Supervisory Visa Assistant at the U.S. Embassy

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria comprises of the Embassy in Abuja, FCT, and the Consulate General in Lagos. U.S. Consulate General Lagos is the Mission’s representative to the Nigerian people in the southern region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Supervisory Visa Assistant - All Interested Candidates

Announcement Number: Abuja-2022-013
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Series/Grade: LE - 1415 9
Promotion Potential: LE-9
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. All Interested Applicants / All Sources
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust - Background Investigation
• Appointment Type Details: Indefinite subject to successful completion of probationary period

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: Yes
• Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No
• Travel Required: Not Required

Duties

• The Non-Immigrant (NIV) Locally Employed Staff (LE Staff) Supervisor is a Senior LE Staff at a Bureau of Consular Affairs Top 10 Post in the world.
• S / he is the unit supervisor responsible for providing substantive expertise, supervision, guidance, and training to a team of eight LE Staff that process all categories of non-immigrant visa applications with a high percentage of fraud.
• Serves as a point of contact with host government contacts, foreign embassy contacts and Mission staff on NIV matters.
• Additionally, s / he is responsible for monitoring the consistency and quality of the unit’s day-to-day work and ensuring that it complies with consular section quality standards for Mission Nigeria and is compliant with visa laws and regulations.  
• Assists in training and orientation to NIV Unit operations for seven Foreign Service Officers (FSOs), two Visa Team Leaders, six Visa Assistants, two Consular Assistants, and one Consular Associate.  Position will be supervised by the NIV Chief.
• S / he is the principal advisor to the NIV Chief on questions related to host country laws customs and internal visa procedures.  
• Provides sensitive and timely information to interviewing officers for use in adjudicating visa cases.  Oversees the processing of more than 100,000 NIV applications per year and the printing of more than 48,000 visas.  

Qualifications and Evaluations
Education Requirements:

• University Degree in Legal Studies, Communication, or Social Science is required.

Experience:  

• A minimum of three years’ experience in consular operations or immigration services, or demonstrated equivalent experience in dealing with immigration laws, visa laws and procedures.  In addition, a minimum of one year experience as a supervisor is also required.

Job Knowledge:  

• Expert knowledge of  immigration laws, and specific knowledge of processing visa applications.  
• Must be thoroughly familiar with the Immigration and Nationality Act and subsequent amendments.  
• The incumbent must be comfortable navigating the various online resources available to consular staff.

N.B: NYSC Certificate or Exemption document is required

Evaluations:

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

Language:

• Level IV (Fluent) Speaking / Reading / Writing of English.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to motivate staff effectively, to provide guidance and feedback to subordinates, to organize own workload and that of others and make quick decisions.  
• Must be able to work accurately, have excellent attention to detail and know when to seek assistance or guidance or refer a case to the NIV Chief or Consular Chief.  
• An ability to type and to use MS Office Suite, including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and Publisher.  
• Ability to learn quickly and use all Consular databases, to include, but not limited to, Non-Immigrant Visa System, American Citizen Services System, Consular Consolidated Database, ACRS, and Independent Name Check.  
• Ability to draft and clear correspondence; ability to analyze facts and present effective argument and recommendations.  Ability to maintain external and high profile contacts.
• Ability to work quickly under pressure, to exercise good judgment and to anticipate problems.
• Excellent customer care and interpersonal skills, ability to respond to public relations issues and sensitivity in dealing with distressed or demanding customers.  
• Ability to brief senior-level staff.  
• Ability to explain and apply complex regulations and to follow clear direction.  

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:

• 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”), 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.?) and for additional employment considerations, please visit the following link.

Marketing Statement:

• We encourage you to read and understand the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply.

COVID-19 Requirements for Eligible Family Members

• As required by Executive Order 14043, Eligible Family Members who will be employed on a Family Member Appointment (FMA) or a Temporary Appointment (TEMP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 regardless of the employee’s duty location or work arrangement (e.g., telework, remote work, etc.), subject to such exceptions as required by law.
• If selected for the position, the agency will provide you additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a medical or religious accommodation.
• Eligible Family Members who will be employed on a Personal Services Agreement and compensated under the USG pay plan will be required to attest to their vaccination status using the Vaccine Attestation Form.
• If you are not fully vaccinated or decline to provide this information, you will be required to demonstrate proof of a negative COVID-19 test completed within 72 hours of entry to a Mission facility and comply with enhanced COVID-19 mitigation protocols. If selected for the position, the agency will provide you additional information regarding these requirements.

COVID-19 Requirements for Local Candidates

• Candidates who will be employed on either a Personal Services Agreement or a direct hire appointment and compensated under the Mission’s Local Compensation Plan will be required to follow all Mission COVID-19 policies applicable to Locally Employed Staff.
• If selected for the position, the agency will provide you additional information regarding these requirement

Salary
NGN 10,908,677 (USD 48,667) / Year

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Important Information

• All candidates must be able to obtain and hold a Public Trust clearance.
• To apply for this position click the “APPLY TO THIS VACANCY” button at the top of the page. Click on the “Submit Application” button to complete your application process.  For more information on how to apply visit the Mission internet site.
• Required Documents:
• Please provide the required documentation listed below with your application:
• Residency and/or Work Permit
• Degree (not transcript)
• NYSC Certificate

For EFMs, in addition to the above:

• Copy of Orders / Assignment Notification (or equivalent)
• DD-214 - Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)
• SF-50 (if applicable)

Next Steps:

• Applicants who are invited to take a language or skills test, or who are selected for an interview will be contacted via email.
• For further information - the complete position description listing all of the duties, responsibilities, required qualifications, etc. may be obtained by contacting the Human Resources Office.
• Thank you for your application and your interest in working at the U.S. Mission in Abuja, Nigeria

Application Deadline 23rd February, 2022.