Foreign Service Limited Position Opportunity: Economist, FSL-02

Agency:  U.S. Agency for International Development
Organization:  Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation, Center for Economics and Market Development (DDI/EMD)
Location of Position:  Washington, DC
Open Period:  June 10, 2021 – June 23, 2021
Appointment Type:  This is an excepted service, time-limited appointment that is not to exceed five years but may be considered for further extension for a maximum of nine years.
Salary:  (USD) $116,786 – $171,504 (annually)
Number of Vacancies:  One

Description of Organization:  The Center for Economics and Market Development in the Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI/EMD) works with USAID Missions and Regional Bureaus to ensure that country strategies and projects address key constraints to economic growth and maximize development returns.  These activities are intended to help countries achieve locally sustained results and take greater ownership of their own development agendas. 

Description of Position:  The Entrepreneurial Environment Team within EMD (DDI/EMD/EE) seeks a Financial Economist to provide technical leadership and policy guidance to Bureaus and Missions with respect to all areas of development finance.  The selected candidate will:

• Provide strategic and technical leadership by understanding and conceptualizing local financial and capital market solutions that support USAID’s programming;
• Serve as an advisor on all things related to finance in a given market or sector; and
• Manage a broad financial portfolio, from international capital markets to access to finance at the firm level.  

Qualifications:

• Mastery, through both education and experience, of principles, concepts, laws, and regulations related to financial markets and financial intermediation.
• Experience assessing and developing new concepts, methodologies, and transactions to broaden and deepen financial markets and to increase financing in underserved markets.
• Direct experience with financial transactions in emerging markets, and experience working on and influencing the functions of financial markets and actors.
• You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (FL-03) of this position.

Examples of specialized experience include: 

• Demonstrated experience and familiarity with both bank and non-bank financial institutions in emerging markets.
• Understanding and experience working with different financial instruments such as various types of debt, equity, and/or funds.
• Understanding of financial risks and how they are priced and managed in a financial structure. 
• Knowledge of financial structuring.
• Broad understanding of impediments to accessing finance and investment in emerging markets.
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of macro-fiscal frameworks and monetary and fiscal policies and operations in emerging markets.
• Understanding of foreign exchange dynamics.
• Practical knowledge and familiarity with USAID programs, policies, and procedures is preferred.

Interested candidates should submit the following:

• Resume/CV;
• A short written statement of interest;
• Official or unofficial transcripts;
• Stated Security clearance level;
• 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 “DDI Announcement No. 32389/DDI_448, Economist, FSL-02, DDI/EMD.”  Application submissions are required by 11:59 p.m. (EST), June 23, 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:

— Chris Thurlow, DDI/EMD, [email protected]