USAID Senior Interagency Development Coordinator

USAID SENIOR INTERAGENCY DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR USAID/Colombia Issuance Date: April 13, 2011 Closing Date: April 23, 2011 Subject: Solicitation for Off-Shore Personal Services Contractor (PSC) Ladies/Gentlemen: The United States Government, represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/Colombia), is seeking applications (Letter of interest, and OF 612 available at the USAID Website http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/forms.asp) from qualified U.S. citizens interested in providing the PSC services described herein. Submissions shall be in accordance with the time and place specified below. Any questions may be directed to Ms. Diana Gomez, Deputy Supervisory Executive Officer USAID/Colombia, who may be reached at: Fax No. (571) 3832319, or email at dgomez@usaid.gov , or Mary Belisa Mansilla, Human Resources Assistant at mmansilla@usaid.gov. Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications. Victor Diaz de Leon Supervisory Executive Officer USAID/Colombia SOLICITATION INFORMATION: SOLICITATION NUMBER: 514-11-0006 ISSUANCE DATE: April 13, 2011 CLOSING DATE: April 23, 2011 POSITION TITLE: USAID Senior Interagency Development Coordinator GRADE: GS-15 MARKET VALUE: $99,628 - $129,517 per annum PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 2 years, with three (one) year renewal option PLACE OF PERFORMACE: USAID/ Bogota, Colombia SECURITY ACCESS: Secret clearance AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to all U.S. citizens. SUPERVISION: Deputy Mission Director SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: Incumbent is expected to work with minimum direction and supervision. The need for quick response in high profile, complex and often fluid situations requires the incumbent to exercise discretion and good judgment and operate with high levels of autonomy, responsibility and authority. Work is evaluated for effectiveness of results and compliance with prevailing policies, regulations, directives and objectives. The USAID Interagency Development Coordinator is under the direct supervision of the Deputy Mission Director, and must be able to perform his/her duties, and be able to work well under pressure. BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION This position reports to the Deputy Mission Director of USAID/Colombia. The purpose of this position is to serve as the USAID Mission's primary development program coordinator as part of the Embassy's Colombia Strategic Development Initiative (CSDI), a whole-of-government approach for assistance that integrates defense, diplomacy, and development and directly supports the Government of Colombia's (GOC) National Consolidation Plan. With USG and GOC colleagues, USAID/Colombia is designing a portfolio of ground-breaking activities that focus on building social cohesion, trust, and confidence in government institutions, and a culture of legality at the community level. The USAID Senior Interagency Development Coordinator oversees activities and projects related to CSDI implementation through the Mission's teams. The position is intended to be the point of contact as it relates to the technical, policy, strategic, and tactical aspects of security where other USG stakeholder operations are involved. "Security operations" are defined as those relating to police, law enforcement, eradication, civil-military affairs and related efforts. The incumbent interacts with the U.S. military group and will interact with Embassy counterparts (particularly those from all groups of the Department of Defense, Justice, and the Department's Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS), Government of Colombia (GOC) counterparts, and other U.S. Government officials. The incumbent will report directly to the USAID Deputy Director but will be a key member of the Consolidation, Livelihoods and Environment Office (CLE). The position requires travel (10%-20% of time) to activity sites and ability to identify and resolve problems in coordination with other USAID technical teams and other stakeholders. JOB DESCRIPTION This position serves as USAID/Colombia's primary development program coordinator to internal and external organizations that manage, assist, and/or coordinate security assistance in Colombia. Specifically, the position is charged with managing relationships and coordination between USAID/Colombia and the U.S. Embassy's Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) and Military Group (MILGRP), among others, as well as Colombian Government agencies involved in the same regions or areas of interest as USAID. The position is intended to be the point of contact as it relates to the technical, policy, strategic, and tactical aspects of coordinating security and development assistance. "Security Assistance" is defined as initiatives that strengthen law enforcement, eradication, and related efforts. S/he will maintain high-level professional relationships with Embassy senior management across all sections. The incumbent reports to the Deputy Mission Director of USAID/Colombia but will be a key member of the Consolidation, Livelihoods and Environment Office (CLE). The position requires travel (10%-20% of time) to activity sites and meetings and the ability to identify and resolve issues in coordination with other USAID technical teams and other stakeholders. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1. The incumbent is the principal development program coordinator between USAID and the U.S. Military Group and will coordinate USAID activities with relevant U.S. Southern Command initiatives to improve synergies. The incumbent will have full knowledge of U.S. Southern Command activities in Colombia and will identify opportunities for integration. 2. The incumbent establishes and maintains an extensive range of high level contacts with host government officials, implementing partners, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and other institutions to exchange information, coordinate efforts, and to support communications and planning of civil-military activities. 3. The development program coordinator relates to the other USAID staff to ensure successful coordination of civil-military operations. 4. The incumbent will monitor political and military progress throughout the country as it pertains to USAID's development strategy and briefs USAID management and other technical teams. 5. The incumbent prepares briefing documents for high-level visitors on status of USAID efforts as they relate to coordination with security and military operations. 6. The incumbent contributes to and, in some cases, may lead strategic/policy and tactical discussions and/or input related to policies, formalization and titles and to the incumbent's field of expertise and program management. This may require the development of analytical and policy papers that help shape USAID programming in Colombia. 7. The incumbent is responsible for preparing technical, policy and development reports and recommendations during the year. 8. The incumbent will design and manage an evaluation of the effectiveness and lessons learned from joint counter narcotics programming since 2000 as it relates to the efforts of USAID, NAS, MILGRP, and other select stakeholders. TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: Knowledge: Must have a sound, experience-based knowledge of security assistance - including eradication - operations, policies, strategies, tactics, and practices. Counter-narcotics programming experience preferred. Candidates must possess a thorough knowledge of the social, political, economic, and development realities of working in a post-conflict environment, preferably Colombia-related. Must be knowledgeable of technical/project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and project financial oversight. Abilities and Skills: The incumbent must have demonstrated success in project and/or program management. S/he will have a high degree of technical, analytical, and quantitative skills. Strong interpersonal and team work skills; proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision or guidance is required. Must have operational and management skills; computer skills; multi-tasking skills; and the ability to conceptualize both strategically and programmatically. S/he should have proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, including preparation of technical reports. Ability to learn and explain USAID and other development programs, objectives, and procedures. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION FACTORS: REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Education: The candidate must have a Master's Degree in the field of Public Policy, Conflict Resolution, Economics, Rural Development, International Development, Business Administration, International Relations, or a related subject is required with strong technical emphasis or specialization in the areas of security operations (as defined above). Work Experience: The candidate must have a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in the design, implementation, management and/or monitoring and evaluation of development activities in conflict regions with the military and/or counter narcotics operations. Experience in development assistance, counter-narcotics, post-conflict assistance, or related work is required. Experience is required in the collection, analysis, and presentation of information related to projects. Prior management experience in a position of similar complexity is required. Language Proficiency: The candidate must be fluent in both written and spoken English. The candidate must be able to speak and read Spanish; preference will be given to candidates with substantiated Spanish language skills at the FSI level S3/R3. EVALUATION FACTORS: The factors listed below will be the basis for evaluating and ranking applicants who meet the Minimum Qualifications and Selection Factors for the position. All applicants and scored based on the documentation submitted with the application. Applicants are encouraged to write a brief appendix to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training address the Evaluation Factors. Education and Training (15 points) Master's Degree in the field of Public Policy, Conflict Resolution, Economics, Rural Development, International Development, Business Administration, International Relations, or a related subject is required with strong technical emphasis or specialization in the areas of security operations (as defined above)Candidate must have a relevant bachelor's degree. Graduate degree is preferred. Work Experience and technical knowledge (55 points) At least ten years of progressively responsible experience in the design, implementation, management and/or monitoring and evaluation of development activities in conflict regions with the military and/or counter narcotics operations. Experience in development assistance, counter-narcotics, post-conflict assistance, or related work is required. Experience is required in the collection, analysis, and presentation of information related to projects. Prior management experience in a position of similar complexity is required. Communication Skills and Group Dynamics (30 points) Evidence of effective team leadership skills & ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team. Demonstrated written skills, including editing. English & Spanish proficiency. Ability to make cogent arguments clearly and succinctly in written and oral presentations. Ability to effectively facilitate discussions and/or meetings. Computer skills. AS A MATTER OF POLICY AND AS APPROPRIATE, A USPSC IS NORMALLY AUTHORIZED THE FOLLOWING: - 1. Benefits: - a. Employee's FICA contribution - b. Contribution to Health and Life Insurance - c. Pay Comparability Adjustments - d. Annual Salary Increase - except when frozen for Government workers by Legislation - e. Eligibility for Workers Compensation - f. Annual and sick leave - g. Shipment and storage of household effects - h. Shipment of POV - i. R&R, dependents travel, and other off-shore benefits and allowances as permitted for USAID Direct Hires. - 2. Allowances - a. Temporary lodging allowances (Section 120) - b. Living Quarters Allowances (Section 130) - c. Post Allowance (Section 220) - d. Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230) - e. Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) - f. Education Allowance (Section 270) - g. Education Travel (Section 280) - h. Post Differential (Chapter 500) (15%) - i. Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) - j. Danger Pay (Section 650) (15%)