Announcement Number:Nairobi-2026-114Hiring Agency:Embassy NairobiPosition Title:Security Investigator (RSO) – All Interested ApplicantsOpen Period:07/30/2026 – 08/30/2026Format MM/DD/YYYYVacancy Time Zone:GMT+3Series/Grade:LE – 0705 8Salary:KES KSh2,478,361 /Per YearWork Schedule:Full-time – 40 hours work schedule from Monday to Friday. Subject to recall 24/7 while on duty including weekends, holidays, and after official hours.Promotion Potential:LE-8Duty Location(s):
1
Nairobi, KETelework Eligible:NoFor More Info: Recruitment
0203636000
[email protected]
Overview
Hiring Path:• Open to the public
Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:This position is open to:
• Current Employees of the Mission
• RIF’ed employees within one year of separation including USAID.
For USEFM – FP grade is FP-6. Actual FP salary to be authorized by Washington D.C.Security Clearance Required:Public Trust – Background InvestigationAppointment TypePermanentMarketing 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 Kenya is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for a Security Investigator in the RSO office.Supervisory Position:NoRelocation Expenses Reimbursed:No
Duties
Job Overview
The U.S. Embassy Nairobi Foreign Service National Investigator (FSNI) is responsible for conducting complex and sensitive investigations including personal suitability, fraud, and malfeasance for US Government (USG) agencies operating under the Chief of Mission (COM). The FSNI maintains liaison with high level host government police, law enforcement and security organizations, customs and immigration officials, and judicial and legislative officials. The FSNI serves as the Regional Security Officer’s advisor on threats to the official U.S. Embassy community and facilities. The FSNI requests and coordinates support from host nation government (HNG) agencies by leveraging relationships with senior national police and security contacts. The position ensures a variety of safety and security support functions to an Embassy community of over 2000 COM personnel to include background investigations of LE staff to determine their suitability for a security certification required for continued employment with the U.S. government. The FSNI also coordinates with the HNG to provide regular deployment of General Services Unit (GSU), Administration Police Service (APS) and Diplomatic Police Unit (DPU) officers to USG facilities and interests. The FSNI routinely conducts hotel surveys in various towns for use by Chief of Mission employees on travel. The FSNI also supports the Residential Security team to conduct residential surveys, monthly radio checks, and responding to residential alarms (e.g., in Kisumu). FSNI is responsible for the investigation of malfeasance, fraud, and other misconduct by LE staff as assigned by the RSO. The FSNI is responsible for compiling statistical data on crime, political violence, and terrorism throughout the country. The FSNI can operate as a Deputy to the Senior FSNI, and when directed, as the Acting Senior FSNI.
Major duties and responsibilities
Background and Special Investigations 40%
The FSNI processes background investigations using the Regional Security Office Local Vetting system (RESOLVE) while ensuring each case is submitted in a timely manner according to the Overseas Vetting Guidelines and RSO Nairobi Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). FSNIs must conduct a thorough subject interview and multiple reference interviews to include employment and neighborhood checks.
Liaison for Security Support, Investigations, OSAC, and Training 25%
The FSNI is RSO’s liaison with the Government of Kenya (GoK) law enforcement and security community, and with GoK judicial and legislative officials. The FSNI takes the initiative to arrange meetings with senior level contacts both in Nairobi, and in remote regions of Kenya, to develop information on the security and crime environment that may impact both the public and private American citizen community to include U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) implementing partners and Peace Corps volunteers.
Coordination with Ambassador’s Bodyguard Detail and security for U.S. Government Dignitaries 20%
The FSNI coordinates closely with the Kenyan National Police Service through its various units for provision of armed GSU officers to provide a Personal Security Detail (PSD) to the U.S. Ambassador. The FSNI, working with the Bodyguard Coordinator, coordinates scheduling, attends travel planning meetings, and facilitates U.S. government-provided stipends to the bodyguards.
Threat Analysis for Official Travel and Embassy Operations and Events 15%
In this high threat/high risk environment, COM personnel are restricted from traveling to some regions within Kenya due to ethnic violence and terrorism concerns. Due to constantly evolving security environment, the FSNI provides ongoing analysis to the RSO, which in turn informs the Front Office and Mission agencies planning to conduct diplomacy and development engagement in these areas. The FSNI must review all official trip requests within Kenya, liaise with local police in the destination area, determine if there are any security issues that will impact travel, and provide their analysis to the RSO.
Note: This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by incumbent. 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 a:
- 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 upon receipt of agency authorization and/or clearances/certifications or their candidacy may end.
Education Requirements:
Two years of university studies in international studies, security, law enforcement, legal affairs, or related field 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 of five years of experience in law enforcement, military, private security, or investigations is required.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.
Language:
English: Level 4 – Fluent; written/spoken, including the ability to translate
Swahili: Level 4 – Fluent; written/spoken, including the ability to translate
Please address this language requirement in your ERA application.
Job Knowledge:
Detailed knowledge of the external and internal structure of Kenyan law enforcement and security agencies is required.
Detailed understanding of Kenyan law is required. The nuanced relationship between the USG and GoK, requires FSNIs to be versed in the law and politics.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.
Skills And Abilities:
• Excellent understanding of RSO’s interaction with counterpart agencies at post.
• Ability to maintain extensive contacts at all levels within the host country law enforcement and security agencies.
• Ability to conduct sensitive investigations and handle evidence in accordance with prescribed procedures.
• Ability to train and supervise others.
• Ability to draft correspondence and written reports in English.
• Incumbent must possess a driver license that is valid for at least five years.
Please address this factor in your ERA application under Major Duties and Responsibilities.
Benefits and Other Info
Benefits:Agency Benefits:
The U.S. Mission offers a competitive compensation and benefits package for local employees. The benefits include but not limited to the below:
- Annual salary increases based on meeting performance goals
- An annual “13-Month” bonus equal to one month’s basic pay
- $1500 per year Tuition Reimbursement for university or college studies
- Health Insurance for you and your family with 90% of the premium paid by the Mission
- Life and Disability insurance with 100% of the premium paid by the Mission
- An amount equal to 9.5% of your basic pay contributed annually to your pension plan
- 25 days of paid annual leave accrued per year
- 25 days of paid sick leave accrued per year
- 5 days of paid family leave per year
- Paid maternity and paternity leave
- Paid pre-adoptive and adoptive leave
- And a multitude of training and professional development opportunities
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
- 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 **
* 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.
How to Apply
How to Apply:
Click the “Apply to This Vacancy” button at the top of the page to begin your application. For an instructional video on how to apply click here.
Please address all relevant experience, education, language skills (including English), and job related skills or requirements in your application.
You may edit your application any time before the vacancy closing date. If you fail to submit a complete application by the vacancy closing date of this vacancy, then your application may be disqualified for this position.
To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the HR Office.
Required Documents:
Please upload all applicable documents to your application. If you fail to submit a complete application, then your application may be disqualified for this position.
All Applicants:
- University Degree / Proof of two years university studies
- Driver’s License
- Resume/CV
In addition, Eligible Family Member (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:
The HR Office will contact successful applicants. For more information on applying for jobs or employment with us, please visit the U.S. Mission website.
Thank you for your application and your interest in working with us.
