Statement of Duties to be Performed
A. MANAGE MISSION’S PROGRAM BUDGET (60%)
● Serves as a key member of the Budget Team and a specialist on USAID/Host Country Budget and keeps leadership and staff abreast of agency’s annual budget guidelines and policies.
● Executes the full range of program budget and operations functions for USAID/Host Country in the Program Office including development of annual program plan and budget documents, and extraordinary budget requests with USAID/W.
● Liaises with USAID/W and Regional Legal Officer, assists in managing the annual Operational Year Budget (OYB) and provides inputs into recommendation on allocation and distribution of bilateral, unilateral and field support funds to comply with all earmarks, directives, and Agency priorities.
● Conveys USG appropriation legislation and programming guidelines established by USAID/W and ensures and tracks budget compliance by technical offices.
● Supports implementation and obligation/de-obligation of program funds and ensures appropriate approvals and clearances obtained from the USAID Mission Director beforehand.
● Compiles responses to numerous program budget and operations questions from USAID/W, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Department of State, and Mission technical and support offices.
● Identifies and tracks all necessary steps of assignments from activity design to the formal signing of agreements.
● Ensures all requirements for obligating funds are met by USAID/Host Country technical officers prior to the Mission Director’s signing of any bilateral agreements.
● Leads assigned technical offices to draft and complete the Mission’s Annual Operational Plan for clearance by the Front Office and U.S. Embassy and for final approval by the Office of Foreign Assistance (F) at the Department of State.
● Coordinates preparation, draft and review of all budget documents and tables documents for required reporting, e.g., Operational Plan, Congressional Budget Justification (CBJ), and USAID budget inputs into the U.S. Embassy Mission Performance Plan (MPP), Post’s Integrated Country Strategy (ICS) etc.
● Provides inputs to multi-sector briefing materials and other ad hoc reports required by the senior Mission leadership, USAID/W and Department of State officials and Host Country Government authorities to respond to budget concerns or issues.
● Drafts budget inputs to various reports for numerous internal and external audiences and responds to public enquiries addressed to the U.S. Ambassador, the USAID Mission Director, and the Host Country Desk regarding USAID/Host Country funding.
B. OFFICE MANAGEMENT and ADMINISTRATION (20%)
● Serves as a Budget Team lead or his/her alter ego, within the Office and internally with the Mission and USAID/W, when requested.
● Works closely with the Program Office staff to support day-to-day office management and administration as well as supervise the Budget Team.
● Acts as the Acting Deputy Program Office Director in the office management and administration to ensure smooth operations of the Program Office during absences of the USDH staff.
● Supports the Budget Team Lead to streamline office administration operations, systems, procedures, and approvals, such as project design and implementation, travel, training, workshops, and procuring routine services.
● Coordinates with the EXO on HR matters for Program Office positions to ensure staff roles and responsibilities are current, mentors staff, and ensures supervisory staff conduct annual performance reviews and professional training, as required.
● Identifies opportunities for and implements task shifting to empower staff and increase efficiency in Program Office teams.
● Advises the Office Director, Front Office, and USAID/W on programming strategies to improve USAID/USG operations, problem solves and/or alerts senior management and/or USAID/Washington on issues requiring their attention.
● Supervises, coaches and mentors Budget team in the day-to-day monitoring of all actions related to the obligation of funds.
C. GOVERNMENT AND DONOR COORDINATION (20%)
● Serves as a key member of the budget team that coordinates with the Host Country Government and donors on all matters relating to the USAID program and budget in the host country.
● Assists in presenting and explaining the approved OYB to the Host Country Government, provides briefings, if necessary, and negotiates any changes to the OYB.
● Supports negotiations of all Mission bilateral grant agreements with main government counterparts, as requested.
● Ensures that all bilateral agreements are finalized and accurately reflect discussions prior to being forwarded to host country officials.
● Supports negotiations with the government on modifications/adjustments to the agreements, based on a detailed understanding of each project, prior to signing.
● Drafts official responses to questions from the Minister of the host country and the Prime Minister’s office on mission program budget and related matters.
● Provides input into briefs for the U.S. Ambassador’s/Chief’s of Mission and Head’s of Cooperation Donor groups to coordinate all aspects of the U.S. development assistance program in the host country, covering both past history and current programs and trends.
● Supports USAID/Host Country Front Office donor coordination work by providing material for briefers, historical context, and talking points for discussions on the host country’s development.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
a. Education: A Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or economics is required.
b. Prior Work Experience: At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in the analysis, development and negotiation of complex budgets. Prior experience is required in managing project budgets and conducting negotiations with senior officials in the Host Country Government and international donor community.
c. Language Proficiency: Fluent (Level IV) written and oral English and local language (if applicable) proficiency is required.
CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: Friday November 22, 2024
