POSITION: CONSULAR ASSISTANT

TO ALL INTERESTED CANDIDATES

LENGTH OF HIRE : Permanent

Starting salary FJ$25,960 per annum

BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION

Acts as post’s American Citizen Services Consular Assistant for 5 countries (Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga & Tuvalu) and three French territories (French Polynesia, New Caledonia & Wallis & Futuna).  Performs full range of special consular service, passport and citizenship, federal benefits and notarial duties.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Responds to routine telephonic, email, fax, written and in person inquiries from the general public, attorneys, congressional offices, Social Security Administration (SSA), Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of State, other posts.  Drafts routine cables and letters.  Responsible for handling American Citizen Inquiries including:  Voting, Tax Customs, Passport and Citizenship, Reports of Birth Abroad, Reports of Death, Repatriations, Public Announcements, Travel Advisories.  Liaise with local Immigration authorities when an American citizen arrives with an expired U.S. passport/travel letter and is held in detention at the port of entry.     
  
2. Maintains U.S. citizen registration, Warden List, CASC, CJAN, CPAS, CFED, CMGT, CLOK files and Consular Duty Book; prepares reports of birth, passport and amendments to passports, scans passport applications and transmits to Domestic Agency for printing. Mails completed documents to individuals given postal address.  Prepares emergency passports issued at post.  Keeps daily record of all American Citizen Services for yearly Consular Package.   Contacts local officials, hotels in Welfare/Whereabouts cases. Frequent dealing with senior level contacts in the Police, Immigration, other Embassies, registrars, hotels, airlines, government ministries in order to assist U.S. citizens.   Assists officers in destitution, death, injury, arrest, child custody cases, mentally ill, medevacs, repatriations, prepares reports of death, Consular Mortuary Certificates, and documents for office notarization.            

3. Prepares annual list of attorneys, hospitals, doctors, and funeral directors for eight (8) territories under post’s consular jurisdiction; attends court cases concerning American citizens.  Consular visits to the Behavior Modification School, hospital (hospitalized Amcits) and prison (incarcerated Amcits). Handles requests for judicial assistance from the Department.  Prepares loss of nationality cases.  Assists the Consul in the Annual F-77 Data – Detailed Breakdown.  Contacts local authorities in the 8 countries in our jurisdiction for the total U.S. citizen visitors.     

4. Submits monthly reports on passports and Consular Report of Birth Abroad to the Department.  Acts as post’s principal point of contact/case worker for routine inquiries, requests for Federal Benefits Services; drafts all but most complex correspondence relating to Federal Benefit cases.  Acts as post’s point of contact for routine inquiries for Internal Revenue Service (IRS).              
     
Required Qualifications:

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

1.  Completion of secondary school (Form VI) and one or more years of college-level study is required.

2.  Two – four years of progressively responsible experience in work involving the application of relatively complex regulatory material along with extensive public contact, or other closely related experience.

3.  Level IV (fluency) English is required, including good writing communication skills.  Tongan, Fijian, Hindi or French language desirable.

4.  Must have the ability to use good judgment in sensitive situations and to deal extensively with the public.  Ability to work independently and set own work priorities.  Attention to detail and ability to use automated consular databases and consular software applications is essential.  Must be able to draft simple correspondence.

     
PLEASE NOTE:  Applicants must have the required work permit for Fiji to be eligible for consideration.

The deadline for applications is November 13, 2009.

Letter detailing qualifications and relevant experience along with current resume should be forwarded to the (please indicate Vacancy Title) Human Resources Office, American Embassy, PO Box 218, Suva or e-mail to Hrosuva@state.gov.

NOTE:  Only short listed applicants will be contacted regarding the next phase of the selection process.  To those applicants not short listed, we extend our appreciation for considering the U.S. Government as a potential employer.