ACS Assistant at U.S. Embassy South Africa

Duties

• The American Citizen Services (ACS) Assistant provides passport, citizenship, and special consular services for U.S. citizens within the consular district. This position serves as one of the primary points of contact for U.S. citizens and maintains a network of public and private sector contacts to assist them when needed. The ACS Assistant communicates directly with citizenship applicants and U.S. citizens in distress, assists in preparing emergency messaging and website updates, and works closely with the ACS Chief, Consular Officers, and other Post staff on crisis preparedness and response. In addition, the role includes performing administrative duties and providing support to other units within the Consular Section as required.

Citizenship Services 

• Manage passport and citizenship services for the ACS Unit.
• Process applications for U.S. passports, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, Loss of Nationality, and notarial requests.
• Ensure applications are complete and comply with U.S. regulations (FAM, CFR, INA).
• Prepare cases for final review by a Consular Officer and flag potential fraud concerns.
• Maintain accurate filing and records; update information sheets and instructions.
• Stay current on citizenship laws, passport procedures, and policy changes.
• Provide guidance to Consular Officers and staff on citizenship matters.

Special Consular Services 

• Assist U.S. citizens in distress (victims of crime, destitute citizens, hospital and prison visits).
• Liaise with local hospitals, hotels, airports, prisons, and other institutions to provide support.
• Maintain a network of contacts for emergency assistance.
• Participate in crisis management training and maintain proficiency in crisis management tools.
• Prepare legal documents for consular notarial services.

Communication 

• Serve as the main point of contact for U.S. citizens, ensuring excellent customer service.
• Draft responses to inquiries on nationality, passports, and special consular services.
• Maintain Post’s notification systems and distribute security-related information.
• Communicate policy changes to internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate ACS outreach activities and manage the appointment system.

 Accountability 

• Safeguard controlled items and personally identifiable information (PII) in compliance with the Privacy Act.
• Manage and secure sensitive documents, passport records, and consular seals.
• Ensure proper handling and submission of sensitive materials according to regulations

Qualifications and Evaluations
Requirements:

• All selected candidates must be able to obtain and hold a SBU security clearance. 
• All selected candidates will be subject to a background investigation and may be subject to a pre-employment medical exam.  
• Selected candidate must be able to begin working within a reasonable period of time 12 weeks upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.

Education Requirements:

• Completion of two years of college or university studies is required.

Please address this factor in your ERA application under Education.

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:
Experience:

• Minimum two years of administrative work, case management, or customer service work experience.

Deadline:25th May,2026