Foreign Service Program Economist, FS-03/02

FOREIGN SERVICE CAREER MID-LEVEL
Foreign Service Program Economist, FS-03/02

ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER:	BS 11 01/2008	APPLICATION DEADLINE:
JOB LOCATION:	Multiple Locations throughout the World	WORK SCHEDULE:	Full Time
SALARY RANGE:	$64,447.00-$116,800.00	OPEN DATE:	08/19/2008
TIME LIMIT:	Permanent - No time limit	WHO MAY APPLY:	US citizens
NUMBER OF VACANCIES:	16

WHO ARE WE?
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has a long history of extending a helping hand to those people overseas struggling to make a better life, recover from a disaster or striving to live in a free and democratic country. It is this caring that stands as a hallmark of the United States around the world - and shows the world our true character as a nation.

USAID is listed as one of the top ten best places to work in the Federal Government by the Office of Personnel Management’s survey (Summer 2006).

WHAT ARE WE?
USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. With headquarters in Washington, DC, USAID fosters transformational development around the world. Our work supports economic growth and trade; agriculture and the environment; education and training; democracy and governance; international public health; global partnerships and humanitarian assistance. We operate in five regions of the world: Sub-Saharan Africa; Asia; the Middle East; Latin America and the Caribbean; and Europe and Eurasia. USAID employs individuals in the Civil Service and Foreign Service, as well as through Personal Service Contracts for service in Washington, DC and overseas.

WHERE ARE WE?
USAID’s headquarters is centrally located in downtown Washington, DC, at the prestigious Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue N.W. We are located right on the Federal Triangle Metro (Blue and Orange Lines). The office is within walking distance of restaurants, shops, Smithsonian Institution museums and Washington Monument. There is also a physical fitness facility and food court on site.

NOTES:

Current USAID Foreign Service career and career candidate employees are not eligible to apply to this announcement.

Multiple vacancies will be filled through this announcement.

These positions may be filled at the FS-3 or FS-2 level.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early as referral lists may be forwarded to selecting officials at any time.

USAID is continually looking for opportunities to expand partnerships with the private sector to promote development goals. Candidates with private sector experience, knowledge, skills and abilities are encouraged to apply.

USAID is also seeking to expand its capability to respond to crises and disasters around the globe. The Agency is planning to develop “surge” capacity amongst its Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) for such a response, and after going overseas. Persons applying for this announcement are also eligible to serve as “surge” officers, and will be provided special training.

DIVERSITY

USAID is committed to recruiting and deploying a diverse Foreign Service workforce that reflects the diverse nature of the U.S. labor force.

BENEFITS

Federal benefits include: 10 paid Federal Holidays per year; 13 days of paid sick leave per year; 13-26 days of vacation, depending on years of employment; Nationally recognized health insurance plans that offers choice and flexibility; Group Term Life Insurance program; and Long-term Care Insurance.

Applicants submitting proof documents can electronically attach them, or scan and attach them, to the employment application. If this is not possible, copies of documents can be faxed to (253) 573-9869, or mailed to the following address: USAID, c/o Avue Technologies Corporation, ATTN: Direct Services, 1145 Broadway Plaza, Suite 800, Tacoma, WA 98402. All faxed or mailed proof documents must be identified with applicant’s name and vacancy announcement number.

POSITION BACKGROUND:

USAID recruits Program Economics Officers to design, lead, manage and contribute to U.S. assistance programs overseas in developing countries. USAID economists support assistance programs in the areas of country strategy development, sectoral program choices, project design, project economic analysis, and monitoring and evaluation. In addition, economists have the opportunity to oversee and manage economic growth programs related to Macroeconomic Reform; Economic Policy and Institutions; Business, Legal and Institutional Reform; Financial Sector Reform; Privatization; and Trade and Investment.

This announcement is being used to consider internal Merit Promotion and external candidates. You will be considered under all categories for which you are eligible.

DUTIES:

Supports economic growth and assistance programs overseas in developing countries by developing strategies, analytical models, and methodologies; analyzing data; and providing assistance and advice on economic growth issues.

Strategic Planning: For country, regional, or agency-wide programming, performs strategic analysis of trends, and future areas of opportunity and problems, as input to Agency strategic planning. Develops or contributes to strategic planning documents, country assistance strategies, sector strategies, and similar planning exercises. Employs economic analysis tools and insight to provide guidance to senior managers for decisions about allocation of resources across sectors or across countries, and as input to cross-cutting issues such as environment or gender.

Strategic Planning: For country, regional, or agency-wide programming, performs strategic analysis of trends, and future areas of opportunity and problems, as input to Agency strategic planning. Develops or contributes to strategic planning documents, country assistance strategies, sector strategies, and similar planning exercises. Employs economic analysis tools and insight to provide guidance to senior managers for decisions about allocation of resources across sectors or across countries, and as input to cross-cutting issues such as environment or gender.

Program Analysis: Serves as a technical resource and advisor, providing analyses on the economic aspects of assistance programs overseas. Performs analyses of macroeconomic and sector trends relating to country of assignment to inform senior management and program managers of relevant factors that may affect the U.S. assistance program. Supports design and evaluation of projects in all sectors. Performs economic analysis of new project proposals or oversees contracted economic analyses. Reviews statistical soundness of data used to track program performance, proposes statistical indicators of program success, and provides input into data collection and analysis performed by sectoral offices. Communicates results of analysis both verbally and in writing to specialist and nonspecialist audiences. Contributes economic criteria into scopes of work for project and program evaluations and briefs evaluation teams regarding economic background and conditions within which USAID programs operate.

Economic Policy Guidance: Analyzes economic policies present in country of assignment and briefs and advises senior USAID and Embassy management regarding economic policy issues relevant to successful achievement of USG assistance objectives. Develops professional contacts with economists and other officials in the host country government, resident missions of the international financial institutions, bilateral donors, embassies, as well as within the local academic and business communities. For Washington, develops and maintains a broad range of USG interagency contacts related to economic growth foreign assistance programs.

Program Management: Designs, implements, monitors, and evaluates programs directed at achieving rapid, sustained, and broadly-based economic growth. Develops project proposals, and prepares technical project specifications and analyses as necessary for project approval and for initiating related procurement actions. Sets project performance benchmarks, and monitors and evaluates project implementation progress. Programs typically include technical assistance and institutional development support to host country government economic policy agencies (central bank, finance ministry, and similar) as well as private nongovernmental organizations, business associations, think tanks and academic institutions. Plans and/or accomplishes special projects pertaining to economic growth programs.

Mentoring: Serves as supervisor or mentor to junior economist staff members.