Program Officer

United States Agency for International Development

Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance

Foreign Service Limited Position Announcement

Program Officer

The United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau of Democracy, Governance, and Humanitarian Assistance, Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (USAID/DCHA/DRG) is now accepting applications from qualified candidates for a full-time, Washington D.C.-based position to program assistance, oversight, and management on democracy, human rights, governance programs, with a specific focus on budget and performance planning.  This Foreign Service Limited (FSL) position will be based within the DCHA/DRG Center in Washington, D.C.  

DCHA/DRG’s high-caliber technical support for USAID democracy, human rights, and governance programs is one of the Center’s highest priorities.  This position will be expected to work closely with USAID/Washington staff to support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of programs designed to support USAID Missions endeavors in the democracy, human rights, and governance sector with global implementing mechanisms, technical assistance, and monitoring and evaluation services.  

DCHA/DRG has recently transformed from the Office of Democracy and Governance into the Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance, with a considerably expanded mandate of greater human rights programming, more rigorous impact evaluations, and a stronger culture of learning so as to study and disseminate the knowledge of what works and what doesn’t in DRG programming.  The successful applicant to this position will be expected to assist in the design and implementation of the Center’s first strategic plan in over ten years, which will serve as the core guiding body for the implementation of the Center’s mandate.  This position will support DRG’s chief program officer in the guiding of portfolio reviews, managing congressional reports, and providing oversight on the collection of and reporting on standard performance indicators. 

This position will report to the Strategic Planning Team Leader. 

Extensive experience (at least 6 years) in designing, managing, evaluating, and reporting on foreign assistance programs is essential.  A relevant post-graduate degree and/or equivalent work experience is required.  Experience working in USAID, especially in the DRG sector, is highly desirable but not required.   Superb written and oral communication skills and ability to meet tight deadlines is required.  See the attached position description for more detail.

This position is an FSL appointment, and will be appointed for an initial period of three years.  Extensions would be possible up to five years.  These positions will be subject to the Foreign Service (FS) pay scale and is graded at an FS-2; exact salary will be commensurate with experience.  Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.

The closing date for this position is February 16, 2012.  Applicants should send a cover letter, CV, writing sample (maximum 4 pages), and list of 5 references to Joe Taggart, Strategic Planning Team Chief, at .     

PROGRAM OFFICER, DCHA/DRG/SP

POSITION DESCRIPTION

I. BACKGROUND

            USAID’s Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance/Center of Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DCHA/DRG) seeks a Program Officer to provide program leadership and oversight for DRG programs, provide programmatic expertise and guidance to DRG Center staff, and lead key budget and performance planning initiatives within the DRG Center.  DCHA/DRG is structured into eight technical/functional teams: Strategic Planning (SP), Civil Society & Media, Elections and Political Transitions, Governance and Rule of Law, Human Rights, Cross-Sectoral Programs, Global & Regional Policy, and Learning.  This position reports to the SP team leader.

USAID has supported democratic development around the globe for over twenty-five years, providing assistance to over 100 countries with a level of investment of more than $10 billion.  USAID currently spends over $2 billion a year on a broad range of programs covering justice human rights peace and security; the development of democratic institutions in civil society, media, labor, local governments, political parties, elections and legislatures; and good governance initiatives to fight corruption and improve government effectiveness and accountability.  Many lessons have been learned, and yet there is little evidence-based guidance on the best methods and sequencing of programs to most effectively encourage sustainable democracies and democratic practices.  Given the importance of this development sector as a pillar of US foreign policy, DCHA/DRG has taken the lead in pressing for better democracy evaluations and measures of effectiveness.

The purpose of this appointment is to obtain the services of an experienced program officer to help guide the strategic planning process in line with the DCHA/DRG learning agenda, provide programmatic and budget-related advice and support to global programs, and manage centralized administrative support mechanisms.  The SP team manages the DRG Center’s strategic planning, budget formulation and execution, and program implementation to support the Center’s evidence-based technical leadership in DRG to Missions and the wider development community.  The SP team provides leadership to the Center in the areas of financial management, administration, and human resources; provides DRG training to development officers; and implements the DRG Center’s communication strategy in line with the goals of the Center and the DCHA Bureau.

The appointment of a new Program Officer to the SP team will enable DCHA/DRG/SP to respond to the team’s dramatic increase in workload due to the Center’s expanded mandate and the need to implement the Center’s first strategic plan in over ten years. 

II. BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION

            The Program Officer will be assigned to DCHA/DRG/SP.  As part of the SP team, s/he will provide programmatic leadership and advice on the planning, design, and monitoring of centrally-managed projects, grants, contracts, etc. for democracy development programs and projects.  S/he will be responsible for drafting guidance documents, toolkits, training modules, and other products meant to disseminate best practices in program planning, design, and monitoring for use by Center staff.  The Program Officer will assist in the development of the annual budget formulation and execution process, facilitate in the approval of new activities, provide advice and assistance relating to procurement and human resources, and participate in analyzing program performance data to identify trends. 

III.                DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

This is a mid-level position requiring (1) skill in applying analytical techniques to the identification, consideration, and resolution of issues or problems of a procedural or factual nature; (2) knowledge of the theory and principles of management and organization including administrative practices and procedures common to organizations; (3) ability to use qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques; and (4) skill in conducting interviews with supervisors and employees to obtain information about program activities, finances, and work procedures.  In addition, excellent program management skills, outstanding research and analysis skills, and superior communications skills and negotiation abilities are required to allow the Program Officer to serve as a liaison between DCHA/DRG and other officers within DCHA, USAID regional bureaus, USAID missions, the State Department, other USG agencies, Congress, other donors, and partners.   

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide support and assist project managers in the aspects of centrally-managed projects, grants, contracts, etc., for democracy development programs and projects.
• Potentially serve as C/AOTR for Center support contracts and/or grants.
• Participate in the guidance and management of program design and performance reporting activities. 
• Analyze and evaluate the implementation of projects, grants, etc., providing analyses and evaluation to project manager(s). 
• Prepare implementation documents, decision papers, and Congressional Notifications.
• Assist in the preparation of the Center’s annual budget submission, Congressional Budget Justification, and Annual Performance Plan and Report. 
• Assist in the production of a Center database on global democracy, human rights, and governance programs and various related toolkits and guidance documents to assist DRG officers worldwide involved in programming.
• Provide advice on factual contracting and assistance issues and questions, including program design.
• Serve on Technical Evaluation Committees for support contracts.
• Review new RFP/As.
• Assist in the procurement of human resources.
• Perform pre- and/or post award activities for items or services.
• Assist and participate in analyzing program performance data to identify trends.  Analyze and prepare program status reports for review at all levels. 
• Provide technical support to DRG staff and analyze and present recommendations to facilitate decisions on future program directions and budget levels, including guiding Center portfolio reviews.
• Advise and assist DRG staff with strategies, effective reporting, and activity design, including writing program design documents, concept notes, etc.
• Conduct special studies, such as cost-benefit analyses, and estimate costs related to budget development and execution.
• Develop training modules and deliver training to the USAID/DCHA/DRG staff.  Participate in conferences and workshops, including those led by the State Department, as appropriate.
• Prepare USAID principals to participate in interagency meetings, particularly related to budget and performance.
• Prepare talking points, speeches, and other briefing materials for USAID senior staff and others as needed.
• Support the work of DCHA/DRG including, but not limited to, backstopping specific country DRG programs, participating on regional teams, participating on intra-Center and intra-agency task forces and working groups, and performing other duties as required.
• Assist with DCHA/DRG projects and activities, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

IV. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS/SUPERVISION

The Program Officer will be supervised by the DCHA/DRG/SP team leader but will be primarily self-directed, within the guidance provided by team leader.  The Program Officer will be dedicated to supporting the DRG Center.