Source: Unites States Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica

Please note that the US Embassy will be closed on Friday, April 10th 2015 in observance of Juan Santamaria Day

• ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: 2015-014
• Open to: All Interested Candidates
• Position: Telephone Operator, FSN-5; FP-9*
• Opening Date: March 25, 2015
• Closing Date: April 15, 2015
• Work Hours: Full-time; 40 hours/week.
• Salary: * Not-Ordinarily Resident (NOR): US$27,982.00 annual (Starting salary) (Position Grade: FP-9 is confirmed by Washington)

 

* Ordinarily Resident (OR): ¢392,043.00 monthly (Starting salary) (Position Grade: FSN-5)

 

NOTE: ALL ORDINARILY RESIDENT APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENCY PERMITS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.

 

BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION

 

Provide telephone answering services to the Embassy and all assigned tenant agencies that subscribe to ICASS cost center 6195. Must have a basic understanding of the Meridian switchboard and Microsoft Office Suite of computer applications. Primary duties are as a switchboard operator and other duties will be performed as operations permit.

 

A copy of the complete position description listing all duties and responsibilities is available at the end of this announcement. For any other related question, please contact Ext. 2519-2314.

 

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

 

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

 

1. Completion of secondary school is required.

 

2. One year of clerical experience is required.

 

3. Level IV (Fluent) Speaking/Reading/Writing in English and Spanish. This will be tested.

 

4. Must be able to operate a Meridian console type telephone switchboard.

 

5. Must have a good working knowledge of MS applications, word, excel, outlook.

 

6. Ability to exercise patience, tact and diplomacy in dealing with the general public and Mission personnel is required.

 

SELECTION PROCESS

 

When fully qualified, U.S. Citizen Eligible Family Members (USEFMs) and U.S. Veterans are given preference. Therefore, it is essential that the candidate specifically address the required qualifications above in the application.

 

ADDITIONAL SELECTION CRITERIA

 

1. Management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, and residency status in determining successful candidacy.

 

2. Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible to apply.

 

3. 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.

 

4. 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.

 

5. 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.

 

TO APPLY Interested candidates for this position must submit the following for consideration of the application:

 

1. Universal Application for Employment as a Locally Employed Staff or Family Member (DS-174).

 

2. Candidates who claim U.S. Veterans preference must provide the copy #4 of their Form DD-214 with their application. Candidates who claim conditional U.S. Veterans preference must submit documentation confirming eligibility for a conditional preference in hiring with their application.

 

3. Any other documentation (e.g., essays, certificates, awards) that addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.

 

SUBMIT APPLICATION TO Human Resources Office Email: [email protected]

 

POINT OF CONTACT

 

Human Resources Office Telephone: (506) 2519-2314

 

CLOSING DATE FOR THIS POSITION: April 15, 2015

 

The U.S. Mission in San Jose, Costa Rica 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:

 

1. 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

 

2. 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, and 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).

 

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

1. TELEPHONE OPERATOR: As a switchboard operator, incumbent will operate a Meridian telephone console to direct incoming calls. Maintain courteous decorum and positive attitude when dealing with incoming calls. Expedite all calls intended for the Executive Office. Maintain knowledge of the entire Mission’s departments and offices. This will include what functions, duties and services provided by each of these sections. Responsible for updates to all the Mission’s telephone directories. Keep Radio/Telephone Branch Supervisor abreast of all operational matters. Assist with other duties as assigned by American or direct supervisor, e.g. VIP or CODEL visits. 60% OF TIME

 

1. Embassy Cellular Telephone and SMARTPHONE Program: Manage the Embassy’s cellular telephone and Smartphone program, ensuring that cell phones and communication devices such as cell phones and Smartphones are issued, maintained and tracked as needed with the appropriate internal management controls. Provide users instructions including check in/out and owner operation of each device. Produce purchase requests through State Department software Ariba for required replacement phones and SIM cards. Act as liaison with the local telecommunication provider to keep abreast of policies regarding billing, replacement devices and issuance of SIM cards. Maintain mobile phone inventory records using the ILMS inventory management system prepare all property disposal and inventory reports per State guidelines. 25 % OF TIME

 

1. Administrative Office Assistant: Provides management and administrative support to the entire Mission including but not limited to such offices as Political, Economic, Regional Security, Environmental, Management Section, Consular, and the telephone unit to ensure full coverage of essential office management functions. Liaison with Information Resource Management, GSO and other embassy sections, as needed, as well as outside contacts as appropriate to include assisting with home internet/cable installation for incoming personnel and follow-up maintenance as needed. 15% OF TIME