Foreign Service Limited Position Opportunity: Program Officer – FL-0343-03

Agency: U.S. Agency for International Development
Organization: Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation, Innovation, Technology and Research Hub, Research Division (DDI/ITR)
Location of Position: Washington, DC
Open Period: 11/19/2021 – 12/01/2021
Appointment Type: This is an excepted service, time-limited appointment that is not-to-exceed five years
Salary: USD $94,632 – $138,970 (annually)
Number of Vacancies: One, but the posting may be used to fill additional vacancies as needed

Description of Organization: The Innovation, Technology, and Research (ITR) Hub within the Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI) leads USAID’s work in expanding innovative technologies, processes and practices that amplify the success of USAID’s programming. Within the ITR Hub, the Research Division channels the technical expertise of scientists and researchers to generate and use evidence to inform policies, programs and innovation, while also accelerating local scientific capacity.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: All DDI employees are measured on how they foster a climate of respect in interactions with others, value differing perspectives, and treat others in a fair, equitable, and culturally sensitive manner. All employees are expected to adhere to equal employment opportunity (EEO) policies and value diversity and inclusion in performing everyday duties and responsibilities.

Description of Position: The Program Officer will support ITR’s entire portfolio of programs, policies, and activities by performing award management activities of ITR’s Higher Education Solutions Network suite of programs, and supporting ITR/R’s Operations Team. Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN) suite of programs includes the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER), HESN 1.0 campuses, the Long-Term Assistance in Support of Research (LASER) award, the Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC) contract, and a growing number of programs under ITR’s Science, Technology, Innovation, and Partnership (STIP) Annual Program Statement (APS) and any to be designed programs. This portfolio includes grants, contracts, and capacity building activities, as well as Congressionally-directed programming across a host of Agency priority areas.

The Program Officer may lead or support the entire process of running grant and/or contract programs, including development of acquisition and assistance packages, grant/contract award management through functioning as an Agreement/Contracting Officer’s Representative and/or Activity Manager, and managing the reporting, financial monitoring, and monitoring and evaluation needs for programs. The Program Officer will also serve as a member of ITR/R’s Operations Team, and be responsible for supporting annual reporting, congressional support work, accruals tracking, financial monitoring, spend plan development and actual expenditure tracking, and coordination with ITR’s relevant Program Office and OAA colleagues. The position will require working with a variety of partners including, but not limited to: lower and middle income country universities, U.S. universities, and USAID Missions. The incumbent may assist with a variety of other programs, special projects, ITR priorities and duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (FS-04 or GS-12) of this position. Examples of specialized experience include:
  • Managing scientific research or development activities or programs, including new project proposal/application review, work plan development and award management for large, complex programs (as an A/COR or Activity Manager);
  • Supporting or leading the operational functions of an organizational unit (budgeting, financial monitoring, assistance and acquisition planning, etc.);
  • Must demonstrate strong budget planning, execution, tracking, and strategy skills;
  • Must demonstrate strong analytical, organizational, communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills;
  • Must demonstrate attention to detail, ability to prioritize and potentially delegate tasks and work efficiently; and
  • Must be a solutions-oriented team player who is also able to work independently and be able to manage conflict and competing priorities appropriately, diplomatically, and professionally.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.

Interested candidates should submit:

• Cover letter expressing interest and clearly addressing how you meet the stated qualifications for the position;
• Resume/CV;
• Three references (inclusive of name, title, relationship, email and phone number);
• Stated Security clearance level, if applicable;
• Stated U.S. Citizenship (if citizenship is not stated, application will not be considered); and
• DD214 and other veteran status, if applicable.

Please submit your application package to [email protected]. Please use the subject line: “FSL APPLICATION PACKAGE: ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: DDI_24/32539, PROGRAM OFFICER, FL-0343-03, DDI/ITR/R.” Application submissions are required by 11:59 p.m. EST on 12/01/2021. Packages not submitted by the deadline with the specified subject line—or incomplete packages—will not receive consideration.

This notice may be used to fill additional vacancies, as the workforce needs of the Bureau may change.

EEO Policy Statement
Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Any questions concerning this notice may be directed to:

— Michelle Jones, DDI/ITR, (202) 712-1299, [email protected]