ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER:  12/08

OPEN TO: All Interested Candidates                                
POSITION: Information Assistant, FSN-9                                
OPENING DATE: May 1, 2008
CLOSING DATE: May 15, 2008
WORK HOURS: Full-time; 40 hours/week

ALL ORDINARILY RESIDENT APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENCY PERMITS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.
The U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem is seeking an individual for the position of Information Assistant in the Public Diplomacy Section.

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION

The incumbent is vital part of the Press Team responsible for implementing Post's outreach strategy to provide Palestinian audiences with a better understanding of U.S. policies and culture.  Incumbent is responsible for a daily morning media review, as well as a daily media reaction report.  Incumbent tracks and suggests media events to promote Cultural public diplomacy activities, and liaises with USAID media office to provide Consulate support for their media outreach.  When necessary, incumbent provides media support to senior USG visitors.  Incumbent tracks newspaper clippings of coverage of Consulate-initiated activities and produces a weekly report for the Consul General on media coverage of Consulate activities.  Incumbent also provides translations of Arabic language articles, and, when necessary, provides consecutive translation for the American Consulate officials. The incumbent cultivates and maintains personal contact with a range of individuals and institutions in support of these responsibilities. 

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.

1. B.A. degree in the liberal arts, Communications, or information Management is required.
2. Three years’ progressively responsible experience in the communications field as a public relations specialist, journalist or translator is required.
3. Level 4 (Fluency) Speaking/Reading/Writing English and Arabic are required.  
4. Must have solid experience with computers, Internet, databases and word processing.
5. Must be able to translate accurately and quickly in oral and written form. 
6. Must have early morning availability.

SELECTION PROCESS

When fully qualified, US Citizen Eligible Family Members (USEFMs) and US Veterans are given preference.  Therefore, it is essential that the candidate specifically address the required qualifications above in the application.

ADDITIONAL SELECTION CRITERIA

1. Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, and residency status in determining successful candidacy. 
2. Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible to apply.
3. Current Ordinarily Resident employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement or Unsatisfactory on their most recent Employee Performance Report are not eligible to apply.
4. Currently employed US Citizen EFMs who hold a Family Member Appointment (FMA) are ineligible to apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of their employment.
5. 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 applicants for this position must submit the following or the application will not be considered:

1. Application for US Federal Employment (SF-171 or OF-612); or a current resume or curriculum vitae that provides the same information as an OF-612; plus
2. Candidates who claim US Veterans preference must provide a copy of their Form DD-214 with their application.
3. Any other documentation (e.g., essays, certificates, awards, copies of degrees earned) that addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.
4. Vacancy Announcement number must appear on application.
5. Applications are not accepted after the closing date.
6. Applications are only accepted in English.

SUBMIT APPLICATION TO:

Human Resources Office
Attention: Jonathan Deitcher
18 Agron Road- Jerusalem
FAX:  972-2-622-3560
E-mail: JerusalemHR@State.gov

CLOSING DATE FOR THIS POSITION: 15 May 2008

The US Mission in Jerusalem 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.