USPSC - OTI Country Representative/Senior Country Representative - Nigeria

Request for Personal Services Contractor USAID Office of Transition Initiatives Position Title: OTI Country Representative/Senior Country Representative - Nigeria Solicitation Number: SOL-OTI-16-000010 Salary Level: GS-14 Equivalent: $86,399 - $112,319 GS-15 Equivalent: $101,630 - $132,122 Issuance Date: December 2, 2015 Closing Date: December 16, 2015 Closing Time: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time Dear Prospective Applicants: The United States Government (USG), represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is seeking applications from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal services as a Country Representative/Senior Country Representative - Nigeria under a personal services contract, as described in the attached solicitation. Submittals must be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Applicants interested in applying for this position MUST submit the following materials: 1. Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your application, your resume must include: (a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Dates (month/year) and locations for all overseas field experience must also be detailed. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements. (b) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work. (c) Names and contact information (phone and email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). (d) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments. (e) U.S. Citizenship. Your resume should contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation for each grade level(s) for which you are applying. This information should be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration. ? 2. Supplemental document specifically addressing: Each of the three (3) Evaluation Factors shown in the solicitation. Responses must be limited to 500 words per factor. Any additional words above the limit will neither be read nor scored. NOTE: The Evaluation Factors are worth 60 out of 100 points. Applicants are required to address each of the Evaluation Factors in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received that are relevant to each factor. Additional documents submitted will not be accepted. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Your complete resume and the supplemental document addressing the EFs must be mailed or emailed to: Office of Transition Initiatives 529 14th Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20045 E-Mail Address: contact@example.gov Applicants can expect to receive a confirmation email when application materials have been received. Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications. Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to: OTI Recruitment Team Telephone Number: +1 (555) 000-0000 E-Mail Address: contact@example.gov Website: www.OTIjobs.net Sincerely, Cristina Sylvia Contracting Officer Solicitation for U.S. Personal Services Contractor (PSC) Country Representative/Senior Country Representative - Nigeria 1. SOLICITATION NO.: SOL-OTI-16-000010 2. ISSUANCE DATE: December 2, 2015 3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: December 16, 2015, 5:00 pm Eastern Time 4. POSITION TITLE: Country Representative or Senior Country Representative - Nigeria MARKET VALUE: This position has been designated at the GS-14 equivalent level, non-locality pay ($86,399 - $112,319 per annum) or GS-15 ($101,630 - $132,122 per annum) equivalent level, non-locality pay. The actual salary of the successful candidate will be negotiated within the pay range of the GS-14 level depending on qualifications, previous relevant experience and work history, salary and educational background. Salaries over and above the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated. The title of the position at the GS-14 level will be "Country Representative - Nigeria." The title of the position at the GS-15 level will be "Senior Country Representative - Nigeria." 5. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One year, with four one-year option periods. 6. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nigeria 7. STATEMENT OF WORK POSITION DESCRIPTION BACKGROUND USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) is seeking highly motivated, highly qualified individuals who want the opportunity to help support rapid international transition programs for priority conflict-prone countries. Created in 1994 as a distinct operating unit within USAID, OTI helps local partners advance peace and democracy in politically-transitioning countries. In support of U.S. foreign policy, OTI seizes emerging windows of opportunity in the political landscape to promote stability, peace, and democracy by catalyzing local initiatives through adaptive and agile programming. Countries experiencing a significant political transition in the midst of a disaster or emerging from civil conflict have unique needs that cannot be fully addressed by traditional disaster relief. Timely and effective assistance to promote and consolidate peaceful, democratic advances can make the difference between a successful or a failed transition. OTI assists in securing peace by aiding indigenous, mostly non-governmental, civil society and media organizations. OTI uses such mechanisms as support for re-integration of ex-combatants into civilian society; development of initiatives to promote national reconciliation; identification of quick-impact community self-help projects to meet urgent economic needs; and aid to independent media outlets and community-based organizations to help promote informed debate and broaden public participation. To respond quickly and effectively and meet its program objectives and mandate OTI retains a group of high level professionals and experts under U.S. Personal Services Contracts (USPSCs). These knowledgeable and skilled professionals make up the vast majority of the OTI work force and are at its forefront implementing and achieving the office's programmatic goals and objectives. USPSCs are considered employees of USAID for all purposes except programs administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) - such as federally sponsored health insurance, life insurance, and retirement benefits. However, there are several other similar benefits that USPSCs may participate in, such as partial reimbursement for health and life insurance costs, as well as full coverage of workers' compensation, among other benefits. For more complete information on USPSC benefits, please see page 17 of this solicitation. For more information about OTI and its country programs please see: http://www.usaid.gov/political-transition-initiatives INTRODUCTION The OTI Country Representative based in Nigeria is a member of the Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA)/OTI Africa (AFR) Regional Team, and reports to the OTI Regional Team Leader or his/her designee. The Country Representative's principal responsibility will be the development, oversight and management of DCHA/OTI's Northeast Nigeria country program. The incumbent will be called upon to represent OTI's mission and programs to senior-level government officials, in-country visitors, and senior officials from other international organizations, bilateral donors, and local government officials. Despite Nigeria's economic status and resource wealth, poverty, corruption, and conflict are endemic throughout the country. The main sources of conflict are related to poor resource management, corruption, and poor governance - shortfalls that are further exacerbated by the Boko Haram led insurgency in the northeast which has spread over the borders and into the Lake Chad Basin region that encompasses parts of Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. The violent Boko Haram insurgency in the country's northeast has been fomenting instability in Nigeria and threatening broader regional stability for some time. OTI's Northeast Nigeria program seeks to further U.S. foreign policy objectives in Nigeria through support that diminishes the conditions that allow drivers of instability in Northeast Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region to exist. Drivers may include, but are not limited to, violent extremism, political and economic exclusion, particularly among youth and marginalized groups, lack of state presence and/or good governance coupled with a lack of opportunities for political participation. OTI intends to address these critical issues through a flexible, small-grants mechanism that tailors approaches to the varied needs of communities in northeast Nigeria. The program may utilize both "soft" (e.g., cultural and recreational activities, media and strategic communications) and "hard" (e.g., small-scale infrastructure) activities to better connect communities, local actors, and the Nigerian government, and to increase youth resistance to violent extremism. The program may also support national level activities, such as election support, or other emerging needs. Due to the sensitive, fragile, and challenging environments in which OTI works, the office's approach to programming is one that seeks to find creative, entrepreneurial, and unique ways to approach problem sets. These dynamic contexts require that programs adapt to rapidly evolving situations and that teams continually explore assumptions and test innovative tools and methods to achieve program objectives. Given OTI's short-term political mission, its unpredictable working environments, and the diffuse problems it seeks to address, OTI has developed ways to get smart quickly and act fast. OTI has honed a program approach that uses iterative strategic planning where staff constantly review the current political situation, create relationships with communities and key actors, and undertake activities that will test what works and what doesn't in order to inform future activities and priorities. Core qualities of a successful OTI program are characterized by a team that is able to be fast, flexible, iterative, adaptive, and entrepreneurial. 9. CORE FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The work of the Country/Senior Country Representative requires teamwork, the exercise of discretion, judgment, and personal responsibility. As a member of a highly operational office, the incumbent is willing and able to perform a wide range of administrative functions to help ensure programmatic success. The incumbent has a high level of integrity and attention to detail to ensure the use of OTI systems and procedures to maintain effective and efficient management of funds, programming, and monitoring and evaluation. The incumbent is highly flexible and willing to work under conditions of ongoing change, and remains professional and respectful of colleagues and authority in a diverse workforce. She or he places a premium on the building of positive relationships with his or her respective team both in the field and in Washington, and with key stakeholders both in and outside of USAID. The incumbent is a team player, able to prioritize and follow up on their own actions without prompting, and fills in gaps as needed to ensure the responsiveness of the team. The incumbent is highly responsible, service-oriented, organized, pays close attention to detail, and is able to receive and respond to constructive criticism in a professional manner. The incumbent is able to prioritize and complete tasks without follow up by the supervisor, while also filling in gaps as needed to ensure the responsiveness of the team. The Country/Senior Country Representative is a strategic thinker, articulates innovative ideas, presents solutions, and is a positive role model for colleagues both in and outside of OTI. Under the direct supervision of the Washington-based DCHA/OTI Regional Team Leader for Africa, the Country/Senior Country Representative will perform the following duties: At the GS-14 Country Representative Level: - Conceptualize and design program strategies and objectives in close coordination with OTI staff, USAID personnel, U.S. embassy and local civil society officials, based on political analysis and U.S. Government policy. When necessary, refine strategic objectives and advocate on behalf of new programmatic approaches in country, linked to neighboring country programs, where appropriate; - As requested by Embassies or USAID Missions, provide support for the design and execution of programs that follow OTI's quick impact programming model. Support to Embassies and USAID Missions may also include attendance and/or facilitation of program management processes for follow-on programming, including but not limited to rolling assessments, strategy review sessions, program performance and management reviews; - Communicate and coordinate in-country activities between OTI and its implementing partners, the U.S. Embassy, and other donor organizations; - Design staffing plans to meet overall program objectives and recruit, train, supervise, mentor and evaluate the performance of in-country OTI staff, providing regular feedback; - Monitor local and regional political developments and regularly brief OTI and partner staff on their potential programmatic impact; - Manage and provide day-to-day programmatic, operational, and strategic guidance to OTI's implementing partners (contractors and/or grantees) ensuring that activities are contributing to OTI's program objectives and are within the partner's scope; - Provide recommendations to the Washington-based Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and/or the Regional Team Leader on implementing partner performance, the appropriateness of the partner's scope to OTI's country objectives, partner's budgets, and modifications thereto; - Provide USAID concurrence on all implementing partner activities, including final approval of grantees for grants under contract, in accordance with USAID's Automated Directives System (ADS); - Ensure that OTI's programs and their activities are monitored and evaluated, and that lessons learned from these activities feed into ongoing or future activities; - Analyze and report on current political developments and security concerns, as well as other pertinent information required to achieve OTI's program objectives; - Ensure appropriate resource allocation among OTI field offices and implementing partners; - Prepare and maintain OTI program budgets for field operations; - Serve as OTI's primary liaison with USAID personnel, U.S. Embassy staff, Ambassadors, local government officials, UN organizations, indigenous and international NGOs, and other pertinent agencies and organizations. Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with them in order to ensure close coordination at the field level, identify the widest range of potential partners and opportunities, and achieve maximum synergy with other programs; - Prepare operational plans in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy, including logistics and property use guidelines, closeout and hand-over, security procedures, contingency and evacuation plans; - Ensure the use of OTI systems and procedures to maintain effective and efficient management of funds, programming, and monitoring and evaluation; - Ensure that all OTI and partner field staff adhere to in-country security guidelines set by the U.S. Embassy Regional Security Officer and other organizations such as the United Nations or host government, as appropriate; - Prepare and disseminate programmatic, financial and quarterly reports to the U.S. Embassy, OTI/Washington and other organizations as appropriate; - Supervise staff in conjunction with the Regional Team Leader (e.g. Deputy Country Representative, Program Managers, Program Assistants, Program Administrative Assistants, etc.). Provide orientation, training, and mentoring for staff supervised; assign work, explain how duties are to be performed to meet expectations and communicate how the successful performance of those duties will be measured; evaluate staff performance; recognize good performance; communicate where performance needs to be improved; resolve complaints; and approve leave requests and timesheets as well as training, travel and program and operations requests; - As needed, serve on short-term assignments with other USAID offices or bureaus in direct support of OTI programs. These placements shall not exceed three months; - Perform other duties as determined by the supervisor to ensure successful OTI program implementation. At the GS-15 "Senior Country Representative" Level: Performs the duties of the GS-14 Country Representative, as well as provides regional analysis on the problem sets facing the Lake Chad Basin and how they impact the country of performance. Provides high level technical analysis and guidance to contribute significantly to new approaches by the USG and liaises closely with the Senior Regional Advisor based in Accra, Ghana. - Manage a high-profile program in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Based on political analysis and U.S. Government policy, conceptualize and design program strategies and objectives with the support of OTI staff, USAID, the U.S. Embassy, and other U.S. agencies and departments, as well as national and local government officials, and local civil society representatives. When necessary, refine strategic objectives and advocate on behalf of new programmatic approaches in country, linked to neighboring country programs, where appropriate; - As requested by embassies or USAID Missions, provide support for the design and execution of programs that follow OTI's quick-impact programming model. Support to embassies and USAID Missions may include attendance and/or facilitation of program management processes for follow-on programming including rolling assessments, strategy review sessions, program performance reviews, and management reviews; - Communicate and coordinate OTI's in-country activities between OTI and its implementing partners, USAID, and other donor organizations; - Expertly lead, build, and motivate a team in several locations in the country of performance. Continuously review and design staffing plans to meet overall program objectives and recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate the performance of in-country OTI staff. Maintain staff morale in a difficult security and work environment; - Monitor local and regional political developments and regularly brief OTI and partner staff on their potential programmatic impact; - Manage and provide day-to-day programmatic, operational, and strategic guidance to OTI's implementing partners (contractors and/or grantees) ensuring that activities are contributing to OTI's program objectives and are within the partner's scope; - Provide technical assistance to senior Government of Nigeria officials addressing the stabilization needs and conflict drivers in Northeast Nigeria. - Provide recommendations to the Washington-based Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and/or the Regional Team Leader on implementing partner performance, the appropriateness of the partner's scope to OTI's country objectives, partner's budgets, and modifications thereto; - Provide USAID concurrence on all implementing partner activities, including final approval of grantees for grants under contract, in accordance with USAID's Automated Directives System (ADS); - Ensure that OTI's programs and their activities are monitored and evaluated, and that lessons learned from the activities feed into ongoing or future activities; - Travel extensively in low-security areas of focus to monitor and assess political conditions, meet with potential grantees, and develop activity ideas; - Analyze and report on current political developments and security concerns as well as other pertinent information required to achieve OTI's program objectives; - Ensure appropriate resource allocation among OTI field offices and implementing partners; - Prepare and maintain OTI program budgets for field operations; - Serve as OTI's primary liaison with USAID personnel, U.S. Embassy staff, ambassadors, local government officials, United Nations organizations, indigenous and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other pertinent agencies and organizations. Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with them in order to ensure close coordination at the field level, identify the widest range of potential partners and opportunities, and achieve maximum synergy with other programs; - Create operational plans in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy, including logistics and property use guidelines, closeout and hand-over, security procedures, and contingency and evacuation plans; - In close coordination with other DCHA offices and the U.S. Embassy, develop an exit strategy and operational closeout plan; - Communicate and coordinate OTI's in-country activities between OTI and its implementing partners, USAID, and other donor organizations; - Ensure the use of OTI systems and procedures to maintain effective and efficient management of funds, programming, and monitoring and evaluation. - Ensure that all OTI and partner field staff adhere to in-country security guidelines set by the U.S. Embassy Regional Security Officer and other organizations such as the United Nations or host government, as appropriate; - Prepare and disseminate programmatic, financial and periodic reports to the USAID Mission, OTI/Washington and other organizations as appropriate. Draft periodic reporting cables on OTI activities on behalf of the U.S. Embassy; - Supervise staff in conjunction with the Regional Team Leader. Provide orientation, training, and mentoring for staff supervised; assign work, explain how duties are to be performed to meet expectations and communicate how the successful performance of those duties will be measured; evaluate staff performance; recognize good performance; communicate where performance needs to be improved; resolve complaints; and approve leave requests and timesheets as well as training, travel, program and operations requests; - As needed, serve on short-term assignments with other USAID offices or bureaus in direct support of OTI programs. These placements shall not exceed three months; - Perform other duties as determined by the supervisor to ensure successful OTI program implementation. SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP: The Country Representative will report to OTI's Washington-based Team Leader for Africa, or his/her designee, as well as take direction from the Nigeria Mission Director. SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: The Supervisor will set overall objectives. The employee and the supervisor together will develop deadlines, projects, and work to be accomplished. Work plans, timesheets, regional travel, and funding associated with support costs will be approved through OTI Washington. The incumbent is expected to take initiative, act independently, and manage his/her tasks with minimal supervision. Though this is a senior field-based position for the OTI Northeast Nigeria program, the incumbent is expected to actively and proactively collaborate with OTI Washington leadership, and to fully utilize, embrace, and become an expert on OTI systems and processes. Failure to adequately perform the scope of work above and/or failure to take direction from the Supervisor may result in corrective actions, including denial of step or grade increases, extension of contract probationary periods, performance improvement plans, and/or termination for the convenience of USAID/OTI. 10. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The work is generally sedentary and does not pose undue physical demands. During site visits, there may be some additional physical exertion including long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain, or carrying of moderately heavy items (less than 50 pounds). 11. WORK ENVIRONMENT While in Nigeria, the work is generally performed in an office environment. However, the position also requires travel throughout host country, which may additionally involve special safety and/or security precautions, wearing of protective equipment, and exposure to severe weather conditions. 12. START DATE: Within 45 days of receiving notification that required security and medical clearances have been obtained. 13. POINT OF CONTACT: See Cover Letter. EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION (Determines basic eligibility for the position. Applicants who do not meet all of the education and experience factors are considered NOT qualified for the position. See detailed instructions for demonstrating Education/Experience under "Applying") The USAID Office of Transition Initiatives Country Representative post is a senior-level position requiring supervisory management experience, the ability to serve as an effective liaison with a wide array of individuals and institutions and an in-depth knowledge of international relations in general and of the sub-region in particular. Familiarity with a wide range of issues is necessary, including, but not limited to, community development, mediation/arbitration, conflict resolution, democracy/governance and human rights. Excellent inter-personal, presentation and negotiation skills are necessary. Experience in contract/grant management is required. Prior work experience with U.S. Government agencies and/or managing program operations in civil conflicts is preferred. The successful candidate will possess excellent political analysis and reporting skills and the ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy, responsibility and authority in a highly stressful environment while exercising sound judgment in politically charged and challenging security environments. It is also essential that the incumbent demonstrate the ability to maintain staff morale in a difficult work environment. Strong team-building skills are essential. At a minimum, the applicant must have: At the GS-14 level: (1) A Bachelor's degree with nine (9) years of work experience; OR A Master's degree with seven (7) years of work experience; AND (2) A minimum of six (6) years of project management experience with a U.S. Government foreign affairs agency, international assistance organization, or non-governmental organization in community development, economic development, mediation/arbitration, conflict resolution, democracy and governance, international law, human rights activities, and/or political analysis; (3) A minimum of two (2) years of overseas field experience working in one or more developing countries undergoing political transition; (4) A minimum of two (2) years of supervisory experience (including mentoring, training, and guiding staff). At the GS-15 level: (1) A Master's Degree with a minimum of nine (9) years of work experience; OR A Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of eleven (11) years of work experience; AND (2) Nine (9) years of project management experience with a U.S. Government foreign affairs agency, international or domestic assistance organization, or non-governmental organization in community development, economic development, mediation/arbitration, conflict resolution, democracy and governance, international law, human rights activities, and/or political analysis. (3) Six (6) years of overseas field experience working in one or more developing countries undergoing political transition; (4) Six (6) years of supervisory experience, of which at least three (3) year must include supervisory management experience (defied as supervising at least one other supervisor within an office, division, or team). In addition, the applicant must: (1) Be a U.S. citizen; (2) Submit a complete resume; (3) Submit a supplemental document addressing the Evaluation Factors; (4) Be able to obtain a SECRET level security clearance; (5) Be able to obtain a Department of State medical clearance; (6) Be able to provide satisfactory verification of academic credentials. Applicants who meet the Education/Experience Requirements and Selection Factors will be further evaluated based on scoring of the Evaluation Factors described below. Those applicants determined to be competitively ranked may also be evaluated on interview performance and satisfactory professional reference checks. SELECTION FACTORS (Determines basic eligibility for the position. Applicants who do not meet all of the selection factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.) - Applicant is a U.S. Citizen; - Complete resume submitted. See cover page for resume requirements. Experience that cannot be quantified will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements; - Supplemental document specifically addressing how the candidate meets each of the Evaluation Factors submitted; - Ability to obtain a SECRET level security clearance (NOTE: Dual citizens may be asked to renounce second-country citizenship); - Ability to obtain a Department of State medical clearance; - Satisfactory verification of academic credentials. A USAID Secret level security clearance and Department of State medical clearance are required prior to issuance of the contract for this position. NOTE: If a full security investigation package is not submitted by the selected within 30 days after it is requested, the offer may be rescinded. If a security clearance is not able to be obtained within four months after the selected submits the initial security clearance documentation, the offer may be rescinded. NOTE: The selected must obtain Department of State medical clearance within four months after offer acceptance. If medical clearance is not obtained within this period, the offer may be rescinded. Due to anticipated program needs, individuals should be able to travel to post within 60 days after a contract is awarded. EVALUATION FACTORS (Used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified applicants in comparison to other applicants. The factors are listed in priority order from highest to least.) Applicants should cite specific, illustrative examples for each factor. Responses must be limited to 500 words per factor. Any additional words above the limit will neither be read nor scored. Factor #1 Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects in high-visibility, high-pressure environments, including crisis and/or conflict situations. Please highlight examples of remote project management experience. Factor #2 Demonstrated experience in using political analysis to inform the strategic design and management of programming, especially in conflict prone and/or transition environments. Factor #3 Demonstrated experience in contract and grant management, including overseeing and monitoring a non-Federal organization implementing an assistance activity under a Federal contract, grant, or cooperative agreement. Evaluation Factors have been assigned the following points: Factor #1 - 20 Factor #2 - 20 Factor #3 - 20 Total - 60 Interview Performance - 40 points Total Possible Points: 100 Although no points are assigned to reference checks, such checks will be conducted for selected candidates on a pass/fail basis. BASIS OF RATING: Applicants who clearly meet the Education/Experience Requirements and Selection Factors will be further evaluated based on scoring of the Evaluation Factor responses. Applicants are required to address each of the Evaluation Factors in a separate document 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. Failu...