J.1 Position Description.pdf

Millennium Challenge Corporation

Position Description

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I certify that this is an accurate statement of the major duties and responsibilities of this job and its organizational relationships and that the job is necessary to carry out the functions of the Millennium Challenge Corporation for which I am responsible. This certification is made with the knowledge that this information is to be used for official purposes and that false and misleading statements may constitute a violation of the regulations of the Millennium Challenge Corporation and may subject the issuer of such false or misleading statements to disciplinary action.

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Signature & Title of Immediate Supervisor

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Signature & Title of 2nd Level Supervisor

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Signature of Individual Authorized to Classify the Position

Millennium Challenge Corporation

Position Description

Classification: Assistant General Counsel (International Operations), MC-905-2d

Position Number:

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 people. Under its principal assistance program, 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 the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). OGC’s mission is to provide full-service legal support for all requirements driven by MCC’s mission.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Serves, as an advisor to the Vice President and General Counsel and the Deputy Vice President and Deputy General Counsel and, as a member of the OGC management team, provides necessary support to the Vice President and General Counsel and the Deputy Vice President and Deputy General Counsel in the performance of the duties and responsibilities of those positions, including with respect to certain matters involving agency-wide senior staff.

Serves as an advisor and technical resource to MCC officials and employees by providing ongoing support and legal advisory services with respect to complex and difficult questions of U.S. and international law, as well as regulations, policies and related MCC operational program issues. Assistance is often rendered in support of multi-disciplinary projects related to sensitive or complex public policies of national or international significance that have multifaceted legal aspects and involve controversial issues.

Coordinates team efforts as well as outside counsel/consultants to develop, negotiate, implement, monitor, and close out development assistance programs and projects.

Serves as a technical resource to MCC officials and employees in the identification and resolution of critical program-related issues and problems associated with development assistance programs and projects. Directs staff in the development of plans and programs for technical assistance, capital assistance, and other activities in the development assistance area. Coordinates activities of staff involved in determining regional and country development objectives, based on cooperating country requests, perceived needs, U.S. policy, and determined priorities.

Assists MCC with assessments of development assistance activities in compact and threshold programs countries and with the development of effective new strategies, including the development of strategic objectives and required supporting documentation.

Prepares, and oversees the preparation of, interpretative analysis of compact and threshold program development, implementation, and close out topics and issues, many which involve new and novel initiatives.

Ensures legal opinions, briefs, memoranda, and other written work are fully researched, and contain accurate and appropriate legal and policy analysis and conclusions.

Pursues and achieves goals to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of OGC operations including the development and implementation of performance standards, staff objectives, policies, guidelines, and new or enhanced training programs.

Serves as a principal legal representative and spokesperson for MCC at stakeholder, interagency, and international meetings dealing with a variety of legal issues and information.

Recommends and formulates MCC’s position regarding difficult and complex legal problems and issues that may be controversial or of significant public interest. Provides advice and consultation, as a technical expert and recognized authority in the fields of U.S. law related to foreign assistance and MCC’s operations and mission, as well as international law.

Assists with the preparation of interpretative analysis of program policy development associated with a variety of critical MCC programs and operations. Exercises responsibility for the analysis, development, advocacy, and review of policies affecting the internal operations of MCC.

Directs the activities of staff involved, including planning work to be accomplished, and establishing priorities and deadlines; overseeing work performance; and providing informal feedback related to employee performance.

Advises on departmental workload and administrative matters. Interviews candidates for vacancies;

Identifies developmental and training needs, and provides or arranges needed development and training.

Demonstrates the qualities of a thoughtful communicator and relationship builder, a team-oriented people leader, a strategic problem solver, and a knowledgeable practitioner as each is more fully detailed in MCC’s Leadership Dimensions.

Performs other relevant duties as assigned.

Factor 1 – Knowledge Required by the Position

Mastery of the legal principles, methods, practices, and techniques sufficient to serve as a technical resource and advisor to top MCC officials on a variety of legal and policy issues affecting critical programs and operations of MCC.

Expert knowledge of the goals, policies, organizational structure, and the statutes, regulations, and policies governing the activities of MCC.

Knowledge of proven negotiation strategies, tools, and techniques necessary to achieve consensus– driven concurrence on complex arrangements effectively memorialized in legal agreements while preserving MCC’s required conditions, operational approaches and positions and preserving and fostering effective future working relationships with counterparts in, and other representatives of, MCC partner countries and stakeholders.

Knowledge of techniques associated with objective reviews of information to analyze conflicting data, summarize recommendations, consider various points of view, and specify reasons for acceptance or rejection.

Knowledge of the practices required for efficient workload management, to receive and understand assignments, analyze required actions, simplify tasks, and organize and file completed actions and products for future reference.

Knowledge of the principles of effective written communication and correct English usage to express ideas effectively in writing, encapsulate essential concepts, and communicate complex and voluminous information quickly under the pressure of short deadlines.

Knowledge of the principles of effective oral communication to convey information and deliver briefings to policy-makers and other relevant parties.

Factor 2 – Supervisory Controls

The incumbent works under the direction of the Deputy Vice President and Deputy General Counsel and/or the Vice President and General Counsel who provide broad administrative supervision and delegate responsibilities according to broadly defined goals, policy direction, and topical assignments. The incumbent is delegated responsibility and authority to plan, design, prioritize, manage, and execute assignments without technical supervision. He/she is responsible for working independently, exercising discretion, sound judgment, and initiative in anticipating, addressing, and resolving conflicts on complex and sensitive legal and other issues. He/she keeps the chain of command informed of appropriate actions, issues, and decisions and undertakes tasks on the basis of personal initiative, judgment, and professional expertise.

Completed work, which must be accurate and reflect a strong and sound knowledge of the subject matter, is generally accepted as being technically correct, with any review of work being limited in nature and done solely to verify compliance with program objectives and MCC policies. Findings and recommendations are normally accepted without significant change.

Factor 3 – Guidelines

Guidelines, which are very broad and in many cases, nonspecific, include laws, regulations, manuals, directives, reports, and memoranda, as well as public policy statements made by senior MCC officials.

Duties require application of judgment and discretion to interpret and apply these guidelines and to develop and provide guidance to MCC departments, officials, and other staff regarding legal processes and strategies.

Factor 4 – Complexity

Assignments involve very complex and often sensitive legal issues. Multiple activities are pursued concurrently, often under the pressure of very short, multi-layered deadlines, which require application of excellent organizational skills. Work typically requires the incumbent to identify, develop, and propose solutions to issues that enable MCC programs to achieve their goals and objectives. Projects and assignments are often of an extended duration and can require directing team efforts. Extensive research and analysis is often required to define problems, and identify potential solutions and their impacts on MCC programs. Interactions often involve opposing views and conflicting interests.

Factor 5 – Scope and Effect

Work involves planning, processing, and developing legal and non-legal strategies and opinions that assist MCC officers and other staff in carrying out MCC’s mission. Work products significantly contribute to informed decision-making processes and actions by MCC officials. The incumbent’s duties involve a wide-range of assignments involving problems of exceptional complexity and require innovative thinking, novel solutions, and outstanding resourcefulness and ingenuity.

Factor 6 – Personal Contacts

Personal contacts include high-ranking governmental and nongovernmental officials and staff including, officials of state, local and international governments, as-well-as members of the general public.

Factor 7 – Purpose of Contacts

The purpose of contacts is to justify, defend, negotiate, or resolve significant issues of concern with respect to the authorities and responsibilities of MCC. The work requires active participation in meetings, briefings, hearings, and conferences. Contacts often involve influential individuals with strong and differing views and objectives, thus requiring flexibility and skills in communication and seeking compromise.

Factor 8 – Physical Demands

The work is generally sedentary, although some walking, bending, or carrying of light items may be required. International travel is required.

Factor 9 – Work Environment

Work is performed primarily in an office setting.

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