Senior Advisor

Job Description

Overview

Open & closing dates: 07/27/2020 to 08/04/2020

Service: Competitive

Pay scale & grade: GS 15

Salary: $142,701 to $170,800 per year

Appointment type: Permanent

Work schedule: Full-Time - Full-time appointment in the Competitive Service. This position IS NOT in the bargaining unit.

Responsibilities

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the U.S. Government’s official foreign development organization. USAID operates in approximately 100 developing countries and plays a vital role in advancing U.S. national security, foreign policy, and the war on terrorism. The Senior Advisor for Management Bureau, Management Services Office, Overseas Management Division (M/MS/OMD) serves with broad overall responsibility for the oversight and administration of critical programs and operations impacting the entire Agency. The position is primarily responsible for the direction and management of large, agency wide programs such as the Interagency Cooperative Administrative Support Services (ICASS) program, USAID Alternate Service Provider (ASP) program, the Capital Security Cost Sharing (CSCS) program which is related to facility construction and maintenance overseas and advising on other critical functions such as mission openings/closings and the development of agency wide initiatives to lower operating costs, improve operating efficiencies, and effectiveness. M/MS/OMD is the focal point for USAID’s overseas management support, and the conduit between USAID/W bureaus and independent offices, all our overseas presence locations and the interagency on management support issues. M/MS/OMD conducts long-term planning for Agency overseas facilities and field logistic and management support requirements.

As a Senior Advisor, your duties will include the following:

• Performs analysis of ICASS, ASP and CSCS programs on a regular basis throughout the year to ensure compliance to operating standards. Initiates studies to evaluate the effectiveness of these programs throughout the course of a year. Develops innovative approaches to resolve the frequent problems of a novel nature which occur within these programs. Leads agency wide monitoring and evaluation efforts related to these programs to facilitate constant learning and improvements in operations as well as establishing new goals, measures, and objectives for maximum program effectiveness. Makes recommendations to senior leadership in the M Bureau and the Administrator, that often serve as the basis for new systems, legislation, regulations, or programs.
• Develops long-range program plans, goals, objectives, and milestones for evaluating and measuring the effectiveness of these major agency programs. Evaluates factors such as cost-effectiveness, attainment of program goals and objectives, and compliance with pertinent legal and regulatory guidelines.
• Works closely with Mission Directors and other senior USAID managers overseas to direct the development of new and/or revised policies, procedures, standards and guidelines governing designated overseas management/administrative support activities. Conducts research and technical and policy analysis of overseas management support problems and/or issues and prepares formal recommendations for decisions by senior
  management.
• Performs functions as sole representative and voting member for USAID at interagency working sessions related to the ICASS, ASP and CSCS programs. Produces analysis and supporting documentation during the interagency sessions identifying potential solutions and/or improvements to interagency systems,processes, tools or technical approaches. Plays a leading role on the interagency working group to explore all options and initiatives to improve operations for all within the ICASS, ASP and CSCS programs. Presents findings and recommendations for global improvements to interagency senior officials for ratification and implementation.
• Leads the development and implementation of studies and instruments to measure the progress toward programmatic goals established by this position or in consultation with Agency, interagency senior leaders and Congressional staff. Improves and monitors the effectiveness of programs and processes using valid performance measurement principles and tools. Conducts analyses and quantitative studies to support decision making and development of programs, as appropriate, to improve upon the management of overseas government resources.
• Manages all activities related to USAID’s ASP program. This includes the development and establishment of operating guidelines by positions. Oversees and directs the full, annual lifecycle budgeting and collection process with over 50 customer agencies. Creates the budget submission timeline, reviews budget submissions for appropriateness, provides guidance to missions on the provision and delivery of management services,
  oversees collections for services provided throughout the year and follows up with customer agencies as appropriate to ensure timeliness of payment and the ongoing liquidity of the working capital fund for the ASP program. Ensures that subscription to services MOUs and reimbursable agreements are all obtained from customer agencies.

Travel Required

Occasional travel - Travel will vary depending on the needs of the Office, but will not exceed 25% of the incumbent’s time.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• United States Citizenship is required.
• Relevant experience (see Qualifications below).
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• Most recent SF-50 showing tenure code “1” or “2” (see Required Documents)
• Time in grade must be met by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Note: Your answers to the assessment questionnaire must be supported in your resume.

You must meet the Time-in-Grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. To meet these requirements, you must have served at least 52 weeks.

Qualifications

GS-15-You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-14 level in the Federal service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-time work is considered on a prorated basis. Examples of qualifying specialized experience at the next lower level for this position include: (a) Mastery of a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods for the assessment and improvement of program effectiveness and the improvement of complex management processes and systems for USAID and the interagency community; (b) serves as the primary agency advisor on ICASS, ASP and CSCS programs in addition to other management services related initiatives and programs; (c) conceives, develops, and implements outreach strategies designed to reach and engage customers in technology transfer, and; (d) possess knowledge and skills in the principles of program development, implementation, assessment of outcomes/performance and implementing corrections is necessary.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, relevant to the duties of the position to be filled, including volunteer experience.

CTAP/ICTAPcandidates will be referred to the selecting official if they are found well qualified. Well-qualified means an eligible employee who possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities which clearly exceed the minimum requirements of the position. A well-qualified employee must meet the qualification and eligibility requirements of the position, including any medical qualifications, suitability, and minimum education and experience requirements, meet all selective factors (where applicable); meet quality ranking factors and are assigned a score of 85 or higher; be physically qualified with reasonable accommodation to perform the essential duties of the position; meet any special qualifying U.S. OPM-approved conditions; AND be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry without additional training.

A well-qualified candidate will not necessarily meet the definition of highly or best qualified when evaluated against other candidates who apply for a particular position. In the absence of selective and quality ranking factors, selecting officials will document the job-related reason(s) for qualification determinations.

Education

This position does not have a positive education requirement; therefore, no transcripts are required.