Foreign Service Contracting Officer
1 month ago
Key member of USAID Mission's in-country development team supporting and/or leading various elements of the USAID program cycle, including strategic planning, project design, activity design, and activity implementation. Assists with strategic planning and project design by analyzing resources needed to actively implement and manage technical assistance.
Supports technical offices in understanding planning and design considerations. Supports the design of activities through which USAID projects are implemented. Analyzes activity requirements; recommends or requires, as appropriate, revisions to statements of work/activity requirement; and determines the appropriate type of acquisition or assistance instrument.
Exercises warrant authority with independent judgment in selecting implementing partners and managing the processes leading to implementing partner selection. Develops and administers solicitations leading to contracts, grants, and other agreements with individuals, firms, and institutions to carry out USAID financed activities. Ensures integrity and fairness throughout USAID Acquisition & Assistance processes. Leads technical evaluation process of proposals/applications for USAID funded projects. Leads selection of implementing partners, award monitoring and maintenance.
Performs cost and price analysis and leads negotiations to determine fairness and reasonableness of proposed price/costs and budgets. Prepares records documentation to explain rationale and methods used in arriving at final cost recommended for award.
Monitors contractor performance for compliance with applicable laws and regulations, delivery schedules, payment provisions, contract data reporting requirements, and satisfactory progress toward achieving contracted-for results and deliverables. Engages with host country officials and implementing partners on a variety of implementation issues.
Delegates authority for day to day implementation management to qualified agency sta and works through and with these officials in providing management oversight (monitoring) over implementing partner performance.
Performs final closeout of assigned contracts/agreements; e.g., assures delivery, inspection and acceptance of contractual end items and that all administrative and reporting actions have been resolved before recommending final closeout of the contract. Continuously updates practices to incorporate changes in Agency policies, priorities, and initiatives.
Develops self and other members of the Acquisition & Assistance workforce to assume increasing levels of responsibility and technical acumen within their respective roles.
You are encouraged to read the entire announcement before you submit your application package. Your application may not receive full consideration if you do not follow the instructions as outlined. This is a Foreign Service announcement. Worldwide availability is a requirement of the position. Successful candidates must be available to work in any country in the world where USAID has a presence. Here is the link to the current list of countries.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
United States Citizenship is required. Relevant education and experience, see Qualifications below. Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Security clearance. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with the Selective Service. If selected, the applicant must sign a statement certifying his registration, or the applicant must demonstrate exempt status under the Selective Service Law. Worldwide Availability. Worldwide availability is a requirement of the position. While USAID uses a bidding system for assignments, Foreign Service Officers must be willing and available to accept assignments to any country where USAID operates. Language-If the applicant is invited to interview, they will also be provided an opportunity to be tested in a USAID tenuring language (as identified in ADS 438maa, USAID Tenuring Languages). Lang Con't -If they have demonstrated in a pre-test that they may have tenure level proficiency in reading and speaking at the level required for that language. Descriptions of these levels can be found in 13 FAH-1 H-242 Rating Scales. Lang Con't - Passing the language test at the tenure level will qualify the candidate for bonus points in the selection process. It will also meet the requirement for tenure if the applicant is selected and later onboards as a Lang Con't - Foreign Service Officer. Proficiency in a USAID tenuring language is not required to apply for or be selected for the foreign service with USAID. It is required to achieve tenure. Lang Con't-All career candidates have five years to achieve the requirements for tenure, which includes language proficiency. USAID will fund language training and testing for career candidates if they do not already have language proficiency. Lang Con't - This training takes place after other required training and prior to departure to the first overseas post. Additional information may be found in ADS 438 Foreign Language Program. Age Requirement - Must be between 18 and 59 years old at the time of application and not yet age 60 on the day of appointment as a Foreign Service Officer. Age Con't- Applicants who are Veterans must be between 18 and 64 years old at time of application and not yet age 65 on the day of appointment. Medical - Prior to being hired, a medical clearance is required for this position that would allow the applicant to serve at any USAID overseas post. If a medical clearance is not granted by the State Department Bureau of Medical Clearances, Medical con't the applicant may seek a reasonable accommodation from USAID. If a reasonable accommodation cannot be reached, then a waiver may be requested. Medical con't-Additional details can be found in ADS 414mab, Waiver Process for Medical Clearance Requirements for Initial Appointments, Tenure Review and Overseas Assignments in the Foreign Service. Drug Testing: These are Testing Designated Positions under the Agency's approved Drug Free WorkPlace Program. All applicants selected for this position will be subject to random drug testing once they begin working for the Agency. Foreign Language Program Position may have promotion potential after assignment overseas.
Qualifications
The qualifications for this position include relevant graduate degree and relevant working experience overseas and or in a diverse environment as specified by:
Relevant overseas experience includes working and living outside the United States while supporting international development. Relevant diverse experience includes working and living in an economically disadvantaged community in the United States. Work must be directly related to the Foreign Service Officer's position, in which a candidate experienced firsthand development challenges, learned foreign languages, encountered different cultures and practices, and/or coordinated and engaged with external partners and local counterparts.
(1) Graduate Degree
Relevant majors for graduate degrees are business administration, public administration, law, banking, international affairs and/or political science, operations research, procurement and contracting or finance with an emphasis on commerce, trade, or materials management.
*Transcript submitted MUST HAVE Included (i) the name of the applicant, (ii) the name of the graduate university, (iii) the date the degree was conferred/awarded, AND (iv) the type of degree awarded OR IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
(2) Working Experience
Relevant professional experience includes government, private sector, commercial contracting, or regulatory affairs, international development, international business, or finance with an emphasis on contract and/or grant management cost analysis and pricing, management consulting, or public and/or nonprofit administration.
(3) Overseas working experience AND/OR experience in a (U.S.) diverse environment
(3a) Relevant overseas and or experience working and living outside the United States while supporting international development.
The applicant will need to demonstrate that the overseas experience is relevant to the technical competencies for a Foreign Service Contracting Officer listed below.
AND OR:
(3b) Diverse environment
Relevant experience in a domestic (U.S.) diverse environment includes working and/or living in an economically disadvantaged community in the United States.
The applicant will need to demonstrate the diverse experience is relevant to the technical competencies for a Foreign Service Contracting Officer listed below.
The experience in (2), (3a) and/or (3b) above must have been achieved after the Bachelor's degree and by the close of the announcement.
Experience must be:
(i) for the minimum number of years required below, and (ii) directly related to the advertised Foreign Service Officer position, in which a candidate experienced firsthand development challenges, learned foreign languages, encountered different cultures and practices, and/or coordinated and engaged with external partners and local counterparts. The applicant will need to demonstrate that the overseas and/or (US) diverse experience is relevant to the technical skills in the backstop.
Volunteer experience. Experience includes relevant paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience, that meets the criteria as defined under "relevant work experience".
Competencies:
Technical
Contracting/Procurement - Knowledge of various types of contractual modalities (contracts, grants, agreements, etc.), techniques of negotiation, and administration or regulatory requirements (for example, Federal Acquisitions Regulations). Preserves the integrity of US Government contracting and assures the fair treatment of offerors and implementing partners.
Information Gathering Analysis, and Problem Solving - Locates and effectively analyzes data or information. Assesses reliability and accuracy of information. Accurately summarizes General findings and conclusions verbally or in writing appropriate to audience. Networks formally and informally into communities of practice that focus on the technical areas and portfolio of the officer. Participates effectively in monitoring and evaluation activities.
Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively. Permits others to express views. Writes clearly, succinctly, and in a professional manner appropriate for the intended audience. Produces written material within established timeframes that are thorough and factually accurate.
Consensus Building - Ability to present positions in a non-confrontational way. Ability to act confidently and decisively within own purview. and support team consensus and moves to implement it.
Customer Service - Identifies customers, both internal and external; Develops and engenders customer-centric focus. Works with more senior officers to prioritize work. Meets established deadlines or negotiates them in face of constraints.
Adaptability and Flexibility - Ability to live in developing countries with difficult conditions such as harsh climate, isolation, civil unrest, quality of local health care, security concerns, pollution levels, and availability of family members employment opportunities. Ability to alter intended course of action to changing situation and constraints.
Motivation and Empowerment - Communicates and comports self in a way that inspires employee commitment, spirit, pride, and trust. Provides opportunities for others to take responsibility. Supports smart risk taking, learning and adapting, innovation, and alternative solutions generated by other staff.
Education
FS-05: Master's or Doctorate level degree in a relevant major PLUS two (2) years of relevant work experience WITH a minimum of one (1) year overseas and/or in a diverse environment is required.*
FS-04: Doctorate level degree (PhD, JD) in a relevant major PLUS three (3) years of relevant work experience WITH a minimum of two (2) years overseas and/or in a diverse environment is required.*
OR Master's level degree in a relevant major PLUS four (4) years of relevant work experience WITH a minimum of two (2) years overseas and/or in a diverse environment is required.*
This vacancy has a reverse grading structure in that grade FS-04 is the higher grade of 04 and 05.
Relevant majors are business administration, public administration, law, banking, international affairs and/or political science, operations research, procurement and contracting or finance with an emphasis on commerce, trade, or materials management.
Relevant work experience is government, private sector, commercial contracting, or regulatory affairs, international development, or finance with an emphasis on contract and/or grant management cost analysis and pricing, management consulting, or public and/or nonprofit administration.
*Transcript submitted MUST HAVE Included (i) the name of the applicant, (ii) the name of the graduate university, (iii) the date the degree was conferred/awarded, AND (iv) the type of degree awarded OR IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Additional information
Benefits and Allowances. USAID offers generous federal benefits that include health and life insurance; annual, sick and home leave; contributory government pension system ( Foreign Service Pension System ); Thrift Savings Plan (with agency matching funds), a student loan repayment program; and while serving overseas, government-provided housing, shipment of household effects, education allowances, country specific incentive pay and allowances, and other support.
Telework. USAID defines telework as a work flexibility arrangement in which an employee performs the duties of their position of record on-site as well as from an approved alternative worksite other than the location from which the employee would otherwise work, on an approved work schedule. During the initial training period in Washington which can last 12-24 months for most new employees, new foreign service officers will be allowed to telework a portion of each two week period if their training and supervised work arrangements allow and there is prior approval from their supervisor. There will be times when they must report in-person 100% of the time based on training and work requirements. This includes all language training at the Foreign Service Institute, and the initial Orientation in the first five weeks on the job. When assigned overseas, telework flexibility is determined by the policy for the U.S. Embassy in that country.
Medical Clearance. A medical clearance or waiver for the applicant is required prior to being hired for this position verifying that the applicant is able to serve at any USAID overseas post. Many USAID assignment locations are remote, unhealthy, or have limited medical support. Therefore, prior to being appointed to the Foreign Service, applicants must have a thorough medical examination and must be able to receive a medical clearance for worldwide availability or obtain a waiver of this requirement.
Foreign Language Ability. Foreign language ability has no effect on whether or not you are selected for an interview. However, to reach required tenured status, you must be able to achieve minimum proficiency levels in a USAID tenuring languag e . Candidates who demonstrate proficiency through an online test will be given the opportunity to test for bonus points that will be added to their final interview score. Bonus testing will be conducted via telephone and/or in person.
Minimum and Maximum Age at Appointment, and Mandatory Retirement Age Career appointments in the Foreign Service are covered by the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as amended which requires an applicant to be 18 years old at time of application and which directs mandatory retirement at age 65 (chapter 8, section 812). Given this mandatory retirement age and the fact that five years must be allowed to achieve tenure in the agency, Individuals must be appointed on or before their 60th birthday, unless the applicant is a preference-eligible veteran who may be hired up to age 65.
Direct Deposit Electronic Funds Transfer is required.
Moving/relocation expenses are authorized for individuals who are not currently living in the Washington, DC area and are not current federal employees with a duty location in the Washington D.C. area.
Applicants who previously applied for this position and were interviewed will not be invited for another interview within one year from the prior interview for the same position.
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