Public Engagement Assistant (open to all)

EXPERIENCE: This position requires a minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in a multilingual, multicultural or multinational, academic or governmental work environment, with project management, communications, or education duties as a significant part of the job.

JOB KNOWLEDGE:

Must quickly become knowledgeable of U.S. foreign policy and American interests as they apply to Belgium and especially to the EOL sector. General knowledge of USG and DOS structures, as well as of PD bureaus within the Department, is required. Detailed understanding of the full range of PD tactics and tools designed to engage EOL audiences, and general knowledge of cross-cultural communications, is required. Must quickly acquire detailed understanding of USG exchange programs including the IVLP, academic programs, citizen exchanges, journalism tours, speaker programs, etc., and their regulations and practices is required. Full understanding of PD-specific funding authorities and their planning and reporting tools is required. Must have general knowledge of DOS standards for project management, including defining project objectives, outcomes, and assessment methods.

A thorough understanding of the attitudes and preferences of EOL audiences in Belgium, including the regional, ethnic, social, cultural, linguistic and other factors and institutions that shape those attitudes, is required. Detailed knowledge of Belgian higher education, business, and professional exchanges programs is required.

Knowledge of typical customer service and marketing tools designed to engage specific audience segments, particularly the EOL sector, in Belgium is required. Knowledge of latest trends in audience engagement in related public service institutions such as think tanks, academic institutions, professional training institutes, and government, is required. Understanding of the complex and changing nature of the information environment, including current trends in international and regional communications as they relate to the Belgian communication landscape, is required. Must be familiar with digital practices and procedures used by or influential with Belgian EOL sector.

University degree in international relations, American Studies, communications, political science, economics, or related is required.

LANGUAGE: Fluency in English, French and Dutch. This may be tested.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Analytic skills: Must have strong analytic skills and the ability to conceptualize how best to use PD tools to move Belgian attitudes in positive ways. Must be able to advise senior leaders of opportunities to promote Mission objectives through exchanges to and from the U.S.; identify, analyze, predict and continually assess EOL audience attitudes; assess the impact of exchanges, speaker programs, alumni activities projects and modify approaches for best outcomes. Must be able to evaluate the influence of differing EOL individuals and institutions, and adjust operations and programming accordingly.

Communication/Interpersonal skills: Must have excellent customer relations, interpersonal cross-cultural communication skills, and be able to identify and engage key figures critical to shaping local public opinion. Must have excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking, interviewing for evaluation purposes, writing reports and contributing material for publication in English, French, and Dutch; must be able to tailor communications to fit different situations and ethnic, religious and linguistic cultures. Must be able to brief on a variety of issues and interpret between English, French, and Dutch for public programs.

Management skills: Strong management skills are required, including the ability to develop and oversee project budgets and to organize, run, and present professional and exchange projects such as workshops, seminars, digital and in-person conferences, panel discussions, and lectures. Must be able to negotiate agreements with partner institutions and manage their fulfillment.

Technical skills: Good keyboarding and data entry skills and excellent familiarity with electronic discovery tools, in particular the Internet, and standard information retrieval practices and procedures are required. Thorough, detailed knowledge of various computer software programs, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, graphic design and photo editing software, and PD-specific software, databases, and reporting tools is required. Must be able to use social media and mobile platforms, photo and video sharing sites, podcast creation, and basic photo and video tools. Must have good numerical skills to be able to develop and manage projects and monitor grant budgets; must be able to develop descriptive statistical analysis of target audience segments and impact of EOL exchanges activities and initiatives.

Availability: Must be available to travel throughout Belgium to support professional exchanges projects and EOL engagement activities.

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.

All applicants under consideration will be required to pass medical and security certifications.

Locally Employed Staff, including Members of Household (MOHs), and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), working at the U.S. Mission in Brussels 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.

For the current COVID-19 Requirements please visit the following link.

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:

• 
  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.

All candidates must be able to obtain and hold a Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) certification.

To apply for this position click the “Submit Application” button. For more information on how to apply visit the Mission internet site.

Required Documents:

To qualify based on education, you MUST submit the requested degree and / or transcripts as verification of educational requirement by the closing date of this announcement. Failure to provide requested information, or the information is insufficient to verify eligibility, may result in disqualification for this position.

All Applicants:

• 
  Residency and/or Work Permit

• 
  University diploma (a copy recognized by Belgian/U.S. authorities*)

• 
  Language Scores (if available)

• 
  Clarification:

If you have a diploma of one of the following countries, your diploma is automatically recognized:

• 
  Belgium
• 
  Netherlands
• 
  Luxembourg
• 
  International diplomas awarded by the European University Institute Firenze
• 
  USA

In case you have a foreign diploma of a country not on the list above, you need a professional recognition (type: level). For the procedure see Diploma Recognition - Mon Diplome Mydiploma. You can opt for the French procedure (via cfwb) or the Dutch procedure (via naric). Should you have questions regarding the recognition procedure, please contact cfwb or Naric directly (www.equivalences.cfwb.be or www.naricvlaanderen.be).

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 Brussels.