Political Specialist at U.S. Embassy Dar es Salaam

Job description

Announcement Number:DaresSalaam-2026-017 Hiring Agency:Embassy Dar Es Salaam Position Title:Political Specialist (All Interested Candidates) Open Period:08/24/2026 - 09/07/2026 Vacancy Time Zone:GMT+3 Series/Grade:LE-1605-10 Salary:TZS 77,198,751 per year Work Schedule:Full-time, 40 hours per week Promotion Potential:LE-10 Duty Location:Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania Number of Vacancies:1 Telework Eligible:No For More Information:HR OfficeTel: 022-229-4148Email: DAR-Recruitment@state.gov Overview Hiring Path:Open to the public Who May Apply:All Interested Applicants / All Sources For USEFM, the FP grade is FP-5, steps 5 through 14. Actual FP salary is authorized by Washington, D.C. Security Clearance Required:Public Trust - Background Investigation Appointment Type:Permanent Marketing Statement:We encourage you to review the Eight (8) Qualities of Overseas Employees before you apply. 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 Tanzania is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the position of Political Specialist in the Political and Economic (P-E) Section. Supervisory Position:No Relocation Expenses Reimbursed:No Travel Required:Occasional travel Duties The position is the Democracy and Governance Specialist in a 15-person Political-Economic (P-E) Section. Under the direction of the Political Unit Chief, the Political Specialist leads the U.S. Embassy's efforts to understand, analyze, advise, and report on a range of political, democracy, and governance issues in Tanzania. The incumbent develops and maintains key contacts in the government, parliament, political parties, non-government organizations, and the private sector with experience working with or in the democracy and governance sectors and facilitates embassy engagement with and visits related to these issues. Contact Development - 25% Develop, maintain, and facilitate meetings for embassy officers with government officials up to the level of the President of Tanzania. Develop and maintain contacts with civil society and religious leaders, think tanks, academics, and international NGOs primarily involved in democracy and governance issues. Expand and leverage contact development and meetings to assist embassy officers in gathering information, including information that is not publicly available. Obtain current information and maintain access to key officials and contacts. Communication, Information Gathering, and Reporting - 25% Draft diplomatic notes to schedule official meetings or advance U.S. priorities. Draft and maintain biographic data of Tanzania government officials. Interpret at official events and meetings as needed. Draft and disseminate substantive notes from official meetings. Research and maintain reports from local and international organizations on democracy and governance issues and events. Monitor local media and political and economic developments and trends in Tanzania. Draft regular analytical and factual updates and reports. Prepare stand-alone briefing memos, reporting cables, and short reports for inclusion in section and mission reporting products. Representational, Travel, and Visits - 20% Work closely with the P-E and Protocol Sections to devise appropriate guest lists for the P-E Section, Ambassador, and senior Executive and Legislative branch visitors for official events. Plan and execute official meetings and travel primarily across Tanzania. Expose U.S. officials to contacts and substantive information on Tanzanian and East African affairs to achieve visit objectives. Lead the post's coordination with Parliament to engage with members of parliament, particularly during parliamentary sessions. Represent the P-E Section and mission at internal and external working groups, functions, conferences, and meetings. Ensure activities reflect and inform Post objectives and Department policy, particularly those focused on democracy and governance issues. Advisory Functions - 10% Brief and advise the P-E Section, Front Office, interagency, and Washington on democracy and governance issues, developments, and trends. Highlight the significance and potential impact of political developments on U.S. interests. Identify engagement and programming opportunities to advance related U.S. interests and priorities. Meet with section officers and sections across the mission on a regular basis. Assess the significance and importance of current developments and inform ongoing engagement, reporting, and programmatic activities, primarily related to democracy and governance. Federal Assistance and Training/Exchange Programs - 10% Advise and inform the P-E Section on development assistance priorities in Tanzania. Serve as a Grants Officer Representative for P-E Section development assistance related to democracy and governance in Tanzania. Support the embassy's efforts to foster greater cooperation with government and civil society interlocutors in Tanzania. Assist with identifying and nominating participants for U.S. government-funded training and exchange programs. Other Related Duties - 10% Assist other members of the section as needed. Cover other section portfolios during staffing gaps and perform other related duties as assigned. Note:This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the incumbent. The incumbent will be required to perform other duties as assigned by the agency. Qualifications and Evaluations Requirements All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold: Security certificate Medical certificate All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and a pre-employment medical examination. The selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time upon receipt of agency authorization and clearances/certifications, or their candidacy may end. Education Requirements A Bachelor's degree in: Law Political Science International Relations History Economics A related major is required. Evaluations Applicants will be evaluated against the qualifications and requirements in this vacancy announcement. Applicants may be asked to complete a pre-employment language or skills test. Applicants must complete the application form and provide the required documents. The application must address all position qualifications and requirements, including education, experience, language, and any knowledge, skills, and abilities listed. Failure to submit a complete application may result in disqualification. Experience Minimum five (5) years of professional work experience in: Research Analysis Consulting Program management Communication Reporting Experience must be in fields such as: Law Politics Government Academia Journalism Development organizations International affairs Language Level IV, fluent speaking, reading, and writing in English, including the ability to translate English. Level IV, fluent speaking, reading, and writing in Swahili, including the ability to translate Swahili. Language skills may be tested. Job Knowledge Candidates must have detailed knowledge of: Tanzania's political structures Tanzania's economic structures Tanzania's social structures Political institutions Historic developments Foreign relations Key political figures Skills and Abilities Candidates must demonstrate: Ability to exercise initiative and judgment in developing and maintaining an extensive range of contacts. Ability to synthesize complex information, events, and trends into concise, easily understood written and oral reports. Proficiency in the use of computers, smartphones, and tablets. Experience drafting, editing, and collating information using Microsoft Office tools. Benefits and Other Information Benefits The U.S. Mission in Tanzania offers a compensation package that may include: Health benefits Separation benefits Other applicable benefits 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. Applicants must accurately describe their status in their application. Failure to do so may result in a determination that they 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 Preference-Eligible U.S. Veteran Documentation U.S. citizen Eligible Family Member (USEFM) applicants who claim status as a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran must submit one of the following: Most recent DD-214, preferably Member Copy 4 Letter from Veterans' Affairs indicating the present existence of a service-connected disability Equivalent documentation Certification from the armed forces confirming expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions within 120 days after the certification is submitted The certification letter should be on the letterhead of the appropriate military branch and contain: Military service dates Expected discharge or release date Character of service Acceptable documentation must be submitted for the hiring preference to be given. This level of preference applies to all FS employees on LWOP and CS employees with reemployment rights to their agency or bureau. For complete definitions of AEFM, USEFM, EFM, Member of Household, and related terms, applicants should refer to the applicable U.S. Department of State definitions. Additional Employment Considerations The following apply to EFMs, USEFMs, and AEFMs: Current employees who used a hiring preference to gain employment and 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: 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 vacancy page to begin your application. Applicants should address all relevant: Work experience Education Language skills, including English Job-related skills Other requirements Applicants may edit their application at any time before the vacancy closing date. Failure to submit a complete application by the vacancy closing date may result in disqualification. For a copy of the complete position description, contact the HR Office. To request reasonable accommodation, contact: Email: DAR-Recruitment@state.gov Required Documents All applicable documents must be uploaded to the application. Failure to submit a complete application will result in disqualification. All Applicants Proof of citizenship Work permit, if applicable University degree University transcript Resume/CV Eligible Family Member (EFM) Applicants In addition to the documents above, 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 Applicants who are shortlisted and invited to take a language or skills test, or who are selected for an interview, will be contacted via email. Application Deadline:07 September 2026 Location:Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania Position:Political Specialist Employer:U.S. Mission in Tanzania / Embassy Dar Es Salaam Employment Type:Permanent, Full-time Vacancies:1