NOTE: All applicants who are not the Family Members of USG employees officially assigned to post and under Chief of Mission Authority must have the required work and/or residency permits to be eligible for consideration.

ANNOUNCEMENT # HR13-035
OPEN TO: All Interested Candidates
POSITION: TELEPHONE OPERATOR/RECEPTIONIST
POSITION NO: A55823
OPENING DATE: April 18, 2013
CLOSING DATE: May 3, 2013
WORK HOURS: Full-time; 40 hours/week
SALARY: *Not-Ordinarily Resident: (Position Grade: FP-09 to be confirmed by
Washington)
*Ordinarily Resident: GH¢8,958 p.a. (Starting salary)
(Position Grade: FSN-05)

LENGTH OF HIRE: Indefinite

NOTE: ALL APPLICANTS WHO ARE NOT GHANAIAN CITIZENS WILL BE EXPECTED TO RESIDE IN GHANA AND MUST BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR A GHANAIAN WORK PERMIT. NO RELOCATION EXPENSES ARE PROVIDED TO THE JOB LOCATION: ACCRA, GHANA. IF TRANSPORTATION TO ACCRA IS REQUIRED, IT WILL BE THE EMPLOYEE’S RESPONSIBILITY

The U.S. Embassy in Accra, Ghana is seeking an individual for the position of a TELEPHONE OPERATOR/RECEPTIONIST in the Information Programs Center (IPC) of the Embassy.

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION

The Telephone Operator/Receptionist performs all duties associated with switchboard operations to include working as a receptionist. S/he works under the supervision of the Telephone Operator Supervisor and provides all services within ICASS standards.

Incumbent receives and transfers incoming calls to personnel and places outgoing calls on behalf of personnel; maintains and issues Embassy acquired cell phones; tracks and maintains an up-to-date inventory of Embassy cell phones and blackberries using the Cell Phone Issuance Software (CPIS). Issues Personal Identification Number (PIN) codes to personnel; sets up and issues cell phones in support of Very

Important Person (VIP) visits; prepares and generates dialing instructions for lamination in support of VIP visits; and coordinates Blackberry faults to vendor (MTN), on behalf of Embassy and USAID users. In the absence of the Telephone Operator Supervisor, attends weekly Housing Board Meetings and coordinates existing housing faults to Embassy Telephone Technicians for their action. Coordinates residential phone and broadband technical faults to authorized vendor (Vodafone, MTN etc.) on behalf of Embassy users for resolution, maintains ticket numbers of reported telephone faults and follows up on status on phone faults from vendor and coordinate their status to Embassy Telephone Technicians and users.

Keeps Embassy phone listing up-to-date; prepares and generates a current listing of frequently used telephone numbers; updates the Regional Security Office (RSO) Emergency Contacts List via SMStxt.com; maintains and keeps record of Time and Attendance (T&A); manages the IRM Annual Leave Calendar, sets up IRM monthly meeting and reminders, records and generates minutes in the absence of the Telephone Operator Supervisor. Trains and any newly hired Telephone Operator; and performs other IRM administrative duties as assigned by the Information Programs Officer (IPO) and Information Management Officer (IMO).

A copy of the complete position description listing all duties and responsibilities is available in the Human Resources Office.

Qualification Required & Experience

NOTE: All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.
1. Completion of Secondary School or equivalent such as High School Diploma, Middle School Leaving Certificate (M.S.L.C.), National Vocational Training Institute (N.V.T.I.) certificate or a Technical School Diploma is required.
2. Two years work experience as Telephone Operator. One year experience working with a large organization or a governmental agency.
3. English level IV (fluent - written/spoken) is required. High degree of proficiency in both the written and spoken language, including the ability to translate. On occasion, the job holder may need to act as an interpreter. Language proficiency will be tested. Ability to speak at least one of multiple Ghanaian languages (Twi, Ga, Ewe, Fante, and Hausa).
4. Must have a sound working knowledge of Switchboard Procedures and Telephone Switchboard Operations. Must know and be familiar with the Agencies, Offices and their Sub-sections, and their roles within the Embassy community. general office practices and how to lead people. Must have excellent communication skills and be able to multitask and work under pressure.
5. Must be conversant in the use of Microsoft Office Applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Must be able to type at least 25wpm. Computer skills will be tested.

SELECTION PROCESS

When equally qualified, US Citizen Eligible Family Members (AEFMs) and U.S. Veterans will be given preference. Therefore, it is essential that the candidate 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 US Citizen EFMs who hold FMA appointment 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.

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Interested candidates for this position must submit the following for consideration of the application:
1. Universal Application for Employment (UAE) as a locally Employed Staff or Family Member (DS-174): or
2. A combination of both: i.e. Section 1-24 of the UAE along with a listing of the applicant’s work experience attached as a separate sheet; or
3. A current resume or curriculum vitae that provides the same information found on the UAE (see section 3A below for more information): plus
4. Candidates who claim U.S. Veterans preference must provide a copy of their Form DD-214 with their application. Candidates who claim conditional US Veteran preference must submit documentation confirming eligibility for a conditional preference in hiring with their application.
5. Any other documentation (e.g., essays, certificates, awards) that addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.
6. A telephone number, post office box and/or e-mail address where we can contact you to schedule an interview.
3A. If an applicant is submitting a resume or curriculum vitae, s/he must provide the following information equal to what is found on the UAE.

Failure to do so will result in an incomplete application.

A. Position Title
B. Position Grade
C. Vacancy Announcement Number (if known)D. Dates Available for Work
E. First, Middle, & Last Names as well as any other names used
F. Date and Place of Birth
G. Current Address, Day, Evening, and Cell phone numbers
H. U.S. Citizenship Status (Yes or No) & status of permanent U.S. Resident (Yes or No; if yes, provide number)
I. U.S. Social Security Number and/or Identification Number
J. Eligibility to work in the country (Yes or No)
K. Special Accommodations the Mission needs to provide
L. If applying for position that includes driving a U.S. Government vehicle,
Driver’s License Class / Type
M. Days available to work
N. List any relatives or members of your household that work for the U.S. Government (include their Name, Relationship, & Agency, Position, Location)
O. U.S. Eligible Family Member and Veterans Hiring Preference
P. Education
Q. License, Skills, Training, Membership, & Recognition
R. Language Skills
S. Work Experience
T. References

NOTE:

1. All applications must have the Position Number and Position Title identified.
2. All “Hard Copy”/printed applications must be submitted to the Mail Room at the Chancery. Hard Copy Applications submitted through any other office will not be accepted. You may apply on-line using the AccraHRO@state.gov email
address. This is the preferred means of applying for a position with the American Embassy. Please go to our website for additional information, including current openings and tips on applying with the American Embassy in Accra. http://ghana.usembassy.gov/jobopportunities.html
3. ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE FOR AN OPEN/ADVERTIZED POSITION. APPLICATIONS PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED FOR A JOB WILL NOT BE HELD/CONSIDERED FOR FUTURE JOBS. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, YOU MUST RE-APPLY.

SUBMIT APPLICATION TO:

Human Resources Office
Through the Mailroom, Chancery
American Embassy, Accra
P.O. Box GP194, Accra

POINT OF CONTACT:

Telephone: 0302-741000
Fax: 0302-741389
E-mail: AccraHRO@state.gov

Closing Date: 03 May, 2013

To get a copy of this vacancy announcement, please log on to our website at:

http://ghana.usembassy.gov/jobopportunities.html