U.S. Consulate Recruitment for Commercial Specialist (Training level)

The U.S. Consulate in Lagos is seeking to employ a suitable and qualified candidate for the position below in the Foreign Commercial Service:

Job Title: Commercial Specialist (Training level)

Ref: LCFS-6
Location: Lagos - Foreign Commercial Service
Open to: All Interested Candidates - All Agencies.
Work Hours: Full-Time; 40 hours/week

Basic Function of the Position

• Incumbent serves as a professional analyst and advisor to the U.S staff in planning, organizing and administering programs to facilitate the marketing of U.S. goods and services
• S/he assist U.S. firms by developing and organizing marketing strategies, including market research and reporting, planning trade events and opportunities and bringing U.S. and host country business representatives together
• Additionally, s/he analyzes market trends and evaluates market research involving the sectors assigned.

Position Requirements
Note: All applicants must address each required qualification listed below with specific information supporting each item. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not qualified:

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in Business Management, Economics, Marketing, Finance, International Trade or related field is required.
• Minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in business, government or NGOs in the fields of marketing, trade promotion, economics, international trade or similar field is required.
• Level IV (fluency) Speaking/Writing/Reading in English is required.  Language proficiency will be tested.
• Good knowledge of the domestic economy and trade practices, with good understanding of foreign trade policy and issues affecting the domestic economy’s bilateral trade relations with the United States is required.
• Understanding of USG trade policies and export promotion programs, with knowledge of international trade (terms and procedures) is required.
• Ability to develop and maintain an extensive range of appropriate mid-and senior-level contacts in the host government and private sector; to plan, organize and execute complex commercial research projects and to prepare precise and accurate factual and analytic reports; and to render advice with detachment and objectivity, employing sound professional judgment is required.

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

• Management will consider nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status in determining successful candidacy.
• 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
• 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
• The candidate must be able to obtain and hold the local security certification after selection.
• 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.

Definitions
Eligible Family Member (EFM)
An EFM for employment purposes is 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; 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 for employment purposes 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 for employment purposes 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)
An individual who accompanies or joins a sponsoring employee, i.e., sponsor is a direct hire employee under Chief of Mission authority, either Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member who is permanently assigned to or stationed abroad at a U.S. mission, or at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan. A MOH is an individual who meets the following criteria:

• Not an EFM and therefore not on the travel orders or approved through form OF-126 Foreign Service Residence and Dependency Report of the sponsoring employee; and
• Officially declared by the sponsoring U.S. Government employee to the Chief of Mission (COM) as part of his or her household and approved by the COM; and
• Is a parent, grandparent, grandchild, unmarried partner, adult child, foreign born child in the process of being adopted, father, mother, brother, sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, or half-sister who falls outside the Department’s current definition of Eligible Family Member 14 FAM 511.3. A MOH may or may not be a U.S. Citizen.

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.
• EFMs without US Social Security Numbers are also OR. All OR employees, including US citizens, are compensated in accordance with the LCP.

Equal Employment Opportunity

• The U.S. Mission in Nigeria 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.

Salary

• OR - Ordinarily Resident (OR) - N8,168,957.00 p.a. (Starting basic salary) Position Grade: FSN-09
• In addition to the basic salary, all allowances will be paid  in accordance with the Mission Local Compensation Plan.
• NOR - Not Ordinarily Resident – AEFM/EFM/MOH – US$45,319 (Base Schedule)  FP-05/01* - Final grade/step for NORs will be determined by Washington.

Application Closing Date
14th March, 2018.

• Application for US Federal Employment (DS - 174), or a current resume or curriculum vitae that provides the same information as a DS - 174; plus,
• Any additional documentation that supports or addresses the requirements listed above (e.g.transcripts, degrees, NYSC certificate/exemption etc.)
• A type - written and signed application letter specifically applying for this position, and addressing the minimum requirements as advertised. Please reference the job title and announcement number on the application letter.
• Limit all electronic (e-mail) submissions to one entry/e - mail not larger than 5MB. Please submit attachments in PDF and Word formats, not pictures.
• E - mails received without the appropriate subject line and incomplete applications will not be considered.

Note:

• Mailed (paper/hard copies) applications will NOT be accepted.
• All not ordinarily resident applicants must have the required work and residency permits to be eligible for Consideration. A U.S. Citizen EFM does not have to be residing in country to be considered, but the sponsoring officer under chief of mission (com) authority does have to be assigned officially to post.
• Due to the high volume of applications received, we will only contact applicants who are being considered. Thank you for your understanding.