USAID/AFR South Sudan & Sudan Program Office Advisor

Job Description

About Us

We are International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI), a global consulting firm working some of the most complex and impactful development problems worldwide. We work on programs that help government agencies, private companies and donors improve the lives of others. At IBTCI you will be part of an inclusive team that provides expert solutions and advice to understand and address critical problems while giving you opportunities to succeed and grow.

Job Title: USAID/AFR South Sudan & Sudan Program Office Advisor

Department/Location: Institutional Support/Program Implementation (ISPI)

Reports To: ISPI Project Manager

Type: Regular Full-Time

Classification:

Overview:

This position will be embedded within USAID/AFR and will have USAID.gov email address. Therefore, the candidates MUST be able to obtain USAID Secret Clearance.

The Bureau for Africa (AFR) is the USAID/Washington operating unit charged with managing USAID economic development and trade programs in Africa. The AFR Office of Sustainable Development (AFR/SD) provides strategic guidance and intellectual leadership to the Africa Bureau, conducts economic, social, and political analyses critical to the development of AFR policies, strategies, budgets, and activities, and supports, coordinates, and facilitates technical and budgetary priorities and personnel considerations for the field. AFR/SD’s technical responsibilities span all areas of economic development – economic growth, trade, investment, agriculture, the environment, global climate change, biodiversity, water, democracy and governance, education, and health. The Office’s work falls into four main components: providing technical assistance to Africa Missions; operationalizing Presidential Initiatives and global strategies; undertaking research and pilot activities to improve development programs in Africa; and supporting USAID leadership and other USG departments and agencies including in developing policy.

AFR’s Office of Sudan and South Sudan Programs (AFR/SSSP) is a special hybrid program office combining desk staff and technical officers. AFR/SSSP provides (1) leadership on Washington engagement drawing on traditional USAID regional bureau desk functions, (2) strategic guidance and support to USAID mission drawing on AFR/SSSP technical experts who advise on critical issues and directly support different sector teams in the missions, and (3) continuity and institutional memory for USAID/Sudan and USAID/South Sudan due to the short Foreign Service tour lengths there. Given the importance and high visibility of the two countries, AFR/SSSP works closely with the State Department and National Security Council (NSC) staff.

The Sudan and South Sudan Office is seeking a Program Officer (PO) to serve the combined portfolio. The incumbent will join the team that bears the responsibility for a dynamic and high-profile portfolio. They will be the primary contact for USAID’s transition and development portfolio in the midst of an interagency planning process to respond to ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan and South Sudan. In this role, they will also support the Missions in Sudan and South Sudan by providing policy and technical support for programs, helping to implement the Mission’s strategy, and providing TDY support as much as four times in each mission per year. In addition, they will consult closely with the SSSP technical team members.

The role calls for an experienced program officer and development professional with demonstrated knowledge and leadership skills. They will:

• Be a seasoned resource on USAID’s Program Cycle and strategy implementation providing expert advice on all program office functions including strategic planning, project design, monitoring and evaluation, budgeting, communications and reporting, as well as the Missions’ knowledge management and learning agenda.
• Provide technical expertise to Mission efforts on Development Outreach and Communications (DOC), and Science, Technology, Innovation and Partnership (STIP).
• Work with Mission technical teams to assess and recommend alternative courses of action and resource allocation to ensure optimal program choices and overall program effectiveness.
• Fill management gaps, provide support for complex technical projects, and assist with a range of coordination, reporting, liaison and communications functions central to a USAID program office. The consultant will not perform other inherently governmental functions or duties (e.g. will not serve as AOR/COR or supervise staff), but rather will advise, mentor, and facilitate as appropriate on the performance of inherently governmental functions on the part of the SSSP Office.
• Guide and support program office functions in the countries of South Sudan and Sudan.
• Provide internal expert advice and technical and management guidance to resolve issues, design and implement programs, and interpret and implement USAID policy.
• Advise the Missions about the effectiveness of Mission programs and necessary adjustments to meet evolving Mission, and Agency objectives, including but not limited to the changing context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PO will work in close collaboration with program, budget, technical, and policy staff within AFR and across the Agency in addition to other Divisions within AFR seeking to advance youth programming.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties/Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Draft communications (cables, emails, etc.) and organize events socializing the Missions’ strategy with Operating Units and key regional counterparts.
• Conduct analysis, workshops and events for the alignment of activities with Development Objectives and Agency policies, culminating in documentation of how existing activities align with the strategies and Agency policies.
• Support new project and activity designs, revisions/adjustments to designs, preparation or review of approval/authorization documentation, and revision of Project Development Documents (PDDs) for alignment with the missions’ strategies and other Agency and USG policies.
• Support the development and drafting of the annual Performance Plan and Report (PPR), Operational Plans (OP), Congressional Notifications and other mandated annual planning and reporting documents, including preparing, editing or improving mission input to regular reports to Washington, information requests, and documentation about USAID/South Sudan and USAID/Sudan programs for a range of audiences.
• Assist in monitoring, reviewing and planning of budget scenarios for the Missions’ portfolio through assessing needs and strategic options, and preparing Mission Resource Requests and other budget requests.
• Advise and prepare analysis or documentation to support management on project-related or operational matters, such as portfolio reviews, quarterly financial reviews, program evaluation reviews as well as analysis of external issues affecting project implementation.
• Support the Development Outreach Communications (DOC) teams in preparing outreach materials, country and activity briefing materials, guiding partners in implementing their communications plans, responding to inquiries, among other tasks.
• Complete special reports, documents, projects, memos, briefing backgrounds or other materials

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Master’s degree in international development, economics, public administration, or a field related to the Mission’s sectors of engagement (democracy, peace and governance, economic growth, health and education) plus seven (7) years of relevant overseas experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Africa and international development efforts within sub-Saharan Africa including specific sectors of interest to AFR/SD, e.g. health, education, conflict, democracy and governance, economic growth, infrastructure, agriculture and environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of how the USG works across sectors and program areas;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to work in a dynamic team environment with a diverse set of partners and stakeholders.
• Excellent writing skills and ability to write in a collaborative process; ability to meet deadlines.
• Outstanding organizational and planning abilities.
• English proficiency (minimum FSI Level 4).
• Ability to obtain Secret Clearance.

Preferred

• Prior experience working in a USAID Program Office position and familiarity with USAID policies and procedures.

Working Environment: Work is typically performed in an office environment.

COVID Vaccine status: As a condition of employment, IBTCI requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Candidates should be prepared to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon hire or request for an accommodation with HR that is consistent with our COVID-19 safety protocols and policies.

Physical Requirements: This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear, see, and lift small objects up to 20 lbs.

Supervisory Responsibility: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Travel: International travel may be required and may include travel to fragile and/or conflict-prone zones.

Work Authorization: Candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.

About the Organization

IBTCI has been in business since 1987. We specialize in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL), Institutional Support (IS), Financial & Risk Management (FRM), Supply Chain Management & Procurement (SCMP); Social & Behavior Change (SBC) and Capacity Building. We provide these services across many sectors including, but not limited to, agriculture, resilience & food security, conflict & crisis, democracy & governance, economic growth & trade, education, energy & Infrastructure, environment & climate change, global health & WASH and humanitarian and disaster assistance. At IBTCI, our colleagues are encouraged to collaborate and be part of the solution while getting the tools and guidance needed to grow and support our clients' missions.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

IBTCI is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identification, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran, or any other classification protected by applicable anti-discrimination laws. We prohibit and do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability, or unable to use the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact the Talent Acquisition team at TalentAcquisition@ibtci.com (Do not send your resume to this account, for consideration please apply in our career page).