested applicants must be residing in country to be eligible for consideration. In addition, non-Chinese citizen applicants may hold a tourist, student or work visa at the time of the selection, but must be physically present in China at the time of application with the intention to make this their legal residence for at least one year.

OPEN TO:  All Interested Candidates

POSITION:  American Citizen Services Assistant
                                      
OPENING DATE: August 13, 2008

CLOSING DATE: August 26, 2008 
      (Only applications received by the closing date will be considered)

WORK HOURS: Full-time; 40 hours/week

GRADE: Not-Ordinarily Resident: FP-06 USD 29,379 (Starting salary, final grade and salary will be determined by Washington)
 Ordinarily Resident (OR):  FSN -08 124,634 (Starting salary with allowances)

The U.S. Consulate in Shanghai is seeking an individual for the position of American Citizen Services (ACS) Assistant in Consular Section. 

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION

The incumbent reports to Senior ACS Specialist and ACS Chief and performs full range of passport, citizenship, special consular services.  The incumbent must have a thorough knowledge of both PRC and U.S. laws and regulations in order to fulfill job responsibilities.  The employee is not confined to any one segment of ACS work, but must handle the full spectrum of services offered.  There is a significant element of contact responsibility requiring excellent English language ability and self-control in dealing with U.S. citizens frequently under conditions of extreme stress (death of a loved one, theft of a passport, mental illness, destitution, etc.).  Performs services with high degree of independence; consults with ACS consular officer on more difficult or complicated cases.  Serves as Acting Senior ACS Specialist in absence of the Senior ACS Specialist.

A complete copy of the position description is available in the Human Resources Office.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must address each qualification requirement detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each requirement.  Applicants who fail to provide detailed information supporting each requirement will not be considered for this position.

Education:
• Possession of a college degree in any major with coursework in legal affairs and English language.

Experience:
• Minimum three years of progressively responsible experience in consular work involving the application of complex regulatory material along with extensive public contact, and concentrated experience in passport and special consular services.

Language:
• Level IV (fluent) English required; comprehension must be extraordinarily high to deal successfully with U. S. citizens in stressful circumstances. Level IV Chinese, must be highly developed to ensure accuracy of translation and interpretation. 

Knowledge:
• Thorough knowledge of applicable U.S. laws, regulations, department instructions, local laws and legal practices and information sources. 

Abilities and skills: 
• Ability to develop and maintain an extensive range of contacts with local officials and service providers.  Ability to render advice with detachment and objectivity; ability to draft reports and difficult correspondence in precise and correct English or Chinese.  Possess computer skills including word processing, consular systems (including ACS+ and ACRS) including wardens/potential evacuees, passports, and passport name check; be able to use computer keyboard or similar where accuracy is important. Understanding basic arithmetic is required.  Must also be trained as a cashier on the ACRS system.

SELECTION CRITERIA

When equally qualified, Appointment Eligible Family Members (AEFMs) 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

• Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, and residency status in determining successful candidacy.
• Current LES employees are ineligible to apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of their appointment.
• Currently employed AEFMs who hold a PIT/FMA appointment are ineligible to apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of that appointment.
• 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 should submit the following:

1. Application Form or Application for Federal Employment (OF-612); or
2. A current resume or curriculum vitae that provides the same information as an OF-612; plus
3. Any other documentation (e.g., essays, certificates, awards, copies of degrees earned) that
   addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.

SUBMIT APPLICATION TO

Human Resources Office
Attention: Bi Jiayu
U.S. Consulate General in Shanghai, China
No. 1469 Huai Hai Zhong Road, Zip Code: 200031
FAX:  6474-6869

DEFINITIONS OF CATEGORIES OF LOCALLY EMPLOYED (LE) STAFF

1. AEFM: A type of EFM that is eligible for direct hire employment on either a Family Member Appointment (FMA) or Temporary Appointment (TEMP) provided s/he meets all of the following criteria:

• U.S. citizen;
• Spouse or dependent who is at least age 18;
• Listed on the travel orders of a Foreign or Civil Service or uniformed service member permanently assigned to or stationed at a U.S. Foreign Service post or establishment abroad with a USG agency that is under COM authority;
• Is resident at the sponsoring employee’s or uniformed service member’s post of assignment abroad, approved safehaven abroad, or alternate safehaven abroad; and
• Does not receive a USG annuity or pension based on a career in the U.S. Civil, Foreign, or uniformed services.

2. EFM: Family Members at least age 18 listed on the travel orders of a Foreign or Civil Service or uniformed service member permanently assigned to or stationed to a U.S. Foreign Service post or establishment abroad with a USG agency that is under COM authority who do not meet the definition of AEFM above.

3. Member of Household: A MOH is a person who: 1) Has accompanied, but is not/not on the travel orders of a U.S. citizen Foreign or Civil Service employee or uniform service member permanently assigned to or stationed at a U.S. Foreign Service post or establishment abroad; 2) Has been declared by the sponsoring employee to the Chief of Mission as part of his/her household; and 3) Resides at post with the sponsoring employee.

4. Ordinarily Resident (OR): A citizen of the host country or a citizen of another country who has shifted the main residency focus to the host country and has the required work and/or residency permits for employment in country.

5.   Not-Ordinarily Resident (NOR): Typically NORs are AEFMs and EFMs of FS, GS, and uniform service members who are on the travel orders and under Chief of Mission authority, or other personnel having diplomatic privileges and immunities.

CLOSING DATE FOR THIS POSITION:  IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED, APPLICANTIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY HUMAN RESOUCES OFFICE BY 5 PM SHANGHAI LOCAL TIME ON AUGUST 26, 2008

The US Mission in Shanghai 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.