USAID/ Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance/Washington, DC
Position Title: Private Sector and Diaspora Advisor
Solicitation Number: SOL-OFDA-16-000012
Salary Level: GS-14 Equivalent: $107,325- $139,523
Issuance Date: November 30, 2015
Closing Date: December 21, 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) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), is seeking applications from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal services as a Private Sector and Diaspora (PSD) Advisor under a United States Personal Services Contract (USPSC), 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. 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/email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). Current and/or previous supervisors may be contacted for a reference.
(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. 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 the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) shown in the solicitation.
3. USPSC Application form AID 302-3. Applicants are required to complete and sign the form.
Additional documents submitted will not be accepted. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. OFDA reserves the right to select additional candidates if vacancies become available during future phases of the selection process.
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. Your complete resume, supplemental document addressing the QRFs, and USPSC Application form AID 302-3 must be emailed to:
OFDA Recruitment Team
E-Mail Address: recruiter@ofda.gov
Website: www.OFDAjobs.net
Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to OFDA Recruitment Team via the information provided above.
Sincerely,
Renee Reed
Contracting Officer
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The PSD Advisor will lead OFDA's efforts to build and strengthen partnerships with the private sector, foundations, and diaspora communities. To accomplish this mission, the PSD Advisor will collaborate with colleagues throughout OFDA, primarily in Washington, but also with field colleagues as needed. The PSD Advisor will build strong relationships within USAID, with a particular focus on engaging with other Bureaus, including the Global Development Lab, which houses a number of initiatives focusing on driving innovation through public-private partnerships. In addition, the PSD Advisor will build relationships across the broader USG interagency, to include the Department of State, Commerce, Treasury, Defense, Health and Human Services, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The PSD Advisor will also collaborate regularly with the USAID's Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI), which serves as a critical liaison between OFDA and the diaspora communities whose home countries have been impacted by disasters.
The PSD Advisor will strive to build public-private partnerships with local and international companies, as well as business associations and other private sector entities in the realm of disaster response and disaster risk reduction. He or she will provide critical analysis related to private sector engagement with OFDA's work, and will serve as a key source of information on issues related to interactions with the business community and with issues involving the diaspora.
In addition to the core duties described above, the PSD Advisor will be asked to serve in critical coordination roles on RMTs in Washington, or may be asked to deploy for limited periods overseas to DARTs.
While serving on DARTs and RMTs, the Private Sector and Diaspora Advisor will report through the DART/RMT chain of command, but will also be expected to coordinate closely with the HPGE Division. While not serving on a DART or RMT, the Private Sector and Diaspora Advisor will report directly to the Humanitarian Policy Team Leader.
The position requires experience with and a thorough understanding of the international humanitarian assistance environment, operations, related policies, regulations, and inter-relationships between the USG, donor, private sector, and other international organizations.
The PSD Advisor's duties and responsibilities will include the following:
• Independently plan, design and carry out programs, projects, studies or other work. Results are considered authoritative and are normally accepted without significant change.
• Provide information to the private sector on partnering with USAID in humanitarian response, and disaster risk reduction efforts. Evaluate innovative and new approaches from all levels of the private sector network (including large corporations, small businesses, trade associates, etc.) with the aim of providing high quality services and products that can contribute to OFDA's humanitarian goals.
• Promote best practices in private sector engagement in the field of humanitarian assistance through compilation and sharing of lessons learned; improve decision-making based on these lessons learned.
• Develop guidance for the private sector seeking business opportunities with USAID in response to crises.
• Develop protocols and standard operating procedures to increase RMT and DART ability to effectively engage with the private sector.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships and formal partnership agreements (where valuable and appropriate) with private sector entities in close coordination with USAID's Global Relationship Manager program, based on a mutual understanding of roles and responsibilities, as well as assessed needs of communities, and core competencies of the sectors involved.
• Initiate and maintain strong working relationships with private sector and diaspora stakeholders in order to promote understanding of humanitarian principles and best practices and coordinate disaster response activities.
• Liaise closely with the USAID's Global Development Lab, Center for Transformational Partnerships to access private sector engagement tools and resources and customize them, when possible, for a humanitarian response context. Coordinate with USAID's Communities of Practice focused on private sector engagement and diaspora engagement pertaining to humanitarian issues, in close coordination with USAID CIDI. Work with other USAID stakeholders to ensure complementarity, including participation in sector or geographic focused partnership communities of practice as is timely and appropriate.
• Provide input into USAID annual and special reporting and lessons learned on Agency private sector and diaspora engagement.
• Develop strong understanding of and facility with USAID's partnership and private sector engagement authorities and approaches, including but not limited to: The Global Development Alliance (GDA), the Development Credit Authority (DCA), Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), Letters of Intent (LOIs), Gift Authority, and Multi-Stakeholder Alliances.
• Initiate and maintain strong working relationships with the UN and other donor countries in order to coordinate disaster response activities in the area of private sector and diaspora engagement. In close coordination with other teams within the HPGE Division, work with counterparts in other donor organizations to exchange information, establish meetings on specific issues, contribute to publications, collaborate to jointly advance the humanitarian sector's effectiveness in engaging private sector and diaspora stakeholders and collect information on training opportunities; coordinate these activities with relevant USAID officers.
• In collaboration with USAID CIDI, advise OFDA staff on issues regarding in-kind donations and requests for USG support and information sharing from private and public interest groups, including those formed on an ad hoc basis during disaster assistance operations.
• Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with relevant USG interagency offices and serve as an expert point of contact for these groups in the area of public-private partnerships related to humanitarian response, and outreach to diaspora communities.
• Anticipate the needs of the organization regarding developments in the areas of humanitarian private sector engagement or engagement with diaspora communities, and prepare analyses, briefings, documents and meetings as required.
• Organize and/or attend various meetings with private sector stakeholders, NGO, UN, other donors, and members of various diaspora communities, to provide authoritative information and views related to public-private partnership opportunities, and strategic planning for disaster response and risk reduction.
• Liaise closely with the USAID-State Department International Diaspora Engagement Alliance (IDEA), which works with diaspora communities around the globe to promote sustainable development. In line with the USAID's Resilience efforts, work with these development partners to enhance the outreach of these programs and improve disaster risk reduction and response efforts through the engagement of diaspora communities.
• Represent USAID at meetings with the private sector, UN, international organizations, and other donors and other conferences sponsored by members of the international community, and provide guidance and advice on USG positions related to the private sector and diaspora community. Make recommendations to the appropriate officials in USAID.
• Work closely with USAID CIDI on issues related to diaspora and outreach, particularly related to ongoing emergencies.
• In collaboration with other parts of USAID and as part of a senior team working in the HPGE Division, interact with State Department colleagues on developing strategies related to private sector and diaspora communities on humanitarian assistance issues. Provide senior leadership with analysis and guidance on these issues as required.
• Serve, as needed, on RMTs, which provides services and support to DARTs deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will be varied.
• Serve as the OFDA after-hours duty officer on a rotational basis, for approximately one week every six months.
• Serve, as needed, on DARTs which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment overseas.
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.)
Bachelor's degree with study in, or pertinent to, the specialized field of, but not limited to, international relations, economics, business management, and nine (9) years of professional experience, of which five (5) have been in the private sector, including, but not limited to, two (2) years with emergency relief, disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness or international development. Experience working with an international organization strongly preferred.
OR
Master's degree with study in, or pertinent to, the specialized field of, but not limited to, international relations, economics, business management, and seven (7) years of professional experience, of which five (5) have been in the private sector, including, but not limited to, two (2) years emergency relief, disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness or international development. Experience working with an international organization strongly preferred.
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.
• USPSC Application form AID 302-3. Applicants are required to complete and sign the form.
• Supplemental document specifically addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) submitted.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance as provided by USAID.
• Ability to obtain a Department of State medical clearance.
• Satisfactory verification of academic credentials.
QUALITY RANKING FACTORS (QRFs)
(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.)
QRF #1 Proven experience in the private sector. Demonstrated knowledge of the private sector and diaspora communities' engagement in humanitarian response efforts. Additional experience working with diaspora communities is preferred.
QRF #2 Demonstrated diplomatic, interpersonal, and representational skills in order to work effectively with senior representatives from private sector, diaspora community, other donors, USG interagency, and/or USAID.
QRF #3 Excellent written communication skills as demonstrated through the preparation of concise, clear, compelling and grammatically sound documents describing a position or situation.
QRF #4 Demonstrated ability to consistently and independently perform in a high-pressure environment; strong work ethic and ability to initiate, develop and manage multiple projects simultaneously; excellent personal organization, facilitation, meeting planning, and team skills.
QRF #5 Demonstrated understanding of humanitarian principles and international humanitarian system concepts and issues.
BASIS OF RATING: Applicants who meet the Education/Experience requirements and Selection Factors will be further evaluated based on scoring of the 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 in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, and/or education they have received as it pertains 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 factors and/or Quality Ranking Factors may result in not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, and/or training.
The most qualified candidates may be interviewed and required to provide a writing sample. OFDA will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for applicants being considered for selection. Note: Please be advised that references may be obtained independently from other sources in addition to the ones provided by an applicant. OFDA reserves the right to select additional candidates if vacancies become available during future phase of the selection process.
The Applicant Rating System is as Follows:
QRFs – 40 points
QRF #1 – 15 points
QRF #2 – 10 points
QRF #3 – 5 points
QRF #4 – 5 points
QRF #5 – 5 points
Interview Performance Round 1 – 10 points
Interview Performance Round 2 – 30 points
Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – 20 points
Total Possible Points: 100
APPLYING:
Applications must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in the cover letter.
Qualified individuals are required to submit:
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 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/email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). Current and/or previous supervisors may be contacted for a reference.
(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. 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 the QRFs shown in the solicitation.
3. USPSC Application form AID 302-3. Applicants are required to complete and sign the form.
Additional documents submitted will not be accepted.
By submitting your application materials, you certify that all of the information on and attached to the application is true, correct, complete, and made in good faith. You agree to allow all information on and attached to the application to be investigated. False or fraudulent information on or attached to your application may result in you being eliminated from consideration for this position, or being terminated after award, and may be punishable by fine or imprisonment.
To ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your application, and as the subject line in any email.
DOCUMENT SUBMITTALS
Via email: recruiter@ofda.gov
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