Usaid Taps - Program Specialist - Inclusive Development Division

Background and Introduction:

Jefferson Solutions was awarded a five-year contract to provide technical, administrative, and programmatic support to the Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security (REFS). Through REFS, USAID works to advance inclusive agriculture‐led growth, resilience, nutrition, and water security, sanitation and hygiene initiatives in priority countries around the world to help them accelerate and protect development progress.

The Program Specialist will be assigned to the REFS Feed the Future Office of Country Implementation/Inclusive Development Division. The Program Specialist will report to the Inclusive Development Division Chief and will provide programmatic, administrative, and operational support for the day‐to‐day design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning related to the cross-cutting priorities of gender, youth, inclusive development, digital and localization related to REFS-sector programs and activities. The Program Specialist will provide all functions needed to support Bureau or Operating Unit leadership and teams to operate effectively, and to meet overall objectives.

Position Summary:

The Program Specialist will support day-to-day functions of the Inclusive Development Division under the direction of the Inclusive Development Division Chief. Daily activities will include aspects of program assistance and coordination, knowledge management, communications and outreach, budget formulation and monitoring, policy analysis, gender analysis, and program management. The Program Specialist will work with a high level of independence and autonomy.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Coordination, Assistance, and Management

• Serves as key liaison with other Offices and Centers to gather information and collaborate with others in the Bureau, Agency, and interagency as needed

• Develop and maintain trackers for use throughout the Office/Center if

• Provide Activity Management of Agency-funded programs as appropriate

• Provide program management support according to the needs of the Office/Center

• Provide logistical support to organize meetings, schedule conference rooms as necessary and ensure proper equipment and materials are available for meetings at least one day prior

• Capture and distribute meeting minutes, summaries of conclusions, and action items

• Provide support to Bureau and Mission staff to manage programs through all phases of the program cycle, to include program design, procurement, monitoring, evaluation, continuous learning, budget formulation and monitoring, etc.

Knowledge Management

• Generate and maintain documents and spreadsheets using the Google Suite of tools

• Save documents and maintain file structures using USAID portals

• Develop and maintain internal trackers including for logistics and milestone tracking

• Track and follow clearances for Bureau documentation and ensure that formal documentation is of high quality

• Maintain awareness of and follow Agency and Federal guidelines for file retention

• Organize and store Inclusive Development products for easy access, including policies, strategies, evidence briefs, guidance, success stories, etc.

• Assist with PO/ID reviews of Operational Plans and Performance Reports.

Communications and Outreach

• Serve as key liaison to manage incoming requests or external outreach within or outside of USAID on behalf of the Division

• Develop templates and support preparation of PowerPoint slide decks, fact sheets, briefers, talking points, blog posts, newsletters and other communications materials

• Support generation and/or management of intranet, internet, or social media site content

• Researches and prepares background information such as briefers, one-pagers, and/or talking points in partnership with colleagues

• Organize talking points and briefers for PO/ID technical areas, including first drafts of briefers for RFS principles and others.

• Develop slide decks and other materials for PO/ID on both the role of the Division and on specific technical topics within the team, in coordination with PO/ID's Senior Technical Advisors

• Represent PO/ID on the Bureau-wide Communications Team

• Develop success stories and blogs in collaboration with the Senior Technical Advisors

Budget Formulation and Monitoring

• Track and monitor Division or program funds

• Support budget reviews, budget implementation process, and respond to data calls

• Prepare action memos/funds transfer requests

• Support A/CORs as needed

Research and Analysis

• Provide desk research, simple data analysis, and interpret data as needed

• Support data syntheses and analyses in reporting; present findings

• Collaborate to develop and socialize research strategies

• Analyze data, including data related to sex- or age-disaggregated, digital, or localization, and produce charts and other products to summarize and communicate what we are learning from the data

• Represent PO/ID on the RFS Learning Team.

• Leading the development of PO/IDs input to the RFS evidence and learning cycle

• Providing logistical and other support to PO/ID for learning events and training courses

• Collect, analyze and chart gender attributions across REFS and missions.

Other Duties

• Travel: The Program Specialist will be required to travel, as needed to support their role and responsibilities.

• All other tasks as assigned

Qualifications

• An MA/MS and a minimum of three years of experience or a BA/BS and a minimum of 5 years' experience. In lieu of a bachelor's degree, candidates can substitute an Associate's and 9 years' experience or a high school diploma and an 11 years' work experience

• Ability to obtain a USAID facility access (Public Trust) clearance

• Excellent oral, interpersonal, and written communications skills to effectively interact with government clients, high-ranking officials, and other stakeholders

• Strong prioritization and organization skills with keen attention to deadlines

• Excellent anticipatory skills and proactive approach to work

• Positive and professional attitude and demeanor

• Detail-oriented and interested in producing quality work products

• Proficiency in Google Suite of products

• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite of products including excel, word, and PowerPoint

• Experience with USAID, USG or other related organizations is a plus