Solicitation SRLA-02-02-2011-FINAL.docx

Ladies/Gentlemen:

The USAID Mission in Serbia & Montenegro (USAID/SM) anticipates a vacancy in the Democracy and Governance Office (DGO) and is seeking applications from qualified individuals interested in providing the PSC services as the Senior Rule of Law Advisor (SRLA), described in the attached solicitation. Interested individuals are requested to submit an Optional Application for Federal Employment Form (OF-612) or a Standard Form 171 along with resume/curriculum vitae that includes three references with complete contact information (including current telephone number and email address).

Submissions shall be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified and must include signed OF-612 which is available at the USAID website http://www.usaid.gov/forms or at Federal Offices. A written statement that responds to the requirements of the position (Education/ Experience required for the position) and applicant’s CV may also be included as an attachment. Incomplete, unsigned applications and late submissions will be handled in accordance with FAR 15.412.

This solicitation does not represent a commitment on behalf of USAID. USAID reserves the right to award or not to award a contract as contemplated herein, subject to availability of funds and other internal U.S. Government approvals.

Any questions regarding this solicitation may be directed to Natasa Pavlov Malbasa or Stevan Jovanovic, Human Resources Assistant, e-mails: npavlov@usaid.gov, sjovanovic@usaid.gov.

The successful applicant must be able to obtain a Secret Level security clearance from the USAID Office of Security and a Class I medical clearance from Department of State Medical Services within a reasonable time period.

Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications.

USAID IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: In selecting personnel there will be no discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, politics, marital status, physical handicap, age or membership or non-membership in an employee organization.

Sincerely, Jennifer Scott Supervisory Executive Officer USAID Serbia-Montenegro 5070 Belgrade Place Dulles, VA 20189

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 169-S-00-11-24904

ISSUANCE DATE: February 28, 2011

CLOSING DATE/TIME: March 28, 2011

POSITION TITLE: Senior Rule of Law Advisor (SRLA)

MARKET VALUE: GS-14 ($84,697.00 to $ 110,104.00) Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based upon the candidate’s past salary, work history and educational background.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two years with the possibility of extensions.

Extensions will depend on the need for continuation of such services, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Belgrade, Serbia USAID/Serbia & Montenegro

SECURITY ACCESS: USAID Secret Clearance

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. Personal Services Contractor (USPSC)

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Senior Rule of Law Advisor (SRLA) Belgrade, Serbia

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION

The Senior Rule of Law Advisor (SRLA) is located in the Democracy and Governance Office (DGO) of USAID/Serbia and Montenegro (USAID/SM). The SRLA reports to the Supervisory Democracy Officer, but will have close and frequent interaction with the Mission Director. S/he maintains contact and interacts technically and professionally in a highly collaborative manner with a wide range of parties, including high level officials of multilateral and bilateral donors engaged in legal reform activities; senior Ministry of Justice and other senior host-country government officials; and senior leadership of Serbian organizations engaged in legal reform (e.g. the Judges' Association of Serbia, the Public Prosecutor's Association, bar associations, the National Assembly, anti-corruption authorities, and human rights NGOs). The SRLA interacts with senior U.S. Government (USG) officials, including representatives of US Embassy Belgrade, the Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Justice, on legal reform and justice matters. S/he is directly responsible for USAID-supported rule of law (ROL) assistance activities, provides advice on issues involving governance and anti-corruption, and has regular contact with senior USG officials, including the US Ambassador to Serbia. USAID/SM requires the SRLA to oversee assistance programs designed to strengthen the ROL, support Government of Serbia (GOS) reform efforts of the Ministry of Justice and High Judicial Council, promote good governance, and strengthen transparency and accountability of government officials and activities at all levels. The SRLA is closely involved in developing and coordinating programming in these areas critical to Serbia’s democratic transformation and accession to the European Union (EU). The SRLA also closely coordinates with the Mission's Economic Growth Office on all matters and programs with links to rule of law, good governance, and anti-corruption initiatives. A description of the current ROL situation in Serbia and USAID’s assistance in this area is provided in Attachment 1.

The SRLA handles all assigned work either independently or, as required, as part of a team. The position requires familiarity with established Mission policies, practices and programmatic guidance. The incumbent functions in accordance with all applicable USAID regulations and guidance as provided in the USAID ADS, FAR, and relevant USG regulations. As a highly qualified professional and recognized expert in legal reform, anti-corruption, and good governance, substantial reliance is placed on the SRLA to independently plan and carry out the activities and initiatives required to fulfill major advisory and programmatic duties and responsibilities. The employee resolves problems – both programmatic and otherwise – that occur, consulting, developing, coordinating and clearing proposed solutions with all necessary parties.

Under the direction and guidance of the Democracy and Governance (DG) Officer, USAID/SM, the SRLA serves as the principal advisor to the Mission on all issues and programs pertaining to legal sector reform, rule of law, good governance, and anti-corruption in Serbia and in Montenegro. The SRLA is responsible for facilitating the proper coordination and integration of all USAID legal and governance reform and development activities within the Mission's DG portfolio; for ensuring that all Mission justice sector and governance-related activities are coordinated with, complementary to, and supportive of the assistance activities of other U.S. government agencies; and for ensuring that the design and implementation of all USAID rule of law, anti-corruption, and good governance activities are fully coordinated with international organizations and bilateral donors active in the sector.

The Democracy and Governance Office (DGO) of USAID in Serbia consists of one USDH (U.S. Direct Hire) Democracy Officer, one US PSC (the SLRA), and three FSNs (Foreign Service Nationals). The DGO is one of two technical offices in the Mission, the other being the Economic Growth Office. In addition to the Belgrade headquarters, the DGO works closely with three USAID field offices located in Nis, Novi Pazar, and Vranje, and provides support to the Mission’s office in Montenegro (Podgorica). The DG portfolio in Serbia involves some five projects with total funding of approximately $34 million over the five year period 2010 - 2015. The DG portfolio in Montenegro is comprised of a good governance activity with total funding of $8.6 million over a five year period 2010-2013.

The SRLA serves as the de facto Deputy Office Chief of DGO and in the absence of the DGO Director is responsible for coordinating office reporting, providing technical advice to DGO activities, monitoring implementing partner activities, and supporting Agreement and Contracting Officer Technical Representatives (A/COTR) in DGO. The SLRA requires an unusually high degree of tact, decisiveness, ingenuity, persuasiveness, and energy to be successful. Because of the innovative nature of many of the DGO’s programs, limited precedents exist to accomplish its objectives.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the supervision and direction of the USAID/SM DG Officer, the SRLA’s major duties and responsibilities include:

A. Program Management: i) Planning and developing new program or activity initiatives promoting the ROL, transparency, accountability, and good governance; ii) Managing, on a daily basis, the Mission's ROL and good governance portfolios, including determination of work priorities, making decisions on activity implementation matters, identifying and resolving ROL and governance program issues, assuring that all activities are carried out in a technically sound and cost-effective manner, assigning responsibility for program management and implementation matters to subordinates, and assuring that activities are carried out in accordance with all applicable Mission and Agency directives and requirements. The SRLA will periodically manage other activities in the DG portfolio (which includes political process support, civil society, and independent media) and serve as the Acting DG Office Director, as needed. The SRLA will work closely with the US Embassy’s Regional Legal Advisor on a wide range of highly sensitive topics; and iii) Planning, designing, implementing, participating in, commenting upon, or preparing mission views on evaluations, assessments or audits of mission rule of law and good governance activities. (30%) B. Strategy Development and Implementation: i) Providing analysis, advice and recommendations to senior mission management and staff regarding the formulation of mission strategy for assistance for legal and governance system development and on the management and implementation of all ROL and good governance activities in the mission’s portfolio; ii) Developing the ROL and good governance elements of mission strategic plans, Operational Plans, Mission Strategic Resource Plan, and other planning and reporting documentation; and iii) Determining what additional analyses, assessments, or reviews are required for the development, modification, and implementation of the Mission’s strategy or activities in the area of legal system and governance reform; designing and overseeing the implementation of such analyses or assessments; and following-up as necessary. (20%) C. Coordination, Technical Advice and Policy Dialogue: i) Coordinating and managing USAID inputs into legal sector assessments conducted in conjunction with other USG agencies, international organizations, or other donors; and ii) Leading USAID's interaction with other ROL and good governance donors through close contact with senior-level representatives of international organizations and missions (particularly OSCE, World Bank, UNDP, and the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Serbia), the Serbian legal community (including judges. prosecutors, lawyers and judge and bar associations), non-governmental organizations and foreign donors active in providing assistance for legal system strengthening, USAID ROL assistance providers, and other USG agencies involved in ROL activities. (20%) D. Office Management and Staff Supervision: i) Serving as an authority on developments in the legal and judicial sector in Serbia and reporting such developments as required to the Mission and Embassy staff; ii) Managing one Foreign Service National (FSN-8) Activity Manager; iii) overseeing DGO activities in the absence of the Office Director; and iv) Carrying out such other tasks related to Mission ROL and good governance programming and other DG activities as may be assigned by the DG Officer. (20%) E. Reporting Requirements: The SRLA will be required to prepare and provide reports to effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities described above. The SRLA will provide, orally or in writing, such reports on work progress as may be required by the DG Officer, Mission Director, Ambassador, or other USG officials. The SLRA will also submit trip reports on all travel performed in support of job responsibilities during the contract period. (10%)

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

A. Education: A degree in law from an ABA-accredited law school in the United States. Admission to, and member in good standing of, the bar of a state in the United States is also desirable.

B. Prior Work Experience: A minimum of 8-10 years of progressively more responsible legal work experience, such as work as a judge, prosecutor, public defender, government legal adviser, attorney in private practice, law faculty member, law clerk, legal training or legal technical assistance provider, or a combination of the foregoing. Experience in court system development, case management, serving as judge/prosecutor/defense counsel, and experience with legislative and governance (public) system strengthening and management. Demonstrated knowledge of and/or experience working with/in civil law and governance (public sector) systems is also desirable.

A minimum of three (3) years relevant experience working in the area of judicial, legal, and governance reform, and ROL, good governance, and anticorruption programs in foreign countries, preferably in developing countries. Experience in implementing ROL, judicial system, and governance reform programs in countries in Southern or Eastern Europe and/or the former Soviet Union is highly desirable.

Experience working in a highly collegial and collaborative working relationships, requiring close consultation and coordination. Experience working in multilateral development programs, and particularly with legal professionals and technical experts from other countries, including high level court, legislative, and government officials and representatives of international organizations, is desirable.

Experience managing a diverse team and successfully and effectively operating in a multicultural and multi-institutional environment is essential to performing the duties of this position, as is demonstrated ability to work with and in a team to achieve results.

C. Language Proficiency - Fluent English speaking, reading and writing proficiency is required. Must have demonstrated, excellent verbal and written communication skills. Proficiency in Serbian or other regional language will be favorably considered.

E. Computer skills – Must be knowledgeable of and able to effectively use word processing and data management systems and applications, including Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, Internet and e-mail applications.

SELECTION CRITERIA

1. Education (10 points)

A degree in law (Juris Doctor) from an ABA-accredited law schools in the United States is required. Admission to, and a member in good standing of, the bar of a state in the United States is desirable.

2. Prior Work Experience (30 points)

Eight years of progressively responsible experience in legal work (such as a judge, prosecutor, public defender, government legal adviser, attorney in private practice, law faculty member, law clerk, legal training or legal technical assistance provider, or a combination of the foregoing) is required, plus at least three years’ experience working in the area of judicial, legal and governance reform and/or rule of law (ROL) programs in foreign countries, preferably in developing countries. Experience in implementing judicial, legal and governance reform and/or rule of law programs in Southern and/or Eastern Europe and/or the former Soviet Union is highly desirable. Previous work experience with U.S. Government (USG) or international development organization is highly desirable.

3. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (45 points)

A. Demonstrated skills and extensive experience in designing, implementing, and trouble-shooting programs and/or initiatives involving judicial, anti-corruption, and governance reform are essential to effective performance of this position.

B. A broad understanding of issues related to international development and transitional democracies is required; experience within the Southern and/or Eastern Europe and/or the former Soviet Union is highly desirable.

C. The ability to establish and maintain collegial contacts with USG, international, Government of Serbia, and non-governmental/civil society organization counterparts, and sound judgment in representing the USG while discussing program activities is essential. Experience working in highly collegial and collaborative working relationships, requiring close consultation and coordination is critical for effective performance in this position.

D. A demonstrated ability to supervise staff and work flows, and work as a team member, as well as the ability to plan and execute strategic and programmatic initiatives is required.

E. Must possess operational planning and management experience, analytical ability, excellent communication skills and the capacity to convert planning concepts into firm plans to meet a variety of contingencies and ensure that programs achieve results. Experience as a USAID Assistance/Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative is highly desirable.

F. Must be comfortable working independently, managing several initiatives at once, and working under time constraints.

4. Language Proficiency (15 points)

Excellent written and oral English communication skills are required, as well as the capacity to present information clearly, concisely and creatively to a variety of audiences. Basic language skills in Serbian or a closely related language are an asset.

5. Computer Skills

Solid knowledge of Microsoft (MS) Office 2010 (Word, Excel, and Powerpoint), MS Outlook, and databases is required.

Optimally, contract performance will commence as soon as the required security and medical clearances are both set. At its sole option, USAID may consider alternate start periods and/or may favor candidates who are able to start earlier in the final ranking and selection recommendation. If a mutually acceptable start date cannot be agreed, USAID retains the option to withdraw any offer of employment and to instead consider other candidates.

Should a selected candidate for any reason become unavailable, USAID at its sole discretion may decide to consider other candidates who have replied to this announcement or to re-advertise.

V. TERM OF PERFORMANCE / COMPENSATION

Within two weeks after written notice from the Contracting Officer that all clearances, including medical and security clearances, have been received, or unless another date is specified by the Contracting Officer in writing, the contractor shall proceed to Belgrade, Serbia, where s/he shall promptly commence performance of the duties specified above. The term of the contract will be for approximately two years with a possible extension contingent upon the needs of the Mission, contractor performance and availability of funds.

The position has been classified at a GS-14 level. The actual salary of the successful candidate will be negotiated within the GS-14 pay scale, depending on qualifications and previous salary history. It is unlikely that an individual will be selected who does not already have the prior training and experience to fully perform at the GS-14 level, or who in some other way does not fully meet all requirements for the position. However, should such an individual be offered a position, the offered salary may be at less than the minimum salary in the GS-14 pay scale.

In addition to the basic salary, differentials and other benefits in effect at the time, and which are applicable and subject to change on a similar basis as for direct-hire USG employees, will be added.

VI. MEDICAL AND SECURITY CLEARANCES

The selected candidate must be able to obtain both a secret level security clearance through USAID’s Office of Security and a worldwide available medical clearance from State Department’s Office of Medical Services. The security clearance involves a comprehensive investigation performed by the appropriate U.S. Government agency. Details on how to obtain US Department of State Medical Unit clearance will be provided once a job offer is made and accepted.

VII. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES/TAXES

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a US PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances: (NOTE: An individual defined as a Resident-Hire employee may only be eligible for those benefits listed under item A below.)

A. BENEFITS:

Employer's FICA Contribution Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance --72% of Health Insurance Annual Premium (not to exceed $20,399 for a family and $7,266 for employees without dependents) --50% of Life Insurance Annual Premium (not to exceed $500) Pay Comparability Adjustment --Annual across the board salary increase for USG employees and USPSCs Eligibility for Worker's Compensation Annual & Sick Leave Access to Embassy medical facilities, commissary and pouch mail service

B. ALLOWANCES (If Applicable):

Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130) Post Allowance (Section 220) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) Education Allowance (Section 270) Education Travel (Section 280) Post Differential (Chapter 500) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) and Danger Pay (Section 650)

C. FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are not exempt from payment of Federal Income taxes under the foreign earned income exclusion.

VIII. APPLYING

Qualified individuals must submit an Optional Form 612 which is available at the USAID websites, http://www.usaid.gov/forms , or at Federal offices. Resumes may be attached to the OF-612 and applicants are encouraged to write a brief appendix to demonstrate how prior experience and/or training address the minimum qualifications and selection criteria.

The application, summary statement, or cover letter must list at least three references and provide current contact information, preferably both an e-mail address and a telephone number.

All applications should be submitted electronically to:

Belgrade-jobs@usaid.gov.

All applications should be received by the closing date and time previously specified. To ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your application and as the subject line in any cover letter. The selection will be based on the panel evaluation of the applicants vis-à-vis selection criteria mentioned previously. Applicants should also note that the salary history for the purpose of the OF-612 is the salary paid, excluding benefits and allowances such as housing, travel, educational support, vehicle use, etc. The OF-612 applications must be signed.

Points of Contact

Ms. Jennifer Scott, Executive Officer, Phone (in Serbia, Belgrade) - (+381) 11-306-4790; Email: jscott@usaid.gov.

1. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs

Forms outlined below can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/forms

1. Optional Form 612.

2. Contractor Physical Examination (AID Form 1420-62)**

3. AID 6-1 (Request for Security Action)**

4. SF-86 (Questionnaire for National Security Positions)**

5. FD-258 (Fingerprint Cards) 2 each**

6. AID 610-14 (Authority for Release of Information)**

7. AID 6-85 (Foreign Residence Data)**

8. Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970, As Amended**

9. Notice Required by the Privacy Act of 1974** ** Forms 2 through 9 shall be completed only upon the advice of the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.

Note: The selected individual shall be required to obtain a security clearance.

2. ACQUISITION AND ASSISTANCE POLICY DIRECTIVES (AAPDs) PERTAINING

TO PERSONAL SERVICE CONTRACT (PSC)

CIBs and AAPDs contain changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations and contracts. Please refer to this website http://www.usaid.gov/business/business_opportunities/psc_solicitations.html to determine which CIBS and AAPDs apply to this contract.

Additionally, AIDAR Appendix D or J also applies to PSCs and can be found at: http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/aidar.pdf

U.S. Agency for International Development Mission to Serbia and Montenegro U.S. Embassy Kneza Milosa 50 11 000 Belgrade Serbia and Montenegro Fax [+381-11-361-8267] www.usaid.org.yu image1.png