Project Management Specialist (Agriculture)

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-Agriculture’s (PMS) primary responsibility is to provide leadership to the Mission on planning and implementation of agricultural assistance in Ukraine and to advise the Mission on issues pertaining to market-based agricultural development, sustaining safe and reliable agricultural production and exports, building the capacity of the agribusiness ecosystem, particularly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), and managing related projects.

Обов'язки

A. Activity Management and Strategic Objective Attainment Responsibilities: 70%

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 Office Director and Mission Director on assigned matters related to project implementation and performance. As necessary, proposes and drafts memoranda 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 providing leadership on new project designs, and overseeing technical implementation of on-going projects:

• monitoring, evaluating, and measuring the performance of USAID EG'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 Project Management Specialist-Agriculture’s (The PMS) 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 leads regular monitoring and evaluation of assigned activities described in approved work plans. During the startup of new Economic 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 develops initial concepts for projects supporting private sector and agriculture development, economic governance and livelihoods improvement. Drafts statements of work and/or modifies statements of work in design phase or during project modifications. 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 USG or other donor-funded development activities.

2. Mission Performance Monitoring Plan:

The Project Management Specialist 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 Project Management Specialist 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 high-level technical expertise and exercises high-level organizational and diplomatic skills and judgment in managing activities. To fulfill this responsibility, he/she exercises independent discretion, and relies extensively on the Project Management Speacialist’s 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. Project Administration Support Duties: 20%

Under the direction of the Economic Growth (EG) Office’s Senior Agriculture Project Management Specialist, the PMS provides high-level technical expertise and leadership 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

A. Policy Analysis: 10%

• serving as the Economic Growth (EG) Office and Mission's expert on related topics, including agricultural production, exports and export markets, and agricultural Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) development
• developing and maintaining contacts with relevant government officials, NGOs, officials in the business sector, and with other donors, and provides technical expertise on issues related to the reform of the agricultural and broader business environments
• advising the EG Office Director, team leader, and other senior Mission management on agriculture, agribusiness, agricultural development, and other related topics
• serving as a Mission contact with Government of Ukraine (GOU) officials on agricultural development matters providing information on USAID policies and programs, rationale for proposed actions and/or initiatives
• analyzing and evaluating GOU policy reforms related to economic, private sector, rural, and agriculture development, governance and livelihood improvement as they pertain to USAID/Ukraine objectives
• drafting letters to GOU officials and advises USAID management on political ramifications

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: master’s degree in Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, Business Administration, or other equivalent graduate degree from an accredited university is required (i.e. Ukrainian, American or other equivalent accredited university)
• work experience: at least 6 years of progressively responsible, professional-level experience in developing and managing economic development activities; including at least 3 years’ experience in development related work for donor agencies, GOU organizations, or private-sector institutions which includes project design and performance monitoring is required
• language proficiency: fluent in English and native facility in Ukrainian
• vacancy is open to Ukrainian Nationals (residency/Ukrainian work permit Required)
• in-depth knowledge of own work area and detailed understanding of the organization, including procurement processes, contract and grants management, and strategic goal of the mission and direct linkage of Economy Growth (EG) office
• detailed and broad knowledge of political/economic/sector situation of country, and a detailed knowledge of economic growth core subjects
• comprehensive knowledge of the concepts, principles, techniques and practices in the areas of economic governance, private sector competitiveness, rural and agriculture policies, livelihoods improvement and public-private dialogue is required
• past development work experience for donor agencies, Government of Ukraine (GOU) organizations, or private-sector institutions which includes project design and performance monitoring is necessary
• 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
• excellent English writing skills and be able to communicate fluently in both English and Ukrainian and to present findings and recommendations effectively in written and oral forms

The incumbent is required to be able to, at an expert technical level:

• 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
• excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills, and the ability to work effectively as a team member

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 high-level relations 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 tactfully and effectively under pressure
• demonstrate flexibility
• effectively manage more than one activity at a time in the performance of project management duties and responsibilities
• 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 Economy Growth (EG) Strategic Objectives and Goals. The incumbent is required to:

• follow oral instructions of supervisors 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 a 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 possibility of extension
• market value: Basic Annual Rate (in U.S. Dollars): $42,286 - $54,969
• 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