International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Coordinator

Job Description

Mission of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL): INL is under the Under Secretary for Democracy and Human Rights (J) and works to keep Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice and fairness by strengthening their police, courts, and corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores.

INL’s Office of Western Hemisphere Programs (INL/WHP) develops narcotics control, citizen security, anti-transnational organized crime (TCO), and justice sector reform policy initiatives for partner nations in the Western Hemisphere. INL/WHP provides overall program and policy direction for INL narcotics, border security, justice sector, and citizen security assistance programs at overseas posts, develops and revises associated strategies, and coordinates program development with other U.S. agencies.

The INL Section at the U.S. Embassy in Belmopan, Belize is responsible for law enforcement and criminal justice reform foreign assistance activities intended to improve border security, increase effective interdiction of illicit trafficking, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. The INL Coordinator is responsible for the day‐to‐day management of the INL-Belize office, is INL’s primary contact with the host government law enforcement, border security, and justice sector officials, assesses and responds to opportunities to improve institutional capacity with the development of training and professionalization programs, and provides advice and guidance to Embassy leadership. The Coordinator shall oversee the INL foreign assistance programs, budgets, and personnel in Belmopan. He or she also oversees projects that combine U.S. interagency and subject matter experts with trainers from the region to improve and standardize police professionalization, improve border security, advance the counternarcotics and anti-transnational organized crime capability of the Government of Belize, improve the efficacy of the Belizean criminal justice system, and support regional information sharing and interoperability.

The purpose of this Personal Services Contract (PSC) is to serve as the INL Coordinator to the INL Section in Belmopan, Belize. The position is responsible for program management services to include design, development, planning, budgeting, implementing, and monitoring and evaluation of the INL Section’s counternarcotics, anti-transnational organized crime, citizen security, and justice sector projects with a combined budget of approximately $1.5 million annually. In this capacity, the Coordinator provides guidance and recommendations on wide‐ranging policy and technical law enforcement matters relative to United States foreign assistance through the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI).

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of the Belmopan-based POL/ECON/INL Section Chief or his/her designee, the INL Coordinator will perform the following duties:

Manage

1. Manage the operations of an 11-person team of Locally Employed Staff (LES) and coordinate the work of Third Party Contractors.
2. Prioritize strategic, programming, and daily work activities.
3. Ensure that all programming, and associated spending, is carried out in accordance with U.S. Embassy and Department of State goals, objectives, and regulations, and is done in coordination with INL/WHP.
4. Ensure all programming contains clearly defined goals, benchmarks, roles and responsibilities, spending plans, and monitoring and evaluation plans in accordance with U.S. Embassy and Department of State goals, objectives, and regulations.
5. Conduct periodic reviews to determine if programs are meeting those clearly defined goals and benchmarks.
6. Exercise oversight of the annual program (approximately $1.5 million) and administrative funds (approximately $1.2 million) of the INL-Belize budget.
7. Ensure all INL-Belize staff, including advisors and other contractors, are well-versed in U.S. Embassy and Department of State goals, objectives, and regulations and that staff is designing and vetting programming in line with stated goals and objectives.

Advise

1. Advise Embassy and INL/WHP Leadership on the best strategy to develop institutions that address strategic objectives in Belize and the region, and contribute to a more just society, including the police, the judiciary, and civil society.
2. Coordinate with U.S. interagency and Belizean officials and draw on subject matter expertise to make determinations about strategy and programming.
3. Participate in the Embassy Law Enforcement Working Group and Country Team. Report, advise, and coordinate with both bodies on INL strategy and programming, programming options, and other areas where INL can assist in achieving Department of State and Post strategic goals.

Assess

1. Participate in the continual analysis and evaluation of law enforcement and justice sector institutions in Belize. Identify opportunities for effective criminal justice sector programs in Belize, including law enforcement support, prosecutorial reform, anti-transnational organized crime, rule of law, counternarcotics, and other security issues as appropriate. The Coordinator will draw on subject matter expertise in program management involving U.S. government assistance. The incumbent will also be responsible for overall management of these programs.
2. Assess systematic deficiencies in Belizean institutional capacity in security and justice sector services. Advise on and provide oversight of INL-Belize and implementing partner efforts to introduce reforms and training programs to strengthen capacity.
3. Oversee the evaluation of interdiction programs and narco- and human-trafficking trends to ensure INL-supported programs are responding effectively to evolving threats and are meeting targets towards project goals.
4. Oversee the evaluation of border security and interdiction programs to determine if programs or procedures utilize INL Section funding effectively and are meeting targets towards project goals.
5. Assess impact of INL projects and progress against strategic goals.
6. Oversee field surveys, evaluations, and special studies, as directed.

Maintain Political Liaison

1. Serve as a primary interlocutor between the U.S. Embassy and high-level Government of Belize criminal justice, border security, and law enforcement officials on U.S. law enforcement and justice sector assistance.
2. Generate support for and active advancement of U.S. policy objectives with key host government officials. Coordinate with U.S. interagency representatives at Embassy Belmopan and/or in the region, as needed, to ensure a coherent approach to law enforcement and justice sector assistance.
3. Maintain close and effective communication and coordination with INL Directors in Central America and INL/WHP to keep all stakeholders apprised of reform efforts in Belize that may be applicable or beneficial to INL programming and planning in Central America.

Program Planning, Development, and Execution

1. Lead the planning, development, implementation, and monitoring of programs in Belize in accordance with U.S. Embassy and Department of State goals and objectives, and in coordination with INL/WHP. Provide overall management and oversight of program implementation while monitoring and reporting significant developments. Evaluate and report program results. As necessary, direct mid-course adjustments and close out programs when complete.
2. Serve as the Contracting Officer’s Representative and/or Grants Officer’s Representative for INL-Belize projects as needed.

Program, Contracting, and Budget Planning

1. Provide strategic planning and process development on all phases of project execution from development through implementation, including planning, scheduling, budgeting, monitoring, and coordination.
2. Ensure all INL-Belize programs follow standardized processes internally and conform to the laws of the Government of Belize.
3. Liaise actively with INL/WHP to ensure regular coordination of objectives, key issues, obstacles, and successes.
4. In coordination with INL/WHP, develop budget plans for INL-Belize and regional CARSI programs to ensure projects are in accordance with policies and objectives of U.S. goals and objectives.
5. Provide analysis and guidance in project budget preparation and program planning.
6. Coordinate with host government officials on projects that support United States and partner-nation counter organized crime and institution building objectives.

Integration of Complimentary Programs

1. Work with U.S., Belizean, other donor, and regional institutions and agencies to ensure the full integration of training and development efforts to create new internal control systems, civil society outreach, demand reduction, rule of law, and culture of lawfulness.

End Use Monitoring

1. Ensure U.S. Government-provided commodities and equipment are utilized effectively. Oversee implementation of continuous oversight and end use monitoring of all programming to ensure no fraud, waste, or mismanagement occurs in the program.

Working and Supervisory Responsibilities

1. Manage contracts and other procurement mechanisms, grants, and agreements with multilateral organizations put in place to achieve program objectives.
2. Manage and coordinate U.S. contractors funded under the program, Locally Employed Staff, Third Party Contractors (TPCs), Eligible Family Members (EFMs), and other personal services contractors, as assigned.
3. Establish and maintain appropriate internal management control systems. Ensure that INL programs are not subject to waste, fraud, or mismanagement.
4. When required, perform the role of Duty Officer
5. Perform other duties as requested and assigned that are directly related to this Statement of Work.

Briefings and Reporting

1. Prepare, coordinate, and ensure the timely issuance of both one-time and periodic reports on all INL-Belize programs to include the impact of programs on illicit trafficking, including narcotics, institutional strengthening, and public support for security services. Prepare periodic State Department cables, status reports, budget reports, and program reviews. Track progress of programming, including training, in achieving larger CARSI Initiative goals.
2. Prepare reports for and briefings to Embassy Belmopan Front Office and INL/WHP on program and management updates on at least a weekly basis in coordination with and through the Pol/Econ/INL Chief.
3. Arrange and/or provide escort and develop appropriate itineraries for official travelers.
4. Brief Department of State, Congressional, Staff Delegations, Host Country officials, and other selected international dignitaries on the U.S. and partner government illicit trafficking control, police reform, and criminal justice programs as they pertain to INL-Belize programs.

Security of Training Teams and Personnel

1. Advise the Political, Economic, and INL (POL/ECON/INL) Section Chief and the Regional Security Officer (RSO) on matters related to personnel and physical security at all training locations and personnel operating in support of INL-Belize.
2. Maintain security awareness and properly handle classified and controlled items and information.

TRAINING & DISTANCE LEARNING COURSES

1. Complete the Contracting Officer Representative (PA296) distance-learning (DL) course through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) within 90 days of arriving at Post. Certification must continue throughout life of contract.
2. Complete the required Grants Officer Representative distance learning (DL) courses through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) and obtain GOR certification within 90 days of arriving at Post. Certification must continue throughout life of contract.
3. Complete the Introduction to Working in an Embassy (PN113) distance-learning (DL) course through the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) within the 90 days of arriving at Post.
4. Complete the mandatory Foreign Affairs Counter-Threat (FACT) Course (CT650) prior to deployment to Post.
5. Complete INL 101 Training within first year at Post.
6. Complete online EEO and Harassment Training within 30 days of arriving at Post.
7. Complete all other required courses, including Cyber-Security Awareness, Records Management, and Ethics.
8. Consultations with the INL/WHP Program Officer in Washington, D.C. may be required.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

The place of performance is the U.S. Embassy Belmopan, Belize. The incumbent maybe required to travel throughout Belize, Central America, and the United States as mandated by the needs of the program and/or at the direction of the POL/ECON/INL Section Chief or their designee.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for this contract is twelve (12) months from the date of award with four (4) optional one-year extensions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. U.S. citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain Department of State Secret level security clearance, medical clearance, and ethics clearance (if applicable). (Security clearance upgrade to Top Secret level may be required.)
2. Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution with a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant work experience.
3. A minimum six (6) years of experience related to project management in international development and/or international affairs, of which three (3) of those years were in a supervisory capacity.
4. A minimum two (2) years of experience abroad managing bilateral or multilateral criminal justice and security assistance programs in the developing world.
5. Demonstrated experience in planning, strategizing, implementing, and reporting on foreign assistance programs and projects.
6. Demonstrated experience monitoring and evaluating programs for efficacy and strategic impact.
7. Demonstrated experience writing training plans, statements of works, standard operating procedures, and detailed instructions.
8. Demonstrated knowledge and experience with U.S. Government regulations, standards of conduct, and ethics.

Original Date Offers Due: May 06, 2022 03:00 pm EDT