Professional Adjudication Specialist        10/28/09
Sensitive                                        

OPEN TO:  All Interested U.S. Citizen Eligible Family Members (AEFMs only)

POSITION TITLE:  Professional Adjudication Specialist (PAS)

OPENING DATE:  October 28, 2009

CLOSING DATE:  November 11, 2009
(Applications received in HR after the closing date will not be considered)

WORK HOURS:  Full-time, 40 hours/week

GRADE:   FP-5 (US$45,572 p.a., starting salary)

NOTE:    Final grade and salary will be determined by Washington. 

NOTE:  ONLY U.S. CITIZEN ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBERS (AEFMS) OF U.S. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO THE MISSION UNDER CHIEF OF MISSION AUTHORITY, AS DEFINED BELOW, 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.

The U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou is seeking an Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM) for employment as a Professional Adjudication Specialist (PAS).

BASIC FUNCTIONS:

The incumbent serves as a Professional Adjudication Specialist, providing visa (and/or passport services dependent on post need) services under the supervision of the consular section chief or sub-unit chief.  The incumbent conducts interviews with visa (and/or passport) applicants and makes appropriate decisions with regard to eligibility.  Other pre- and or post- interview processing responsibilities may be required as needed, to include biometric collection.  Applicant must be a U.S. citizen EFM and eligible for a secret clearance.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

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

1.  Completion of high school and attendance at an accredited college or university for at least one semester, earning at least 11 credit hours as part of a degree program is required.

2.  Successful completion of FSI’s PC 530, the Basic Consular Course, within the past five years, or employment as a designated consular associate for at least 12 consecutive months within the past five years is required.
 
3.  Foreign Language requirement:  Mandarin Chinese 2/1 is required. 

4.  English Language Requirement:  Level IV Speaking/Reading/Writing English is required for appointment to the position. Applicants will be required to demonstrate written language proficiency by completing a writing sample, proctored by an official US direct hire.

5.  Possession of at least a secret level clearance is required in order to be appointed to the position.  However, application for a PAS position can be considered in advance of receipt of the security clearance.  An interim clearance is sufficient while the clearance application is being considered.

ADDITIONAL 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.

1.  Currently employed Appointment Eligible Family Members hired under a Family Member Appointment (FMA) are ineligible to apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of their employment.

2.  Post HR conducts the initial eligibility and qualifications review of applications.  HR forwards only the applications meeting the qualifications listed above to the Bureau of Consular Affairs Executive Office for consideration.
 
3.  Management also considers nepotism/conflict of interest in determining a successful candidacy.
 
4.  CA/EX reviews all qualified applications, including writing sample submissions, and when feasible, incorporates comments from applicant interviews with post consular section chief and/or CA/EX staff.  CA/EX makes the final hiring decision and relays the decision to post HRO. Post HR requests the FMA appointment to the regional Family Member Employment Coordinator.

TO APPLY

Interested applicants for this position must submit the following to the post HRO or the application will not be considered:

1. Application for US Federal Employment (SF-171)
2. Candidates who claim US veteran’s preference must provide a copy of their form DD-214 with their application.
3. Evidence of PC-530 completion or requisite employment as a designated consular associate.
4. Any other documentation (FSI language testing scores, certificates, awards, copies of degrees earned) that address the qualifications listed above.

SUBMIT APPLICATION TO

Management Office
American Consulate General, Guangzhou, China
No.1 Shamian South Street, Zip Code: 510133
Fax:  86-20-8121-6296
Email: GuangzhouHR@State.gov
(Please specify the position title in the subject line.)
Website: guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn

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:
• US 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 US Foreign Service post or establishment abroad with a USG agency that is under COM authority;
• Is resident at the sponsoring employee’s or uniform 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 US Civil, Foreign, or uniform services.

2. EFM: Family Members at least age 18 listed on the travel orders of a Foreign of Civil Service or uniformed service member permanently assigned to or stationed to a US 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.

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:  November 11, 2009

The US Consulate in Guangzhou 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.