Status: Full-time position
Location: Variences Throughout the World
Deadline Date: 4/24/13
Date Available:
Job Summary: The Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is responsible for the cultural and educational exchange programs that support strategic State Department policies and goals.
The Office of English Language Programs through its corps of Foreign Service English Language Officers (ELOs) serves as a catalyst for enduring, positive change via its active commitment to high quality education, access to information, and effective global dialogue. English Language Officers work with U.S. embassies to develop long-term English language programming strategic plans. English Language Officers develop sustained partnerships with English language professionals, encourage their membership in a mutually supportive global network, support their professional growth, and enhance their ability to influence positively the lives of their students. Through the programs that English Language Officers initiate, manage, monitor and evaluate, they enable teachers to teach more effectively through a variety of means such as social media, virtual learning, in-country professional development programs, teacher and learner exchanges, courses for youth and support of local professional associations and their activities. Through these efforts, they offer a window on U.S. society, history, and culture, and encourage analytical thinking, tolerance for difference, and increased understanding among themselves and their students.
English Language Officers are often referred to as RELOs (Regional English Language Officers) because of the multi-country nature of their work. RELOs are currently based in Amman, Astana, Bangkok, Budapest, Cairo, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Jakarta, Kathmandu, Kyiv, Lima, Manama, Manila, Mexico City, New Delhi, Pretoria, Rabat, Santiago and Seoul. Country-specific ELOs are based in Ankara, Beijing, Islamabad, Moscow, and Sao Paulo. All RELOs/ELOs are required to serve at least one tour in Washington, D.C. ELOs based in Washington provide leadership and administrative support for the ELOs overseas, design and administer exchange programs, develop English teaching materials and may travel abroad to conduct training and consult about English language programming. All overseas ELOs work closely with the Public Affairs Sections of their home embassies and regularly visit all the U.S. embassies within their areas of regional responsibility, which may include five or more countries. All English Language Officers participate fully in the work of the embassies to which they are assigned and often serve as duty officers, assist with high level visits, and other embassy functions and events. ELOs based in Washington provide leadership and administrative support for the ELOs overseas, design and administer exchange programs, develop English teaching materials, and may travel abroad to conduct training and consult about English language programming.
Qualifications: In addition to the general requirements for employment in the Foreign Service, an applicant must have a Master's degree in the field of TESL, TEFL, TESOL, Applied Linguistics or related field from an accredited United States graduate program. Substantial advanced academic work beyond the M.A. is preferred. Candidates must have substantial formal experience in studying a foreign language or demonstrated ability to use a foreign language in an international setting.
Duties: Foreign Service English Language Officers (ELOs), under the supervision of the Office of English language Programs and embassy Public Affairs Sections, provide professional expertise and program support to U.S. embassies and consulates around the world through a variety of responsibilities:
Counseling and assisting U.S. mission officials in determining and developing the most effective use of English language programs and services to meet posts’ Public Diplomacy and Mission goals.
Establishing and cultivating professional relationships with U.S. academic institutions, other government agencies and NGOs in areas of policy and program development for English language programs both in Washington and in the field.
Conducting contextual analyses needs assessments and institutional assessments to guide the development of English language strategic plans and programs that serve to realize those plans.
Establishing and maintaining contacts with host country education officials and academic institutions involved in delivering English language programs, especially programs training teachers of English.
Evaluating and reporting to Washington on the English language programs in the geographic area of regional responsibility and, when appropriate, recommending new programs.
Providing policy guidance for English Language exchanges and programs.
Acting as liaison to Department regional bureaus to explain policies and provide guidance on the development and implementation of programs in the regions.
Providing guidance and expertise to bureau officers in the development and administering of bureau exchange programs through which foreign teachers of English visit and observe English teaching programs in the United States.
Providing administrative and logistical support from Washington for the ELOs overseas.
Researching, developing or supervising the development of printed, audio, visual, and electronic media English teaching materials.
Assisting with the editing and production of the Department's journal for English language professionals, English Teaching Forum.
Using U.S. government reporting tools like the Mission Activity Tracker, embassy websites and other related online publications as well as public social media resources, reporting on programs, activities and developments related to English language programs.
Negotiating partnerships with private and public sector entities that serve to advance the shared interests of all involved partners in the field of English language education.
Nominating participants for USG-sponsored exchange programs (vitual and physical) and participating in the selection process as appropriate.
Traveling abroad at the request of embassies to work on strategic planning, needs analyses, program monitoring and evaluation or consulting with relevant contacts and embassy personnel regarding English language programs.
To Apply:
To apply, applicants must first register on USAJOBS at www.usajobs.gov and create an online federal resume. Your online resume must be typed or you may cut and paste an existing resume into the space provided. Once you have completed the registration process select the 'Apply Online' button to the right of the vacancy (https://state.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/338896900). That button will transfer you to Gateway to State.