Project Management Specialist (State Owned Enterprise)

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 vacancy involves work at The USAID/Ukraine Office of Economic Growth (OEG). OEG manages a large, dynamic portfolio of contracts and cooperative agreements focused on infrastructure development, trade and competitiveness, financial sector reform, agriculture, energy, state-owned enterprises, and digital development.

The Economic Growth (EG) Project Management Specialist (PMS) for State Owned Enterprise (SOE) Reform has the primary responsibility to support the FSN-12 Senior Project Management Specialist for State Owned Enterprise Reform in their provision of technical direction on corporate governance, privatization, public asset management, State Owned Enterprise accountability and reform, and managing related projects.

Обов'язки

A. Activity Management and Strategic Objective Attainment Responsibilities: 60%

1. Program and Project Activities:

a. Contracting Officer Representative (COR)/Agreement Officer Representative (AOR) Roles – Implements and manages assigned contracts, cooperative agreements and/or grants to achieve USAID/Ukraine economic growth objectives. With respect to contracts, monitors implementation progress in achieving tasks described in statements of work, assesses impact and issues written directives to contractors that:

• approve work plans, approaches, solutions, designs, or refinements
• fill in details or otherwise complete the general description of work or documentation items
• shift emphasis among work areas or tasks; or
• as necessary, recommends changes to scopes of work to Contract Officers. Reviews invoices and provides concurrence for accuracy of implementing partner billings to USAID, and prepares quarterly accruals in coordination with implementing partners

With respect to cooperative agreements, monitors progress in achieving the objectives of program descriptions and being substantially involved in areas delegated by the Agreement Officer, including:

• approval of recipient Implementation Plan
• approval of specified Key Personnel
• approval of the Recipient’s monitoring and evaluation plans
• as necessary, recommends changes to the Program Description, technical provisions, and/or any other term or condition of the award. Reviewing the recipient's request for payments or financial reports and providing or denying administrative approval

With respect to grants, monitors progress in achieving the objectives of program descriptions. Reviewing the recipient's request for payments or financial reports and providing or denying administrative approval.

Reviews and analyzes implementing partners' reports, and conducts site visits and evaluations to ensure benchmarks, objectives and goals are met on time. Coordinates assigned projects with other USG and donor activities and advises the FSN12 Project Management Specialist for State Owned Enterprise Reform, Office Director and Mission Director on assigned matters related to project implementation and performance. As necessary, contributes to, proposes, and/or drafts memorandums of understanding at the level of Mission Director to Minister, to solidify government-to-government understandings and agreements to ensure further accomplishment of intended project results.

b. Applied Technical Expertise – maintain and apply technical expertise on the specific areas of responsibilities within the Economic Growth (EG) office. Responsible for supporting the Senior Project Management Specialist for State Owned Enterprise Reform in providing guidance on new project designs and overseeing technical implementation of on-going projects:

• monitoring, evaluating, and measuring the performance of USAID Economic Growth's implementing partners' workplans
• providing written and oral direction to ensure effective project implementation
• providing technical direction to improve or resolve unanticipated problems or challenges that arise during project implementation

The PMS, in consultation with the Senior PMS for SOE Reform, recommends and/or directs implementing actions to partners regarding program activities and follows up on these recommendations to ensure that they are carried out fully and accurately. The PMS coordinates activities assigned to him/her as appropriate with host country parliamentary, ministerial, and agency counterparts and other implementing partners programming activities on behalf of USAID or the U.S. Government, as well as with other international donors and their partners working in related areas. The PMS participates in conferences and forums and tracks advances made in Ukrainian policies, legislation, regulations, administration, and institutions.

c. Monitoring and Evaluation – The PMS, in coordination with the Senior PMS for SOE Reform, undertakes monitoring and evaluation of assigned activities described in approved workplans. During startup of new Economy Growth (EG) office programs and activities, he/she will advise on the development of monitoring and evaluation plans, and the inclusion of appropriate indicators in work plans. The PMS reviews and validates quarterly and annual program and financial reports submitted by implementing partners consistent with USAID regulations, paying particular attention to activity and financial indicators (e.g., expenditures, burn rate/pipeline analysis and congruity of expenditures against activities, and needs for incremental funding). The PMS will work closely with the Office of Financial Management and will review and approve monthly vouchers and quarterly accruals.

d. Project Design – Drawing on his/her technical expertise, the PMS builds on the Senior PMS for SOE Reform’s initial concepts for projects supporting SOE reform and restructuring, corporate governance, privatization, public asset management, and government fiscal accountability. They may draft and/or modify statements of work as directed by the Senior PMS for SOE Reform. The PMS applies technical expertise to ensure the application of sound development hypotheses, the use of appropriate and applicable technologies, market-based principles, long-term sustainability and leverage of other US Government or other donor-funded development activities.

2. Mission Performance Monitoring Plan:

The PMS will ensure data is collected and synthesized for USAID/Ukraine's Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). To fulfil this task, the PMS is responsible for:

• tracking the collection of performance data; this data will come from numerous sources such as USAID/Ukraine's cooperating agencies, local partners, and other international organizations
• preparing inventories of current indicators, information collected, and information still needed
• devising more efficient methods for collecting information
• verifying that the data is verifiable and accurate
• determining that the information gathered is in accordance with the indicators of the PMP

The PMS will use partner reports to contribute quantitative and qualitative input into Mission's plans, strategies, and reports, as well as, track performance against the Development Objective. Evaluates activities focusing on impact, lessons learned, and areas of problems and how these problems have been overcome.

3. Economic Growth Technical Support:

As Contracting Officer Representative (COR)/Agreement Officer Representative (AOR), the PMS provides technical expertise and exercises organizational and diplomatic skills and judgment in managing activities. To fulfil this responsibility, he/she exercises independent discretion and relies extensively on the PMS’ specialized knowledge and informed judgment, while also collecting input from the host country government, NGO counterparts, the business community, the diplomatic community, the donor community, the national and international legal communities, and the Economic Growth team.

4. Partner Communications and Liaison:

At times, the PMS will liaise with partners on behalf of USAID/Ukraine Economic Growth Office. These communications, either in person, by phone or written communications will be carried out in English and/or Ukrainian, as the situation requires.

5. Official Interaction and Association:

The PMS will be required to build and maintain productive professional working relationship with personnel and officials representing USAID/Ukraine; the U.S. Embassy; the Government of Ukraine, the broader diplomatic and donor communities; the USAID bureaus of Europe and Eurasia (E&E) and Resilience and Food Security (RFS); the business community; NGOs; and other development stakeholders.

A. Program Administration Support: 40%

Under the direction of the Economic Growth (EG) Office’s Senior PMS for State Owned Enterprise Reform, the Project Management Specialist provides support to USAID/Ukraine on a wide variety of assigned tasks. As requested, he/she serves as a member of Mission technical teams responsible for guiding the development, award, implementation, and evaluation of USAID acquisition and assistance:

• monitoring other than assigned components of Economic Growth assistance activities and providing recommendations
• serving on selected Mission working groups
• preparing initial drafts of activity documents (such as concept papers, scopes of work, briefing papers)
• drafting and finalizing activity-related correspondence and documents for signature by appropriate USAID staff
• contributing to the USAID/Ukraine's annual and semi-annual performance reviews on activity objectives and methodology, paying particular attention to the necessary inputs and expected results covering economic, social, cultural, and technical factors
• drafting technical justifications for new activities and for changes to on-going programs, objectives, activities or indicators
• organizing donor coordination meetings in support of project activities
• participating in project midterm and final evaluations
• conducting assessments within area of expertise
• drafting event materials, talking points, speeches, and organizing VIP visits and events
• developing the knowledge of other Project Management Specialists in the EG office to ensure broad sector capacity in the office

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: at least a bachelor’s degree (BA, BS, etc.) with a degree in business, management, economics, energy, public administration, or a related field
• work experience: at least 3 years of progressively responsible professional experience related to energy sector reform, particularly in municipal heating and/or energy efficiency, and/or financial (public or private) sector reform is required
• previous work experience with leading international development institutions, government, international NGOs and private sector organizations, as well as experience in project design and management is required
• 7 or more years of project development and/or management experience is also required
• language proficiency: fluent in English and native facility in Ukrainian
• vacancy is open to Ukrainian Nationals (residency/Ukrainian work permit Required)
• be required to have knowledge of U.S. government, international donor, or other commonly utilized program and project management procedures and guidelines, particularly challenges, approaches, and best practices related to State Owned Enterprise management, reform, transparency, and accountability
• knowledge of the concepts, principles, techniques, and practices of development assistance is required
• knowledge of Ukrainian economic, social, cultural, and political characteristics is required, particularly the history and challenges related to post-Soviet economic restructuring, privatization, and State Owned Enterprises
• be required to be proactive in keeping abreast of evolving guidelines and policies which affect overall program activities within the Mission such as the Automated Directives System (ADS), Agency Policies, Mission Orders, Mission Notices, and USAID Strategy and Policy Documents
• posses essential knowledge of appropriate government and non-government entities
• understanding of the Ukrainian policy environment, Ukrainian social and cultural characteristics, local business environment and practices, and of political and development prospects and priorities is also required
• fully professional level after a period of 1 year, the incumbent should have adequate understanding of USAID's commitment to help nurture democratic principles and values in Ukraine

The incumbent is required to be able to, with the support of teammates and under the supervision of the Senior Project Management Specialist for State Owned Enterprise Reform:

• obtain, analyze, and evaluate a variety of data
• organize and present technical information in concise written and oral form
• draft letters, talking points, speeches, and technical reports
• plan, develop, manage and evaluate important and complex programs independently
• furnish information and advice in assigned areas objectively

The incumbent must have excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills, and the ability to work effectively as a team member. The incumbent is required to:

• build and maintain professional relationships and contacts with Ministry officials, business community leaders, regulatory and administrative reform practitioners and experts, and NGOs, while facilitating productive professional relationships with other members of the USAID team, with Kyiv Office implementing partners, and with national counterparts
• work calmly, tactfully and effectively under pressure
• demonstrate flexibility
• effectively manage more than one task at a time
• work effectively as a team member in an established culturally diverse Mission team environment

The incumbent must be willing and able to travel extensively throughout Ukraine, and the region, as/when necessary or requested in direct support of Economic Growth (EG) Strategic Objectives and Goals. The incumbent is required to:

• follow oral instructions, and organize, prioritize and follow through on all assignments with minimal oversight
• handle and solve complex problems considerably requiring evaluation of new or conflicting factors as well as wide range of common problems
• plan on weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis and develop new approaches and strategies to reach set goals
• type accurately
• edit documents
• focus on details
• demonstrate proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, databases
• be able to explain and defend USAID project policies, objectives and procedures

Умови

• full time (40 hours)
• work in Kyiv, Ukraine
• five-year period of performance with the possibility of extension
• market value: Basic Annual Rate (in U.S. Dollars): $32,180 - $41,841
• 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