DCO_HCD_PO_SPO_FT_PSC_(RFQ_Addendum_1_PD).docx

Positions Description Human and Community Development (HCD) Program Officer or Senior Program Officer Full-Time PSC 95332419Q0031

1. Introduction and Background

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.

2. Scope of Position

This position is located in the Human and Community Development Unit (HCD), Sector Operations Division, within the Department of Compact Operations (DCO). DCO is responsible for developing and implementing MCC’s compact programs. The department ensures that MCC compacts are designed and implemented in compliance with agency standards for procurement, financial management, environmental and social performance, and gender integration.

Within DCO, the Sector Operations Division is responsible for the development and oversight of MCC’s agriculture, land, and human and community development investments, procurement and fiscal accountability oversight of compact programs, gender integration, and contracts support to the Department of Compact Operations.

The PSC will report to and be supervised by the Practice Lead and Senior Director (PLSD) for HCD and/or Managing Director of Sector Ops.

This position is not authorized to supervise any Federal employees.

3. Personal Services Contract

MCC is authorized to enter into a contract with an individual as a Personal Services Contractor (PSCs) under the authority of Section 614(a) (8) of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003.

A personal services contract is different from non-personal services Government contract, which establishes an independent contract relationship. Under a non-personal services contract, the contractor or employees of the contractor are subject to the technical direction but not the supervision of the MCC. As defined by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 37.104, a personal services contract is characterized by the employer-employee relationship it creates between the Government and the contractor personnel. Thus, the PSCs is subject to the relatively continuous technical direction, supervision, and control of the MCC. PSCs may be assigned inherently governmental duties (see FAR 7.502). By law and by the contract’s terms, the PSCs is subject to most of the laws, rules and regulations applicable to the direct hire employee such as MCC regulations, conflict of interest, under some circumstances MCC authorized employment security clearances and financial disclosure. However, under the MCC personal services contract authority, PSCs are not employees for purposes of laws administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The following elements apply to this contract:

(1) Performance in Washington, DC USA, MCC eligible countries, other US and foreign cities (as required for outreach purposes), and/or at the PSC’s home of record.

(2) Principal tools and equipment may be furnished by the Government.

(3) Services are applied directly to the integral effort of agencies or an organizational subpart in furtherance of assigned function or mission.

(4) Comparable services, meeting comparable needs, are performed in the same or similar agencies using civil service personnel.

(5) The need for the type of service provided can reasonably be expected to last beyond 1 year.

(6) The inherent nature of the service, or the manner in which it is provided, reasonably requires directly or indirectly, Government direction or supervision of contractor employees in order to—

(i) Adequately protect the Government’s interest;

(ii) Retain control of the function involved; or

(iii) Retain full personal responsibility for the function supported in a duly authorized Federal officer or employee.

4. Key Requirements

Awardee must satisfy the following key requirements:

· U.S. citizenship.

· Must be able to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance.

· Performance in Washington, DC USA, MCC eligible countries, other US and foreign cities (as required for outreach purposes), and/or at the PSC’s home of record.

· Domestic and international travel will be required.

· Statement of Employment & Financial Interest (e.g., Office of Government Ethics “OGE Form-450” or similar statement) may be required.

· Active System for Award Management (www.sam.gov) registration (this is a free, Government website) and be listed as sole-proprietor.

· Designated and/or random drug testing required.

5. Duties

a) Major Duties and Responsibilities

Major Duties and Responsibilities for the PO Level:

1. Work with other HCD team members, other MCC staff and country counterparts to contribute to development and implementation of education and skills development projects in Threshold or Compact programs. This could be stand-alone activities or sub-activities imbedded in other technical programs. This could include activities related primary or secondary education, teacher training, skills development, technical and vocational training, student testing, education management information systems, school rehabilitation and construction, sector policy development, and sector governance.

2. Support other HCD team members in their analytical work to understand the impact of education and skills development activities and how they contribute to poverty reduction and economic growth. This would include but not be limited to the following:

· Reviewing documents produced by various sources (i.e. government, donors, NGOs, private sector, academia, etc.);

· Analyzing qualitative and quantitative data to understand how investments in education and skills development could address economic and social inequalities;

3. Make recommendations on approaches for education and skills development projects in compact/threshold program development. This would include, but not be limited to, the following:

· Propose to HCD supervisors how to organize/structure activities in order to support investments in education and skills development.

· Review Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) plans (i.e. program and project logics) and make recommendations how to strengthen monitoring and evaluation for education and skills development projects.

· With direction from HCD supervisors, draft Terms of References (TORs) for consultant contracts to support MCC’s education and skills development work.

4. Support HCD staff and work closely with country counterparts and other MCC colleagues during compact implementation through closeout in assigned MCC partner countries. This would include, but not be limited to:

· Provide technical support and assistance to ensure sustainability of education and skills development projects.

· With direction from HCD supervisors, draft and review documents related to compact implementation, such as Terms of Reference, bidding documents, RFPs, work plans, budgets, reports, deliverables for sectoral work as well as Monitoring and Evaluation Plans, surveys, indicators and reports.

5. Supports MCC’s HCD practice group. This would include, but not be limited to:

· Tracking PG due diligence budget and advise in case of budget shortfall or need for reallocation among work streams.

· Undertaking literature reviews to augment HCD knowledge base of how to effectively invest in education and skills development.

· Assisting with organizing events such as seminars and conferences.

6. Other duties as assigned.

Major Duties and Responsibilities for the SPO Level:

1. Work with other HCD team members, other MCC staff and country counterparts to contribute to development and implementation of education and skills development projects in Threshold or Compact programs. This could be stand-alone activities or sub-activities imbedded in other technical programs. This could include activities related primary or secondary education, teacher training, skills development, technical and vocational training, student testing, education management information systems, school rehabilitation and construction, sector policy development, and sector governance.

2. Work with other HCD team members in analytical work to understand the impact of education and skills development activities and how they contribute to poverty reduction and economic growth. This would include but not be limited to the following:

· Reviewing documents produced by various sources (i.e. government, donors, NGOs, private sector, academia, etc.);

· Analyzing qualitative and quantitative data to understand how investments in education and skills development could address economic and social inequalities;

3. Working closely with other members of the HCD team, other MCC colleagues and country counterparts, make recommendations on approaches for education and skills development projects in compact/threshold program development. This would include, but not be limited to, the following:

· Propose how to organize/structure activities in order to support investments in education and skills development.

· Collaborate with Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) colleagues, including program and project logics.

· Drafts Terms of References (TORs) for consultant contracts to support MCC’s education and skills development work.

4. Advise and support HCD staff and work closely with country counterparts and other MCC colleagues during compact implementation through closeout in assigned MCC partner countries. This would include, but not be limited to:

· Provide technical support and assistance to ensure sustainability of education and skills development projects.

· Draft and review documents related to compact implementation, such as Terms of Reference, bidding documents, RFPs, work plans, budgets, reports, deliverables for sectoral work as well as Monitoring and Evaluation Plans, surveys, indicators and reports.

5. Supports MCC’s HCD practice group. This would include, but not be limited to:

· Tracking PG due diligence budget and advise in case of budget shortfall or need for reallocation among work streams.

· Undertaking literature reviews to augment HCD knowledge base of how to effectively invest in education and skills development.

· Assisting with organizing events such as seminars and conferences.

6. Other duties as assigned.

b) Travel

The incumbent will be required to undertake 4-8 international trips annually to countries with challenging work environments and rudimentary infrastructure.

c) Supervisory Controls

The supervisor outlines overall objectives and available resources. The employee and supervisor, in consultation, discuss timeframes, scope of the assignment, and possible approaches. The employee is responsible for planning and carrying out the assignment, resolving most of the conflicts that arise, coordinating the work with others as necessary, and interpreting policy in terms of established objectives. The employee keeps the supervisor informed of progress and potentially controversial matters. The supervisor reviews completed work for soundness of overall approach, effectiveness in meeting requirements or producing expected results, the feasibility of recommendations, and adherence to requirements.

d) Guidelines

The guidelines that are available provide a preferred approach or describe generally accepted standards rather than precisely delineating requirements. The employee interprets and adapts the guides, modifying the information presented to fit the situation at hand.

e) Complexity

The work consists of performing a variety of analytical, technical, and administrative work for substantive programs and support activities. Programs and funding are unstable and subject to change throughout the fiscal year. The employee conducts research, identifies, and analyzes trends in the use of funds, and recommends adjustments in program spending that require the rescheduling of program workloads.

f) Scope and Effect

The purpose of the work is to perform a variety of tasks using standard methods to resolve conventional problems and issues. The work affects the information available on the amount, timeliness, and availability of funds, and the availability of financial data to others.

g) Personal Contacts/Purpose of Contacts

Personal contacts are with MCC officials, managers, professionals, and employees as well as representatives of other agencies and outside organizations. The purpose of the contacts is to plan, coordinate, or advise on work efforts, or to resolve issues or operating problems by influencing or persuading people who are working toward mutual goals and have basically cooperative attitudes. Contacts typically involve identifying options for resolving problems.

There may also be personal contacts with high-ranking officials from outside the agency at national or international levels in highly unstructured settings. Examples include other agency heads, top congressional staff officials, or executives of comparable private sector organizations.

Personal contacts include individuals and groups at all levels of the Corporation, representatives from other Federal agencies/organizations, MCAs, contractors, and the general public. The purpose of contacts is to influence, motivate, persuade or negotiate with others who may hold different points of views in order to influence managers or other officials to accept recommendations or to obtain the desired effect.

h) Physical Demands

The work is largely sedentary but requires overseas travel and work in developing country conditions that may be rustic, e.g., rural schools. Travel may be required.

i) Work Environment

Work is performed in an office setting. Field missions in challenging conditions may be required from time to time.

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