Description de l'offre

JOB ADVERTISEMENT : Political Assistant -  U.S. Embassy in Yaounde

Announcement Number:
Yaounde-2026-010
Hiring Agency:
Embassy Yaounde
Position Title:
Political Assistant - All Interested Applicants / All Sources
Open Period:
08/06/2026 - 08/21/2026
Format MM/DD/YYYY
Vacancy Time Zone:
GMT+1
Series/Grade:
LE - 1605 8
Salary:
XAF FCFA13,507,338 /Per Year
Work Schedule:
Full-time - 40 hours per week.
Promotion Potential:
LE-8
Duty Location(s):
1 Vacancy in

Yaounde, CM
Telework Eligible:
No
For More Info:
 HR Section
 000-000-0000
 ydeapplicants@state.gov
Overview
Hiring Path:
• Open to the public
Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:
This position is open to All Interested Applicants / All Sources

FP grade is 06. Actual FP salary authorized by Washington D.C.
Security Clearance Required:
Public Trust - Background Investigation
Appointment Type
Permanent
Appointment Type Details:
Indefinite subject to successful completion of probationary period.
Marketing Statement:
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.

Summary:
The U.S. Mission in Cameroon is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the Political Assistant position in the Political/Economic section.

Supervisory Position:
No
Relocation Expenses Reimbursed:
No
Duties
Under the Political/Economic Section Chief and direct supervision of the Political Officer, the Political Assistant serves as the Embassy's in-house expert on Cameroonian politics and society. The Political Assistant conducts research, analysis, and reporting on internal political developments, external relations, and biographical matters affecting U.S. interests in Cameroon. Duties include drafting cables, speeches, and reports on political, human rights, and security topics, as well as building and maintaining relationships with government officials, civil society leaders, and other key contacts. The Political Assistant supports Front Office and Political/Economic Section colleagues through briefings, meeting preparation, and outreach activities, and contributes to major annual reports such as the International Religious Freedom Report and Country Reports on Terrorism.


Key Responsibilities:


Internal Political Analysis: Conducts research, drafts cables, and prepares reports on religious freedom, political-military affairs, counterterrorism, rule of law, corruption, and other political issues affecting Cameroon. Works both independently and with Political/Economic Section colleagues to compile first drafts of complex reports, including the annual International Religious Freedom Report and Country Reports on Terrorism. Facilitates ongoing relationships with public officials and civil society actors, and maintains up-to-date knowledge of Cameroon's legal and institutional framework. Backs up the Political Specialist and assists with the internal political portfolio.


External Relations Analysis: Observes and reports on Cameroon's relationships with the United States, third countries, and international organizations such as the United Nations, the African Union, and la Francophonie. Analyzes the foreign policy implications of Cameroonian domestic developments and forecasts future political and social trends to advise embassy officers.


Oral Briefing and Presentations: Provides planned and impromptu briefings—both written and verbal—to the Front Office, Political/Economic Section colleagues, and other audiences. Prepares briefing checklists ahead of key meetings and provides context to the Front Office during media engagements.


Outreach and Contact Development: Establishes and maintains senior- and mid-level contacts across government, political parties, unions, security services, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. Prepares groundwork materials, talking points, and biographical notes for official meetings and regional trips, and accompanies officers to engagements conducted in English or French. Schedules meetings, escorts officers to demarches at government ministries, and prepares meeting reports. Represents the embassy at public events to build new contacts and communicate U.S. policy.


Biographical Reporting: Gathers and analyzes biographical information on individuals of interest to the U.S. government. Builds and maintains unclassified biographical files, tracks the career development of emerging Cameroonian figures, and verifies reports and translations prepared by other section staff.

Qualifications and Evaluations
Requirements:
All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a: 



Security certificate; or 

Public Trust - background investigation security clearance. 


All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and may be subject to a pre-employment medical exam. 
Selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.

Education Requirements:
A Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, Economics or Journalism is required.

Evaluations:
You will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement. 
You may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test.
You must complete the application form and provide the required documents.  Your application must address all the position qualifications and requirements including education, experience, language, and any knowledge/skills/abilities listed.  If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.

Qualifications:
Experience:  A minimum of three (3) years of experience in an international institution or any organization that executes international programs/policy (e.g. NGO, IO, or Embassy), including at least one year of political reporting.


Language:  Fluent (speaking, reading, writing) in English and French is required.  This may be tested.


Job Knowledge:  A good understanding of the customs and cultures of Cameroon. A good understanding of Cameroonian political, economic, and diplomatic practices ; including social and government structures, institutions, political parties, historical development, key problem areas, and major political figures.


Familiar with U.S. foreign policy and objectives for Cameroon and the background of the U.S. presence in the country. An understanding of section reporting requirements and office procedures.


Skills And Abilities:  Adaptability and the ability to manage multiple projects at once, while staying on-task. Ability to complete tasks accurately, in an expedient manner. Tact and diplomacy to deal with local government authority, must have excellent communication skills to be able to get sensitive information. 


Ability to analyze and process political and economic issues and inter-related political, economic, and social forces/events at work in-country and how they relate to U.S. foreign policy, as well as how they will affect the host country and U.S. foreign policy objectives in the near- and long-term. Evaluate and analyze data for the preparation of reports for submission to the Department. Ability to determine relevance/truth of materials. Develop, maintain, manage and organize an extensive range of high-level and mid-level contacts within and outside of the country. Independently draft concise, factual, and useful reports. Plan and manage regular, independent research projects that are relevant to section needs. Submit the final results of independent projects to section officers.


 


This may be tested. 


Benefits and Other Info
Benefits:
Agency Benefits:
Benefits Summary - U.S. Mission Cameroon 


SALARY & COMPENSATION: The annual gross salary includes: the Basic Rate, theMiscellaneous Benefits Allowance, and the End-of-the-Year Bonus (equal to 1/12 of annual basicsalary, paid in December). Seniority Allowance is paid in accordance with local labor law. Merit-based compensation rewards are available for high performers. A Cashier allowance is paid foreligible positions.


LEAVE BENEFITS: Subject to the stated limits and rules of the Local Compensation Plan, employees are entitled to: Annual Leave, Sick Leave, Maternity Leave, Special Leave, and Family Leave.


MEDICAL BENEFITS: The U.S. Mission in Cameroon directly reimburses eligible employees for covered medical expenses incurred for them and/or eligible dependents, subject to the stated limits of the Local Compensation Plan. 


HOLIDAYS: The U.S. Mission in Cameroon observes American and Cameroonian public holidays, about 19 holidays per year. 


For Eligible Family Member (EFM) applicants, benefits should be discussed with the HR Office. The pay plan is assigned by the HR Office and confirmed by Washington, D.C. 

Other Information:
HIRING PREFERENCE SELECTION PROCESS:  


A hiring preference is extended to eligible and qualified applicants in the order listed below.  It is essential you accurately describe your status in your application, failure to do so may result in a determination that you are not eligible for a hiring preference. 


HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER 



Appointment Eligible Family Member (AEFM) / U.S. citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) who is a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran* 

AEFM / USEFM 

Foreign Service (FS) on Leave without Pay (LWOP) and Civil Service (CS) with reemployment rights ** 


* IMPORTANT:  US citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) 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”) preferably Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs which indicates the present existence of a service-connected disability, 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 FS employees on LWOP and CS with re-employment rights back to their agency or bureau. 


For complete definitions of AEFM, USEFM, EFM, Member of Household, etc., please visit the 3 FAM 7210 Definitions.    

ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS

The following apply to EFMs, USEFMs, and AEFMs only:    



Current employees who used a hiring preference to gain employment who are within their first 90 calendar days of employment are not eligible. This does not apply when the hiring mechanism is TEMP or the work schedule is intermittent or irregular.    

Candidates with a hiring preference who have already accepted a conditional offer of employment may NOT be extended a second conditional offer of employment unless and until they withdraw their candidacy for the first position in writing. 


The following apply to Locally Employed (LE) staff only:   



Current employees serving a probationary period are not eligible. 

Current employees with an Overall Summary Rating of Needs Improvement, Unsatisfactory, or an MBC score of less than 100 points on their most recent Employee Performance Report are not eligible.  

How to Apply:
Click the “Apply to This Vacancy” button at the top of the page to begin your application.  For an instructional video on how to apply click here. 


Please address all relevant experience, education, language skills (including English), and job related skills or requirements in your application.


You may edit your application any time before the vacancy closing date. If you fail to submit a complete application by the vacancy closing date of this vacancy, then your application may be disqualified for this position.


For a copy of the complete position description, please contact the HR Office.


To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the HR Office.

Required Documents:
All Applicants:



Residency Permit (if applicable)

Work Permit (if applicable)

University Degree (or equivalent. 

Work Attestation(s)


In addition, Eligible Family Member (EFM) Applicants must submit:



Copy of Sponsor's Travel Orders/Assignment Notification (or equivalent)

Passport copy

DD-214 - Member Copy 4, Letter from Veterans’ Affairs, or other supporting documentation (if applicable)

SF-50 (if applicable)

Next Steps:
Once the Vacancy Announcement (VA) closes:


Applications meeting the minimum education and experience requirements will be screened by HR Office and the Selecting Official(s).


ONLY shortlisted applicants will be contacted by email for mandatory language and/or subject matter tests. 


ONLY successful tested applicants will be contacted by email for interviews. 


ONLY tested and/or interviewed applicants will be notified by email of the results.

HOW TO APPLY ? 

All applications must be submitted ONLINE at : https://bit.ly/4dNEYiT

Closing date :  08/21/2026 Format MM/DD/YYYY