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Job Title:   Political Assistant

Organisation: United States US Embassy, US Mission in Uganda

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Salary: UGX 86,951,739/= p.a

Position Number: Kampala-2023-065

About US Embassy:

The United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years.  Ambassador Natalie E. Brown 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 (CDC)
• Peace Corps

Job Summary:  The incumbent is a political assistant at U.S. Embassy Kampala, who serves as the Locally Employed staff member handling a portfolio that includes political and economic reporting support with a focus on human rights; religious freedom issues; political affairs; security, health, counterterrorism/countering violent extremism, child labor, and trafficking in persons.  S/he is one of two political assistants in a 13-person section and reports directly to the Political Specialist and is reviewed by the Deputy Political Counselor.

The incumbent drafts and researches required annual reporting as well as voluntary reporting as assigned.  The incumbent takes meetings independently as well as scheduling meetings for U.S. officers.  The incumbent briefs colleagues within the section, other Embassy officials including the Ambassador, and visiting officials on current and political developments and trends.

The incumbent occasionally travels independently within Uganda, and frequently supports travel of U.S. officers.  Incumbent must maintain a wide range of contacts at the highest level inside and outside government.  The incumbent must also work closely with other sections in the Embassy. The incumbent assists in organizing representational events, including by recommending and liaising with appropriate invitees.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Research, Report, and Advise on Political and Economic Developments: 60%

• The incumbent monitors political and economic portfolios as assigned, tracking breaking news and emergent trends, conducting research and meetings to brief colleagues in the section and beyond on a broad range of topics, and drafting cables, briefing memoranda, and official correspondence for the Political Section, Embassy Front Office, and Washington.
• As assigned, the incumbent drafts and researches both voluntary and required annual reporting, such as the Trafficking in Persons Report or Human Rights Report.
• The incumbent must be able to brief the Pol/Econ Chief, Deputy Chief of Mission, Ambassador, and visiting Washington officials on developments 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 United States.
• The incumbent must be able to make reasonable projections about the future course of politics and social changes, demonstrating good judgment and strong intellectual integration of social, political and economic factors.

Develop and Maintain Contacts: 30%

• The incumbent must initiate and maintain a broad range of contacts in his/her portfolios at the highest levels, to include government, parliamentarians, political parties, diplomatic missions, academia, Diaspora communities, civil society and the media.
• To maintain and expand these contacts, the 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 incumbent also drafts biographical materials on key contacts and assists in suggesting talking points for the Ambassador and other Embassy officials to deploy during meetings.
• The incumbent is also responsible for suggesting new contacts with which the Section can engage. He/she helps orient new U.S. officers by introducing them to key political contacts and opinion leaders.
• The incumbent also develops guest lists for representational events and advises on the relative importance and experience of key contacts.

Travel Responsibilities: 10%      

• The incumbent may travel 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 U.S. interests across the board. Through this travel, incumbent keeps the Political Section informed about developments in decentralization, grassroots reach of political parties, human rights issues, communal relations and tensions, political personalities, and other issues.
• The incumbent also frequently supports travel by Embassy officials, including recommending and developing schedules, making arrangements, accompanying officers on trips, and helping produce post-trip reporting.
• The incumbent also assists in the planning and organizing of visits by Department officials, Cabinet Secretaries, other Executive Branch officials and Congressional Delegations.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

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

• The applicants for the United States US Embassy Political Assistant job opportunity should hold a Bachelor’s degree in political science, economics, history, journalism or human rights is required.
• A minimum of three years of experience performing political analysis and reporting duties.
• Highly advanced interpersonal, analytical, communication, planning and organizational skills are required.
• Ability to develop and maintain an extensive range of high-level contacts within the host country government, local parties, security forces, local NGOs and civil society is required.
• Ability to plan, organize and execute complex research projects and prepare precise, accurate and factual analytical reports often on sensitive topics (such as human rights) that require a high degree of personal courage given the prevailing political circumstances in Uganda is required.
• Must be proficient user of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, etc.…)
• Language: Level IV (fluent) speaking/reading/writing English is required. “This may be tested” Level III (good working knowledge) speaking/understanding Luganda or Swahili is required. “This may be tested”

How to Apply:

All those interested in working with the United States Embassy, US Mission in Kampala should send their applications online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 1^st September 2023

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