Ethiopia: USPSC Program Officer

Position Title: Program Officer

Solicitation Number: SOL-OFDA-17-000076

Salary Level: GS-12 Equivalent: $62,722- $81,541

Issuance Date: August 8, 2017

Closing Date: August 22, 2017

Closing Time: 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

Dear Prospective Applicants:

The United States Government (USG), represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), is seeking applications from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal services as a Program Officer (PO) under a United States Personal Services Contract (USPSC), as described in the attached solicitation.

Submittals must be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Applicants interested in applying for this position MUST submit the following materials:

1. Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your application, your resume must include:

(a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Dates (month/year) and locations for all field experience must also be detailed. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.

(b) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.

(c) Names and contact information (phone/email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). Current and/or previous supervisors may be contacted for a reference.

(d) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments.

(e) U.S. Citizenship

(f) Optional: How did you hear about this opportunity? (FedBizOps, OFDA Jobs, Career Fair, etc.).

Your resume should contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information should be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration.

2. USPSC Application form AID 302-3. Applicants are required to complete sections A through I. This form must be physically signed. Electronic signatures will not be accepted.

NOTE ABOUT THE DATA UNIVERSAL NUMBERING SYSTEM/SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS

All USPSCs with a place of performance in the United States are required to have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to receiving an offer. You will be disqualified if you either fail to comply with this requirement or if your name appears on the excluded parties list. The selectee will be provided with guidance regarding this registration.

Additional documents submitted will not be accepted. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. OFDA reserves the right to select additional candidates if vacancies become available during future phases of the selection process.

Applicants can expect to receive a confirmation email when application materials have been received. Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications. Your complete resume must be emailed to:

OFDA Recruitment Team

E-Mail Address: recruiter@ofda.gov

Website: www.OFDAjobs.net

Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to OFDA Recruitment Team via the information provided above.

Sincerely,

Renee Newton

Contracting Officer

Solicitation for USPSC Program Officer

1. SOLICITATION NO.: SOL-OFDA-17-000076

2. ISSUANCE DATE: August 8, 2017

3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: August 22, 2017 at 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time

4. POSITION TITLE: Program Officer

5. MARKET VALUE:

GS-12 equivalent ($62,722 - $81,541 - not eligible for locality pay). Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based upon the candidate’s past salary, work history and educational background. Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated.

6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two (2) years, with three (3) one-year options.

7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

There may be an initial training program in Washington, D.C. for three months, which will include formal classroom training and on-the-job training; and may include security training. After completion of Washington training, the Program Officer will be assigned to the place of performance.

8. STATEMENT OF WORK

POSITION DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is the office within USAID that is responsible for providing emergency non-food humanitarian assistance in response to international crises and disasters. OFDA is part of the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA) and is organized into six divisions.

The Africa (AFD) Response Division and the Asia, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East (ALE) Response Division are responsible for the provision of emergency humanitarian assistance through a grants mechanism to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations including United Nations (UN) agencies and to other partners to ensure the implementation and delivery of this assistance. These divisions also oversee OFDA’s non-response efforts in disaster risk reduction and resilience. AFD and ALE Response Divisions also coordinate with other organizations for the provision of relief supplies and assistance. They devise, coordinate and implement program strategies for a variety of natural and complex disaster situations. Both Divisions encompass groups of operations specialists who provide technical expert capability in assessing the quality and strategic function of disaster response and risk reduction activities. The AFD Response Division is divided into two teams: East and Central Africa (ECA), and Southern, West, and North Africa (SWAN). The ALE Response Division is divided into four teams: East Asia and the Pacific (EAP), Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia (EMCA), Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), and South Asia.

The Operations (OPS) Division develops and manages operations for OFDA’s disaster responses by readying people and systems; projecting U.S. Government (USG) humanitarian capacity quickly into the field; and delivering material and technical assistance. The OPS Division maintains readiness to respond to emergencies through several mechanisms, including managing Urban Search and Rescue Teams, coordinating, staffing, training, and equipping Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs), and Washington-based Response Management Teams (RMTs), and stockpiling emergency relief commodities in key locations around the globe to ensure OFDA’s capacity to execute and coordinate USG humanitarian assistance and response to natural disasters and complex emergencies. The OPS Division provides technical guidance and expertise in Disaster Logistics, Urban Search and Rescue, Operations Center management, activation/readiness, Civil-Military Liaison, and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive Consequence Management. It also provides overseas support to OFDA offices and personnel and to other sectors necessary to ensure OFDA’s capacity to execute and coordinate USG humanitarian assistance and response to natural disasters and complex emergencies. The OPS Division is divided into four teams: the Disaster Assistance Support Program (DASP), Military Liaison Team (MLT), Operations Support Team (OST), and Overseas Administration Team (OAT).

The Program Support (PS) Division provides operational management support, including general administration, budget and financial services, procurement planning, information technology, human resources management including staff care, and contract and grant administration support to OFDA. The PS Division supports OFDA's mandate by providing innovative solutions in the areas of Information Technology, staffing, funds control, budgeting, human resource management, and procurement to facilitate timely disaster responses. The PS Division is divided into four teams: the Award Change Control Group (ACCG), Human Resources Management Team (HRM), Budget, Finance, and Information Technology (BFIT) Team, and the Acquisition and Management (ACQ) Team.

The Preparation, Strategic Planning and Mitigation (PSPM) Division is responsible for the technical oversight of all OFDA response and mitigation programs, as well as preparation for response, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction activities. The PSPM Division houses technical experts in all sectors potentially affected by disasters, and leads the Agency in developing and promoting best practices for programming in these specific sectors. In addition, PSPM will be the focal point for technological innovations for humanitarian assistance in areas such as monitoring and evaluation, assessment, and information management. The PSPM Division is divided into four teams: Cross-Cutting Sectors Team, Natural Hazards Team, Health Team, and Food Security and Livelihoods Team.

The Humanitarian Policy and Global Engagement (HPGE) Division assists the DCHA front office, the OFDA Director and OFDA Deputy Director with tracking trends and policy developments in the humanitarian assistance field. It engages in policy dialogue with other parts of USAID, the USG interagency, other donors, multilateral agencies, and NGO partners; recommends strategies for action to DCHA; initiates development of policy and internal guidance for OFDA; maintains global relationships with implementing partners, other donors, and the broader humanitarian architecture; and engages with the UN to advance USG humanitarian policy objectives and promote humanitarian principles within the USG and internationally. The HPGE Division leads OFDA's communications and social media outreach to effectively communicate OFDA’s story to a variety of strategic audiences. It serves as the office’s primary interlocutor on strategic issues with other federal partners to provide guidance to OFDA on policy issues pertaining to the interagency, and to improve USG humanitarian coordination and response during large-scale crises. The HPGE Division staff manages global programs, policy and outreach, strategic communications, and interagency training and engagement. HPGE is divided into seven teams: Policy Team, Global Programs Team, Strategic Interagency Team, Strategic Communications Team, Interagency Training Team, Public-Private Engagement Team, and the United States Mission to the UN (USUN).

INTRODUCTION

OFDA is responsible for coordinating the USG’s humanitarian response in Ethiopia, establishing programs to meet clearly defined humanitarian needs, and for overseeing OFDA’s current and future humanitarian assistance programming. OFDA maintains a program office in Ethiopia led by the Senior Humanitarian Advisor for Ethiopia, who oversees staff, programs, and operations for OFDA in country.

The Program Officer (PO) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia will monitor OFDA-funded programs, liaise with the Information Officer and NGO community, provide assessments when appropriate, and make program recommendations. The team in Ethiopia is working to allocate USG humanitarian assistance funding to support humanitarian programs. USAID anticipates significant additional humanitarian programming for Fiscal Year 2017. The PO will work with implementing partners to ensure that programming meets strategic objectives and to shepherd programs through the approval process. This position reports directly to the OFDA Senior Humanitarian Advisor in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE

OFDA requires the services of a PO for Ethiopia to coordinate disaster response activities and carry out its lead role in facilitating and coordinating USG emergency assistance overseas.

9. CORE FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The PO will provide full time in-country coordination and management of OFDA programming for humanitarian emergency and disaster risk reduction activities throughout Ethiopia. The PO may assist in humanitarian assistance activities elsewhere in the region as needed. The PO will work in close collaboration with a program team that may include Senior Regional Advisors, Regional Advisors (RA), Senior Humanitarian Advisors, Senior Program Officers (SPO), Program Officers, Field Monitors, Team Leaders, Deputy Team Leaders, Disaster Operations Advisors and Specialists, and /or Program Assistants.

This position requires substantial coordination with representatives from other USAID offices,

The U.S. Embassy, other USG agencies, the government of Ethiopia, U.S. military representatives, as well as with relevant donor representatives and UN and NGO agencies, therefore requiring a highly collaborative work style. The PO must be prepared to function effectively in a challenging and restrictive work environment and be willing to strictly adhere to U.S. Embassy security guidelines.

The PO’s responsibilities will include the following:

Contextual Specialty

• Develop and maintain specialized understanding of humanitarian developments within Ethiopia to include political, social, and operational issues impacting humanitarian efforts.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of USAID, USG, and US humanitarian priorities and strategies within Ethiopia and USAID/OFDA’s contributions and comparative advantages to those efforts.
• Provide regular reporting, through official cables and other means, on issues related to the humanitarian situation in Ethiopia. Provide overviews of patterns and trends in the humanitarian situation and keep the Regional Advisor, Senior Program Officer, and other program staff current on response issues. Provide regular reports on site visits, meetings, general atmospherics and other issues that impact humanitarian relief efforts.
• Prepare briefing papers, notes and presentations on OFDA programming for official U.S. government visitors interested in humanitarian issues.

Portfolio Management

• Develop and maintain a detailed working knowledge of OFDA’s humanitarian portfolio in Ethiopia.
• Work with OFDA’s program staff based in DC, the regional office in Nairobi, Kenya, and in Ethiopia in the development of OFDA’s programming for response and disaster risk reduction activities in Ethiopia, ensure complementarity between the two strategies, and oversee implementation of each.
• Support team efforts to continually assess emergency response and disaster risk reduction needs in Ethiopia in order to ensure that OFDA’s programs are appropriately responsive.
• In close coordination with the RA, SPO, and Disaster Operations Specialist (DOS), work with NGOs, IOs, and UN agencies that are developing proposals for OFDA (including grant amendments and extensions). Ensure that draft proposals are in compliance with “OFDA’s Guidelines for Unsolicited Proposals and Reporting.” Review concept papers and proposals, and provide recommendations/comments to OFDA for final funding determination.
• Assist headquarters based Agreement Officer’s Representatives (AORs) in managing humanitarian awards by providing field-based insights, knowledge, and perspectives.
• Travel as permitted to support team efforts to assess, evaluate and monitor humanitarian conditions in Ethiopia, and make strategic recommendations for appropriate interventions.

Representation

• Support the Senior Humanitarian Advisor in maintaining relations with the humanitarian community in Ethiopia in representing USAID and OFDA. This will include but is not limited to UN agencies, IOs, NGOs, U.S. government personnel, donors, host government authorities, and others.
• Participate in and report on joint donor humanitarian evaluations and UN-led assessments, and actively participate in the international community response structures.
• With guidance from the RA or SPO, coordinate with the donor community on policy issues affecting humanitarian operations, and develop integrated, non-duplicative programs.
• Maintain regular contact with OFDA grantees, as well as other UN agencies, IOs, and NGOs. As requested by the RA, meet regularly with donors, host government officials, USG agencies, and others on humanitarian issues in order to explain, advocate for, and advance OFDA’s priorities and to help coordinate USG and international humanitarian activities.

Leadership

• Serve as peer mentor to team members on grants management and portfolio management, to include OFDA’s business process, portfolio-specific budget and workload management, and post-award monitoring and management.
• Participate, as assigned, in office-wide discussions on initiatives that impact program implementation to provide field-based perspectives.

General Duties

• Serve in program positions on response teams, assessment teams, or to provide coverage for field offices within and outside the region, which may deploy on short notice for up to 90 days.
• Serve on DARTs which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment overseas for an extended period of time.
• As appropriate, for cross-training purposes to enhance operational awareness, may serve on temporary details, not to exceed six months, within the office. Duties performed, while on detail, will be directly related to the duties and responsibilities outlined in the scope of work.
• As needed, may serve on temporary details within the office to meet operational needs during staff shortages, not to exceed six months. Duties performed while on detail will be aligned with the Team’s existing duties and responsibilities as well as directly related to the scope of work provided.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

The PO will report directly to the OFDA Senior Humanitarian Advisor based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

The PO will report to the Senior Humanitarian Advisor in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and maintain close coordination with the program team in Washington, DC.

10. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work is generally sedentary and does not pose undue physical demands. During deployment on DARTs (if required), and during site visits, there may be some additional physical exertion including long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain, or carrying of moderately heavy items (less than 50 pounds).

11. WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is primarily performed in an office setting. During deployment on DARTs (if required), and during site visits, the work may additionally involve special safety and/or security precautions, wearing of protective equipment, and exposure to severe weather conditions.

12. START DATE: Immediately, once necessary clearances are obtained.

13. POINT OF CONTACT: See Cover Letter.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

(Determines basic eligibility for the position. Applicants who do not meet all of the education and experience factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.)

Bachelor’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to a specialized field (including, but not limited to, international relations, economics, food policy or a related field) and a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in emergency relief and humanitarian assistance, which must include at least one (1) year of on-the-ground international field experience working in humanitarian assistance. This experience must include one or more of the following: emergency relief operations, monitoring and evaluating humanitarian programs, or needs assessment and analysis.

OR

Master’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to a specialized field (including, but not limited to, international relations, economics, food policy or a related field) and a minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in emergency relief and humanitarian assistance, which must include at least one (1) year of on-the-ground international field experience working in humanitarian assistance. This experience must include one or more of the following: emergency relief operations, monitoring and evaluating humanitarian programs, or needs assessment and analysis.

SELECTION FACTORS

(Determines basic eligibility for the position. Applicants who do not meet all of the selection factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.)

● Applicant is a U.S. Citizen.

● Complete resume submitted. See cover page for resume requirements. Experience that cannot be quantified will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.

● USPSC Application form AID 302-3. Applicants are required to complete sections A through I. This form must be physically signed. Electronic signatures will not be accepted.

● Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance as provided by USAID.

● Ability to obtain a Department of State medical clearance.

● Must not appear as an excluded party in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).

● Satisfactory verification of academic credentials.

APPLICANT RATING SYSTEM

The applicant rating system factors are used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified applicants in comparison to other applicants. Applicants must demonstrate the rating factors outlined below within their resume, as they are evaluated strictly by the information provided. The rating factors are as follows:

Professional Experience (10 points):

• Experience monitoring and reporting on rapidly evolving humanitarian crises in an international disaster context.
• Experience working across the entire disaster management cycle to include emergency response, early recovery and transition, disaster risk reduction, and resilience.
• Specific experience implementing humanitarian interventions including needs assessment, strategy development, and reporting.

Skills and Abilities (10 points):

· Demonstrated skills and abilities in coordinating relief, transition, or disaster risk reduction activities with host governments in the midst of humanitarian crisis situations.

· Demonstrated skills and abilities in coordinating relief, transition, or disaster risk reduction activities with other donors and diplomatic missions in the midst of international humanitarian crisis situations.

· Demonstrated skills and abilities in coordinating relief, transition, or disaster risk reduction activities with international and national non-governmental humanitarian partners in the midst of humanitarian crisis situations.

· Demonstrated skills and abilities in coordinating relief, transition, or disaster risk reduction activities within the USG.

· Demonstrated ability to communicate complex humanitarian issues to a range of audiences orally and through written products.

Program Management (10 points):

• Demonstrated knowledge of USG acquisition and assistance regulations.
• Demonstrated experience developing, designing, or evaluating proposed humanitarian interventions against response or disaster risk reduction strategies and identified need.
• Demonstrated experience managing USG acquisition and assistance awards to include post-award administration and regulation compliance.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating with multiple country representatives to develop, track, and maintain a large budget.

Interview Performance (40 points)

Timed Writing Test (15 points)

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks (15 points)

Total Possible Points: 100

BASIS OF RATING: Applicants who meet the Education/Experience requirements and Selection Factors will be further evaluated in accordance with the Applicant Rating System. Those applicants determined to be competitively ranked may also be evaluated on interview performance and satisfactory professional reference checks.

Applicants are required to address each factor of the Applicant Rating System in their resume, describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received as it pertains to each factor. Be sure to include your name and the announcement number at the top of each additional page. Failure to address the selection factors and/or Applicant Rating System factors may result in not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards.

The most qualified candidates may be interviewed and required to provide a writing sample. OFDA will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for applicants being considered for selection. Note: Please be advised that references may be obtained independently from other sources in addition to the ones provided by an applicant. OFDA reserves the right to select additional candidates if vacancies become available during future phase of the selection process.

APPLYING:

Applications must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in the cover letter.

Qualified individuals are required to submit:

1. Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your application, your resume must include:

(a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Dates (month/year) and locations for all field experience must also be detailed. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.

(b) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.

(c) Names and contact information (phone/email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). Current and/or previous supervisors may be contacted for a reference.

(d) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments.

(e) U.S. Citizenship.

(f) Optional: How did you hear about this opportunity? (FedBizOps, OFDA Jobs, Career Fair, etc.).

Your resume should contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information should be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration.

1. USPSC Application form AID 302-3. Applicants are required to complete sections A through I. This form must be physically signed. Electronic signatures will not be accepted.

Additional documents submitted will not be accepted.

By submitting your application materials, you certify that all of the information on and attached to the application is true, correct, complete, and made in good faith. You agree to allow all information on and attached to the application to be investigated. False or fraudulent information on or attached to your application may result in you being eliminated from consideration for this position, or being terminated after award, and may be punishable by fine or imprisonment.

To ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your application, and as the subject line in any email.

DOCUMENT SUBMITTALS

Via email: recruiter@ofda.gov