Job offer

A consular assistant

To be filled: Immediately / as soon as possible

Location: Kigali (Rwanda)

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is the body of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) responsible for international cooperation. It is responsible for coordinating development cooperation, as well as Swiss humanitarian aid.

Swiss development cooperation is active in three priority themes in the Great Lakes region: governance and media, employment and economic development, and health. The SDC coordinates its actions in Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through a regional program.

The regional directorate is based in Kigali, Rwanda

As part of the strengthening of its administrative staff, the SDC in Rwanda is looking for candidates for the post of:

Consular assistant

The SDC is committed to participation, transparency and accountability, to equal treatment and non-discrimination, as well as to the effectiveness of its action and of the partners engaged with it. In general, the objective is to contribute to the creation of an environment in which the rule of law and human rights are strengthened, equality between women and men, the appropriate distribution of powers as well as macroeconomic stability to enable economic development and the rise of the private sector.

POSITION: Consular Assistant  

Professional qualifications / skills

• Diploma in Management  / International Relations and / or Diplomacy
• Have at least 5 years of professional experience with proven experience in the field
• Excellent analytical, synthesis and writing skills;

Social qualifications / skills

• Ability to work in a team;
• Self-reflection
• Have great flexibility and good availability;
• Ability to anticipate, communicate, assert one’s opinion, address and manage conflicts

Skills and motivation for the post of Consular Assistant

• Interest in human relations
• Master the administrative contexts and the management of procedures
• Have a good command of computer tools (Word, Excel, Database, Internet)

Driving skills:  Loyal, honest, conscientious, direct, assertive, and as an executive, to be a role model in mastering the various work tools and instructions of the SDC.

Qualities required :

• Contact direction
• Discretion and reserve
• Sense of courtesy
• Communication skills
• Sense of organization
• Self control

Field of activity / Purpose of the position

The consular assistant will be placed under the responsibility of the Head of Personal Finance and Administration (CFPA). He / she will be hired by a local contract and according to the Rwandan law in force.

Tasks and skills

Under the supervision of the CFPA, the Consular Assistant is required to perform the following tasks:

Consular affairs (visas, administrative acts, scholarships)

• Receives people contacting the Consular Agency and provides them with the necessary information and information
• Processes registrations and administrative acts requested by resident or passing Swiss nationals
• Handles consular assistance requests
• Receives long-term visa applications and compiles complete files to enable decision-making while carrying out the necessary checks
• Ensures regular exchanges with the consular section of the Embassy of Belgium in Rwanda (Kigali) for the follow-up of requests for short-term visas
• Holds regular, planned meetings with the consular section of the Embassy of Belgium on files processed or in progress
• Receives and sends consular files by diplomatic bag to the Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya
• Support applications for professional visas from other representations for the staff of the office of the Swiss Cooperation Office
• Performs various consular tasks upon request and instructions from the Swiss Embassy in Nairobi
• Processes mail, organizes and classifies the files of the Consular Agency
• Ensures the drafting of complex and / or confidential correspondence
• Assists management in the implementation of the security plan in the event of a crisis or incident involving Swiss nationals.
• Management of confederation scholarship files in collaboration with the executive assistant

• Prepares correspondence related to diplomatic status (notes verbales)
• Participates at management’s request in external meetings related to consular affairs
• Assists management in monitoring and updating the security plan and its various components

Successful candidates will be submitted to a written test to confirm their technical, linguistic and editorial skills.

Location  : Kigali, Rwanda

Occupancy rate:  50%

Starting date:  From September 2021

Please send your complete application file to the Great Lakes Regional Cooperation Office with

the following documents :

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Copies of diplomas
• Copies of work certificates
• 1 recent photo
• Contacts (phone and e-mail) of three reference persons

In view of the COVID-19 situation, thank you for sending the file by email to the following address:  [email protected]  with the mention "Assistant / -e consulaire"

 Application deadline: August 10, 2021

Applications will be treated confidentially. Those whose file is incomplete or has reached the

DDC after the application deadline will not be taken into consideration.

Only people who meet the required profile and who have followed the application procedures will be contacted.

Female applications encouraged.

 Additional information on the SDC Grands Lacs website

https://www.eda.admin.ch/deza/fr/home/pays/grands-lacs.html