Earn Over 47m Annually as Political – Economic Assistant at United States US Embassy

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Organisation: United States Embassy, US Mission in Uganda
Duty Station: 
USAID, Kampala, Uganda
Salary:  Grade
09 (UGX . 47,002,912 to 70,504,368 p.a. 
Inclusive of allowances)
Vacancy No.: 41/2015
About US Embassy:
Welcome to the United States
Embassy in Kampala, Uganda.  The United
States has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years.  Ambassador Scott H. DeLisi currently heads
the U.S Mission to Uganda.  The Mission
is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices
of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador.
Among the offices operating
under the U.S Mission to Uganda are:
  • United
    States Agency for International Development (USAID)
  • Centers
    for Disease Control
  • Peace
    Corps
Job Summary: The US Embassy Political and Economic
Assistant will serve as the principal LES handling macroeconomic analysis;
environment, science, technology, and health (ESTH) issues; Uganda’s oil and
gas sectors; the financial sector; information and communications technology;
and cross-cutting issues such as corruption efforts, government accountability,
and transparency issues. The job holder also keenly tracks overall foreign
investment and the business environment, and analyses and reports on foreign
investment from non-U.S. destinations. The incumbent is a member of Embassy
Kampala’s interagency health team, and serves as a liaison with the U.S. Agency
for International Development’s (USAID) Energy Governance and Capacity
Initiative (EGCI), which focuses on issues relating to Uganda’s nascent oil
industry and attends meetings with the Mission’s Petroleum Working Group. The
incumbent also works closely with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, World
Bank and International Monetary Fund, and coordinates activities with the
regional environment, science, technology, and health office in Addis Ababa.
The incumbent frequently functions as the de facto control officer for high
level visits by ensuring all scheduling needs are met and providing assistance
to American Officers. The incumbent briefs visiting officials on current and
political developments and trends, and accompanies them to meetings with host
government officials. Frequent visits by U.S. government officials require an
attention to detail and ability to multitask when planning multiple visits.
Visits also often require work outside office hours to coordinate events and to
communicate with American officers on urgent matters or last-minute
developments. The job requires astute judgment, quick decision-making skills
and the ability to form thoughtful connections between different political and
social developments. The job also requires significantly high diplomatic and
communications skills to be able to engage with career and elected government
officials at the highest levels. This job also requires the ability to
independently interact with U.S. officials in Washington on key substantive
issues and informational requests, as well as trip planning and visit
strategies. The job requires superior writing and communication skills so as to
minimize editing by the American supervisors thereby allowing them to focus
their time more efficiently. Often at his/her own initiative, the incumbent
prepares extensive spot and in-depth analytical reports on a wide range of
sensitive political and economic issues in the context of national issues ,as
well as the implications for U.S. interests. The incumbent drafts analytical
and factual reports, researches and gathers information, prepares briefing
memos and establishes a wide range of contacts in the government and NGOs which
with legislative and policy developments in the areas of macroeconomic, oil and
gas, ESTH, and government-led anti-corruption efforts. The incumbent must be
able to brief the Pol/Econ Chief, Deputy Chief of Mission and Ambassador and
TDY visitors on developments and issues with authority and accuracy. This
involves oral or written briefings and inputs, evaluating events in historical
perspective and identifying their relationships to national trends and to the
interests of the U.S. Incumbent must be able to make reasonable projections
about the future course of politics and social changes, demonstrating critical
judgment and as strong integration of social, political and economic factors.
The job holder must maintain a wide range of contacts at the highest level of
government including ministers, legislature, judiciary, media, academia,
businesses, and civil society. Incumbent advises American officers on a variety
of sensitive political and economic issues and related matters, such as gauging
the probable reaction of government officials and the Ugandan public to U.S.
views or proposals. The incumbent advises the Embassy’s interagency Small
Grants selection committees, managed by the Political Section. The incumbent
backs up the Section’s Political and Economic Specialist and must be conversant
on financial and commercial issues.
Key Duties and
Responsibilities: 
1. Macroeconomic Issues 20%: Uganda is one of the fastest growing economies in East Africa,
averaging 7% growth over the last 20 years.
  • The
    incumbent is tasked to monitor, analyze and report on government and
    international organization economic reform programs.
  • Actively
    monitors foreign debt, foreign aid and the national budget and keeps
    updated data on the economy. The incumbent will be responsible for an
    annual analysis of the Ugandan national budget and its affect on U.S.
    government programs.
  • The
    job holder closely follows developments in Bank of Uganda and Ministry of
    Finance and liaises with the IMF and World Bank on macroeconomic and
    financial stability matters. The incumbent tracks foreign investment and
    Uganda’s overall investment environment, reports and analyzes investments
    from non-U.S. origin countries, and advises on the development of the
    financial sector and its regulatory and policy framework.
  • The
    incumbent must establish and maintain a wide range of contacts at the
    Central Bank, Ministry of Finance, Insurance Regulatory Authority, Capital
    Markets Authority, Uganda Securities Exchange and the Uganda Bureau of
    Statistics. Analyzes and advises on the development of the information and
    communications technology sectors and its regulatory and policy framework.
2. Oil and Gas Sector 20%: With an estimated 3.5 billion barrels of reserves, Uganda’s nascent oil
sector has the power to transform Uganda’s economy if managed properly, and the
incumbent will actively monitor the Ugandan government’s ability to transfer
oil wealth to the general populace.
  • The
    incumbent serves as the Political and Economic Section’s principal expert
    on the oil sector, and advises American officials on how developments in
    Uganda’s oil sector affect the U.S. government and American businesses.
  • The
    incumbent closely analyzes and follows the development of Uganda’s
    petroleum sector, including its legal framework, business environment,
    regulation, and impact on national development priorities and the
    environment by maintaining contact with key officials at the Ministry of
    Energy, Petroleum Exploration and Production Department (PEPD),
    Parliament’s Natural Resources Committee, and Ministry of Water and
    Environment. The incumbent must exercise an excellent sense of judgment,
    intuition, tact, and diplomacy to obtain accurate, but sensitive
    information.
3. Environment, Science, Technology and Health 20% :With oil and gas finds, rising
population, and one of the most diverse and delicate natural eco-systems in
Africa, Uganda is now just beginning to face and balance the next generation of
environmental challenges. In addition, with numerous epidemics, poor health
delivery systems, and extensive pandemic disease research collaborations,
health issues are a major U.S. interest in Uganda. Therefore, the ESTH
portfolio represents a significant portion of our overall bilataeral portfolio.
  • The
    incumbent advises on ESTH issues, policies and initiatives in Uganda and
    must have a thorough knowledge of Uganda’s environmental, technological,
    and health issues.
  • He
    / she will be an integral part of the Embassy’s interagency health team
    which is comprised of six U.S. government agencies and manages over $400
    million in health assistance each year. The incumbent will organize
    meetings, make contacts, and advise American officers, including the
    Regional ESTH Office in Addis on developments that impact U.S. government
    priorities and initiatives.
  • The
    incumbent actively promotes bilateral and regional cooperation among
    agencies and organizations concerned with ESTH matters, and liaises with
    USAID’s Economic Development, Health, and Education Offices.
4. Corruption and Governance 20%: Uganda suffers from corruption at all levels of government, which
potentially impact U.S. interests and programs and domestic political
stability.
  • The
    incumbent monitors corruption and governance issues and the effect they
    have on society and the economy.
  • The
    incumbent keenly tracks and reports on corruption-related cases, and
    maintains contact with anti-corruption civil society groups, and attends
    court proceedings for high profile cases.
  • The
    incumbent is responsible for compiling and drafting an annual summary of
    corruption cases. The job requires tact and sound judgment to engage the
    various government ministries and institutions in the very sensitive area
    of corruption and poor governance.
  • He
    / she also needs to establish and maintain close contact with senior-level
    officials in the judiciary, Directorate of Public Prosecution, Inspector
    General of Government and civil society organizations which deal with
    governance issues and must demonstrate a high level of maturity and
    objectivity while interviewing and reporting on corruption cases. The
    incumbent will work closely with USAID’s Democracy, Governance &
    Conflict Office.
5. Develop and Maintain Contacts 10%:
  • Initiate
    and maintain a broad range of contacts in his/her portfolio at the highest
    level, which includes government, legislature, judiciary, media, academia,
    businesses, and civil society. To maintain and expand these contacts,
    incumbent attends civil society gatherings, important public meetings,
    legislative sessions and conferences and seminars relevant to his/her
    portfolio. Drawing on his/her broad base of contacts, the incumbent
    assists with the selection of candidates for Public Affairs programs.
  • The
    Political – Economic Assistant will also be responsible for suggesting new
    contacts that the Section can engage with. He/she helps orient new
    American officers by introducing them to key political contacts and
    opinion leaders. Incumbent also suggest guest lists for representations
    events, and advising them on relative importance and experience of state
    policy makers. The incumbent must therefore keep abreast of domestic and
    regional events as well as its various actors and trends.
6. Travel and Operational Responsibilities 10%
  • The
    incumbent travels independently especially in Kampala and the surrounding
    districts and other parts of Uganda as the need arises, to keep up-to-date
    on political and social developments of importance to US interests across
    the board. Through this travel, incumbent keeps the Political and Economic
    Section informed about macroeconomic, energy sector, health, environment,
    and good governance developments.
  • The
    US Embassy Political – Economic Assistant will support the planning and
    organizing of visits by state Department officials, Cabinet Secretaries,
    other Executive Branch officials and Congressional delegations. Although
    this is done under the supervision of American officers; the incumbent
    plays a role not only in logistical arrangements but also in suggesting
    site visits, tours and meetings with key Ugandan personalities. Incumbent
    arranges meetings with key political and economic contacts ensuring that
    American officers and official visitors are able to gather comprehensive
    information and take full advantage of the visit. S/he recommends
    approaches to be taken by American principals in the meetings and prepares
    background and biographic material.
Qualifications, Skills and
Experience:
NOTE:  All applicants must
address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive
information supporting each item.
  • The
    US Embassy Political – Economic Assistant should hold a university degree
    in political science, law, political economy, economics, history,
    journalism and human rights is required.
  • At
    least five years’ experience in foreign policy, political, law, social
    development, academia or journalism.
  • Detailed
    knowledge of Uganda’s economic and political system, as well as a broad
    understanding of energy, environment, health, science and technology
    (ESTH) issues.
  • Possess
    the ability to interact with Uganda officials, civil society groups,
    scientists, economists, members of the business community, and political
    leaders at all levels.
  • Language Proficiency: List both English and host country
    language(s) by level and specialization. Level IV English ability (fluent
    written, spoken and reading) is required.
How to Apply:
All those interested in
working with the US mission in Kampala should send their applications and
strictly adhere to the following:
  • Universal
    Application for Employment as a Locally Employed Staff or Family Member
    (DS-174), Download
    it Here    .
  • A
    current resume or curriculum vitae.
  • Candidates
    who claim US Veterans preference must provide a copy of their Form DD-214
    with their application.  Candidates
    who claim conditional US Veterans preference must submit documentation
    confirming eligibility for a conditional preference in hiring with their
    application.
  • Any
    other documentation (e.g. essays, transcripts/certificates, awards) that
    addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.
Submit Application To:
Human Resources Office
By email at
KampalaHR@state.gov
NB: Only electronic submissions will be
accepted and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Please clearly indicate the
position applied for in the subject area of the email submission.
Please use standard file
types such as Microsoft Word (.doc) and Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) and please send
all documents in one file attachment.
Telephone:  0414-306001/259-791/5
Deadline: 29th June
2015
The US Mission in Kampala
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.
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