The OTI Deputy Coutnry Representative is a full-time Personal Services Contract (PSC) position at the GS-13 equivalent level and located in Somalia. Applications for this position are due no later than August 10, 2017 at 1:00pm Eastern Time. For full information about this position, as well as instructions on how to apply, please read the entire solicitation at www.OTIjobs.net.
Introduction
The OTI Deputy Country Representative – Somalia is a member of the Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA)/OTI Africa Regional Team, and reports to the OTI Country Representative in Somalia.
The Deputy Country Representative’s principal responsibility will be development, oversight and management of USAID/OTI’s Somalia country program. The incumbent will be called upon to support the OTI Country Representative with managing an implementing partner and may be called upon to represent OTI’s program to local partners, senior-level U.S. government officials, in-country visitors, senior officials from other international organizations, bilateral donors and local government officials.
In the past three years, conditions for peace, stability and good governance in Somalia have taken a significant turn for the better. The African Union Mission for Somalia (AMISOM) has made significant progress in clearing the militant group Al-Shabaab from major population centers, while the Federal Government of Somalia’s initiative to form Interim Regional Authorities (IRAs) represents a major step towards devolution of political power and the formation of a federal system, overcoming the previous failures at nation-building in Somalia, which focused on centralized political control. Federal elections are planned for later 2016, and a constitutional review process is also underway. In addition to all of these, Somalia is increasingly normalizing relations with regional partners, and has made strides in conducting internal peace and reconciliation initiatives between clans. The convergence of these security and political developments presents a unique opportunity for Somalia to progress towards a stable and peaceful state.
Assisting Somalia’s efforts to implement political transition, counter violent extremism, and promote stabilization is an increasingly crucial U.S. foreign policy priority. Aligned with USG policy priorities, USAID/OTI activities will be designed to enhance relations between communities and government institutions, enhance community resilience to destabilizing forces, and enhance the progress of the Somali political roadmap.
The USAID/OTI program will be coordinated with, and complementary to, other USAID and Department of State assistance efforts, as well as assistance from other donors.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Represent OTI interests during meetings with USAID Mission personnel, U.S. Embassy staff, host-country government officials, international organizations, indigenous and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international donors, and others interested in DCHA/OTI activities;
• Provide continued guidance on the identification and development of projects that meet OTI funding criteria, further OTI programmatic objectives, and complement other projects and programs implemented by other OTI offices, U.S. Government agencies and donor organizations;
• 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;
• Evaluate proposals and grant concepts and work with diverse groups, many of which have not previously had international funding;
• Assist the Country Representative in monitoring the performance of OTI implementing partners in the implementation of OTI-financed activities designed to achieve OTI strategic objectives;
• Travel to monitor and assess political conditions, implementing partner operational platforms, meet with potential grantees, host government and other program counterparts, and develop activity ideas;
• Mentor and train OTI and implementing partner field staff as required;
• Take the lead on collecting information and drafting/editing regular reporting products;
• When required, assume higher representational responsibilities, potentially serving as Acting OTI Country Representative in his/her absence;
• Perform a wide range of administrative functions including budget preparation, financial management, records management, and travel assistance, to help ensure programmatic success;
• Coordinate with the OTI Country Representative to develop an exit strategy that ensures reasonable time to transition from OTI programs to follow-on USAID or other donor programs;
• Communicate regularly and share program information with other USAID project managers, the U.S. Embassy, bilateral donors, United Nations organizations, international organizations, and indigenous and international NGOs to ensure visibility and synergy of USAID/OTI activities;
• Support the Country Representative to ensure the use of OTI systems and procedures to maintain effective and efficient management of funds, programming, and monitoring and evaluation;
• When required, report to the OTI Country Representative and OTI/Washington on the status of: 1) grant development and implementation, 2) OTI contractor performance, 3) Foreign Service National (FSN) staff support needs and morale, 4) communication and coordination issues among OTI offices with other U.S. Government entities, 5) security concerns, 6) relations with local partners including local, state and national government representatives, and 7) other pertinent information required to achieve OTI’s program objectives;
• Assist the Country Representative in managing and/or supervising the FSN staff, including program officers, administrative assistants and drivers;
• Supervise staff as delegated by the Country Representative (e.g. Program Managers, Program Assistants, Administrative Program 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, program and operations requests;
• Perform other duties as determined by the supervisor or OTI Regional Team Leader to ensure successful
OTI program implementation.
• Minimum Qualifications 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”)
• A Master’s Degree with five (5) years of work experience;
OR
A Bachelor’s Degree with seven (7) years of work experience;
AND
• Five (5) 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;
• One (1) year of overseas field experience working in a developing country, of which six (6) months must include experience working in one or more countries undergoing political transition;
• One (1) year of supervisory experience (including mentoring, guiding, and training staff).
HOW TO APPLY:
Please direct questions about this position or the application process to the OTI Recruitment Team at otijobs@usaid.gov.