Individual Consultant: Innovation Team Lead

Job Description

INTRODUCTION

The Office of Global Policy, Partnerships, Programs, and Communication (G3PC) shapes and influences USAID’s role within the international humanitarian system; leads engagement on a range of policy, programmatic, and operational issues; and positions the Agency to influence collective response to emergency needs across the globe. The office is organized into seven divisions, namely, Humanitarian Policy and International Systems; Humanitarian Multilateral; Humanitarian Organizations and Partnerships; Private Sector Engagement, Diaspora, and Innovation; Global Capacity and Leadership Development; U.S. Engagement, Strategy, and Programs; and Strategic Communications and Humanitarian Information. The Innovation Team Lead serves as an integral part of the Global Policy, Partnership, Programs and Communications (G3PC) Office and will closely coordinate with other USAID Bureaus and Offices on innovation. The position assists with implementing Agency innovation guidance. The Innovation Team Lead will report directly to the Private Sector Engagement, Diaspora and Innovation (PSEDI) Division Chief. This role requires significant interaction with the general public and U.S government (USG) offices, demanding strong diplomatic, facilitation and communication skills to accurately represent U.S. positions in a complex multilateral setting. The Innovation Team Lead will be required to be available for deployments possibly lasting up to 90 days or 30% of the year.

OBJECTIVE

USAID/BHA requires the services of an Innovation Team Lead to lead USAID/BHA’s efforts to support and find innovative solutions to humanitarian response efforts.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Innovation Team Lead leads the team that builds, strengthens, or disrupts existing methods and modalities for humanitarian assistance interventions, including response and ER4 programming. This includes, but is not limited to, addressing incomplete and siloed datasets, enhancing knowledge of the movement of goods and products, process innovation such as identifying innovative approaches to the delivery of humanitarian aid, and the assessment of needs in pre-, post-, and immediate disaster recovery phases. To accomplish this mission, the Innovation Team Lead will collaborate with colleagues throughout BHA in Washington D.C. and in regional and country offices. The Innovation Team Lead will also build strong relationships within USAID, engaging with relevant bureaus and offices which house initiatives focused on driving innovation. In addition, the incumbent must coordinate with other teams, divisions, offices, and bureaus, to build relationships across the broader USG interagency, to include the Departments of State, Commerce, Treasury, Defense, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security, particularly the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other relevant agencies. The incumbent will engage externally with the humanitarian donor community, including, but not limited to, donors, public international organizations, international finance institutions, the private sector, foundations, and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

The Innovation Team Lead supports innovation with all humanitarian actors, exploring new approaches to preparedness and more effective post-event response. He or she will provide input on innovative programming with USAID/BHA’s work and will The Innovation Team Lead’s duties and responsibilities will include the following:

• Manage, supervise, and lead the Innovation Team.
• Oversee Innovation staff by assigning/balancing workloads, reviewing work products, addressing personnel issues, and any other management tasks as needed.
• Develop detailed strategic and operational plans for the Innovation Team.
• Serve as the lead coordinator for humanitarian innovation at USAID/BHA.
• Communicate and share best practices on innovation in the field of humanitarian assistance through compilation and sharing of lessons learned.
• Create innovation strategy and lead implementation planning that translates strategies into coherent portfolio level bodies of work. Collaborate with the BHA sector and geographic teams to design the process for strategy implementation planning; oversee development of materials to strengthen the strategy implementation planning process – e.g., analyses, project plans, meeting materials, ultimate implementation plan outputs; guide the strategy implementation planning process that is focused on enabling teams to uptake and staff program strategies and achieve impact.
• Design analytical work in support of strategy development and implementation planning; identify and design required analytical work; develop analytical methodology and analyze data to support decision-making - collating information required from literature and existing public databases on humanitarian assistance sectors.
• Identify and maintain awareness of internal prioritized innovation areas, external innovation trends, and potential partnerships.
• Develop sector-specific innovation platforms and strategies to encourage the integration of innovative approaches to humanitarian response across USAID’s global humanitarian portfolio.
• Conduct analyses in various humanitarian sectors to identify the evidence of gaps, priorities, and opportunities for innovation and research, including digital integration. Work in close collaboration with TPQ.
• Develop and conduct innovation training for USAID and BHA Washington and regionally and country-based humanitarian staff to become Humanitarian Innovation Champions.
• Serve as the lead coordinator for the Humanitarian Innovation Champions Network, holding quarterly convening calls, disseminating new findings, research, and thought pieces, and serving as the technical point of contact for fostering innovation at BHA.
• Liaise closely with other USAID bureaus to access innovation tools and resources and customize them, when possible, for a humanitarian response context. Provide input in USAID annual and special reporting and lessons learned on Agency humanitarian innovation projects.
• Work with other USAID stakeholders to ensure complementarity, including participation in sector or geographic focused innovation programs and projects as is timely and appropriate.
• Maintain working relationships with the United Nations (UN) and other donor countries to coordinate innovative disaster response activities. In close coordination with other teams within BHA, work with counterparts in other donor organizations to exchange information, establish meetings on specific issues, and contribute to publications. Collaborate to jointly advance the humanitarian sector’s effectiveness through innovation. Coordinate these activities with relevant USAID officers. Sustain a cooperative working relationship with relevant USG interagency offices and serve as a professional point of contact for these groups in the area of innovation, specifically related to humanitarian response and outreach.
• Anticipate the needs of the organization regarding developments in humanitarian innovation and prepare analyses, briefings, documents, and meetings as required.
• Organize and/or attend various meetings with innovative partners, NGOs, UN, other donors, and members of various diaspora communities, to provide authoritative information and views related to innovation opportunities.
• Represent USAID at meetings with the private sector, UN, international organizations, and other donors, and at other conferences sponsored by members of the international community. Provide guidance and advice on USG positions related to humanitarian innovation. Make recommendations to the appropriate officials in USAID.
• Sign-up for and serve as needed, on Washington-based RMTs, which provide services and support to DARTs deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will be varied.
• Serve as the USAID/BHA after-hours duty officer on a rotational basis, for approximately one week every six months
• As needed, serve on DARTs, which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment overseas for an extended period of time.
• As needed, may serve on temporary details within the bureau. Duties performed while on detail will be aligned with the Team’s existing duties and responsibilities as well as directly related to the statement of duties provided.
• Become certified and serve as an Agreement Officer’s Representative/Contracting Officer’s Representative (AOR/COR), and/or Activity Manager for Innovation programs/projects/activities awarded through the G3PC Office, or other activities as assigned, providing financial and programmatic oversight to ensure contracts and grants achieve anticipated results, and are linked to and enhance attainment of BHA and USG objectives. The AOR/COR provides financial and programmatic oversight of all aspects of managing the agreement or contract; this includes but is not limited to reviewing invoices, requests for approvals, program/project deliverables (i.e. work plans, annual reports, month status reports), travel requests, key personnel requests, and financial/budget reports. They are responsible for drafting and submitting the annual contractor performance evaluation in Contract/Assistance Performance Assessment Review System. They prepare and review contract/assistance modifications documentation and assist the Contracting/Agreement Officer to ensure performance is compliant with the terms and conditions of the contract/agreement, the FAR, and USAID policy. AOR/CORs are responsible for all related requirements in the COR designation letter and the AOR designation letter.
• Create, contribute to, and maintain a collaborative and effective team environment while setting the tone and example for open communication and regular coordination; a work environment conducive to mutual respect; clear expectations for performance; and clear delegations of roles, responsibilities, and authority.
• Mentor team members to build technical and other professional skills which meet the professional goals of staff and the needs of BHA
• Create a culture of civility and respect whereby both managers and employees are expected to behave professionally and always cultivate a harassment free work environment
• Work with division and G3PC leadership to identify and address structural barriers to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in and across teams and divisions in the G3PC Office. Practice equitable supervision, task/project assignment, and leadership growth potential to all staff.
• Consistently model behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to fostering a non-hostile work environment free of discrimination, bias, unfairness, exclusion, offensive behaviors, and harassment of any kind.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

The USPSC will take direction from and report to the PSEDI Division Chief or his/her designee.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

Supervisor provides administrative directions in terms of broadly defined missions or functions. The USPSC independently plans, designs and carries out programs, projects, studies or other work. Results are considered authoritative and are normally accepted without significant change. 12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The work is generally sedentary and does not pose undue physical demands. During deployment on DARTs (if required), and during site visits, there may be some additional physical exertion including long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain, or carrying of moderately heavy items (less than 50 pounds). 13. WORK ENVIRONMENT Work is primarily performed in an office setting. During deployment on DARTs (if required), and during site visits, the work may additionally involve special safety and/or security precautions, wearing of protective equipment, and exposure to severe weather conditions. 14. START DATE: Immediately, once necessary clearances are obtained.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

(Determines basic eligibility for the position. Offerors who do not meet all of the education and experience factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.) High School Diploma, plus a minimum of eleven (11) years of progressively responsible professional experience, of which two (2) have been in, or working with, the innovation sector, and of which (1) year has been working in emergency relief, disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness, or international development.

Bachelor’s degree in any discipline, plus a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience, of which two (2) have been in, or working with, the innovation sector, and of which one (1) year has been working in emergency relief, disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness, or international development. OR Master’s degree in any discipline, plus a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience, of which two (2) have been in, or working with, the innovation sector, and of which one (1) year has been working in emergency relief, disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness, or international development.

CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: June 06, 2022, 12:00 P.M. Eastern Time