Consular Assistant Job at The Deputy High Commission of Canada to Nigeria

The Deputy High Commission of Canada to Nigeria invites applications from qualified candidates for the position below:

Job Title: Consular Assistant

Job Ref: 3974
Locations: Abuja, Lagos, Nigeria
Vacancy type: Indeterminate
Level: Assistant
Classification: LE-06
Closing date for applications: 15-03-2020 at 23:59 UTC/GMT

Term Details

• This position is a LES (Locally Engaged Staff) position, subject to the Terms and Conditions of Employment for LES in Nigeria. There is currently 1 position available in Abuja and 1 in Lagos.

Summary of position

• Under the general supervision of a Management Consular Officer (MCO) or Deputy Management Consular Officer (DMCO), the Consular Assistant provides consular support services to Canadians; responds to emergency situations involving Canadians in distress; processes passport applications and citizenship applications for Canadians abroad; supports the development of contingency planning and outreach programs; provides administrative and financial services in support of consular, passport and citizenship services at the mission; and undertakes other duties as required.

Essential qualifications

• Candidates will initially be screened against the Essential Qualifications relating to education, experience and language. Candidates must clearly demonstrate in their cover letter and CV how they meet each of these essential qualifications.

Education:

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.

Language:

• Fluency in English (reading, writing, comprehension and speaking)
• Basic knowledge of French (reading, writing, comprehension and speaking)

Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of recent* experience providing effective client service and dealing with the public (in person, by telephone, and electronic messaging).
• *Recent experience is defined as within the last 5 years.
• Minimum 3 years of recent* experience working within an office environment in an administrative support or program assistant capacity for a corporate organization, foreign mission, government office or international organization.

Rated Requirements

• The Rated Requirements relating to knowledge, abilities and competencies will also be assessed. Methods of assessment may include, but are not limited to, a written examination, an oral interview, role-play, practical tests, presentations and/or psychometric assessment.

Knowledge:

• Basic knowledge of Canadian cultural, legal and political landscape.
• Basic knowledge of Canadian travel advisories
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook);

Abilities/Competencies:

• Ability to work under pressure;
• Flexibility and adaptability;
• Attention to detail/accuracy;
• Ability to prioritize workload and multi-task effectively in a high-paced work environment;
• Ability to follow instructions and apply rules;
• Ability to research, analyze and evaluate information effectively;
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team;
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to interact effectively with people from diverse cultures;
• Professional integrity, discretion and sound judgment.
• Effective interactive communication (both verbally and in writing) in English;
• Client focus;

Asset Qualifications:

• Experience working in a diplomatic mission;
• Experience working in a similar role (providing passport and consular services) at a diplomatic mission;
• Familiarity with local administrative and governmental procedures related to expatriate residents.
• Preference may be given to candidates who meet the Asset Qualifications. Where applicable, candidates must clearly demonstrate how they meet any asset qualifications in their cover letter and CV.
• Fluency in French (reading, writing, comprehension and speaking);

Organizational Needs
Operational Requirements:

• Some occasional travel may be necessary;
• Please note the High Commission operates a schedule of public holidays according to a combination of Nigerian and Canadian dates, which means you will be required to work on certain Nigerian holidays.
• Normal working hours are 37.5 per week Mondays to Thursdays (08:00 to 16:30) and Fridays (08:00 – 13:30);
• Some overtime required (on week days and/or during weekends if job demands);

Condition(s) of Employment:

• Proof of educational qualifications will be required at the interview stage of the process.
• Obtain and maintain a Reliability Status (security clearance) from the Government of Canada covering the entire employment period. This includes a criminal and credit background check.
• You must be a Nigerian citizen or legally able to work at the High Commission of Canada in Nigeria. (Please note that neither The High Commission nor The Deputy High Commission sponsor work authorizations directly or indirectly).
• Before an offer of employment can be made, candidates must provide a local Nigerian address as proof of residence so that if selected, it will appear on the offer letter.

Area of Selection:

• Open to internal and external applicants who are legal residents or citizens of Nigeria, who meet all of the essential requirements stated in this job poster, and whose applications are received by the closing date. Please note that the High Commission Canada in Abuja, Nigeria and the Deputy High Commission in Lagos, Nigeria do not sponsor work authorizations directly or indirectly. The Government of Canada is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from diverse sections of the community. Candidates will be considered based on merit. Our organization offers an inclusive workplace where respect, teamwork, and collaboration are part of our culture. Canada’s missions abroad are committed to promoting and supporting an environment free from harassment and discrimination, as well as encouraging and supporting employees to learn and develop their skills and competencies.

Salary
7,417,162 Nigerian Naira annually

Important Notes
Candidates are required to upload a cover letter and CV in English or French. Applications which do not include the requested documents or information in the CV or cover letter will be rejected. Any additional information must be included as part of these two attachments. Candidates who are unable to submit their application due to technical difficulties must report these to: LESglobalstaffing-HLDC@international.gc.ca prior to the closing date. Failure to so will result in the application being rejected.

Eligibility Instructions (to be included in cover letter)

• You will be assessed on your spelling, grammar and effective communication on the application and further along in the process if you’re screened in. Applications not including responses to these questions will be screened out.
• ** Applications that do not include the Candidate Assessment Questions will not be considered.**
• Assessment questions have been included for candidates to complete and include in their cover letters along with the application. In order to be considered for the position, please note that candidates must answer all questions(#1, #2, and #3). Please include the information in paragraph form. Responses must be your original work, and cannot use text from the internet or other sources. Applications using copied text will be disqualified.

Question #1 (750 words maximum)
Please describe what experience you have in providing administrative or program support in an office environment under tight deadlines, and how you manage your work under these circumstances.

Question #2 (750 words maximum)
Describe a situation where you had to provide excellent client service in a previous job under a stressful situation. Describe the situation as well as how your participation contributed to the outcome.

Question #3 (300 words maximum)
Pourquoi aimeriez-vous travailler au Haut-commissariat du Canada au Nigéria ? Veuillez écrire votre réponse en français.

• Candidates who apply to this vacancy should include an email address that accepts email from unknown users and regularly check their email, including spam folder.
• Reference checks will be sought for candidates that reach interview stage and may form part of the selection process.
• The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria does not reimburse any travel costs to and from interviews/exams nor does it reimburse any relocation costs.
• Candidates requiring any special assistance in attending exams or interviews are requested to inform us.
• The results of this recruitment process may also be used to establish an eligibility list of qualified candidates for similar openings at the High Commission of Canada in Nigeria which might arise in the 12 months following the completion of this recruitment process.
• Please do not use a tablet or cell phone to submit your application, as mobile browsers are not supported by our on-line portal. Candidates should only apply using a laptop or desktop computer.
• Only applications submitted in one of the official languages of Canada will be accepted (English or French). Candidates are entitled to participate in the recruitment process in the official language of their choice and to indicate their preferred official language in their application.
• Communication for this process will be sent via email. It is the responsibility of the candidates to ensure accurate contact information is provided and updated as required.

Application Deadline 15th March, 2020.