USAID TAPS Program Specialist - Office of Country Implementation

REFS Feed the Future Office of Country Implementation

Program Specialist

Background and Introduction:

Jefferson Solutions was awarded a five-year contract to provide technical, administrative, and programmatic support to the Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security (REFS). Through REFS, USAID works to advance inclusive agriculture-led growth, resilience, nutrition, and water security, sanitation and hygiene initiatives in priority countries around the world to help them accelerate and protect development progress.

The Program Specialist will provide programmatic, administrative, and operational support for the day-to-day design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning of RFS-related programs and activities. The Program Specialist will provide all functions needed to support Bureau or Operating Unit leadership and teams to operate effectively, and to meet overall objectives.

Position Summary:

The Program Specialist will support day-to-day functions of the Technical Supervisor to which they are assigned for day-to-day work assignments. Daily activities will include aspects of program assistance and coordination, knowledge management, communications and outreach, budget formulation and monitoring, policy analysis, gender analysis, and program management.

Description of Role:

The Feed the Future Office of Country Implementation (FTF-OCI) offers technical expertise and assistance to field mission, Bureau, and other stakeholders for regional and country strategic planning and programmatic implementation for USAID's investments in agriculture, resilience, nutrition, and water; in line with the Global Food Security Strategy. FTF-OCI works closely with other Bureau offices and centers to analyze performance data and disseminate learning. FTF-OCI also incorporates state-of-the-art approaches and innovations into country programs.

The Program Specialist will support FTF-OCI which consists of the Africa and Asia/LAC/Middle East (ALM) Divisions. Both divisions provide technical assistance to support USAID's Missions' programming for investments in resilience, agriculture, nutrition, and water, and manage the oversight of programmatic performance at the country level for Feed the Future. The Program Specialist is a member of a broader country support team within one of FTF-OCI's regional divisions, which serves as the focal point for disseminating information between Washington and the field, including through co-leading Bureau-level Country Support Teams (CSTs) for Feed the Future target, resilience focus, Water for the World priority, and MSNS priority countries. The FTF-OCI regional divisions facilitate demand-driven and timely technical support from across REFS to USAID's field Missions, the rest of USAID, and the U.S. government interagency for programs in resilience, agriculture, food security, nutrition, and water.

Travel is not a requirement for this position; however, the Program Specialist may be asked to travel and provide in-person support to USAID Missions.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Coordination, Assistance, and Management

• Serves as key liaison with other Offices and Centers to gather information and collaborate with others in the Bureau, Agency, and interagency as needed
• Develop and maintain trackers for use throughout the Office/Center if
• Provide Activity Management of Agency-funded programs as appropriate
• Provide program management support according to the needs of the Office/Center
• Provide logistical support to organize meetings, schedule conference rooms as necessary and ensure proper equipment and materials are available for meetings at least one day prior
• Capture and distribute meeting minutes, summaries of conclusions, and action items
• Provide support to Mission staff to manage programs through all phases of the program cycle, to include program design, procurement, monitoring, evaluation, continuous learning, budget formulation and monitoring, etc.

Knowledge Management

• Generate and maintain documents and spreadsheets using the Google Suite of tools
• Save documents and maintain file structures using USAID portals
• Develop and maintain internal trackers including for logistics and milestone tracking
• Track and follow clearances for Bureau documentation and ensure that formal documentation is of high quality
• Maintain awareness of and follow Agency and Federal guidelines for file retention

Communications and Outreach

• Serve as key liaison to manage incoming requests or external outreach within or outside of USAID on behalf of Office/Center/Division
• Develop templates and support preparation of PowerPoint slide decks, fact sheets, briefers, talking points, blog posts, newsletters and other communications materials
• Support generation and/or management of intranet, internet, or social media site content
• Researches and prepares background information such as briefers, one-pagers, and/or talking points in partnership with colleagues

Budget Formulation and Monitoring

• Track and monitor Office/Center/Division or program funds
• Support budget reviews, budget implementation process, and respond to data calls
• Prepare action memos/funds transfer requests
• Support A/CORs with GLAAS requisitions

Research and Analysis

• Provide desk research, simple data analysis, and interpret data as needed
• Support data syntheses and analyses reports; present findings
• Collaborate to develop and socialize research strategies

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree and a minimum of three years of professional experience (to include internships)
• In lieu of a Bachelor's degree may substitute an Associate's degree plus a minimum of 8 years' experience or a High School Diploma and 10 years' experience
• Ability to obtain a USAID facility access (Public Trust) clearance
• Excellent oral, interpersonal, and written communications skills to effectively interact with government clients, high-ranking officials, and other stakeholders
• Strong prioritization and organization skills with keen attention to deadlines
• Excellent anticipatory skills and proactive approach to work
• Positive and professional attitude and demeanor
• Detail-oriented and interested in producing quality work products
• Proficiency in Google Suite of products
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite of products including excel, word, and PowerPoint
• Experience with USAID, USG or other related organizations is a plus