POLICY ANALYST/PROGRAM COORDINATION OFFICER

THIS IS NOT A PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE - PLEASE CHANGE TO A COMBINE SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION NOTICE FOOD FOR PEACE POLICY ANALYST/PROGRAM COORDINATION OFFICER, PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACTOR, GS-13 (EQUIV), DCHA/PTD/FFP INTRODUCTION: Background: This position is located in the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, Office of Food for Peace (DCHA/FFP). The Office of Food for Peace reports directly to the DCHA Assistant Administrator and provides program oversight for U.S. Department of Agriculture Title II funds administered by USAID. DCHA/FFP manages over $2 billion in annual food aid and employs a combined direct-hire and non-direct hire staff of over 60 in Washington and overseas offices. The Policy and Technical Division (PTD) of the Office of Food for Peace is tasked with addressing seven broad policy and programmatic areas: (1) Definition of the Title II food security agenda reflecting legislative parameters and Administration policy; (2) Initiating and maintaining a policy dialogue with external partners and stakeholders including other U.S. Government (USG) agencies, non-governmental organizations, international organizations and other donors; (3) Developing guidance for new or existing strategic programmatic approaches; (4) Directing FFP strategic planning and performance reporting; (5) Ensuring the technical quality of activities in the Office priority sectors; (6) Ensuring the timely dissemination of early warning information and its translation into appropriate response; and (7) Updating Title II regulations and ensuring consistency with other Agency regulations and guidelines. The incumbent of this position works in the Policy and Technical Division, serving as a Policy Analyst/Program Coordination Officer and will be designated as the lead policy analyst for Title II emergency programming. Consequently, this position will support policy related to the implementation of emergency programs carried out by the World Food Program and non-governmental organizations. The policy recommendations created by the incumbent in this position will be primarily operational in nature, ultimately ensuring the timely and effective delivery of emergency food assistance. Specifically, the incumbent must have demonstrated ability to perform analytical and evaluative work in support of the management of Title II activities, especially emergencies. The necessary analytical skills require the ability to address matters of fact, regulatory and program requirements, and problem mitigation. The incumbent must also be able to coordinate with program managers and serve as an advocate for the use of dispute resolution tools such as mediation or interest-based problem solving techniques. The work requires a high degree of initiative and judgment to assure effective implementation of the purposes of Title II emergency resources. The incumbent must have the ability to interact with a broad range of internal and external partners and clients and function successfully as a member of a multi-functional team. The incumbent must also have demonstrated initiative and ability to manage competing work priorities and work independently when required. Specific Duties and Responsibilities: The incumbent of this position will carry out the following functions and specific duties: Provide operational policy analysis for emergency proposal reviews to ensure that resources allocated for complex food assistance programs working in the area of general relief meets program objectives. Ensure that proposed activities are consistent with Agency Food Security Policy guidance, intermediate results packages, Regulation 11 and other guidelines. Work to ensure understanding by country-back stop officers and other USAID officials of key emergency food aid operational policy issues that will enable them to plan, manage, and evaluate Title II emergency food aid programs utilizing Title II food commodities Identify key Title II emergency operational policy issues and priorities, design analyze, and evaluate alternative agency strategies, including impact assessments focusing on the costs to the USG of a particular course of action related to Title II emergency operations, and make definitive recommendations to FFP senior management. Participate in developing recommendations on a wide range of policy questions relating to the use of Title II food aid resources for emergency programming. Serve as a primary agency technical authority regarding the regulatory impact on sensitive or rapidly evolving emergency programs related to Title II programs, coordinating efforts with concerned officials. Establish and maintain effective collaboration and productive working relationships with the staff of CSs proposing and implementing emergency Title II activities, international organizations, USAID field Missions, other donors, USDA, and U.S. interest groups, effectively interpreting and communicating program guidance. Provide support to the Geographic Division Chief for central functions such as strategic planning and evaluation for emergency programs. Attend office, inter-agency, and cooperating sponsor meetings and consultations, as assigned. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The work is generally sedentary and does not pose undue physical demands. WORK ENVIRONMENT Work is primarily performed in an office setting. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS Applicants must possess the following minimum qualifications for the position. Applicants who do not meet all of education and experience factors are considered NOT qualified for the position. A four year degree from a U.S. institution (Bachelor's degree) plus at least (4) years of progressively responsible experience in international emergency, relief and development assistance of which two (2) should be related to food assistance. or Master's degree with significant study in international emergency, relief and development assistance, plus at least two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in international emergency, relief and development assistance, of which one (1) of must be related to food assistance. In addition, applicants must have U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain an interim or final SECRET security clearance within a six month period. QUALITY RANKING FACTORS (QRFs) The following QRFs will be used in evaluating applicants: - Comprehensive knowledge of the range of laws, policies and regulations applicable to the administration of the P.L. 480 Title II Food for Peace Program and how they relate to the advancement of the Agency's Food Aid Policy and U.S. foreign assistance objectives. - Professional knowledge, experience and skills to generate and apply new concepts in planning, developing policy and evaluating activities or proposals for the solution of complex food aid goals. - Ability to develop solutions effectively and to recommend policies, strategies, and procedures related to the effective use of emergency food aid resource in implementing Agency Food Security and foreign policy objectives. - Analytical skills and demonstrated experience to create, review and evaluate regulations, reporting, and other relevant Title II material as a basis for implementing agency and office guidelines and/or procedures. - Skills in the use Microsoft Office Suite software. - Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. BASIS OF RATING: Applicants who meet the minimum requirements will be further evaluated based on scoring of QRF responses. Those applicants determined to be competitively ranked may also be evaluated on interview performance and satisfactory professional reference checks. Applicants are required to address each of the QRFs on a separate sheet describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received that are relevant to each factor. Be sure to include your name and the announcement number at the top of each additional page. Failure to address the selection and/or Quality Ranking Factors may result in your not receiving credit for all of your pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards.