Job Advert: Consular Clerk

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

BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Visa Assistant, the incumbent is responsible for the full range of clerical functions relating to non-immigrant visas and correspondence.

INTAKE OF VISA APPLICANTS: 25% of Time 

• The Consular Clerk enrolls applicants for non-immigrant visas, the first step in the consular section’s processing.  During intake, the consular clerk collects biographic and biometric data (photograph and electronic finger scan) from the applicants and helps organize their documents. The collection of biodata is integral to U.S. security programs, and the Consular Clerk ensures that photographs and fingerprints meet Department standards.  Consular Clerk also conducts basic fraud prevention screening.

PRINTING VISAS AND RETURNING PASSPORTS WITH COMPLETED VISAS:  25% of Time

• The Consular Clerk prints customer data onto visa foils and affixes them in customers’ passports conducts quality assurance checks. The foils are controlled documents containing security features to thwart misuse by impostors and counterfeiters. The Consular clerk ensures appropriate fee has been paid before returning printed visas to successful applicants. To prevent imposter fraud, the Consular clerk verifies the identity of people picking up visas.

MAINTAINING CORRESPONDENCE:  25% of Time

• The Consular Clerk maintains and responds to correspondence from the various section email accounts, as well taking telephone inquiries.       

SERVES AS SECONDARY CASHIER FOR THE SECTION:  15% of Time 

• On a regular and recurring basis, the Consular clerk assumes secondary cashier’s responsibilities. When working as the consular cashier, the Consular Clerk is the first point of contact for all consular section customers, including visa applicants and American citizens, and provides them with information on the section’s services, fees and application procedures. The consular sub cashier handles all cash transactions with the section customers in accordance with consular management handbook procedures, accounting for and safeguarding all consular fees until they are deposited with the class B cashier.    

BACK-UP OFFICE MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST:  10% of Time

• In the absence of the Office Management Specialist, the Consular Clerk assumes those duties, including answering telephones, taking messages, compiling and submitting time and attendance reports for consular employees, maintaining supplies and forms, scheduling visa appointments, and answer routine email and telephone inquries from the public.  

Other duties as assigned on all of our positions descriptions.

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: Completion of High School (GCE “A” level, Baccalauréat or equivalent) is required.

EXPERIENCE: At least two years of prior clerical or office experience with emphasis on entering data in specialized software is required, with an international organization or a large local organization.

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

SKILLS AND ABILITIES: The incumbent must be able to communicate clearly and efficiently by telephone and in person in both English and French; must have good interpersonal skills; able to work under pressure; and exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with an angry public. (Skills and abilities may be tested.)

JOB KNOWLEDGE: The jobholder must be a computer literate in MS Word and MS Outlook and have basic knowledge in visa requirements.

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.

1. Universal Application for Employment (UAE) (Form DS-174), which is available on our website or by contacting Human Resources.  (See “For Further Information” above);         
2. 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.