USAID Project Management Specialist (Humanitarian Assistance) – USAID Ethiopia Vacancy Announcement

GENERAL INFORMATION

SOLICITATION NO.: 72066323R10014

ISSUANCE DATE: 08/22/2023

CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: 09/5/2023, no later than 5:00 p.m (EAT) (close of business).

POINT OF CONTACTS:  John Marten, A/Supervisory EXO and Fekadu Tamirate, HR Specialist, e-mail at addisusaidjobs@usaid.gov.

POSITION TITLE:  USAID Project Management Specialist (Humanitarian Assistance)

MARKET VALUE: $29,075 – $52,355 yearly i.e., equivalent to FSN – 12. In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID/Ethiopia. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.  Salary will be paid in local currency at the exchange rate in effect when the payroll is processed.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:  Five (5) years. The services provided under this contract are expected to be of a continuing nature through a series of sequential contracts, subject to continued need, satisfactory performance, and the availability of funds. 

The expected period of performance will be from 12/02/2023 – 12/01/2028.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: US Embassy, Entoto Road, Addis Ababa, with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.

ELIGIBLE OFFERORS:  Cooperating Country Nationals (CCNs). “Cooperating country national” means an individual who is a cooperating country citizen, or a non-cooperating country citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the cooperating country.

SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Facilities access.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES

General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

USAID/Ethiopia’s Office of Humanitarian Assistance (OHA) is responsible for coordinating the USG’s emergency humanitarian response in Ethiopia and supporting Ethiopia’s relief-to-development continuum. In coordination with USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), OHA provides life-saving humanitarian assistance—including food, water, shelter, emergency healthcare, sanitation and hygiene, and critical nutrition services, and takes a holistic look at humanitarian aid, providing assistance before, during and after a crisis—from readiness and response, to relief and recovery. This includes non-emergency programming that is foundational to linking humanitarian assistance to long-term development to ensure USG and GoE development gains are protected.

The Specialist is a key member of the OHA Office, Humanitarian Team. The jobholder reports to the Senior Humanitarian Advisor and has supervisory responsibility over staff members within their team. The Jobholder provides expert-level technical leadership and strategic direction, activity management, contributes to strategic planning and reporting for the Office of Humanitarian Assistance, and supervises a Humanitarian Programs Team. Technical and activity management functions include providing technical and strategic guidance on multi-sectoral humanitarian programs, serving as an AOR/COR and activity manager for BHA and Mission awards, and monitoring BHA activities. The Jobholder represents USAID on donor working groups and contributes to annual reports.

Statement of Duties to be Performed.

Supervision, Coaching/Mentoring and Staff Support (40%)

• Supervises other staff which includes developing annual work objectives, identifying appropriate training opportunities, mentoring and coaching them in facilitation of professional development.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and address any performance challenges that may arise.
• Work with direct reports to determine training needs, helps identify appropriate training opportunities and ensure fair participation in training. Provide expert advice and guidance to direct reports on matters relating to humanitarian assistance and programming.

Technical Leadership & Strategic Direction (20%)

• Serve as a technical expert and lead on humanitarian issues, providing high level technical guidance to the Mission, the Government of Ethiopia, and other humanitarian partners on issues pertaining to life saving programs.
• Provide overall strategic and technical guidance and direction on humanitarian programs.
• Provide expert technical assistance and support to staff and humanitarian partners in one or more of the following areas: program development and implementation, operational oversight, and humanitarian coordination activities.
• Work closely with leadership across the humanitarian sector to ensure that the quality of programs implemented by partners are adequately addressed.
• Through field travel, literature review, research and regular communications with local and international stakeholders, keep abreast of emerging developments in humanitarian approaches; advise on how these policies and strategies can most effectively be incorporated to enhance Mission approaches.
• In collaboration with colleagues, lead the development of innovative monitoring and evaluation approaches and tools to support measuring the impact and outcomes of USAID project/program activities. Coordinate evidence and learning agenda as it relates to humanitarian assistance, including the collection and analysis of data and the identification of lessons learned.
• Identify and arrange for procurement of short-term technical assistance and ensure that the objectives of this assistance are consistent with and support the furtherance of the Mission’s humanitarian portfolio.
• Organize site visits and prepare orientation materials for delegations from USAID headquarters, the State Department, and other agencies.
• Identify potential external partners and develop relationships with private sector, non-governmental and other non-traditional humanitarian organizations through formal and informal outreach, personal contacts and networking, to build/maintain key relationships with senior officials and executives from potential external partners.
• Build capacity for partner engagement throughout the Mission.

Program/Project/Activity Management (20%)

• Lead the design of project mechanisms and activities supporting the work with humanitarian partners to save lives, reduce suffering, and mitigate the economic and social impact of humanitarian needs. Primary areas of programming will include food assistance, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene, health, agriculture, and non-food assistance.
• Once proper certification and delegation is received, expected to serve as AOR/COR
• Serve as Activity Manager for up to seven (7) awards. Keep the Office Director regularly informed of program implementation progress, results, and issues/problems on a timely basis.
• Participate in, and ensure the effectiveness of, site and other field visits.
• In rare instances and when requested in connection with a declared emergency, provide short-term TDY assistance to a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) in another country or to a Response Management Team (RMT) in Washington, approved by the mission director.

Representation and Reporting (20%)

• Represent the Mission at designated national, regional and international meetings that relate to Humanitarian Assistance, including regular participation in national-level technical working groups and related committees.
• Establish strategic working relationships with senior government officials at the national and district levels, humanitarian partners, civil society organizations, private sector counterparts and professional organizations to enhance regular and timely sharing of information on issues related to Humanitarian Assistance, including changes in key policies, and legal and regulatory environments that would affect the implementation of USAID programs.
• Provide strategic leadership in the preparation of key annual and mid-term planning and reporting documents, including the Country Operation Plan, the Congressional Budget Justification, Technical Notifications, and Quarterly, Semi-Annual and Annual Progress Reports.

The contractor is eligible for travel to the U.S., or to other locations abroad, for training, for temporary duty, or to participate in the “Foreign Service National” Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.

Supervisory Relationship:  The Specialist will report to the Senior Humanitarian Advisor in the Office of Humanitarian Assistance. Most assignments are self-generated and occur in the normal course of work and the jobholder exercises independence in most phases of his/her job responsibilities but determines those situations that must be coordinated with the supervisor or other team members. Completed work is accepted as technically correct and the overall work is reviewed in terms of results achieved.

Supervisory Controls:  The Specialist will formally supervise Project Management Specialist (FSN-11), Project Management Specialist (FSN-10), Project Management Specialist (FSN-11), and Project Management Specialist (FSN-11).

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS PRIOR TO AWARD

The Contracting Candidates will provide instructions about how to complete and submit the following forms after an offeror is selected for the contract award:

• Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Forms)
• Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85)
• Fingerprint Card (FD-258)

BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

BENEFITS:

Group life insurance, medical coverage, annual leave and sick leave.

ALLOWANCES (as applicable):

Meal allowance and miscellaneous benefit allowance.

TAXES

Cooperating Country Nationals are expected to comply with all relevant Ethiopian laws and regulations.

USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs

• USAID regulations and policies governing CCN and TCN PSC awards are available at these sources:
• USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf
• Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms.  Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award as described below:

LINE ITEMS

ITEM NO (A)	SUPPLIES/SERVICES (DESCRIPTION) (B)	QUANTITY (C)	UNIT (D)	UNIT PRICE (E)	AMOUNT (F)
0001	Base Period – Compensation, Fringe Benefits and Other Direct Costs (ODCs) – Award Type: Cost – Product Service Code: [e.g. R497] – Accounting Info: [insert one or more citation(s) from Phoenix/GLAAS]	1	LOT	$ _TBD__	at Award after negotiations with Contractor_

• Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs
• Ethical Conduct.  By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635.  See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations.
  

PSC Ombudsman

• The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information: https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman.
• The PSC Ombudsman may be contacted via: PSCOmbudsman@usaid.gov.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The U.S. Mission in Ethiopia 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. USAID/Ethiopia also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations. 

The EEO complaint procedure is available to individuals who believe they have been denied equal opportunity based upon marital status or political affiliation. Individuals with such complaints should avail themselves of the appropriate grievance procedures, remedies for prohibited personnel practices, and/or courts for relief.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

a.     Education: Minimum of bachelor’s degree in development, humanitarian assistance, health, management, or social sciences.

b.    Prior Work Experience: A minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in Humanitarian Assistance, collaborating with and/or working for a large governmental organization, donor organizations, the host country government, or other related organizations.

c.     Language:  Excellent written and spoken English and Amharic (Level 4).

EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with candidates in accordance with FAR 52.215-1.  The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of candidates with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c).  In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of candidates in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers.  The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

Rating factors are used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified candidates in comparison to other candidates. Candidates 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:

EVALUATION FACTORS

EDUCATION (5 points):  Points will be given for (1) education above the minimum level and/or (2) specialized education pertinent to the position. and/or (3) specialized training pertinent to the position.

WORK EXPERIENCE (35 points): Points will be given for (1) experience above the minimum levels required, (2) specialized experience pertinent to the position, (3) experience in pertinent development assistance activities, (4) experience in development organizations that are large and/or international.

KNOWLEDGE (35 points): Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Humanitarian Assistance approaches and interventions. Demonstrated senior-level knowledge of the overall humanitarian context and knowledge of the key aspects of US Government foreign assistance to the country. Demonstrated knowledge of USG strategic direction, its chief accomplishments and its challenges.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES (25 points): Demonstrated technical and analytical skills in management; analytical and research; social and professional judgment; as well as interpersonal interaction in cross-cultural and multi-level settings. Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with mid-level and senior-level government officials and members of the business community; and an ability to maintain collaborative working relationships within a team structure. Demonstrated skills in communication, advocacy, and networking. Demonstrated conceptual and analytical skills to be able to quickly grasp and translate new concepts into operational plans and results. Demonstrated ability to exercise flexibility to be able to accept and react to evolving planning and implementation contexts. Demonstrated computer skills including skills with Microsoft Office, web-based databases, and electronic filing. Demonstrated judgment in his/her roles. Demonstrated skills in initiative and offers leadership in reviewing the progress of programs and projects under his/her responsibility, including performance reports, pipeline management, program implementation review. Demonstrated timely decision-making ability and extensive judgment in planning and carrying out tasks, using diplomacy and tact.

INTERVIEW PERFORMANCE (100 points)

BASIS OF RATING: Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualifications will be evaluated in accordance with the Evaluation and Selection Factors.

Candidates should address these factors in the offer package, describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received as it pertains to the factors. Failure to address the Evaluation and Selection Factors may result in not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards.

The highest-ranking applicants may be selected for an interview and writing test. Interviews may be conducted either in person or by telephone/video call at USAID’s discretion.

Final TEC recommendations for the candidates will be based on the initial evaluation of the applications, interview performance, and written test. USAID/Ethiopia will not pay for any expenses associated with interviews.

Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – Pass/Fail (no points assigned). Reference checks will be conducted only for the first-ranked candidate.  Please be advised that references may be obtained independently from other sources in addition to the ones provided by an offeror. If a candidate does not wish USAID to contact a current employer for a reference check, this should be stated in the candidate’s cover letter, and USAID will not contact those references without contacting the candidate.