Knowledge Management and Learning Specialist

  • Entry-level, Full-time staff position
  • Posted on 28 September 2023

Job Description

The Local, Faith-based, and Transformative Partnerships Hub, within USAID’s Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI/LFT), is seeking a Knowledge Management and Learning Specialist that will sit within the Locally Led Development Initiatives’ (LLDI) Knowledge Management, Policy, Training and Events (KMPoTE) team. This team manages organizational learning for the initiative and the synthesis, sharing, and use of evidence and experience in locally led development to support the LLDI programs and advance Agency’s policies and technical practice to be more locally led. The KMPoTE team provides practitioners with the training, tools, and resources to do their work and opportunities to contribute expertise to Agency policy and learning.

The Junior Knowledge Management and Learning Specialist reports to the lead for Knowledge Management and Learning. This position’s primary responsibilities will be to improve structure and management of data, products, and information to support LLDI operations. This position will also have responsibilities to provide support to the KMPoTE team in the development of knowledge products, training and events to advance the technical practice around locally led development within LLDI missions and the Agency, and to provide practitioners with the tools and resources to do their work. Key to this position is an interest in exploring and leveraging technology for the team to work smarter. This position will be responsible for carrying out this work in close collaboration with LLDI staff and other Agency stakeholders.

The Locally Led Development Initiative (LLDI) programs within DDI’s LFT Hub works toward the day when foreign assistance is no longer needed, and empowered local actors lead and sustain their own development. Through funding and technical leadership, these initiatives provide USAID missions and staff with the knowledge, skills, tools, and resources to ensure that development assistance is locally led and advances sustainable outcomes. These initiatives include the flagship Local Works program, the Small Project Assistance Program (SPA, in collaboration with Peace Corps), a number of co-created research and development initiatives under the Broad Agency Announcement for Locally Led Development Innovation (BAA-LLDI), and the Locally Led Development Annual Program Statement (APS). Among the Locally Led Development Initiatives in the LFT Hub is US4LLD, a funding opportunity for meritorious, unsolicited applications that advance locally led development. The Hub also uses its resources to provide communications, research, training, piloting, and other technical services for the benefit of the wider Agency. More information on the programs in the Hub can be found on USAID.gov.


Responsibilities

  • Manage and improve LLDI’s information infrastructure to facilitate efficient and effective capture, storage, synthesis, and use of structured and unstructured data.
  • Develop data visualizations, interactive dashboards and other tools and processes to make data more engaging and useful for decision making and learning.
  • Explore innovative technology-based solutions that can be used within the Agency to improve organizational and program productivity and effectiveness, and more effectively leverage existing Agency platforms.
  • Organize and manage knowledge product repositories for LLDI on Google Drive, USAID’s intranet, and public sites including USAID Learning Lab. Monitor product usage and other metrics to help ensure the right knowledge goes to the right people and optimally supports operations.
  • Support the development and dissemination of a range of knowledge products, including written content and interactive media, appropriate to the various needs of key audiences, including USAID staff, USAID implementing partners, and development practitioners.
  • Manage and improve processes for inventorying knowledge assets and tracking product development.
  • Ensure that LLDI operationalizes guidance to comply with Agency requirements related to knowledge management and records management, including developing LLDI-team specific guidance for knowledge management and learning processes.
  • Support and train staff on knowledge management processes and use of Google Suite tools and other Agency applications that facilitate knowledge sharing.
  • Support adapting and implementing knowledge retention and transfer processes as staff onboard to the team, transition into new roles, and offboard.
  • Support peer learning initiatives that are virtual, in-person, and asynchronous that strengthen capacity in locally led development and cultivate supportive networks for LLDI Missions.
  • Provide direct support to Missions on knowledge management.
  • Travel to USAID Missions to provide technical assistance, as needed.

Values and Commitments

Following the core values of DDI/LFT, the Locally Led Development Initiatives and its programs, this position requires a commitment to:

  • Look Locally and build upon existing local initiatives, ideas, resources, and capacity to solve local problems. We engage in ways that respect existing networks and relationships, valuing new and nontraditional partners who understand the local context.
  • Listen to the End-User and ensure local voices are heard every step of the way to shift the power of development priority-setting and decision-making to local actors. We seek to prioritize local voices and values in defining and measuring success; strengthen accountability to local communities and constituents; and create research and learning that is valued by and accessible to members of the communities served.
  • Advocate for local ownership by pushing the envelope, questioning assumptions, and promoting innovative ways to empower local actors.
  • Facilitate and be client-focused, so that USAID, other donors, partner organizations, and local constituents all benefit from shared learning.
  • Experiment, learn, and share to explore new approaches, test old assumptions, and take smart risks to make development more empowering for those on the receiving end of assistance.
  • Recognize shared contribution by valuing approaches that recognize complexity, monitor network-level and systemic change, and generate evidence using complexity-aware methods wherever appropriate.
  • Take the Long View. Understanding local systems, challenges, and opportunities takes time; building relationships takes time; and supporting enduring change takes time. We create new opportunities for USAID to focus on long-term outcomes that last.
  • Champion Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. USAID is committed to ensuring our Agency and programs advance DEIA throughout all aspects of our work. We seek colleagues and partners who share these values and are committed to creatively advancing and championing these values throughout their work.


Qualifications

  • Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university and at least two years of experience relevant to international development practice and/or knowledge/information management
  • Data/information management and organization skills, particularly using Google Workspace Apps
  • Data communication skills, including data visualization, written products, and presentations
  • Demonstrated cross-cultural, interpersonal, customer-service, and problem-solving skills
  • Excellent written, oral, and cross-cultural communication skills
  • The ability to work independently, and as part of a team
  • Enthusiasm for LLDI’s mission and work
  • Experience with data visualization tools (ex. Tableau) and design tools (ex. Adobe Creative Suite)
  • Strong working knowledge of Google Workspace and Microsoft Office Suite

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience living and/or working in low or middle income countries and resource poor settings
  • Experience with Google Apps Script coding and business process automation
  • Familiarity with USAID’s mission and work
  • Flexibility, curiosity, self-motivation, and comfort with ambiguity

About the Organization

For over ten years, Highlight has provided Development and Modernization, Secure IT, and Mission Solution services to our federal government customers. Our team knows the technology; we understand how our customers and their stakeholders work; and we know how to implement industry best practices to deliver high-quality, end-to-end solutions that minimize risk and maximize results.

Since our inception, Highlight has had an employee-first mindset. Our mission is to provide employees with rewarding and impactful career opportunities. In 2021, Highlight’s founder and CEO, Rebecca Andino, implemented an Employee Stock Ownership Plan to embody and expand our culture of transparency, teamwork and rewarding the work of our employees. By becoming an ESOP, our employee-owners share in the success of the company through their ownership stake. To learn more about ESOPS, check out: www.esopinfo.org.

We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) that empowers our people to fearlessly drive change - regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other characteristics. Our team is dedicated to foster diversity within our teams to promote creativity, innovation, and teamwork to deliver the best solutions for our customers.

To receive compensation and benefits information for this role, contact us or email us at Recruiting@HighlightTech.com Please include the Req ID (this is at the top of the posting under the position title) in the subject line of the email.