Job Details

Your next big opportunity awaits

Political Specialist

US Embassy | Lusaka

US Embassy

Innovating the future of tech solutions in Zambia.

Job Description

About

Announcement Number:
LUSAKA-2025-001
Hiring Agency:
Embassy Lusaka
Position Title:
Political Specialist (Global Affairs Specialist)
Open Period:
01/14/2025 – 01/20/2025 Format MM/DD/YYYY
Vacancy Time Zone:
GMT+2
Series/Grade:
LE – 1605 10
Salary:
ZMW ZK457,695.47 /Per Year
Work Schedule:
Full-time – • 40 hours per week
Promotion Potential:
LE-10
Duty Location(s):
1
in
Lusaka, ZA
Telework Eligible:
No
For More Info:
HR Section
000-000-0000
[email protected]

Overview

Hiring Path:
• Open to the public
Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:
This position is open to:
• Employees of Mission-All/or USEFMs EFMs or MOHs

For USEFM – FP grade is FP 5.  Actual FP salary authorized by Washington D.C.

Security Clearance Required:
Public Trust – Background Investigation
Appointment Type
Permanent
Appointment Type Details:
•    Indefinite subject to successful completion of probationary period
Marketing Statement:
We encourage you to review the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply.

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.

Summary:
The U.S. Mission in Zambia is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the Political Specialist in the Political/Economic Office office.
Supervisory Position:
No
Relocation Expenses Reimbursed:
No
Travel Required:
Occasional Travel

Occasional

Duties

The incumbent serves as central point-of-contact and senior policy advisor to the Front Office and Political-Economic Section staff on infrastructure; anti-corruption; and Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) issues. The incumbent communicates and advocates for U.S. government policy policy priorities, and develops short- and long-term partnerships across a
wide range of government and non-government contacts in Zambia, including local cooperating partners and NGOs. The Global Affairs Specialist coordinates information-sharing and reporting with the USG interagency community, maintains high-level contacts, and analyzes and differentiates among a broad range of political, legal, and practical factors to identify, develop, and
implement policy and project priorities. The incumbent organizes meetings and events, prepares sectoral analysis and wrriten reports, manages a small grants portfolio, and conducts some travels to represent USG interests.

Qualifications and Evaluations

Requirements:
All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a:
    • Background/Public Trust security clearance.

All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and may be subject to a pre-employment medical exam.
Selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period  6 weeks upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.

Education Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, environmental policy, law, or business administration is required.
Evaluations:
You will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement. You may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test.
You must complete the application form and provide the required documents.  Your application must address all the position qualifications and requirements including education, experience, language, and any knowledge/skills/abilities listed.  If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.
Qualifications:
Experience :

Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the infrastructure, environment or science management, public policy, or law fields (including natural science, engineering, water resources, land and water management, natural resource management, environmental policy, environmental law, fisheries and marine sciences, wildlife management, and geography) with duties

Language:

Good working knowledge; speaking, reading & writing in Bemba or Nyanja

Job Knowledge:

Must have knowledge of key institutions and persons involved in infrastructure, corruption, and ESTH policy; the policy-making environment (how policy is made and carried out in the various contexts); and infrastructure, corruption, and ESTH issues (e.g., water resources, sustainable landscapes, carbon markets, timber and wildlife trafficking, etc.)

Skills And Abilities:

Ability to plan, organize, and execute complex research projects; execute programs within the portfolio. Must be able to draft and prepare written analysis and reports, and deliver precise and accurate factual and analytical reports. Ability to use Microsoft Office applications and internet.

Benefits and Other Info

Benefits:
Agency Benefits:
The U.S. Mission offers a competitive compensation and benefits package for local employees. For Eligible Family Member (EFM) applicants, benefits should be discussed with the HR Office. The pay plan is assigned by the HR Office and confirmed by Washington, D.C.
Other Information:
HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS:

A hiring preference is extended to eligible and qualified applicants in the order listed below.  It is essential you accurately describe your status in your application, failure to do so may result in a determination that you are not eligible for a hiring preference.

HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER

    1. Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM) / U.S. citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
    1. AEFM / USEFM
    1. Foreign Service (FS) on Leave without Pay (LWOP) and Civil Service (CS) with reemployment rights **

* IMPORTANT:  US citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) 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”) preferably Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability, 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 FS employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau.

For complete definitions of AEFM, USEFM, EFM, Member of Household, etc., please visit the 3 FAM 7210 Definitions.

ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS

The following apply to EFMs, USEFMs, and AEFMs only:

    • Current employees who used a hiring preference to gain employment who are within their first 90 calendar days of employment are not eligible. This does not apply when the hiring mechanism is TEMP or the work schedule is intermittent or irregular.
    • Candidates with a hiring preference who have already accepted a conditional offer of employment may NOT be extended a second conditional offer of employment unless and until they withdraw their candidacy for the first position in writing.

The following apply to Locally Employed (LE) staff only:

    • Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible.
    • Current employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement, Unsatisfactory, or an MBC score of less than 100 points on their most recent Employee Performance Report are not eligible.
How to Apply
How to Apply:
Click the “Apply to This Vacancy” button at the top of the page to begin your application.  For an instructional video on how to apply click here .

Please address all relevant experience, education, language skills (including English), and job related skills or requirements in your application.

You may edit your application any time before the vacancy closing date. If you fail to submit a complete application by the vacancy closing date of this vacancy, then your application may be disqualified for this position.

For a copy of the complete position description, please contact the HR Office.

To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the HR Office.

We foster a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible workplace where employees can be themselves.  We invite qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

Required Documents:
All Applicants:
    • Residency Permit (if applicable)
    • Work Permit (if applicable)
    • University Degree (if applicable)

In addition, Eligible Family Member (EFM) Applicants must submit:

    • Copy of Sponsor’s Travel Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)
    • Passport copy
    • DD-214 – Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
    • SF-50 (if applicable)
Next Steps:
The HR Office will contact successful applicants.  For more information on applying for jobs or employment with us, please visit the U.S. Mission website.

Thank you for your application and your interest in working with us.

Don't miss out on this opportunity!