Program Assistant

CAMRIS is an international development and research firm that realizes innovative solutions to health and development challenges through high-quality, cost-effective program and research management services. With experience working in more than 80 countries, we combine our proven systems with today’s most effective, evidence-based best practices to improve the lives of people around the world.

Title: Program Assistant
Location: Washington DC
GS: 7 Equivalency
Application Deadline: Open until Filled

In order to fully evaluate your eligibility, your resume must include relevant paid and non-paid experience showing dates held with month, year and hours worked per week for each position.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Bureau for Policy, Planning, and Learning in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) shapes USAID’s development policy and programming guidance to ensure the Agency’s work is grounded in evidence and reflects the most advanced thinking in International Development.

Within PPL, the Office of Development Cooperation (PPL/DC) is a dynamic, fast-paced office that oversees the Agency’s engagement with bilateral donors and multilateral organizations in order to promote policy alignment with donor partners, advance the Agency’s thought leadership, enhance long-term partnerships and burden-sharing, and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Agency programming. The Office oversees U.S. Government reporting of official aid statistics and provides policy leadership on aid transparency, development effectiveness, and development finance. PPL/DC coordinates USAID’s participation in high-profile international events and meetings, including the United Nations General Assembly and World Bank annual meetings. PPL/DC organizes development dialogues with key bilateral and multilateral partners, and actively contributes to the Agency’s overall engagement strategy.

Over the last year, the Office has taken on additional responsibilities for coordinating and supporting the Agency’s engagement with multilateral organizations in order to promote corporate coherence and accountability. As part of this effort, PPL/DC is the home of the Agency’s Multilateral Policy Clearance process, which is a vital function for the Agency, ensuring USAID has the opportunity to provide consistent technical and leadership input on multilateral policy within the interagency and in multilateral fora.

Finally, the Office has also assumed responsibility for Agency-wide activities involving coordination with bilateral donors and multilateral organizations that had been previously handled by the USAID COVID-19 Task Force.

The Program Assistant (PA) will be an essential member of PPL/DC and, specifically, the Multilateral Affairs Team, where he/she will support the Multilateral Clearance Process. He/she will report on a day-to-day basis to designated Multilateral Affairs Team leadership, and work closely with other Team members on projects as directed.

The PA performs a variety of both complex and routine administrative and technical duties, with a higher or lower relative level of expertise and greater or lesser extent of required oversight and onsite management, depending on grade level (as described below).

The PA provides administrative and analytical support to the PPL/DC Multilateral Affairs Team in support of the Multilateral Clearance Process, performing duties that include activities such as tasking and tracking documents for review, managing team files and records, and analyzing team output. The PA works closely with the assigned team and potentially across other parts of the Office to assist in areas within its purview; assignments may include program support, overall administrative support and other duties as assigned.

The PA supports coordination and follow-up for USAID engagement on COVID-19-related activities in multilateral fora. This includes tracking and managing the team’s engagement in documents and requests to process, which has increased significantly. In addition, the PA supports research and tracking of new and evolving policy positions, especially those related to COVID-19 and the pandemic response.

The PA ranks tasks in order of importance and impending deadlines, and handles several tasks simultaneously. The individual is expected to become familiar with technical issues and policies pertaining to the Agency’s activities in multilateral fora, and must develop a working knowledge of applicable USAID policies and guidelines, as well as corporate practices and procedures. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

At the GS-7 equivalent level, PA time will be split between administrative tasks (approximately 70%) and programmatic or technical tasks (approximately 30%), and may require significant management oversight and guidance.

Specific duties may include:
* Reviews, tasks, and tracks a variety of technical documents, which are received from USAID Bureaus and Independent Offices (B/IO) as well as from within the interagency
* Manages a shared, well-organized electronic filing system, including document tracking, records library, and other electronic files as needed. Keeps filings up-to-date and regularly assesses organization and usability; makes recommendations for changes or improvements as needed
* Performs outreach and communication with internal, and some external, stakeholders both orally and in writing.
* Provides logistical support for meetings. Performs note taking, drafting, and circulation of meeting minutes.
* Drafts correspondence, recommendations, reports, and memoranda related to management and administrative programs and issues, as assigned.
* Performs research and analysis, and writes short reports on topics relating to existing or planned programs.
* Performs and monitors administrative management requirements with the appropriate review. Applies administrative policies, maintains various systems and databases, and handles other staff requirements.
* As needed, supports efforts to coordinate PPL responses to requests from the PPL front office and other Bureaus. Ensures all briefers are complete and submitted in a timely fashion.
* Supports staff in communications with persons and groups from both within and outside USAID in written correspondence, as assigned.

Illustrative examples of possible tasks include:

Program Support
Assist with management, and maintenance of the program and project files;

* Support the preparation of various program documents and correspondence, ensuring that all documentation is complete and in compliance with USAID rules, regulations, and standards;
* Coordinate communications and facilitate feedback among technical staff, including tasking and tracking of relevant documents and note taking; and
* Support the development of team materials using the Google suite of products and/or other software.

Communications/ Knowledge Management
* Manage team documents within Google drive, internal website, and listservs, as appropriate; and
* Follow up with applicable POCs to ensure completion of requests.

Administrative
* Participate in administrative functions of the office to include coordination of special and recurring projects and reports;
* Schedule team meetings and events; Support team with general logistics/support; maintain team calendar, call lines, meeting setup and logistics; and
* Document minutes/notes of regular division and/or branch meetings, or other partner meetings, as required.

Performs other duties as assigned.

* Requires an associate’s degree in a related field and a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Alternatively, an individual may qualify at the GS-7 equivalent Program Assistant level with a bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 1 year of relevant experience.
* A demonstrated general interest in international development and multilateral engagement, and in particular demonstrated interest to the focus area(s) of the host Office is desirable.
* Strong organizational skills.
* Experience in project administration and management procedures preferred.
* Some knowledge of USAID rules, regulations and capacity building concepts is a plus.
* Strong oral, written communication and comprehension skills.
* Ability to handle multi-tasking well.
* Excellent interpersonal skills.
* Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from team members, managers, and others
* Strong quantitative and analysis skills.
* Proficiency in Google suite of programs (e.g., Documents, Sheets, Slides).
* Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
* US. Citizenship.

Applicants selected will be subject to a background investigation and must obtain and maintain a favorable adjudication as applicable to their position/duties

This is an opportunity for employment or a contract, but we reserve the right to make no selection or award.

CAMRIS International offers competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits. Please submit your resume online at www.camris.com. CAMRIS is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by any applicable federal, state, or local law.