SOLICITATION NUMBER: 72068021R00002
ISSUANCE DATE: June 11, 2021
CLOSING DATE AND TIME: June 25, 2021, 12:00 PM Benin Local Time
The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking offers from qualified U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents to provide personal services as a Program Officer (Short Term) under a United States Personal Services Contract (USPSC) as described in this solicitation.
USAID/Benin’s Office of Program Coordination (OPC) is seeking the services of a U.S. citizen under a Personal Services Contract (PSC) with a program office background as Program Advisor. OPC leadership will be absent starting August 1, 2021 because the incumbent officer will be departing post on home leave and medevac and not returning to work until January 3, 2022. As the Program Advisor, the incumbent will supervise three staff covering strategy, activity design, budget, and outreach and communications functions. The incumbent will lead USAID/Benin’s $125 million five-year strategy’s annual reporting responses; application of Agency guidance and priorities; and management of the program budget. The incumbent will also serve as a member of the Senior Management Team, work closely with the Country Representative, and regularly collaborate with colleagues at the West Africa Regional Mission. S/he may also serve on Technical Evaluation Committees on an as needed basis.
USAID/Benin’s development efforts are focused on health, governance, and economic growth activities. In health, USAID/Benin focuses on malaria prevention, expanding family planning, and saving the lives of mothers and children. In governance, USAID/Benin works closely in support of Benin’s Human Rights Commission. In economic growth, USAID/Benin supports USAID/West Africa’s Trade Hub, Power Africa, and other activities.
The incumbent will carry out a range of Program Office tasks aimed at supporting these country specific activities to reach their objectives.
The incumbent’s primary purpose is to support the USAID/Benin office with the broad range of Program Office related tasks and responsibilities. The incumbent will support the USAID/Benin Country Representative and other staff regarding issues affecting USAID/Benin’s current portfolio including programming, planning, budgeting, procurement, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The incumbent will support the USAID/Benin office through a variety of other assigned tasks and will respond to urgent information requests and action items as needed. The incumbent will lead on program budget formulation, tracking, and reporting.
The incumbent will provide strategic direction to the Office of Program Coordination (OPC) and will supervise three OPC staff. S/he will be responsible for the day-to-day oversight, direction, and monitoring of OPC staff’s work progress, deliverables, and quality of work. This will include delegating tasks, leading OPC staff meetings, reviewing documents produced by staff, providing feedback on documents, and giving direction in concert with Agency best practices, guidance, and regulations. This may also include coaching on professional development and completing mid/final evaluations. S/he will also serve as a member of the Senior Management Team, work closely with the Country Representative, and regularly collaborate with colleagues at the West Africa Regional Mission, particularly the Regional Program Office (RPO).
Overall the incumbent is expected to apply a broad knowledge of the U.S. Government and USAID regulations and procedures; and, program and sector planning and design based on a comprehensive understanding of Agency objectives and requirements.
S/he will prepare and contribute to reports and other presentations on strategy development, program planning, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning. S/he will interpret and provide guidance on the application of the Agency and the mission program planning procedures and requirements to USAID staff members and assist with the analysis, design, planning, and procurement of program/project/activity proposals.
The incumbent will participate in broad development assistance assessments, program design, results framework development, and monitoring and evaluation planning. S/he will provide guidance to technical teams and/or other groups; coordinate information and build consensus from various offices, bureaus, and USAID staff; provide support in the preparation for Congressional briefings and draft responses to congressional inquiries; reviews and analyzes quantitative and qualitative data and performs other related duties as assigned.
The incumbent will apply critical thinking and detailed analysis in contributing to reports, strategic planning documents and evaluations for internal and external audiences, including operational plans and performance reports.
Specific responsibilities may include
Available Guidelines: The Program Officer is required to understand Agency-specific policies and procedures which govern program activity management, in addition to the USAID/Benin and USAID/West Africa established administrative operating procedures, policies and formats ADS. Oral guidance from the immediate Supervisor and specific detailed instructions will be given (when necessary) for carrying out unique assignments. The incumbent will be required to be proactive in keeping abreast of evolving guidelines and policies which affect the activities of the Mission, including but not limited to the Automated Directives System (ADS), Mission Orders, Mission Notices, USG Procurement regulations, and USAID Program Strategy and Policy Documents. In addition, the Program Office team members, technical teams, support teams such as Financial Management, Executive Office, Procurement Office and Regional Legal Advisor, and counterparts in USAID/Washington are available as resources to provide advice and guidance
Exercise of Judgment: In instances not clearly covered by written guidelines, the incumbent will use her/his own personal, well-informed judgment and ingenuity to interpret the intent of guides in devising innovative approaches to resolving technical, administrative, managerial and/or policy problems. Excellent (balanced) judgment must be exercised in setting priorities. The use of initiative, discretion, and patience is expected from the incumbent in dealing with USAID personnel as well as representatives from other USG agencies and donor organizations to resolve problems that arise during the course of work for which there is often no clear or immediate solution. The incumbent will also be required to follow and adhere to the Agency's Code of Ethics and Conduct.
Scope and Effect: The incumbent is expected to support the Country Representative and other staff regarding issues affecting USAID/Benin’s current portfolio including programming, planning, budgeting, procurement, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Personal Contacts: The employee will work closely with the Health, General Development, Finance, Program, Technical, Assistance and Acquisition offices for the purpose of providing overall support regarding issues affecting programming, planning, development, budgeting, procurement, implementation, monitoring, managing for results, accelerating USAID implementation and procurement reform of USAID development assistance activities across the Mission’s area of responsibility. The incumbent will also work closely with counterparts at the USAID/West Africa Mission, in particular the Regional Program Office.
Degree of responsibility for decision-making: A high degree of independent judgment is required to support office staff and technical teams on policies and practices related to program budget formulation, tracking, and reporting.
Level of management expertise in host-country offices: The employee is expected to have broad knowledge of the economic and political environment. Sound expertise and knowledge of development projects in Africa is required.
Stage of Program (formative or established): Formative
Level of work of assignments: High-level technical, policy and programmatic. The level of analysis for accomplishing work is high and will require original and unique thought to streamline programming in USAID/Benin.
Level of supportive work in a professional or administrative field: A high level of supportive programmatic work will be required. This includes programming, planning, development, budgeting, procurement, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and managing for results.
Level of knowledge or experience required to perform work assigned: Professional experience in project design and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation in USAID is required. Specifically, knowledge of U.S. Government laws, policies, ADS regulations and procedures related to international development assistance. Knowledge of USAID’s strategic program and project development process and the principles of sound program oversight, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation, assistance and acquisition is required.
Supervision/Oversight Over Others: The incumbent will have supervisory responsibilities. S/he is expected to work independently with direction received from the USAID/Benin Country Representative. S/he will supervise three OPC staff: two FSNs: Program Assistant and Senior Development Program Specialist, and one USPSC: Development Outreach and Communications Specialist. S/he will also serve as a member of the Senior Management Team, work closely with the Country Representative, and regularly collaborate with colleagues at the West Africa Regional Mission. The incumbent reports directly to the USAID/Benin Country Representative.
Clearances: The ability to obtain Public Trust.
Candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on the following selection criteria:
Prior Work Experience: A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in strategy design, project management and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation, with U.S. Government agencies is required.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics, public or business administration, political science, international relations, or related field is required.
Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluent) in English and Level II (medium) French.
Knowledge: Knowledge of U.S. Government laws, policies, regulations, and procedures related to international development assistance. Working knowledge of development project design as well as the principles of sound program oversight, budgeting and reporting, monitoring and evaluation, and assistance and acquisition is required. A working knowledge of the West Africa region, its institutions, and peculiar development challenges is preferred. Demonstrated ability to work across multiple technical sectors is required.
Skills and Abilities: Excellent written and oral communications; analytical; management; and interpersonal/teamwork skills required. Organizational skills and computer skills, including the development and management of spreadsheets, tracking systems, etc., and the ability to interpret, organize and present data to a variety of audiences preferred. Proven ability to mentor USAID staff in program development and management skills required. Ability to work in teams is necessary.
Note: It is likely that this position will require some level of telework and the PSC is required to provide their own computer or laptop, printer and other similar supplies and materials that would be needed to successfully telework as needed.
This vacancy is archived.