State Program Assistant at US Embassy

Announcement Number: Abuja-2023-038
Series/Grade: FP - 1550 5
Promotion Potential: FP-5
Hiring Agency: Embassy Abuja
Work Schedule: Full-time - 40 hours per week

Overview

• Hiring Path: Open to the public
• Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:
  • For USEFM - FP is 5/1.  Actual FP salary determined by Washington D.C.
  • Current Employees of the Mission - This includes U.S. Citizen Eligible Family Members (USEFMs); Eligible Family Members (EFMs); Declared Members of Household (MOHs), dependents of U.S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC) who are assigned under COM - All Agencies
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust - Background Investigation
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Appointment Type Details: Definite not to Exceed (5 years)

Summary

• The work schedule for this position is: Full Time (40 hours per week)
• Start date: Candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time (6 weeks) of receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
• Supervisory Position: No
• Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No
• Travel Required: 25% or less
• Job holder conducts site visits for monitoring and evaluation purposes, which may involve overnight travel.

Duties

• The Grants Coordinator is the single point of reference and authority on non-Public Diplomacy grants under $1,000,000 at U.S. Embassy Abuja.  
• The incumbent is an essential member of the Mission’s Foreign Assistance Team for multiple grant programs, as the incumbent is the sole manager of the majority of the programs within this portfolio.  
• The incumbent’s oversight/influence/output significantly impacts the perception of the USG in Nigeria.
• The position exercises signatory authority as Grants Officer and enters into grant contracts/federal assistance awards with outside organizations on behalf of the USG.  
• The position has full discretion to set priorities and sequence tasks on a daily basis and to respond to correspondence to external organizations.
• The incumbent makes the final determination on which applicants will receive USG assistance and can veto or override the recommendations of the merit review panel s/he oversees.

Qualifications and Evaluations
Education:

• 2-year University Studies in Liberal Arts, Business, Finance or Accounting is required.

Experience:

• Three years of progressive experience working with NGOs, community groups, or private development.  Experience in project management, grant management, grant writing, contracting, vouchering, and budgeting.

Job Knowledge:

• The position requires an understanding of local policies governing NGOs as the position reviews legal documents issued by the host government to determine eligibility and legal status of organizations applying for grants.

Evaluations:

• This may be tested. Please specify your level of proficiency in the language listed.

Language:  

• Fluent written/reading/spoken English is required.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.  
• Tact and cultural sensitivity in dealing with the public are required.  
• Excellent computer skills, including utilization of programs such as MS Word, Excel, Outlook is required.  
• Ability to set priorities and deadlines is required.  
• Ability to work with minimal supervision is required.  
• Basic bookkeeping, word processing, and database/spreadsheet abilities are required.
• Excellent organizational skills are required.  
• Basic calculation and budgeting skills using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets to create overall program and individual grant budgets and to monitor financial status of individual projects.
• Must have typing skills where accuracy is required but speed is not important.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO):  

• The U.S. Mission 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.

Qualifications:

• All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.

Benefits and Other Info

Benefits
Agency Benefits:

• Locally Employed Staff, including Members of Household (MOHs), and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), working at the U.S. Mission in Abuja, Nigeria may receive a compensation package that may include health, separation, and other benefits.
• For EFMs, benefits should be discussed with the Human Resources Office.
• The pay plan is assigned at the time of the conditional offer letter by the HR Office.

Other Information:

• For the current COVID-19 Requirements please visit the following link.

Hiring Preference Selection Process:  

• 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 and CS with reemployment rights **

* Important

• Applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit a copy of their most recent DD-214 (“Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty”), Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability dated within the past six months, equivalent documentation, or certification.  
• A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted by the applicant.
• The certification letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service.  Acceptable documentation must be submitted in order for the preference to be given.
• ** This level of preference applies to all Foreign Service employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.
• For more information (i.e., what is an EFM, USEFM, AEFM, MOH, etc.?)