J.4__PMO_Program_Assistant_0344-5_(PSC)_FINAL.docx

MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION POSITION DESCRIPTION

Classification: Program Assistant

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 the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) within the Department of Administration and Finance (A&F) of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and reports to the Director of the Product Management Office (PMO). The PMO Branch is responsible for the following service delivery and support areas for the OCIO, as well as, for working in conjunction with all other OCIO Branches to ensure cohesive and excellent information management and technology services to MCC:

Business Relationship Management: Engage with the business to understand requirements and requests for new or improved technologies. The PMO works to ensure that there is a constant dialogue between OCIO and its’ customers in the business so that OCIO is developing technologies that support MCC’s larger strategic goals. The PMO engages with agency leadership to prioritize product work against resources as appropriate. The primary goal of the PMO is to build a partnership between IT and the business clients to ensure that the organization leverages IT technologies for business advantage.

Product Development: The PMO consists of Product Teams for each business product or portfolio OCIO and engages with business stakeholders during development of products which support MCC’s mission.

Investment Support: The PMO works with business stakeholders to develop materials for the IT Investment Review Board meetings. Materials will include: business cases, funding requirements, business value and/or propositions, return on investments, ongoing statuses, approved metrics, and recommendations.

Project Management and Strategic Planning: Assist the OCIO Division and A&F Department with project management to align PMO efforts with Agency Goals and Objectives.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

The Personal Services Contractor (PSC):

Provides administrative support to MCC OCIO’s PMO Director and all staff within that group, e.g. product owners. Assist product owners with planning, scheduling, note taking, reporting, presentations related to MCC’s agile management processes, e.g. preparation for Scrum ceremonies, assistance with project tracking, etc.

Provides administrative support to the CIO, all OCIO directors, and OCIO financial analysts in preparation for quarterly investment review board meetings.

Provides basic quantitative and qualitative analysis around product development and product management within OCIO.

Manages, organizes, and refines documentation sets related to product development. Coordinate approval chains and other workflows related to product management.

Implements process improvements suggested by the Director of Product Management and product owners within the group.

Assists with coordination of OCIO’s team-wide Agile management processes. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Factor 1 - Knowledge Required by the Position

Knowledge of an extensive body of management and/or program analysis technical rules, guidelines, regulations, and precedents. It also requires knowledge of the basic objectives and policies governing various management or program operations.

Ability to applying basic data gathering methods, such as standard interviewing or surveying techniques, to collect various types of factual information. Some employees also apply knowledge of the standardized processes and procedures for evaluating management or program operations to perform duties such as planning the steps to take to complete assignments, identifying problems from collected data, and selecting solutions from alternatives in guidelines and precedent cases.

Writing skills to prepare clear, concise reports that describe the data collection techniques and other processes and procedures used, conditions of management or program operations, and recommended improvements. Good experience with quantitative and qualitative analysis—basic charting, report generation, presentation development, etc.

Ability to carry out individual, nonstandard technical assignments whether the nature of these assignments stems from a changing mix of work or represents diversity within a defined management or program operation. Assignments may involve limited aspects of higher level work.

Knowledge of IT or software organization.

Ability to utilize Microsoft Office products in managing multiple delegated calendars, etc.

Basic event management (e.g. executive board meeting) experience—scheduling, agenda development, coordination of document production, event space planning and coordination, documenting meeting proceedings, post-meeting document management, etc.

Factor 2 - Supervisory Controls

The PSC reports directly to the Director of the Product Management Office who provides administrative direction with assignments based on broadly defined missions or functions; and independently plans, designs, and carries out major projects. Completed work is considered technically authoritative and is normally accepted without significant change. Work is reviewed for fulfillment of CIO’s program objectives and effect of MCC’s objectives.

The supervisor or higher level employee defines the objectives, priorities, and deadlines for projects or assignments and assists the employee with unusual situations, problems, or studies that do not have clear precedents.

The employee plans and carries out the successive steps of management or program analysis technical projects and assignments and handles problems and deviations in accordance with instructions, policies, previous training, or accepted practices. For example, the employee independently determines the types and sources of management or program information required for reports, the nature and extent of deviations from established management or program requirements, and whether standard data gathering techniques are appropriate for assignments.

The supervisor or higher level employee evaluates reports and other completed work for technical soundness, appropriateness of conclusions or recommendations, consistency, relevance of support material, and compliance with policies and requirements. The methods used in arriving at the end results are not reviewed in detail.

Factor 3 – Guidelines

The PSC uses guidelines that are often ambiguous and express conflicting or incompatible goals and objectives, requiring extensive interpretation. The PSC uses judgment and ingenuity and exercises broad latitude to: determine the intent of applicable guidelines; develop policy and guidelines for specific areas of work; and formulate interpretations that may take the form of policy statements and guidelines. Top agency management officials and senior staff recognize the employee as a technical expert.

Factor 4 – Complexity

Work consists of a variety of duties to plan and direct work efforts to address issues where existing policies and precedents do not exist. The PSC determines what needs to be done by conducting extensive research and analysis to assess the nature and scope of problems/issues and to develop comprehensive solutions. These changes typically result from continuing changes in customer business requirements; or rapidly evolving technology in the specialty areas. The PSC develops new standards, methods, and techniques; evaluates the impact of technological change; and/or conceives of solutions to highly complex technical issues. The work frequently involves integrating the activities of multiple specialty areas.

The employee selects, adapts, and applies the most suitable practices, procedures, methods, and precedents to collect and analyze various types of information, formulate conclusions, define needs, and/or make recommendations for resolving problems to higher level employees.

Factor 5 - Scope and Effect

The purpose of the work is to plan and carry out assignments or projects to improve the efficiency and productivity of organizations or program operations. Employees use established methods, practices, and criteria to identify, study, and recommend solutions for resolving conventional problems or questions.

The work affects the design of organizational structures and workflow; the evaluation and improvement of operating program efficiency and effectiveness; the use and management of staff, funding, equipment, and other resources; and the design or use of similar management or program operations. Some of the work also affects the management of administrative or information systems throughout a wide range of offices or organizations with different administrative or information management needs.

Factors 6 and 7 - Personal Contacts and Purpose of Contacts

The PSC's contacts include personnel from other Departments and Divisions, contractors, vendors, marketing personnel, members of professional organizations, and representatives from other government agencies. The incumbent may attend committee and working group meetings, conferences, and seminars with high-ranking officials and may be required to make presentations concerning MCC information technology.

The purpose of the contacts is to obtain, clarify, or provide facts or information.

Factor - Physical Demands

The work is sedentary.

Factor 9 - Work Environment

Work is performed in an office setting.

POSITION DESIGNATION: Facility Access Only