Project Management Specialist (Humanitarian)

Огляд

The USAID Mission to Ukraine is responsible for the development, implementation and oversight of USAID-funded programs operating throughout Ukraine. USAID development assistance promotes Ukraine’s transition to a democratic, prosperous, stable, healthy country united in its European aspirations.

The Project Management Specialist (PMS) provides expertise, oversight, technical guidance, coordination, and representation of activities procured and implemented by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) in Ukraine. The PMS will work within the USAID/Ukraine’s Office of Humanitarian Assistance (OHA) and coordinate closely with the Mission to ensure the flow of timely and accurate information regarding all BHA activities in Ukraine, provide information and briefings to Embassy counterparts, and maintain relationships with humanitarian partners, other donors, UN representatives, and other relevant stakeholders.

Обов'язки

1. Coordination and Representation: 30%

• the Project Management Specialist (PMS) serves as a key point of contact both to internal USG counterparts and external stakeholders (donors, international organizations, NGOs, etc.), coordinating closely with USAID/Ukraine - the Local Development, Economic Growth, Education and Program offices – to identify areas of complementarity and overlap to maximize the cohesion and effectiveness of all USAID/BHA programming in Ukraine
• in the event BHA deploys a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and/or activates a Response Management Team (RMT) in Washington, the PMS may be called upon to serve in a response role
• while serving on the DART, there may be some additional physical exertion including long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain, or carrying of moderately heavy items (less than 50 pounds) during site visits
• additionally, the work may involve special safety and/or security precautions, wearing of protective equipment, and exposure to severe weather conditions during site visits

2. Monitoring and Program Oversight, Program Management: 30%

• serves as a key point of contact for implementing partners for BHA awards, responding to requests for information and guidance on award parameters and BHA regulations, problem solving challenges related to executing awards, and maintaining an ongoing dialogue regarding contextual and award-specific issues affecting humanitarian organizations in Ukraine
• provides monitoring and evaluation through review and analysis of reports, activity progress benchmarks, regular virtual and in-person meetings, site visits and participation in USAID/BHA’s Ukraine third-party monitoring mechanism
• the Project Management Specialist (PMS) provides recommendations on BHA’s budget and strategy process, sectoral and funding priorities, offers feedback on current and future programming and further discusses potential funding opportunities with current and potential partners, receiving and reviewing concept notes and applications
• the PMS acts as a liaison between implementing partners and BHA headquarters, including Agreement Officer's Representatives (AORs)/ Contracting Officer's Representatives (CORs), the BHA Ukraine team within the Europe Division, and the BHA Technical Program Quality (TPQ) team during both application review and implementation periods
• encourages partners to share program updates, including access impediments, operational challenges, safety and security incidents, any no-cost modifications or other award modifications, etc
• the PMS maintains knowledge of award and activity management by reviewing and understanding current and updated BHA emergency award guidelines and attends relevant sessions pertinent to BHA award management
• the PMS will be cognizant of current events and contextual information affecting program implementation; humanitarian architecture and standard practices; and BHA humanitarian processes and policies, including but not limited to humanitarian principles, the in-country sector or cluster structure, the international and local NGO community, local/national/international trends driving new or increased humanitarian needs, basic sectoral knowledge, and understanding of BHA’s Emergency Application Guidelines
• the PMS must become certified and serve as an Agreement Officer’s Representative/Contracting Officer’s Representative (AOR/COR), as assigned. The AOR/COR provides financial and programmatic oversight of all aspects of managing the agreement or contract; this includes but is not limited to reviewing invoices, requests for approvals, program and project deliverables. such as work plans, annual reports, month status reports, travel requests, key personnel requests, and financial and budget reports.

3. Supervisor Roles: 30%

• exercise direct level supervision and mentorship to team members on grants and portfolio management, to Project Management Assistants and Project Management Specialists working focused on BHA’s business process, portfolio-specific budget and workload management, and post-award monitoring and management
• in close coordination with the Office Director and Deputy Office Director, the Program Management Specialists works with NGOs, IOs, and UN agencies that are developing proposals for BHA (including grant amendments and extensions) to ensure compliance with BHA’s guidelines
• the PMS has discretion to adjust work plans of team members covering a range of sectors such as food assistance, health, multi-purpose cash assistance, shelter & settlements, protection, nutrition, Humanitarian Coordination, Information Management and Assessments (HCIMA), and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
• the PMS participates in office-wide discussions on initiatives that impact program implementation to provide field-based perspectives, as assigned and assumes a leadership role in office-wide policy initiatives to ensure field perspectives are well-represented
• the PMS serves as a peer-mentor for program staff working to increase exposure and experience in field-based humanitarian, Disaster Risk Reduction, and resilience operations
• the PMS must consistently model behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to fostering a non-hostile work environment free of discrimination, bias, unfairness, exclusion, offensive behaviors, and harassment of any kind. Further, must engage in at least one workforce diversity initiative or activity focused on helping to improve the organizational culture while leading and fostering a collaborative, respectful, and professional work environment by demonstrating partnership and teamwork to accomplish team, office, and bureau objectives

4. Reporting: 10%

• the PMS identifies, analyzes and reports on policies and trends that impact humanitarian needs or policies (including external studies and reports). Reports on progress in partners’ work in a concise and consolidated way that can be used in summaries and talking points
• the PMS ensures consistency of messages in information, fact sheets, press releases, responses to requests for information, briefing papers, and other public-information materials related to USAID/BHA’s humanitarian programs in Ukraine and maintains datasets of relevant POCs, funding or other information to facilitate responses to info requests or for talking points.

The contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the U.S., or to other Missions abroad, to participate in the "Foreign Service National" Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.

Вимоги

• education: minimum of University (Bachelor’s) degree in a technical sector (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), food security, health, emergency assistance), political science, international development or affairs, law, social sciences, humanities, public or business administration, logistics/operations, or related field is required
• work experience: minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, development, or social services is required
• language proficiency: fluent in English and fluent in Ukrainian
• advanced knowledge of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief, disaster risk reduction, or disaster preparedness programming and management
• familiarity with donor programming and UN/NGO operations is required. Sophisticated knowledge of regional/national culture, country, external/regional environment, and political situation is required
• ability to interact diplomatically and effectively with high-level U.S., donor, and host country officials required
• ability to work independently, take initiative and exercise good judgment
• atrong interpersonal skills, including ability to work productively with a variety of senior-level contacts
• ability to analyze and report on information on relevant humanitarian and refugee-related topics
• strong communication skills, both written and verbal, in English and Ukrainian
• aillingness and ability to carry out site visits throughout Ukraine (and if necessary, the region), including to refugee camps and border areas, and to international organization and NGO projects, warehouses, and offices
• short listed applicants will be evaluated through a written test in addition to the in-person or virtual interview
• vacancy is open to Ukrainian Nationals (residency/Ukrainian work permit Required)

Умови

• full time (40 hours)
• work in Kyiv, Ukraine
• five-year period of performance with possibility to renew
• market value: Basic Annual Rate (in U.S. Dollars): $56,283 -$73,162
• benefits:
  • health and life insurance coverage: provided under the Compensation Plan
  • Defined Contribution Plan: upon separation, a lump sum benefit equal to 12% of the basic salary earned for the duration worked under the appointment
• allowances (as applicable):
  • meal allowances: annual amount is $853 for employees working on a full-time basis
  • family allowances: the mission provides a child allowance. Grants amounts are subject to change as determined by the Ukrainian State Budget Law
  • unique conditions of work allowances/benefits: 10% of Basic Rate. Additional information may be provided to the selected offeror at the time of the salary offer
• taxes: apply and are deductible as per the Ukrainian government regulations