03 - ADDENDUM 1 - POSITION DESCRIPTION SE PD for PSC 4B.pdf

MILLENNIU CHALLENGE CORPORATION

PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACTOR (PSC)

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Classification: Development Policy Officer, PS-301-4b (PSC)

Position Number: PSC-DPE-014

Introduction:

MCC’s mission is to provide grant assistance to support economic growth and poverty reduction in select developing countries with a demonstrated commitment to just and democratic governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizenry. MCC’s partner countries enter into a five-year agreement (Compact) with MCC that includes a plan for achieving shared development objectives and the responsibilities of each country in achieving those objectives. Our model is defined by core principles, of selectivity, country ownership, transparency, and a focus on results.

Our values identify who we are and what is important to us. Our Values are CLEAR: Embrace Collaboration, Always Learn, Practice Excellence, Be Accountable and Respect individuals and ideas.

MCC’s values define how we behave on a daily basis, both as individuals and as an institution, in pursuit of our mission. They guide how we make decisions, set priorities, address challenges, manage tradeoffs, recruit and develop staff, and work together with our country partners and stakeholders.

This position is located in Selection, Eligibility and Performance within the Department of Policy and Evaluation, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). In this position, you will help to advance the Department of Policy and Evaluation goals of 1) fostering learning from MCC's model in the context of the U.S. global development policy and 2) developing and contributing to policies and approaches that ensure the most effective implementation of the MCC model and principles, drawing from MCC experience, and best practices from the development community.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

As Personal Services Contractor (PSC):

Serves as a Development Policy Officer/Senior Development Policy Officer with responsibility for performing a variety of assignments related to the process by which countries are selected for eligibility and by which they are continually monitored.

Contributes to planning, organizing, and completing policy-related analytical research and analysis on issues related to the policy performance of candidate countries in the annual country selection process. This often requires coordination with other departments within MCC and with other agencies across the US Government.

Provides advice and guidance on assessing policy-related concerns in partner countries (such as trends in democracy, human rights, control of corruption, economic freedom, and social policy), and makes recommendations regarding the use of relevant supplemental information.

Maintains and expands working relations with other US government agencies and independent institutions involved in assessing country governance and policy performance.

Monitors the ongoing policy performance of Threshold- and Compact-eligible countries, as-well-as candidate countries that are not yet eligible for MCC assistance, including in-depth quantitative and qualitative performance analysis.

Ensures consistency in MCC's overall policy monitoring and reporting strategy vis-a-vis MCC's senior management, Board, and other USG partners.

Conducts outreach with government officials and external stakeholders on policy reform and indicator performance issues, including consultation with all levels of MCC management, and other federal agencies, development experts, and institutions measuring policy performance.

Monitors trends and best practices in development research and practice, and brings them to the attention of appropriate MCC staff.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Factor 1 - Knowledge Required by the Position

Ability to provide independent analysis and interpretation of political, policy, and economic events using high-quality qualitative analysis techniques.

Ability to conduct supervised analysis of policy performance data using beginner to intermediate-level quantitative techniques using Excel.

Knowledge of international development programs, public policy programs/operations, and policy reform processes including specialized knowledge of ‘good governance’ and ‘democratic governance’ concepts in the development context.

Ability to communicate in a clear and structured way in both writing and orally to a variety of audiences.

Knowledge of the principles and techniques of effective interpersonal relations to work collaboratively and productively with staff, contractors, vendors, and other individuals and entities with which DPE interacts.

Factor 2 – Supervisory Controls

The supervisor establishes the overall objectives and determine the levels of resources available. The employee and supervisor(s) in consultation, develop the deadlines, projects, and work to be done. The incumbent is responsible for planning and carrying out assignments, resolving most conflicts that arise, interpreting policy on his or her own initiative, and coordinating work as necessary. Recommendations and decisions are generally accepted as technically sound, though final approval is required in some areas. The incumbent advises the supervisor(s) when major unexpected problems or significant controversial issues arise. Work is reviewed for conformance with DPE and MCC policies, requirements, and fulfillment of the assigned objectives within established deadlines.

Factor 3 – Guidelines

Guidelines include a large body of unwritten policies, precedents, and practices which are not completely applicable to the work or are not specific and which deal with matters relating to judgment, efficiency, and relative priorities rather than with procedural concerns. The incumbent applies and adapts guidelines to specific problems for which guidelines are not clearly applicable.

Factor 4 – Complexity

The work involves gathering information, identifying and analyzing issues, and developing recommendations to resolve substantive problems of effectiveness and efficiency of work operations in a program or program support setting.

Factor 5 – Scope and Effect

Work involves independently conducting a variety of tasks in limited functional areas. Employee uses standard methods to resolve conventional problems and issues. Work supports DPE operations and systems through efforts to provide information associated with ongoing analytical research and analysis on issues related to the policy performance of candidate countries.

Factors 6 and 7 – Personal Contacts and Purpose of Contacts

Personal contacts are with MCC employees and managers, representatives of other agencies; the general public; and vendor and contracting representatives. The nature of each contact varies with the situation and person contacted. Contacts are made to exchange information and provide advice on organizational or program related issues and concerns.

Factor 8 – Physical Demands

The work is mostly sedentary. There is some carrying of light objects, such as binders, files, briefing books, and other office equipment and supplies.

Factor 9 – Work Environment

The work is performed in an office setting.

Position Sensitivity: Non-Sensitive/Low Risk (T-1)