- Location:
- Port-au-Prince, Haiti
- Sector:
- Government
- Experience:
- Mid Career
- Last Date To Apply
- Sep-16-2011
- Date Posted
- Sep-7-2011
Description
Job Title: Special Projects Officer (Haiti)
Grade: GS-0340-14
Area of Consideration: All Sources
Type of Appointment: Excepted Service (Time Limited) Appointment
Length of Tour: Up To 3 years
Approximate Start Date: ASAP
Opening Date: Monday, August 12, 2011
Closing Date: Monday, September 16, 2011
You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position and be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance for this assignment.
This position is located in Port au Prince, Haiti. The position is administratively assigned to the Development Resources Disaster Assistance Division's (DRDA) Agricultural Market Systems Development Branch (AMSD) in Washington, D.C. DRDA is part of the Office of Capacity Building and Development, Foreign Agriculture Service, United States Department of Agriculture (DRDAD/OCBD/FAS/USDA).
The incumbent's primary role is to provide oversight, coordination and administrative/technical leadership, for all USDA in-country activities related to the Haiti Participating Agency Services Agreement (PASA) with USAID in Haiti. Incumbent also serves to help represent USDA with the local U. S. Embassy in coordination with FAS Post offices in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Incumbent ensures all Haiti PASA project work is coordinated closely with the host government and between OCBD's Policy Coordination and Planning (PCP) Staff, Food Aid Division staff, and other OCBD staff responsible for implementing projects in Haiti.
Haiti PASA activities will strengthen the institutional capacity of the Haitian Ministry of Agriculture to deliver essential services in extension, animal and plant health, and market information. The program will also support the Ministry of Agriculture strengthen its institutional capacity through a higher education activity.
Agricultural Development Technical Assistance Project Oversight:
- Leads project teams in planning, developing, establishing, implementing, and managing projects, including procedures, regulations, policies, and program operations. Manages and adjusts project budgets as required to accomplish overall goals of the assigned projects within the established timeframe and in a manner consistent with Federal requirements and the Haiti PASA developmental objectives.
- Coordinates implementation, programmatic support and administrative activities of overseas resident staff with Washington-based staff to achieve overall project objectives. Provides leadership and guidance to other team members, donors, and other USDA and USG agency representatives to monitor and improve obligation and disbursement rates for the project.
- Develops and maintains effective working relationships with other FAS program areas, other USDA agencies, USAID and other donor organizations, appropriate public, private U.S. and international organizations, USDA Land Grant Universities, and business entities.
- Serve as a senior level advisor to the Ministry of Agriculture primarily based in the Ministry. Responsibilities will include policy analysis, support for capacity building within the ministry, and internal systems development.
Communication and Information Dissemination: Provides timely and complete reports and updates to the Haiti PASA Manager, AMSD branch chief, DRDA director, relevant agencies, and other donors, partners and collaborators on changing political, budgetary, programmatic, and administrative circumstances influencing the project(s) being implemented. Maintains communication channel with USDA/FAS office at U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Representation: Represents USDA at meetings with officials of U.S. and foreign governments on matters related to the Haiti PASA and specific activities within the program.
Qualifications
Basic Qualification Requirements: Must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal Service that has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled.
Required Skills
• Progressively responsible experience in designing, planning and managing international agricultural development projects. Preferred development experience including: the delivery of essential services in extension, animal and plant health, market information and higher education.
• Knowledge and experience with supporting government institutional capacity building in the area of policy development (identification of issues, research and ministry strategy development) in developing countries.
• Skill in monitoring and evaluating international agricultural development projects, and ability to analyze related development challenges in a Caribbean context.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead, manage and mentor project office staff.
• Ability to write concise and informative reports and briefing materials on complex issues and with short lead times.
• Proficient in financial tracking and management and good familiarity with USDA and USAID organizational processes and funding procedures.
• Knowledge of and experience with Federal contracting and procurement regulations.
• Effective interpersonal skills, ability to dialogue with senior-level officials on sensitive policy and/or project issues, especially as relates to agricultural development and use of U.S. Government resources. Demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-cultural situations; and with large organizations, such as with local NGOs and government ministries, U.S. Land-Grant University institutions, other USDA and United States Government agencies, and the private sector.
• Fluency in written and spoken English. Advanced proficiency in French is required.
Contact Details
- Contact:
- Jane Luxner
- Telephone:
- 202 690 1924
- Email:
- Jane.luxner@fas.usda.gov
Application Instructions
To apply, please send a) a current resume and b) a supplemental statement that addresses individually your experience and qualifications in each of the Required Skill Areas listed below. The quality and content of both items will be a factor in the candidate selection. ***APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE A SUPPLEMENTAL STATEMENT ADDRESSING INDIVIDUALLY EACH OF THE REQUIRED SKILLS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED***
To Apply: Send resume and a cover letter that directly and separately describes your abilities in each of the above listed required skills to: FAS-SCHB-APPLIC@wdc.usda.gov with the Subject: OCBD-11-264.
