Development Assistance Specialist

Job Description

Statement of Duties to be Performed

a. Implementation, Monitoring, Financial Analysis, and Review (50%)

• The Specialist serves as Contracts/Agreements Officer’s Representative/Activity Manager (COR/AOR) for approximately three programs/projects/activities, assuring objectives are effectively met within USAID/USG guidelines and regulations, and provides input to expenditure plans and budgets.
• The Specialist works with the Regional Financial Management Office (RFMO) and other staff to support effective implementation, monitoring, reviews, and other analysis requirements, and in order to strengthen the accountability and performance of Implementing Partner (IP) and GoJ organizations.
• The Specialist routinely analyzes and makes recommendations on utilization of funds, managing pipelines, and other administrative issues related to implementation of CBSI activities; performs site visits to monitor the performance (both actual implementation and financial management) of recipients, assures implementation plans and procedures are applied, and that appropriate corrective measures are taken in a timely manner.

b. Mission Advisor on CBSI/Citizen Security (25%)

• The USAID Development Assistance Specialist (DAS) provides authoritative and fact-based advice on policies and interventions relating to the CBSI and Citizen Security, and improved outcomes in violence prevention, the creation of safe spaces, new job opportunities, and sustainable social enterprises to transform target communities and measurably lower crime rates; provides advice to the USAID/USG and partners on CBSI/Citizen Security programs related activities; and, works with other USG agencies, Mission staff, the GoJ, and partners to ensure USAID programs are realistic and follow USAID/USG regulations.
• The Specialist provides advice on policy matters, with particular emphasis on policy constraints hindering achievement of an enabling environment for successful CBSI/Citizen Security outcomes.
• The Specialist provides analysis of opportunities and constraints to improve development of successful CBSI/Citizen Security programs, from domestic or international sources; follows current political, social, and economic trends in Jamaica, and provides analysis on how these trends affect the development and implementation of Mission programs; and, prepares analytical reports on CBSI/Citizen Security trends, within Jamaica’s political, economic and social context.
• The Specialist maintains close contact with the GoJ and others active in the sector; gathers published and raw data from a wide variety of sources, nationally and internationally; and maintains up-to-date, accurate information on trends, opportunities, and partners active in the sector in Jamaica.
• The Specialist provides seasoned advice and counsel on Jamaican policies and related international agreements or conventions and provides analysis and proposes policy and policy reforms to the Mission and partners, including effective means to promote policy change.
• The Specialist tracks GoJ policy; and conducts periodic reviews of GoJ progress in implementing and achieving its Citizen Security goals.

c. Alliance Building and Coordination (25%)

• The Specialist provides liaison with representatives of Civil Society, GoJ, NGOs, and other Donor Organizations and related working groups on issues related to Mission citizen security activities.
• The Specialist assures cross-cutting CBSI/Citizen Security objectives are tracked and met, providing liaison with other Mission/USG Sections; coordinates efforts with other USG agencies in order to ensure a whole-of-government approach to CBSI/Citizen Security, and consistency in messaging and information sharing; and, liaises with the Embassy, Civil Society organizations, and the GoJ to support Jamaica’s participation in CBSI and other international citizen security initiatives.
• The Specialist tracks the development and status of legislation related to CBSI/Citizen Security.
• The Specialist coordinates with the Embassy on public awareness of relevant laws related to CBSI/Citizen Security.
• The Specialist serves as a resource for USAID, the USG, and others by answering technical questions, and by providing briefers and guidance related to CBSI/Citizen Security programs and activities, and providing presentations as required.
• The Specialist assists in supporting visitors, short-term consultants, and program-related guests (e.g., congressional delegations, senior-level USAID officials, etc.).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

a. Education:

• A US-style Master’s Degree, or the host-country equivalent, in Business Administration, law, political science, social sciences, or public administration, or a closely related field, is required.

b. Prior Work Experience:

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible, professional-level job-related experience is required. Experience must have included substantial work with civil society organizations and/or public administrations in areas such as improving community relations, administration of justice, law enforcement, or security, and have provided the opportunity for performing program/project/activity design, program/project/activity planning, and/or project implementation work.
• At least three years of this experience must have been in the areas of democracy, governance, and justice, for USAID, other donor agencies, GoJ organizations, international development organization, or private-sector institutions which included program/project/activity design, performance monitoring, and/or the analysis and interpretation of large amounts of data.

c. Post Entry Training:

• Familiarization training in USAID-specific procedures, regulations, and methods will be provided. Orientation to working from a donor-Agency perspective, etc., will be provided.
• Formal COR/AOR certification courses, GLAAS, Phoenix, and training to maintain professional capability in the field, and other courses offered for professional USAID staff, will be provided as appropriate; and, courses, seminars, conferences, and other activities in fields related to the function, and needed to maintain and update professional qualifications, will be provided as they become available, subject to the availability of funds.

d. Language Proficiency:

• Level IV (fluent) English language proficiency, speaking and writing, is required.

e. Job Knowledge:

• An in-depth professional-level knowledge of development principles, concepts, and practices, especially as they relate to democracy, governance, and justice in Jamaica, as well as of Jamaican and international law, protocols, and agreements pertaining to international cooperation.
• The Specialist must have a well-developed knowledge and understanding of the social, and cultural characteristics of Jamaica, including an in-depth understanding of security issues and the problems of Jamaican youth; the economic development problems, resources, and resource constraints, and development prospects and priorities of both Jamaica and the region; and, a good knowledge, or the potential to quickly acquire such knowledge, of USG legislation, policy, and practice relating to development assistance, of USAID programming policies, regulations, procedures, and documentation, and of the objectives, methodology, and status of USAID/Jamaica programs/projects/activities is required.
• The Specialist must have knowledge and understanding of the organization and respective roles of the different branches in the GoJ, in order to enhance effective communication, and to develop consensus on USAID/USG program/project/activity strategy and implementation plans.

f. Skills and Abilities:

• Work requires the ability to think strategically in advancing the programmatic vision for the USG participation in the CBSI, to develop and maintain contacts with high-level officials of GoJ institutions selected to cooperate in projects, and to work and coordinate with other donors.
• The Specialist must be sensitive to host-country priorities, as well as the complicated and interrelated factors surrounding the USG involvement in democracy, governance, and justice in Jamaica.
• The Specialist must be able to collect and present facts and recommendations in a clear, concise manner, both orally and in writing; to make decisions on the results of analysis done by others as to what actions need to be taken to achieve USAID/USG objectives; and, assure such action is taken by the recipient agencies or other Offices within the Mission.
• Verbal communication skills are required in order to explain and interpret GoJ attitudes, priorities, and concerns to USAID/USG officials, and to negotiate plans and resolve implementation issues with appropriate GoJ organizations, technical advisors, IPs, counterparts, and peers.
• Excellent writing skills are required in order to prepare regular and ad hoc reports, documentation, briefing papers, etc.
• Developed analytical ability is needed to interpret public policies, and to assist in the development of revised policies, as required; and, to develop and monitor the performance of budgets, and the development of periodic work plans.
• Skill in program/project/activity programming, policies, and plans, and in developing strategies for implementation, is desired.
• The ability to work effectively in a Team environment, and to achieve consensus on policy, program/project/activity, and administrative matters is necessary.
• The work requires good computer skills in order to manage goals and achievements, both technical and financial.

CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: Friday, November 29, 2024, at 4:00pm