The U.S. Mission in Yaounde, Cameroon is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the position of Program Assistant

OPEN TO: All Interested Candidates / All Sources

POSITION: Program Assistant

CLOSING DATE: September 14, 2017

WORK HOURS: Full time, 40 hours/week

SALARY: Ordinarily Resident (OR): FSN-07

The U.S. Mission in Yaounde, Cameroon is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the position of Program Assistant. This position is located in Yaounde, Cameroon.

BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION

Under the direct supervision of the Information Resource Center (IRC) Director, incumbent provides assistance with the planning, coordination and implementation of IRC programs. Incumbent also provides support for other IRC activities. Duties include: planning and implementing literacy outreach programs to the community; assisting with planning, coordinating and implementing the English ACCESS Micro-scholarship program; assisting in the programming of weekly events inside the IRC, including book discussions, movie screenings, and social media training sessions; briefing eligible users on IRC services and procedures, and answering reference queries; providing orientation to patrons on IRC activities, materials, facilities and services and assisting in the maintenance of IRC books and periodicals.

Detailed Duties and Responsibilities for IRC Program Assistant:

Plans and Implements Outreach Activities: 65% OF TIME

Literacy Outreach: Plans and implements literacy outreach programs to the community. Identifies target audiences, neighborhoods, and primary and/or secondary schools that can benefit from English-language literacy programming. Identifies local resources and educational, private-sector, and public-sector partners to promote literacy programs. Maintains contacts at the Ministries of Secondary and Basic Education and with other stakeholders in the Cameroon government.
English-Language Outreach: Assists the IRC Director with planning, implementation, and coordination of post's English ACCESS Microscholarship program. Travels to program locations in and outside Yaounde as required. Suggests lesson plans to providers for the U.S. cultural component of the ACCESS program. Reviews quarterly reports from providers for transmission to the Office of English Language Programs in Washington. Coordinates post English-language programming with the IRC Director and the Regional English Language Officer (RELO).
IRC outreach programs: Assists the IRC Director and other IRC staff in the programming of weekly events inside the IRC, including book discussions, movie screenings, and social media training sessions. Prepares, distributes, and manages event invitation lists. Coordinates event programming with the Regional Security Office.

Assists the Education Advisor and provides backup for the following tasks: 20% OF TIME

Education Advising: Under the direct supervision of the Cultural Affairs Officer (CAO) and IRC Director, supports the Education Advisor (EA) in disseminating information, advice, and counseling on educational opportunities in the United States. Assists the EA in guiding prospective undergraduate and graduate students to understand admissions and financial aid procedures. Coordinates with Cameroonian secondary schools and universities to publicize information about educational opportunities in the United States.
Sub-Cashiering: Assists the EA in administering the recycling funds program from book sales. Issues receipts and keeps an account in a log book. Makes monthly deposits of cash to the Main Cashier.

Assists the Reference Librarian and provides backup for the following tasks: 15% OF TIME

Management of circulation desk: Briefs eligible users on IRC services and procedures, answers reference queries. Refers complicated inquiries to higher-level IRC staff. Compiles IRC circulation desk data for monthly reports. Explains membership regulations and provides general orientation to new patrons.
Assistance to Patrons: Provides orientation to patrons on IRC activities, materials, facilities and services. Helps patrons access and search the material database, and obtain books from the shelves. Explains membership regulations to new patrons.
Maintenance of books and periodicals: Checks in and Checks out books. Re-shelves books in accordance with standard library procedures (Dewey decimal classification system). Inspects returned books and makes necessary repairs. . Manages the material database by entering data for new books using OCLC FIRSTSEARCH, the Bibliothèque Nationale de France for books in French, the Library of Congress, and other online catalogs as required. Prints and affix call numbers and barcodes to books. Receives and logs new periodicals.
Sub-Cashiering: Collects recycling funds from overdue books, photocopies, lost or damaged books, issues receipts and keeps an account in a log book. Makes monthly deposits of cash to the Main Cashier.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Applicants must address each required qualification listed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not qualified.

EDUCATION: A university degree in library science, teaching, program/project management, or the liberal arts is required.

EXPERIENCE: One year of general work experience and one year experience in outreach and program planning and implementation is required.

LANGUAGE: Level III (Good Working Knowledge) Speaking/Reading/Writing English and French are required and will be tested.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Must be computer literate, including a demonstrated fluency with Microsoft Office.
Must have a good working knowledge of library equipment.
Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with library patrons, verbally and in writing.
Must have demonstrated ability to work with library cataloging software, such as SageBrush.kills and abilities may be tested.

JOB KNOWLEDGE:

Must be familiar with U.S. institutions, history, culture, and values;
Must have a good working knowledge of Cameroon's socio-cultural and educational structures, institutions, NGOs and key civil society institutions;
Must have a good working knowledge of library cataloging procedures and online reference

Job knowledge may be tested.

HOW TO APPLY: Applicants must submit the following documents to be considered. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not qualified.

Universal Application for Employment (UAE) (Form DS-174), which is available on our website or by contacting Human Resources. (See “For Further Information” above);
Any additional documentation that supports or addresses the requirements listed above (e.g. transcripts, degrees, etc.)

WHERE TO APPLY:

Human Resources Office

P.O. Box 817, Tel.: 222-201-500, Ext 4006, U.S. Embassy Yaounde, Cameroon

E-mail Address: ydeapplicants@state.gov
Indicate the position title on the subject line.