A -- Program Officer

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: 14/20042. ISSUANCE DATE: 05/06/2004 3. CLOSING DATE/TIME SPECIFIED FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: 05/24/2004 (6 p.m. Almaty Time) 4. POSITION TITLE: PROGRAM OFFICER 5. MARKET VALUE: $87,439 - $113,674 per annum (GS-15 equivalent) with 25% Post Differential 6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One year 7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: USAID/CENTRAL ASIA, Almaty, Kazakhstan 8. JOB DESCRIPTION: Objective To serve as U.S. Personal Service Contractor (USPSC) in the capacity of the Director of Program Support Office for the USAID Mission to the Central Asian Republics, Almaty, Kazakhstan. A) Background The Regional USAID Mission for the Central Asian Republics (USAID/CAR), located in Almaty, Kazakhstan, is responsible for the development and management of the USG regional assistance program directed at improving livelihoods through support to economic, democratic, social sector and natural resources reform and development in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The Program Support Office provides programmatic support to the USAID/CAR Mission. The office's principal functions include: (a) oversight of program approval process; (b) monitoring/ evaluation of program performance and analyses of program strategic relevance and direction; (c) management of program budget; (d) management of information services; (e) oversight and final preparation of Mission reporting requirements, principally the annual report; (f) preparation and dissemination of public information material; and (g) management of the participant training program and the Eurasia Foundation grant.. The FY04 program budget is approximately $107 million, with a carryover FY03 budget of approximately $25 million. The USAID/Central Asia Republic Mission is headquartered in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with offices in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Dushanbe, Tajikistan and Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The technical programs in the Mission focus on energy/water; health; enterprise development; democracy/conflict mitigation and basic education. There is strong Washington interest in the program, including close scrutiny by Congress as well as by the State Department. Funding for the program is authorized through the Freedom Support Act. The State Department is responsible for implementation of the act, and USAID programming is done in very close coordination with the embassies in each of the countries and the State Department's coordinator's office in Washington, D.C., which has oversight responsibility for implementation of the Freedom Support Act. The Program Support Office is responsible for management and/or oversight of Strategic Objective 4.2 (the cross-cutting SO), which includes one contract (participant training), two cooperative agreements (Arizona-Kazakhstan Partnership and Eurasia Foundation), carryover budgeting for basic education and conflict prevention and funding for program development and support. B) Major Duties and Responsibilities The USPSC Program Officer, reporting to the Deputy Mission Director, is a senior Mission position responsible for all aspects of programming oversight, including the program budget and strategic planning related to the Mission program. He/she is a member of the Mission senior staff and has the following major responsibilities: 1. Utilizes high level expertise in interpreting Mission program strategy to advise senior Mission management, including the four principal country officers in the Central Asian countries, on all matters pertaining to Mission wide program direction and strategy, providing analytical and conceptualization leadership for all five country programs managed by the Regional Mission for Central Asia. Also, provide high level knowledge to support the development and management of monitoring, information and evaluation systems to track and report and impact of USAID activities in Central Asia. 2. Ensures continuous, high quality planning and development of technical and program resources to accomplish essential USAID objectives. Directs and coordinates all activities related to the planning, budgeting and strategy development process for the five bilateral assistance programs, including preparation and revision of Congressional Presentations, strategic plans, program impact assessments, evaluations, and other documents, as required. Creativity in development of appropriate and comprehensive impact reporting is required. 3. Directs and manages Mission wide semi-annual review process and annual reporting. Provides expert analyses of strategic issues and changes arising from reviews and reporting. Serves as primary liaison with the USAID/Washington office of the Europe and Eurasia Bureau for all programmatic matters. 4. Ensures high level expertise in critical programmatic and budget support services to Mission technical offices, principally in the areas of program/activity approval, ADS (USAID's Automatic Directive System) and program budget support. 5. Supervises Mission wide reporting and publicity on USAID programs, both within Central Asia, and to wider audience in Washington. Reporting incorporates activity reporting, budget reporting, impact reports, as well as public information/press reporting. 6. Represents USAID as required, and briefs senior officials of bilateral and multilateral donors, private individuals and others as needed on USG economic assistance programs, policies, objectives and development priorities, thus ensuring coordination and achievement of maximum development impact with USAID resources. 7. Works closely with the U.S. Embassy/Kazakhstan for input into the Embassy's Mission Performance Plan, annual reporting requirements under the Freedom Support Act and USAID budgetary requirements. Provides high quality support service to the other four country offices for similar Embassy requirements. 8. Provides expertise and overall direction for the participant training program, PD&S funds and the development of Global Development Alliance activities. Assures Mission oversight of the USAID/W funded Eurasia Foundation. 9. Utilizes expert knowledge to address Program Support Office staff development to improve capacity to work more effectively with technical and country offices and increased value added functions. 10. Other duties as assigned, including, but not limited to, providing coverage in the event of absence of either the project development officer or the FSN budget specialist, or both, and providing, if required, office coverage of one or more of the country officers (Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan) C) Supervision and Relationships The USPSC Program Officer is supervised by the Deputy Mission Director. The USPSC Program Officer supervises the following program support office staff: 1 US Resident PSC Information Specialist - GS-12 1 FSN Program Budget Specialist - FSN-11 1 FSN Administrative Assistant - FSN-7 Two FSN Project Management Specialists (FSN-12 and FSN-10) are supervised by the USDH Project Development Officer, but the Program Officer, in corroboration with the Project Development Officer, provides overall direction and leadership for their functions. As a USPSC the Program Officer cannot directly supervise the USDH Project Development Officer, but the Program Officer will be expected to provide technical direction to the Project Development Officer, and input to the Deputy Mission Director for preparation of the Project Development Officer's annual evaluation. Direct supervision of the one contractor and two cooperative agreements rests with the FSN-12 Project Management Specialist. However, the USPSC Program Officer will provide appropriate technical direction and leadership D) Other Factors A high degree of tact, firmness, and creativity is required at all times. Interpersonal skills are also at a premium, given the large number of people both within and outside the US Mission with which the Program Support Office must engage. Mission technical offices operate with a high degree of autonomy and program support functions must be adaptive to a value-added approach. E) Required Qualifications 10 or more years as a USAID program officer is required. Persons having served in FE-OC positions and demonstrating program management skills are encouraged to apply. Supervisory management experience is preferred. Specific experience in working with USAID program budget management, monitoring/evaluation, performance management plans and strategy development is highly desirable. Excellent analytical and team building skills is essential. Experience in building a strong program office to work effectively with all Mission offices. Must demonstrate comprehensive and high level profession knowledge for the planning, development and implementation of critical USAID program strategy objectives. References are required. 9. EVALUATION CRITERIA A. Prior Work Experience: 50 points 10 or more years as a USAID program/project development officer is required. Supervisory management experience is preferred. Specific experience in working with USAID program budget management, monitoring/evaluation, performance management plans and strategy development is highly desirable. Excellent analytical and team building skills is essential. B. Skills and Abilities: 30 points Strong operational, analytical and management skills; ability to manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision. Excellent analytical and team building skills is essential. Demonstrated experience in high level program planning and implementation to support critical objectives. Experience in building a strong program office to work effectively with all Mission offices. C. Education and Training: 20 points Masters degree in business administration, international business or other relevant subject area (i.e. public relations, social sciences) is preferred. Training (or experience) in USAID administrative policies and procedures is required. Total: 100 points D. OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Must be an U.S. Citizen and possess or be able to obtain a U.S. Government Secret security clearance. Must be able to obtain a State/Med medical clearance to serve in Central Asia. Minimum Level V (Native) English Language ability (written and spoken) is required. Must be willing to travel throughout the Central Asia Region. 10. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE This contract shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of signing and may be renewed at the discretion of the Mission Director. It is expected that a USDH will be assigned to this position by the summer of 2005. 11. APPLYING Qualified individuals are requested to submit a U.S. Government Application for Federal Employment SF-171 including experience, salary history and references, no later than COB (6 p.m. Almaty time) May 24, 2004. The form is available at the USAID website, http://www.info.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms or Internet http://fillform.gsa.gov, or at Federal offices. Applications, recent supervisor reference and three (3) personal references, may be submitted by e-mail, fax, DHL or FedEx air courier by the closing date, above, to: Patrick L. Robinson Contracting Officer Personnel Office USAID/CAR Almaty 41 Kazibek Bi Street Almaty, Kazakhstan Tel: 7 3272 507612 ext. 345, Email: per.Almaty@usaid.gov Email or faxed documentation is preferred as mail delivery may be untimely. To ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your application, and as the subject line in any cover letter. Selection will be made by a Mission committee no later than June 4, 2004. USAID/CAR expects to award a personal-services contract for an off-shore US Citizen for one-year period from on or about July 11, 2004 to on or about July 10, 2005. The contract will be signed by June 25, 2004. On or about July 11, 2004, the incumbent shall proceed to Almaty, Kazakhstan to commence performance of the duties specified, subject to medical and security clearance. The duty post for this contract is Almaty, Kazakhstan. 12. Benefits include post differential, housing, and other benefits per USAID regulations. Basic household furnishings, will be available in quarters to be provided by USAID. 13. Almaty is a beautiful city nestled against mountains, bursting with parks and fountains, with tree lined streets and flower gardens. The city has the excitement of Kazakh culture with its nomadic and warrior heritage as well as the benefits of the Russian culture ballet, museums, opera, choirs, and circus. It has the charm and challenges of colorful native markets, as well as the convenience of modern supermarkets. Located at an altitude of 650 meters, where steppe meets mountain, Almaty is backed by the snow capped Tien Shan to the South and faced by a vast plain which stretches to Siberia in the North. There are many places for skiing, skating, hiking, rafting, helicopter trips, camping, and other outdoor activities outside the city. The Almaty International School provides American curriculum for children in grades K 12.