About

Overview

Hiring Path:

• Open to the public

Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:

This position is open to the public.

For USEFM – FP grade is 8.  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 Laos is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the INL Administrative Assistant in the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Section.

Supervisory Position:

No

Relocation Expenses Reimbursed:

No

Travel Required:

Occasional Travel

Works primarily in the INL office, but occasionally required to travel within the country for site visits and meetings with regional host government counterparts.

Duties

The U.S. Embassy in Vientiane, Laos is seeking an Administrative Assistant to join the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Section.  The Administrative Assistant will provide essential support to the INL Director and the entire INL Section, helping to ensure smooth operations and effective communication within the team and with other Embassy offices.

Key Responsibilities: 

• • Serve as the Executive Assistant to the INL Director, managing calendars, scheduling meetings, arranging travel, and handling logistics for the Director, INL staff, and visitors.

• • Draft, translate, and interpret correspondence, reports, and policies between English and Lao, and act as an interpreter during meetings with government officials, partners, and vendors.

• • Prepare and process travel and representational reimbursement vouchers for INL staff.

• • Act as the primary Protocol Assistant for the INL Section, researching relevant regulations and laws, and ensuring all submissions from INL staff are complete and accurate before forwarding them to the Director.

• • Draft diplomatic notes and other official correspondence, take meeting notes, and prepare minutes for internal and external meetings.

• • Gather and format data for special reports, such as the Annual End Use Monitoring Report and the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report and maintain a centralized repository of INL documents and training records.

• • Review and prioritize incoming correspondence, prepare standard letters and reports, and maintain organized records of administrative documents.

• • Assist in organizing INL events, including planning training sessions and ceremonies, and coordinating travel for host country participants.

• • Oversee procurement of office supplies and services, assist with budget management, and track inventory and movement of office equipment.

• • Coordinate administrative arrangements for VIP visits, temporary duty (TDY) visitors, and special events, including developing schedules, arranging transportation, and providing logistical support.

• • Prepare briefing materials, talking points, and agendas for meetings and visits.

• • Work closely with other Embassy sections and agencies to support joint training and INL-funded activities.

The INL Administrative Assistant acts as a vital link between the INL Director, INL staff, and other Embassy offices, ensuring that administrative tasks are completed efficiently and that information flows smoothly throughout the section. The position may require occasional travel within Laos for site visits and meetings with local government counterparts.

This summary is intended to provide an overview of the main duties and responsibilities of the position.  Other duties may be assigned as needed by the agency. 

Qualifications and Evaluations

Requirements:

All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a security certificate.

 

All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation. 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:

See the requirement section below for the education requirements.

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:

FOR THE EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS APPLICANTS MUST MEET EITHER OPTION 1 OR OPTION 2 TOQUALIFY.

OPTION 1

 

• • EXPERIENCE: Minimum one year (1) of administrative related work experience in government, non-profit, or private sector involving management initiatives, practices, controls and policy development and implementation.

• • EDUCATION: Two years of full-time college or university study in any field is required.

 

OPTION 2

• • EXPERIENCE: Minimum three years (3) of administrative related work experience in government, non-profit, or private sector involving management initiatives, practices, controls and policy development and implementation.

• • EDUCATION: Completion of High school is required.

Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.

LANGUAGE: 

• • Fluent (speaking/reading/writing, may include the ability to translate) in English is required.

• • Fluent (speaking/reading/writing, may include the ability to translate) in Lao is required.

Please address this language requirement in your ERA application. 

Benefits and Other Info

Benefits:

Agency Benefits:

The U.S. Mission offers a competitive compensation and benefits package for local employees. Locally Employed Staff, including Members of Household (MOHs), and Third-Country Nationals (TCNs), working at the U.S. Mission in Laos may receive a compensation package that may include health, separation, and other benefits.

1. Annual bonus

2. Annual leave plan

3. Health benefit plan

4. Severance pay plan

5. Retirement plan

6. Premium compensation – Overtime and Holiday pay

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

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

1. 1. AEFM / USEFM

1. 1. 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.