Commercial Assistant (Substitution) at U.S. Consulate General

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria comprises of the Embassy in Abuja, FCT, and the Consulate General in Lagos. U.S. Consulate General Lagos is the Mission’s representative to the Nigerian people in the southern region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Commercial Assistant - All Interested Candidates (Substitution)

Announcement Number: Lagos-2022-124S
Location: Lagos
Hiring Agency: Consulate General Lagos
Series / Grade: LE - 1510 9
Work Schedule: Full-time - 40 hours per week
Promotion Potential: LE-9
Telework Eligible: No

Overview

• Hiring Path: Open to the public
• Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:
  • For USEFM - FP is 05/Step 1. Actual FP salary determined by Washington D.C.
  • All Interested Applicants / All Sources    
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust - Background Investigation
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Appointment Type Details: Indefinite subject to successful completion of probationary period

Summary

• The work schedule for this position is: Full Time (40 number of hours per week)
• Start date: Candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time (6 weeks) of receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
• Supervisory Position: No
• Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No
• Travel Required:
  • Occasional Travel
  • Work related travel

Duties

• Commercial Assistant (Apprentice level) is responsible for representing the United States Department of Commerce (USDOC), United States and Foreign Commercial Service (USFCS) in Nigeria.  
• Serves as a professional analyst and advisor to the U.S. staff in planning, organizing, and administering programs to facilitate the marketing of U.S. goods and services.  
• Assists U.S. firms by developing and organizing marketing strategies, including market research and reporting, planning trade promotion events, identifying, and leveraging trade opportunities, and bringing U.S. and host country business representatives together, under the supervision and/or support of Commercial Officers.
• Analyzes market trends and evaluates market research involving the sectors for which responsible.  
• Performs research and prepares complex factual and analytical reports on a variety of matters affecting U.S. exports and trade in assigned industry sectors.  
• Develops and maintains professional and social relationships and consultative contacts (working-to-mid levels) to gain cooperation on trade and investment matters.  
• Advise U.S. and host country clients on each other’s regulation as they affect trade and investment opportunities.  Informs host country officials and business organizations about U.S. legislation, regulation and practices pertaining to foreign trade.
• Incumbent is responsible for developing and implementing inbound investment promotions events and activities within their sectors of responsibility.  
• Advocates for U.S. trade interests by implementing projects, identifying appropriate actions, and resolving trade problems.  
• Investigates trade complaints in assigned industry sectors and makes recommendations for resolution.
• The incumbent has responsibility for the complex and emerging industrial sectors representing high potential for U.S. exporters and requiring advocacy and addressing market access issues.  
• Assigned industry sectors may include franchising, travel/tourism, consulting, and media/entertainment, ICT, fintech, consumer goods, and emerging sectors (renewable energies, environmental technologies, healthcare services).  
• May be assigned the complex sectors though working together with commercial specialists. May provide guidance to interns and contractors.

Qualifications and Evaluations

Education Requirements:

• Two years of University studies is required.  

Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years work experience in business, government, or industry association in one or more fields of marketing, international trade, economics, trade promotions, and marketing analysis/research is required.

Job Knowledge:

• Thorough knowledge of the host country’s economy, commercial and industrial structures, business and industry customs and practices, trade and investment laws, regulation, and policies is required.  
• Working knowledge of international trade (terms and procedures) is required.
• Understanding of legislation, rules and regulations affecting trade and investment is required.

Evaluations:

• This may be tested. Please specify your level of proficiency in the language listed.

Language:

• Fluent in speaking/reading/writing of English is required.

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal skills, salesmanship, critical and analytical thinking, problem solving, judgement and proactively assessing obstacles and identifying solutions to ensure programmatic success is essential.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook) to create documents and spreadsheets, maintain and update databases, and develop presentations is required. Good keyboarding skill is required. 

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.

Qualifications:

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

Other Information:

• 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:

• AEFM / USEFM who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran*
• AEFM / USEFM
• FS on LWOP and CS with reemployment rights **

* 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.

Marketing Statement:

• We encourage you to read and understand the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply.

Salary

• N2,160,694 (USD48,667) Annually

Benefits
Agency Benefits:

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

Application Closing Date
1st December, 2022.