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STRATEGIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST |
USAID |
Advert
Posted 2019-03-06 05:13:07
USAID/ZAMBIA JOB ANNOUNCEMENT NO. AID-001-19 – STRATEGIC
INFORMATION SPECIALIST
(SIS)
RE-ADVERTISED
OPEN TO: All
Interested Candidates
POSITION: Strategic
Information Specialist
OPENING DATE: March
4, 2019
CLOSING DATE:
March 22, 2019
WORK HOURS:
Full-time; 40 hours/week
SALARY: FSN-10. (ZMK 359,840.55 –
559,484.59.)
The
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Zambia is seeking
eligible and qualified applicants for the position of a Strategic Information
Specialist.
BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION
The
Strategic Information Specialist (SIS), in close coordination with the Program
Office, is the principal advisor to the Economic Development (EDEV) Office on
implementing the USAID Automated Directives System (ADS) guidance in the areas
of strategy formulation; activity design; program performance monitoring,
evaluation, and learning; budget planning and analysis; and annual planning and
performance reporting. S/he works closely with, and acts as advisor to, the
EDEV Director, Deputy Director and other EDEV staff. S/he also coordinates and
consults with Program Office, Financial Management Office, Office of
Acquisition and Assistance, USAID/Washington, other USAID missions, and
implementing partners.
The
incumbent will serve as a member of the EDEV management team (comprised of the
Office Director, Deputy, and SIS) and will routinely be required to exercise a
high level of independent judgement in the development of complex actions to
achieve USAID’s objectives for EDEV programming in agriculture, trade, energy,
climate change, biodiversity conservation, and water, sanitation, and hygiene.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)
§
Plans
and develops state-of-the-art monitoring and evaluation systems, policies, and
objectives for EDEV to ensure that development impact is validated, captured,
and accurately reported.
§
Champions
Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) within EDEV, advising how learning
from monitoring can be built back into the management of activities.
§
Leads
the development of the EDEV Performance Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Plan (PMELP), and ensures that progress is measured against this plan in order
to validate overall development impact.
§
Plans,
designs, and leads EDEV performance and impact evaluations in conjunction with
the Agreement/Contracting Officer’s Representative (AOR/COR) to ensure that
they comply with both the Mission’s and USAID’s Evaluation policy.
§
Advises
on the utilization of evaluation findings, conclusions, and recommendations to
support adaptive activity management, modification, and/or future activity
design.
§
Provides
direction and capacity building to implementing partners for monitoring,
evaluation and learning (MEL) Plan development, indicator selection and
definition, and evaluation needs.
§
Liaise
with Program Office on ADS guidance on monitoring, evaluation, and indicator
changes to ensure continual EDEV alignment.
§
May
serve as Activity Manager or alternate AOR/COR for cooperative agreements or
contracts associated with monitoring and evaluation.
§
Acts
as EDEV’s primary point of contact with the mission-wide MEL Community of
Practice
B. Performance Management Systems
Oversight
§
Oversees
and guides EDEV AOR/COR’s communications back to implementing partners to
ensure effective communications is achieved on performance management, and
works with AOR/COR to validate progress through targeted site visits and
document review.
§
Works
with the USAID Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA) and Program Office
(PRM) to develop a standard quarterly report template to ensure effective and
efficient performance reporting by implementing partners.
§
Works
with EDEV AOR/CORs to establish annual site visit plans to roll up into a
broader EDEV field monitoring plan which can adequately validate progress on
key indicators across multiple-partners.
§
Engages
OAA and PRM to accompany staff of relevant field visits to help build EDEV
capacity on performance management systems as appropriate, particularly with
regards to new awards supporting local systems where the monitoring challenges
may be quite substantive.
§
In
coordination with PRM and EDEV AOR/CORs, leads data quality assessments (DQA’s)
with implementing partners in the field.
§
In
coordination with the AOR/COR, periodically monitor activities undertaken by
EDEV’s implementing partners to track progress against their Performance
Monitoring Plans and work plans, assess progress and potential barriers to
achievement of expected results, and recommends any relevant modification to
improve program performance and management.
§
Assist
with submission of weekly communication updates to the USAID Development
Outreach and Communications (DOC) Team and success stories from activity
implementation.
C. Design, Reporting and Budget Management
§
Lead
the development and submission of EDEV’s annual Performance Plan and Report
(PPR) to the Program Office. Must ensure all data quality assessments and
validation prior to submission, and validation of out-year indicator targets
are well established.
§
Lead
the development of EDEV’s Portfolio Review process, generally twice a year, in
order to capture, validate and review progress on performance management.
§
Advise
on input to the annual Operational Plan (OP) and Congressional Budget
Justification with regards to supporting EDEV’s high level monitoring and
evaluation systems.
§
Manage
and update USAID Feed the Future Monitoring System (FTFMS), DevResults, and
other designated mission management information systems in conjunction with
AOR/CORs and implementing partners.
§
Lead
EDEV’s engagement in strategic planning exercises, such as the Country
Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) and Mission Strategic Resource Plan
(MSRP).
§
Lead
EDEV’s development of Project Appraisal Document (PAD) working closely with
technical staff and Program Office. Ensure all activities and new procurement
planning falls within approved PADs and/or lead efforts of new PAD design.
§
Assist
in compliance with the Automated Directive Systems (ADS) on gender integration,
sustainability, environmental compliance, and climate risk screening. Advise EDEV
on any key changes to the ADS which impact program implementation.
§
Ensure
Activity Checklists are completed and up-to-date for all EDEV activities.
§
Ensure
Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) documentation is up-to-date with EDEV
activities.
§
Develop
and maintain EDEV budget tracker which includes earmark tracking and outyear
budget planning by activity.
§
Under
the supervision of EDEV Director and in collaboration with the Financial
Management Office (FMO) ensure funds are available for program activities
implementation, including budget formulation for Operational Plan (OP)
submission and staffing.
§
Assist
EDEV AOR/CORs with incremental funding actions through budget earmark
identification.
§
Coordinates
with Program Office to ensure that OPS Master budget spreadsheet is aligned
with EDEV planning, and makes appropriate changes according to strategy shifts.
§
In
collaboration with the FMO, assists EDEV in preparation, implementation, and
follow-up actions of Quarterly Financial Reviews (QFRs).
§
Support
development of the Congressional Budget Justification (CBJ).
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
A. Education: Bachelor’s
degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Agriculture, Development Studies, or
Environment field with significant specialized training in monitoring and
evaluation techniques.
B. Prior Work Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible
experience in design, management, and implementation of monitoring and
evaluation systems to ensure sustainable development program results.
C. Post Entry Training:.
The
incumbent will possess professional level technical training and skills
required to perform the duties/responsibilities required of the position. Post
entry training will be focused primarily on the Agency’s established policies,
procedures and regulations that relate to 1) USAID’s Evaluation Policy; 2)
USAID-specific activity management and procurement systems; and 3)
USAID-sponsored training on the Program Cycle and Project Design. Organized
formal training (both internal & external) determined to be in direct
support of the position may be provided from time to time at the discretion of
the supervisor.
D. Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluent) written and oral English
proficiency is required.
E. Job Knowledge: Expert knowledge on developing monitoring and evaluation
systems for development activities. Thorough knowledge is required on strategic
planning within the development context, with experience in agriculture,
environment, or economic development a plus. Thorough understanding is required
of indicator development and monitoring. Understanding of budgeting and out
year planning is a plus
F. Skills and Abilities: Solid ability to monitor, evaluate, and adapt projects,
programs and activities is required. Ability to contribute to government policy
and budget formulation. Must be able to work effectively in teams, both
internally and in inter-agency working groups. Proven skills to work
effectively in cross-cultural situations and in highly charged political
environments. Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision.
Must
possess Knowledge Management skills, specifically the ability to obtain,
analyze, evaluate, organize and preserve, and present data in meaningful terms,
including to the Zambian public. Ability to contribute to strategic
communications efforts. Strong communications skills, both orally and in
writing. Ability to advise on USAID project management issues. Familiarity with
USAID regulations and procedures. Must be able to undertake field travel
throughout Zambia. Must be able to use online platforms, such as Google Drive,
Mail, Docs, Slides, and Sheets.
POSITION ELEMENTS
A. Supervision Received: Supervised by the EDEV Office Director, who sets annual work
plans. Employee works with considerable independence, resolving problems
and determining appropriate approaches in consultation with the supervisor.
Work is evaluated primarily in terms of accomplishments.
B. Supervision Received: The position has no supervisory responsibilities.
TERMS OF APPOINTMENT:
Subject
to availability of funds, this will be a five-year contract, with an option to
extend, depending upon continuing need of the services.
BENEFITS:
The
position is classified at FSN-10 level. The final salary of the successful
candidate will be negotiated within that range, depending on qualifications and
previous earnings history.
APPLYING:
Qualified
candidates should send:
1. A formal application letter or
cover letter;
2. A current CV;
3. Photocopies of all professional
certificates and degrees;
4. A fully complete application
form DS-174 (available online at https://eforms.state.gov/forms/ds174.pdf);
and
5.<