Vacancy Announcement: USAID Project Management Specialist (Private Sector Engagement)- FSNPSC-11

USAID/Nepal invites applications for employment from all interested and qualified candidates for the position of USAID Project Management Specialist (Private Sector Engagement) in the Economic Growth Office, under a Foreign Service National (FSN) Personal Services Contract (PSC) subject to availability of funds.

OPEN TO:                  All interested and qualified candidates

POSITION:                 USAID Project Management Specialist (Private Sector Engagement)- FSNPSC-11

OPENING DATE:       September 1, 2021

CLOSING DATE:       September 15, 2021 – 5:00 P.M. Kathmandu time

WORK HOURS:         Full-time; 40 hours/week

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

BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION:

The incumbent serves as the Mission’s Private Sector Engagement Specialist (hereafter “The Specialist”) within USAID/Nepal’s Economic Growth Office.  The Specialist will identify strategic opportunities to engage the private sector across all sectors of the Mission’s portfolio, and will deepen USAID/Nepal’s collaboration with the private sector in seeking market-based approaches to sustainably resolving complex development challenges.  The position is also responsible for overseeing a broad range of project and activity coordination, management and design duties related to private sector development and economic growth.  The incumbent provides the Economic Growth Office, Mission management, and the interagency, with policy recommendations and advice on the development of strategic alliances with the private sector, and on economic growth and business enabling environment policy.  S/he must possess excellent skills in relationship building, project management and performance monitoring abilities, and have the requisite communication and interpersonal skills to effectively represent USAID priorities to the private sector, implementing partners, Government of Nepal officials, development partners, and across the interagency.  In addition to strong technical skills and experience in economic growth and private sector engagement, the position requires exceptional leadership abilities, and the abilities to work effectively with diverse stakeholders across sectors.  The Specialist plays an important role in advancing the Mission’s priorities for diversity, equity, and inclusion, both programmatically and within the workplace. 

The Specialist serves as the Agreement Officer’s Representative/ Contracting Officer’s Representative (AOR/COR) or the alternate AOR/COR for multiple Mission activities related to private sector strengthening, partnerships with the private sector, and economic growth. While based at Embassy Kathmandu, the position requires frequent travel for field monitoring, extensive coordination with Provincial and Municipal officials and private sector partners based throughout the country, and U.S. Government representation at field events.  The position requires occasional international travel for U.S. Government representation, engagement with partners, and other events.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Education: A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in Economics, Business Administration/Management, Finance, Development, or a related field is required.
2. Prior Work Experience: Not less than five years of progressively responsible experience in the private sector and/or economic growth fields is required. Experience must include demonstrated project management skills. Proven private sector expertise including product development, marketing, financing, partnership development, and investment promotion, is required. Demonstrated understanding of diversity, inclusion and equity principles and programmatic approaches is required. 
3. Post Entry Training: Completion of formal COR/AOR training is required, and this training will be provided. In addition, training in USAID-specific procedures, regulations, and methods, and an on-the-job orientation to working from a donor-agency perspective, if required, will be provided. Formal courses offered for professional USAID staff, as appropriate; and courses, seminars, conferences, and other activities in fields related to the function and needed to maintain and update professional and expert qualifications as they become available, subject to availability of funds.
4. Language Proficiency: Level IV English reading, writing and speaking ability is required.  Fluent reading, writing and speaking ability in Nepali (Level IV) is required. Must be able to speak in a concise, articulate and thoughtful manner on development programs and issues. 
5. Job Knowledge: The Specialist must have highly developed professional-level knowledge of business skills and practices, development principles, concepts, and practices as they relate to economic growth and private sector development. The Specialist must have knowledge of Government of Nepal structures including at the sub-national level, institutions, and policies, and be familiar with private sector strengthening, business enabling environment, and economic reform projects funded by other international development partners. S/he must be familiar with the laws and regulations pertaining to the private sector and business enabling environment in Nepal. S/he must be familiar with the barriers to entry of women, youth, and marginalized populations in business, employment, and market opportunities and knowledgeable in strategies to reduce those barriers. S/he must understand the concept of global climate change and how it affects Nepal and Nepali businesses, and must be familiar with PSE opportunities in climate change adaptation and mitigation.  S/he must demonstrate understanding of and be able to explain the concepts of diversity, inclusion, and equity and relate them to their work, and have the ability to gain and apply knowledge of U.S. Government and Government of Nepal context and policies on diversity, inclusion, and equity.  S/he must participate in diversity, equity and inclusion trainings and demonstrate the ability to explain how they can effectively be integrated into development programming and the workplace environment. 
6. Skills and Abilities: The Specialist must be able to demonstrate leadership in integrating and achieving equity, diversity, and inclusion as they regard private sector engagement and the workplace.  S/he must have demonstrated experience fostering a work environment that promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion and that does not tolerate harassment, exclusion or inequality.  In addition, the position requires a high degree of competence, professional maturity, and experience in the understanding of the private sector and economic growth.  The position requires excellent analytical skills, initiative, and resourcefulness to identify and assess complex development problems, policies, and programs, to provide sound advice on program direction and implementation, and to manage experts for various analyses and assessments.  Requires excellent technical, managerial, and interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with and represent the U.S. Government  to mid- and high-level representatives of the private sector and the Government of Nepal.  The Specialist must be able to prepare precise, factual, and analytic reports, and must be proficient in word processing, the use of computer-based spreadsheets, and the preparation and delivery of high quality presentations.  S/he must be able to effectively engage groups of diverse stakeholders in virtual and in-person meetings.  While extensive travel is required, reasonable accommodations will be provided in the event of travel limitations. 

  A detailed job description for the position can be obtained by visiting USAID/Nepal’s website at http://www.usaid.gov/nepal/careers  or by requesting USAID/Nepal’s Human Resources Office ([email protected]).

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and a resume – not to exceed 3 pages – and any other documentation that addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed in the full job description.  Please provide names of three references and their contact numbers and email addresses as well.  Please send your application to the attention of USAID/Nepal Human Resources Office, U.S. Embassy Maharajgunj, G.P.O. Box. 295, Kathmandu, Nepal.  Applications may be sent electronically to: [email protected]

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted to participate in the hiring process.

USAID/Nepal is an equal opportunity employer committed to a staff composition that reflects the social and ethnic diversity of Nepali society. We believe that social inclusion and diversity contribute to excellence. USAID/Nepal makes hiring decisions without regard for gender, gender identity, caste, race, ethnicity, disability, marital status, age (if over 40), or sexual orientation. Applicants from ALL backgrounds are encouraged to apply.