Development Program Specialist

CLOSING DATE OF THE POSITION: February 29, 2016

Vacancy Announcement Number: 16/008

ALL ORDINARILY RESIDENT (OR) APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENCY PERMITS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.

The US Mission in Dar es Salaam is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the position of Development Program Specialist at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION

This position is located in the Program Office within USAID/Tanzania. The incumbent serves as the senior program specialist in the Program and as a senior advisor to the Program Officer and the Mission’s Front Office. S/he is responsible for managing the Mission’s robust program budget portfolio (over $400 million in FY 2015), working with staff at all levels and across the entire Mission. S/he also provides technical direction and assists in coordinating the Mission’s development efforts with respect to analysis, design, planning, budgeting, assessment, evaluation and reporting of all development assistance to Tanzania.

"Under the Development Program Specialist position, USAID is willing to accept applicants with fewer than the required minimum number of years of experience but these employees will be considered trainees and begin at one grade lower. Attainment of the higher grade level is contingent upon the Specialist successfully completing all required training, years of experience to reach the fully qualified level, in addition to meeting agreed-upon objectives and milestones, and performing in a fully successful manner. Failure to obtain the minimum qualification of the next grade level may be grounds for termination."

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Operations and Coordination (35%)

• Serves as the main liaison between AFR/DP and USAID/Tanzania, on all program-funded budget related issues. Acts as the intermediary between Strategic Objective Teams, Support Teams, and AFR/DP on all program-funded budget related matters.
• Liaises with USAID/Tanzania support offices, USAID/Washington, and contracting mechanisms on scheduling requests for services.
• Serves as a key liaison with the Ministry of Finance on budget and program issues, in particular the negotiation and execution of Strategic Objective Agreements and Strategic Objective Implementation Letters as well as seeking greater understanding of USAID positions within the Government of Tanzania.
• Program Office Director and other office directors and team leaders on all aspects of budgeting and programming U.S. Government development assistance in Tanzania. Responsible for coordinating and/or providing guidance on Mission-wide preparation of major budget and program documents (e.g. Congressional Budget Justification, Operating Year Budget, Annual Performance Report, Operational Plan, Mission Strategic Plan, and Country Assistance Strategy).
• Coordinates detailed financial analyses of program portfolio with Controller’s Office and Strategic Objective Teams (pipeline analysis, expenditure review, and mortgages) and make recommendations to Mission Management on appropriate allocation of the Operating Year Budget.
• Coordinates with Development Objective Teams and offices across the Mission in the preparation of Mission Resource Request to ensure completeness, accuracy and timely submission to Washington.
• Monitors and provides analyses on USAID’s adherence and opportunities under Government of Tanzania’s poverty reduction strategy, sector strategies, and the Joint Assistance Strategy for Tanzania.

Implementation Support and Monitoring/ Management of Program Budgets: (40%)

• Manages USAID/Tanzania’s Operating Year Budget process, which includes developing yearly budgets, advising management on appropriate distribution of program funds in light of mortgage, pipeline and other concerns.
• Maintains and manages records that track program budget and procurement plans for the entire Mission, ensuring the availability of timely accurate budget data for the entire Mission, using an Agency approved electronic database system.
• Coordinates, provides guidance, and monitors all obligation and pre-obligation requirements ensuring that Strategic Objective Teams are in compliance with all budget regulations (CNs, Assistance Checklists, Strategic Objective Agreements, Strategic Objective Implementation Letters, Modification Acquisition and Assistance Request Documents, waivers, Action Memos).
• Prepares and submits to Washington monthly tables on obligation status.
• Reviews/analyzes all bilateral activity and strategic objective agreements, memorandum of understanding, implementation letters, and provide advice to the Program Office Director. Participates in negotiations with Ministry of Finance officials to obtain agreement and approvals of Strategic Objective Agreements.

Other Program Office Backstopping: (25%)

• Assists the Program Office Director in providing guidance to Development Objective Teams and technical offices on program related matters, and USAID regulations and procedures.
• Assists the Program Office Director in identifying and facilitating resolution of program and budget issues, responding to normal outside inquiries on the USAID program.
• Assists the Program Office Director and Controller’s Office in the preparation of the program assistance section of the Internal Control Assessment, audit and financial accountability.
• Represents USAID in meetings and workshops.

Serves, on an ad hoc basis, as a Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR) and on evaluation teams and partner/personnel selection committees.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

All applicants must address each required qualification listed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not qualified.

1. Education: 
   University degree in business/public administration, economics, finance or related social science field, or its equivalent. is required.
2. Experience: 
   At least five years of progressively responsible prior experience in economic and social development. Experience could include analysis and interpretation of data and presentation findings in written and oral form. Prior work experience with US Government or other multilateral development agencies is highly valuable is required.
3. Language:
   Level IV (fluent) in English and Kiswahili (writing, reading and speaking) is required. (This will be tested)
4. Skills and Abilities: 
   S/he must have demonstrated analytical ability and proven oral and written skills (writing skills will be tested). The incumbent will also be expected to participate actively in selected meetings with Embassy staff, USAID/W representatives, other donors, GOT officials, as well as other partners. Finally, the incumbent must be able to work collaboratively with all other mission staff is required.
5. Job Knowledge: 
   Thorough knowledge of the substantive and administrative elements of U.S. Government budget and program orientation. Standard knowledge of computer applications, especially in spreadsheet software such as Excel is essential. Must be able to analyze and evaluate financial and program information is required. (This will be tested).

SELECTION PROCESS: When qualified, applicants who are U.S. Citizen Eligible family Members (USEFMs) and/or preference-eligible U.S. Veterans are given a preference in hiring. Therefore, it is essential that these applicants make themselves known as having a hiring preference and specially address the required applications above in their application.

HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER: 
1. USEFM who is ALSO a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran
2. USEFM OR a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran
3. FS on LWOP

ADDITIONAL SELECTION CRITERIA:

1. Management will consider when determining successful candidacy: nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status.
2. Current OR employees serving a probationary period are not eligible to apply. Current OR employees with an Overall Summary rating of Needs Improvement or Unsatisfactory on their most recent Employee Performance report (EPR) are not eligible to apply.
3. Current NOR employees hired on a Family Member Employment (FMA) or a Personal Service Agreement (PSA) are not eligible to apply within the first 90 calendar days of their employment, unless they have a When Actually Employed (WAE) work schedule.

HOW TO APPLY: applicants must submit the following documents to be considered:

1. Universal Application for Employment (UAE)(Form Ds-174), which is available on our website or by contacting Human resources, (see “For Further Information” above); and
2. Any additional documentation that supports or addresses the requirements listed above (e.g. transcripts, degrees, etc.)
3. Copy of Passport, or, National ID, Resident/Work Permit.

IMPORTANT: Applicants claiming a U.S. Veteran’s preference must submit written documentation confirming eligibility (e.g., Member Copy 4 of Form DD-214, Letter from the Veteran’s Administration, or certification documenting eligibility under the VOW Act with an expected discharge no later than 120 days after the certification is submitted) by the closing date of the vacancy announcement. If the written documentation confirming eligibility is not received in the HR office by the closing date of the vacancy announcement, the U.S. Veteran’s preference will not be considered in the application process. Specific criteria for receiving a U.S. Veteran’s preference may be found in HR/OE’s Family Member Employment Policy (FMEP).

WHERE TO APPLY: 

American Embassy
Human Resources Office
P.O. Box 9123
Dar es Salaam