Oaxaca Consular Agent - position FZ-75

No:       12/10

Open To:            All Interested U.S. Citizen Candidates

Position:            Oaxaca Consular Agent - position FZ-75

Opening Date:            February 16th, 2012

Closing Date:            March 1st, 2012

Working Hours:     Part-time position:  Varies

Salary:        Starting salary and position grade to be confirmed by Washington.

Note: All ordinarily resident applicants must have or be able to obtain the required work and/or residency permit to be eligible for consideration.

The U.S. Consulate in Mexico City is seeking a U.S. citizen applicant for the part-time Consular Agent position in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Basic function of position:

The Consular Agent is responsible for:

1.   Emergency services to U.S. citizens that include reporting arrests, notifying the Embassy of deaths and assisting next-of-kin with funeral arrangements and safeguarding of personal effects, visiting and assisting injured or hospitalized persons, relaying emergency messages from family members, attempting to locate missing individuals, and assisting destitute persons.
2. Routine services including acceptance of passport and birth registration applications and notarial services.
3.   Visiting and reporting to the Embassy on the welfare and whereabouts of children who are subjects of international child custody disputes.
4.   Developing a network of contacts among local officials and community members.
5.   Serving as sub-cashier for the collection of consular fees.
6.   Administering the daily activities of the Consular Agency, including maintenance of facilities, internet and phone service, files, and records.
7.   Managing two locally employed staff (LES) members.

Qualifications:

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

1) At least two years of post-secondary study (college, university, vocational school, or in the U.S. Armed Forces) is required.
2) At least two years experience in managing an office and staff and customer service, or two years experience in U.S. government service, is required.
3) Must be willing to work on an irregular schedule (i.e. frequently after office hours and on weekends).
4) Level IV (advanced professional proficiency) spoken and written English and
5) Level III (general professional proficiency) spoken and written Spanish required..
6) Must be skilled in using computer programs including Microsoft Word, email, and the internet, and be able to pass an internet-based basic computer program test to be administered on day of interview.
7) Applicants must have or be able to obtain a valid Mexican driver’s license and be available to travel within the State of Oaxaca and to the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.

Selection criteria and conditions of employment:

The selected candidate must be a U.S. citizen, year-round resident of or will re-locate to Oaxaca, Mexico with authorization to work in Mexico (FM-3 or equivalent status).  The selected candidate must live full-time in Oaxaca where time away from the city of assignment is the exception rather than the norm.  The selected candidate must demonstrate fluency in the Spanish and English languages.

Although the Consular Agent may be informally accorded “Honorary Consul” status by the Government of Mexico, the Consular Agent is not a diplomatic or consular officer of the United States.  Accordingly, the Consular Agent is not entitled to the full privileges and immunities that diplomatic or consular officers enjoy under international law.

During the first year of employment, the Consular Agent is initially appointed as an “Acting Consular Agent” pending completion of a suitability and background check required for a Public Trust Certification security clearance.  Required forms and procedures will be provided prior to entry on duty.  After the first year of employment, limited appointments of up to three years at a time, with no limit on the number of extensions, may be requested by the supervising post and approved by the Department of State.

Supervision:

The Consular Agent is under the direct supervision of the Consul General of the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico.  The incumbent receives an annual performance evaluation rated by the Consul General and reviewed by the Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs.  Training, supplies, and logistical support will be provided by the Embassy in Mexico City and U.S. Department of State.

All applicants must pass a rigorous security certification process.

Additional selection criteria:
- Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, and residency status in determining successful candidacy.
- Current employees serving on probation are not eligible to apply.
- Currently employed US Citizen EFMs who hold a FMA appointment are ineligible to apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of their employment.
- 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.
-     All Locally Employed Staff (LES) who have less than one year working in a position are not eligible to apply.
- In adherence to the recent guidance from the government of Mexico (GOM) to comply with the Mexican nationality law, all Mexican-American dual nationals need to be aware that they will be recognized as Mexican nationals by the GOM.  Dual nationals are hereby advised that this may affect their application for employment as well as their application for security certification.  Until further guidance is received from the Legal Office of the State Department, EFMs will continue to be hired under the American Pay Plan; however, should the new policy be implemented, their appointment may change to the Local Compensation Plan.

To Apply:

Interested applicants for this position MUST submit the following or the application WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED:

-  Universal Application for Employment (UAE ) form.
 http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/136408.pdf plus
- Other documentation (e.g., copies of High School diploma, school transcripts, certificates, awards, essays) that addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed in page 1.
- Non-Native Spanish speakers. For Spanish test, applicants should contact Amelia Bravo/Citlalli Millan at extensions 4175/4336 on M-W-F from 4:30 to 5:30. Non-EFMs, will be responsible for test fee.
- Test score of English language exam is required from the following institutions:  (Cost is the applicant’s responsibility).
- TOEIC Standard Testing Services, Alpes #120-A, Esq. Prado Norte, Col. Lomas de Chapultepec, 11000 Mexico, D.F., tel. 5540-3555/5540 3959. (Valid for two (2) years) OR
- TOEFL (iBT/ITP/PBT).   Information: http://www.iielatinamerica.org/cgi-bin/contenido.pl?p=centrositp or http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/bbf/bftoefl.htm (Valid for two (2) years)
- The scores for Level IV English (fluent) are : (TOEFL iBT 105+ or TOEFL ITP/PBT 650+ or TOEIC PBT 850+)
- Copy of typing test score (test may be taken at typingtest.com).
- Applicants who have completed a University Degree in the United States or any other English speaking country will be exempt from taking the ENGLISH TEST.

Submit application to: 
Human Resources Office
American Embassy
Paseo de la Reforma #305 (PB)
Col. Cuauhtemoc
06500 Mexico, D.F. or

E-mail: MexicoCityHRHD@state.gov (Please refer to position number in subject line of e-mail.) i.e. Consular Agent

Please check the U.S. Embassy web site for future vacancy announcements: http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/sPersonnel.html

Definitions:
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:
o US Citizen;
o Spouse or child who is at least age 18;
o 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;
o Is resident at the sponsoring employee’s or uniform service member’s post of assignment abroad, approved safe haven abroad, or alternate safe haven abroad; and
o Does not receive a USG annuity of 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 or 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.
5. Not-Ordinarily Resident (NOR): Typically NORs are US Citizen EFMs and EFMs of FS, GS, and uniform service members who are eligible for employment under an American USG pay plan, on the travel orders and under Chief of Mission authority, or other personnel having diplomatic privileges and immunities.
6. ALL CANDIDATES FOR EMPLOYMENT MUST PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK OR SECURITY INVESTIGATION. THE SECURITY PROCESS MAY TAKE UP TO THREE (3) MONTHS TO COMPLETE AND THE APPLICANT CANNOT BEGIN WORK UNTIL THE CLEARANCE PROCESS IS COMPLETE.
7. LOCALLY RESIDING US CITIZENS WHO ARE NOT EFM’S MUST HAVE RESIDED IN THE UNITED STATES OR HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH A US EMBASSY/CONSULATE OR US COMPANY IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY FOR THREE OUT OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS PRIOR TO APPLYING FOR THE POSITON.

The US Mission in Mexico 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.