U.S. Embassy Legal Assistant Kenya

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has an opening for the position of Legal Assistant. The position will be available immediately. Closing date of this position is COB July 30, 2012. Note: You will be notified when the decision is made.

Minimum Requirements

à Bachelor’s degree in Law, Public Administration or similar subject is required. à Three years experience in law or law enforcement, experience planning conferences or training is required. à Level IV English, Level IV Kiswahili are required. Other Criteria: à Must have understanding of both American and Kenya Legal system, and a background in international law. à Must have basic accounting knowledge. à Must be proficient in MS Word, Excel and Power Point software applications..

Job Specification

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION Under the supervision of the Resident Legal Advisor (RLA) and the authority of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Criminal Division, Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Training and Assistance (OPDAT) the incumbent carries out assigned projects of complex scope and difficulty in scheduling, organizing and implementing the full range of OPDAT programs in Kenya. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Program Implementation 40% of time Working under the supervision of the RLA, organize and implement conferences, provide support for OPDAT programs---to include scheduling the visits of US speakers and specialists to the host country, as well as regionally, as well as RLA travel in the region and/or to the US, preparing schedules, making hotel and travel arrangements, assuring that country and security clearances are submitted, granted and distributed in a timely manner, arranging for airport /hotel pick-ups and local transport. Preparation of conference programs and substantive program development -- to include assisting with idenitification of program venues, assuring coordination with conference partners, assisting on site with conference organization, providing technical assistance to RLA, other conference organizers and speakers, arranging for educational materials to be printed and distributed, acting as interpreter/translator. Create and assist in presenting powerpoint programs. Develop and implement system to track training programs and the participants. Develop and maintain contacts at working level with officials at the Ministries and regionally, as needed. Accompany RLA to meetings inside and outside the Embassy. Budget for and track program expenses and prepare appropriate vouchers. In addition to programmatic logistical and administrative duties, review content of training materials, assist in the development of course curriculum and design of program agendas for both long and short term proposals and programs. Legislative and Media Reporting 20% of time Manages a program of legislative comments and reviews, including reviewing, interpreting, and organizing incomingdraft legislation, securing their translations, referring them to Department of Justice (DOJ) officials as directed, tracking the course of replies, securing the translation of replies, and arranging and attending meetings with KenyanGovernment officials in which the replies will be delivered orally. Also performs research of relevant new and existing laws, and assists the RLA in interpreting laws. Follows the Kenyan press and Internet for developments relevant to the RLA program and reports on same to RLA. Representation and Contacts 20% of time Where required, provides the RLA with background information prior to and after meetings on any necessary matters. Ensures that the RLA is briefed on cultural matters and cross-cultural communication issues. Attends, with the RLA, meetings with high-ranking Kenyan Government officials, as well as meetings with officials from educational institutions and non-governmental organizations. Establishes and maintains high level contacts in Kenyan executive and legislative branches, and within law enforcement agencies. Prepares correspondence and technical documents. Office Administration 20% of time Handle day-to-day office administration, including management of supplies, communications, visitors. Make appointments, maintain and coordinate schedule, arrange transportation for meetings. Drafting diplomatic notes and coordinating with the Protocol Office to ensure Embassy and local diplomatic requirements are met. Answering/screening and telephone calls, distribute and maintain files of incoming correspondence, draft correspondence, maintain files of faxes and cables. Create, maintain and update all files. Coordinate work with OPDAT Washington where required and requested. Establish and maintain excellent working relationships in the Embassy. From time to time, assists other Embassy personnel in legal and policy matters. Monitor and ensure accuracy and proper updating of ICASS and programmatic accounting, including establishing and maintaining good working relationships and communicating regularly with concerned offices within Embassy and in Washington. Alerting RLA to problems, issues or questions in a timely manner. Coordinate closely with and report to OPDAT Program Analyst in Washington on financial and programmatic issues and status. Maintain magazine, newspaper and other subscriptions. Ensure prompt payment of financial obligations Selection Process: WHEN EQUALLY QUALIFIED, U.S. CITIZEN ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBER (USEFMs) AND U.S. VETERANS WILL BE GIVEN PREFERENCE. THEREFORE, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE CANDIDATES SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS ABOVE IN THE APPLICATION. Additional Selection Criteria: à Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, and residency status in determining successful candidacy. à Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible to apply. à Current Ordinarily Resident employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement or Unsatisfactory on their most recent Employee Performance Report are not eligible to apply. à Currently employed U.S. Citizen EFMs who hold a Family Member Appointment (FMA) are ineligible to apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of their employment. à 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. à Applicants must be available for an interview and for proficiency testing as required by the selecting official. Selection Process: WHEN EQUALLY QUALIFIED, U.S. CITIZEN ELIGIBLE FAMILY MEMBER (USEFMs) AND U.S. VETERANS WILL BE GIVEN PREFERENCE. THEREFORE, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE CANDIDATES SPECIFICALLY ADDRESS THE REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS ABOVE IN THE APPLICATION. Additional Selection Criteria: à Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, and residency status in determining successful candidacy. à Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible to apply. à Current Ordinarily Resident employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement or Unsatisfactory on their most recent Employee Performance Report are not eligible to apply. à Currently employed U.S. Citizen EFMs who hold a Family Member Appointment (FMA) are ineligible to apply for advertised positions within the first 90 calendar days of their employment. à 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. à Applicants must be available for an interview and for proficiency testing as required by the selecting official. The U.S. Mission in Nairobi 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. DEFINITIONS 1. Eligible Family Member (EFM): An individual related to a U.S. Government employee in one of the following ways: Spouse or same-sex domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610); Child, who is unmarried and under 21 years of age or, regardless of age, is incapable of self-support. The term shall include, in addition to natural offspring, stepchildren and adopted children and those under legal guardianship of the employee or the spouse when such children are expected to be under such legal guardianship until they reach 21 years of age and when dependent upon and normally residing with the guardian; Parent (including stepparents and legally adoptive parents) of the employee or of the spouse, when such parent is at least 51 percent dependent on the employee for support; Sister or brother (including stepsisters and stepbrothers, or adoptive sisters or brothers) of the employee, or of the spouse, when such sibling is at least 51 percent dependent on the employee for support, unmarried, and under 21 years of age, or regardless of age, incapable of self-support. 2. U.S. Citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM): For purposes of receiving a preference in hiring for a qualified position, an EFM who meets the following criteria: U.S. Citizen; and, EFM (see above) at least 18 years old; and, Listed on the travel orders of a direct-hire Foreign, Civil, or uniformed service member assigned to or stationed abroad with a USG agency that is under COM authority, or at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; and either: Resides at the sponsoring employee's or uniformed service member's post of assignment abroad or at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan; or Resides at an Involuntary Separate Maintenance Allowance (ISMA) location authorized under 3 FAM 3232.2. 3. Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM): EFM (see above) eligible for a Family Member Appointment for purposes of Mission employment: · Is a U.S. citizen; and · Spouse or same-sex domestic partner (as defined in 3 FAM 1610) or a child of the sponsoring employee who is unmarried and at least 18 years old; and · Is listed on the travel orders or approved Form OF-126, Foreign Service Residence and Dependency Report, of a sponsoring employee, i.e., a direct-hire Foreign Service, Civil Service, or uniformed service member who is permanently assigned to or stationed abroad at a U.S. mission, or at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), and who is under chief of mission authority; and · Is residing at the sponsoring employee's post of assignment abroad or, as appropriate, office of the American Institute in Taiwan. · Does not receive a Foreign Service or Civil Service annuity 4. Member of Household (MOH): An individual who accompanies a direct-hire Foreign, Civil, or uniformed service member permanently assigned or stationed at a U.S. Foreign Service post or establishment abroad, or at an office of the American Institute in Taiwan. An MOH is: Not an EFM; and, Not on the travel orders of the sponsoring employee; and, Has been officially declared by the sponsoring USG employee to the COM as part of his/her household. A MOH is under COM authority and may include a parent, unmarried partner, other relative or adult child who falls outside the Department’s current legal and statutory definition of family member. A MOH does not have to be a U.S. Citizen. 5. Not Ordinarily Resident (NOR) – An individual who: Is not a citizen of the host country; and, Does not ordinarily reside (OR, see below) in the host country; and, Is not subject to host country employment and tax laws; and, Has a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN). NOR employees are compensated under a GS or FS salary schedule, not under the LCP. 6. Ordinarily Resident (OR) – A Foreign National or U.S. citizen who: Is locally resident; and, Has legal, permanent resident status within the host country; and, Is subject to host country employment and tax laws. EFMs without U.S. Social Security Numbers are also OR. All OR employees, including U.S. citizens, are compensated in accordance with the Local Compensation Plan (LCP). APPLY