Roving Senior Advisor Statement of Work.docx

Roving Senior Advisor Personal Services Contractor Statement of Work

This position will be located in the Peace Corps Office of Global Operations (OGO) and report directly to the Associate Director for the Office of Global Operations (AD/OGO). The Roving Senior Advisor will be assigned to work at various Peace Corps posts worldwide on an as-needed basis. The Roving Senior Advisor may be temporarily designated as Acting Country Director for the post of assignment by the AD/OGO.

Background:

Each Peace Corps post to which the Contractor may be assigned has a different number of Peace Corps Trainees and/or Volunteers (hereinafter collectively referred to as “PCVs”), a different number and/or mix of the six standard Peace Corps program sectors, and a different cultural/historical context. As a Roving Senior Advisor, while assigned to work at a Peace Corps post, the Contractor will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team and will provide the specific leadership and/or support to the assigned post specified by the AD/OGO and/or Regional Director (RD). Further, when there is a transition in the Country Director (CD) position at the assigned post, or when the CD will be absent from post during the Contractor’s assignment, the AD/OGO may temporarily designate the Roving Senior Advisor as Acting Country Director, thus allowing the Peace Corps to maintain continuity of operations at that post.

General:

The Contractor must behave in a way that brings credit upon the Federal Government and the Peace Corps, that contributes to the efficiency of the government, and that best realizes the three goals of the Peace Corps. Such behavior or conduct includes, among other requirements, observing rules and obligations set forth in the Peace Corps Manual and other authorities—as applicable to the Contractor—and otherwise complying with basic on-the-job rules.

Some basic on-the-job rules which apply to the Contractor are as follows:

· Reporting to work on time and ready, willing and able to perform the duties of their position. This means reporting for duty free from any effects of alcohol and/or drugs that may impair work performance or conduct; physically and mentally capable of performing work requirements.

· Responding promptly to and fully complying with directions and instructions received from their supervisor or other management officials.

· Exercising courtesy and respect in dealing with fellow staff, supervisors, contract personnel, volunteers, trainees, and the public.

· Maintaining a clean and neat personal appearance, in appropriate clothing, during working hours.

· Safeguarding and handling appropriately all sensitive agency information, including but not limited to classified national security information and other protected information (such as personally identifiable information (PII) and medically confidential information), to prevent unauthorized disclosure consistent with applicable law and policy.

· Complying with applicable Peace Corps policies on safety, security, health, harassment, sexual assault, abuse, stalking, and other similar requirements.

· Conserving, protecting and ensuring appropriate use of Peace Corps resources, time, information, and staff.

· Seeking advice and guidance as needed through their supervisory chain concerning their duties and responsibilities as included in the Statement of Work (Attachment I). For all other questions regarding their contract, seeking advice and guidance through their Contracting Officer.

· Abstaining from, either for or without compensation, teaching, lecturing, or writing for the purpose of the preparation of a person or class of persons for an examination of the Office of Personnel Management or Board of Examiners for the Foreign Service that depends on information obtained as a result of the staff's contractual engagement with the Government.

· Avoiding criminal, infamous, dishonest, immoral, or notoriously disgraceful conduct, or other conduct prejudicial to the Government.

· Reporting fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, misconduct, and other wrongdoing to the Office of Inspector General.

· Observing and abiding by all laws, rules, regulations, and other authoritative policies and guidance.

As members of the Peace Corps community, all staff are responsible for sustaining the highest ethical standards of the Peace Corps and of the broader communities in which they serve and will abide by the following commitments.

Core staff requirements that apply to the Contractor, which they must carry out with integrity, and a shared commitment to equity and intercultural understanding, include:

· Represent and promote the Peace Corps’ mission and goals with humility and cultural sensitivity.

· Foster an environment that enables a safe, meaningful, and effective experience for Peace Corps Volunteers/Trainees, staff, and community partners.

· Engage with all Peace Corps partners in a spirit of cooperation, learning, and respect.

· Strengthen a culture of performance improvement by collecting, analyzing, and sharing information for effective decision-making.

· Exercise the highest degree of professional and ethical standards and maintain a healthy balance between professional and personal life.

· Respond and adapt to change in an appropriate and timely manner, building on new knowledge to strategically respond as needs and conditions shift.

· Honor diversity, advance equity of marginalized peoples, champion inclusion, and treat every human being with dignity and respect.

· Respect the diversity of beliefs, cultures and lifestyles of the Volunteers/Trainees, staff, counterparts and communities we serve.

· Collaborate with fellow staff, Volunteers/Trainees, and community partners to create an atmosphere of inclusion, continuous learning, open communication, accountability, trust, and belonging.

· Ensure that Peace Corps’ management and ethical stewardship of its human, material, and financial resources is efficient, cost-effective, and socially and environmentally sustainable.

· Pursue excellence and perform duties with diligence and integrity within the framework of the Peace Corps’ policies, procedures, guidance, and rules.

To the extent the Contractor is allowed to operate a U.S. government owned, leased, or rented vehicle (GOV) to perform their job duties, the Contractor must operate that vehicle safely at all times and only operate it for official business purposes as defined in 31 USC 1334 and Peace Corps Manual Section (MS) 522 Motor Vehicle Use and Insurance. The Contractor must also follow any post-specific policy/policies on the use GOVs – including complying with any medical and/or training requirements the policy/policies specify.

The Contractor is encouraged to refrain from texting or from engaging in any behavior that distracts attention from driving safely at any time. Except in an emergency situation, Contractor shall not text message (i) when driving a GOV; (ii) when driving a privately-owned vehicle (POV) while on official government business; or (iii) while using electronic equipment supplied by the government while driving any vehicle (even during off-duty hours).

The Contractor is required to follow any workplace health and/or safety rules indicated for their position specified in a Peace Corps policy/policies (whether implemented under a Peace Corps Manual or Procedures/Program thereunder, Interim Policy Statement, a Medical Technical Guideline, a Peace Corps Headquarters official notice, and/or a post-specific Policy or Management Notice) – including complying with any medical and/or training requirements the policy/policies specify.

The personal services to be provided are specified below. The Contractor will be responsible for performing his/her services in accordance with this Statement of Work. Any deliverables indicated in this Statement of Work must be provided by the Contractor in a timely manner.

Schedule and Travel:

Flexible work schedule and frequent travel. This position requires travel 100% of the time on overseas assignments to support a post's country program needs, and therefore requires extreme flexibility and adaptability. This is neither a remote position nor will telework be permitted beyond that permitted by the applicable Peace Corps policies/procedures regarding PSC telework at the post of assignment. The RSA will be assigned to a post for all working days of their contract. The PSC will not be assigned to work from the United States or at/from the Peace Corps post in a country where they are a citizen or permanent resident, if any.

Depending on specific position requirements, certain contracts will be written as one of the following:

· Full-time: Typically 260 work days authorized per contract year, a minimum of 40 hours of work per week. Reimbursement of dependent-related expenses and eligibility for Peace Corps-provided assistance to dependents (e.g. securing a visa for the country of assignment) under a full-time contract are limited.

· Intermittent: Full-time on an as-needed/intermittent basis (averaging a minimum of 8 hours per work day), with up to 195 work days authorized per contract year (which is subject to change at Peace Corps’ discretion each year). No minimum number of work days authorized per contract year or work days per contract year actually worked are guaranteed. No paid vacation/annual leave or sick leave will be included with an intermittent contract. Any days not worked while under contract will be unpaid. Also, no dependent expenses will be paid for by Peace Corps, nor assistance (e.g. securing a visa for the country of assignment) for dependents will be provided by Peace Corps.

In addition to maintaining the full-time schedule applicable to host country staff while on assignment at a Peace Corps post, the RSA will be required to hold a duty phone and remain on call for periods during their assignment and/or to respond to off-hour calls or attend off-hour meetings (i.e. nights, weekends, and holidays) related to their position – especially during emergencies and/or during periods of greater Peace Corps Trainee and/or Volunteer need (e.g. during Pre-Service Training (PST)).

While on assignment, the Contractor’s principal duty station is at the Peace Corps principal office in the country of assignment. Extensive in-country or regional travel away from the office is expected. Travel will often require working into the evening or weekend hours and/or overnight stays. Travel locations are often remote and/or do not offer infrastructure and/or accommodations on par with those found in the United States.

The Contractor may be requested by the Peace Corps to a) perform one or more temporary assignments (TDYs) at another Peace Corps post or Headquarters, or b) transfer permanently to another Peace Corps post or Headquarters during the period of performance of this Contract. Any such TDY or transfer shall be subject to the agreement of the Contractor. If a transfer is approved, either the contract will be bi-laterally modified or a new contract will be awarded. If a transfer is approved and a new contract is awarded, the Statement of Work from this contract will be carried forward into any resulting new contract issued by the gaining post/Headquarters.

The Contractor may be requested by the Peace Corps to perform one or more temporary details with another Agency of the United States Government (USG) or with a Peace Corps Headquarters office or a post other than the post of assignment to perform work that may be specifically in line with or may add to the Statement of Work specified in this contract. Any such detail shall be subject to the agreement of the Contractor and must be approved in advance in accordance with Peace Corps policies and/or procedures.

Roving Senior Advisor Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Responsible for providing guidance on the complete operations of the Peace Corps program at a designated post. Advises Peace Corps staff and Headquarters offices in order to address and resolve the full range of factors and problems that may arise in supporting the Peace Corps program, including professional assessments of important local situations, problems, operations, policies, and procedures as they affect operation of the Peace Corps program.

2. Responds to requests from senior management to provide the Region of assignment with objective reports, assessments, recommendations, professional advice, technical assistance, and problem-solving to aid in the effective management and implementation of the Region’s operational decisions. Maintains regular and close contact with Peace Corps Headquarters, including providing requested reports and updates.

3. Represents and advocates for the goals and activities of Peace Corps with host country government officials, local private and not-for-profit entities, the US Embassy and other government agencies.

4. Coordinates closely with personnel of the US Embassy at post, attending country team meetings (with US Embassy approval) and other meetings with US Embassy personnel and host government officials to review, analyze, and implement suitable approaches and decisions regarding all aspects of operating a Peace Corps program.

5. Ensures post maintains and implements policies and procedures that align with Peace Corps requirements and promote efficient use of human and financial resources.

6. Provides oversight of financial management, administration and program staff, and cooperating agreements between Peace Corps and the host-country partner agencies.

7. Identifies needs and challenges related to post administration, staff contracting, staff training, supplies/services acquisition, etc. Develops practical plans and implementation procedures to address identified needs and challenges.

8. Identifies and addresses issues related to PCV qualifications, PCV placements, programming, site development, training, safety, home-stays, counterpart development and training, PCV assignments, and related matters.

9. Provides leadership and management over institutional policies and procedures to ensure PCV safety and security. This encompasses, but is not limited to, promoting PCV training and their ability to assess and ensure their personal safety; responding to natural or man-made disasters; mitigating the potential threat of political unrest; and supporting the Agency’s response to PCV victims of crime, such as physical and sexual assault, theft, among others.

10. In coordination with the Office of Health Services, oversees a comprehensive medical care program that supports PCVs with their health care needs.

11. Ensures confidentiality in handling of PCV allegations against staff, PCVs, or others; protects confidentiality of those making allegations; and reports allegations to appropriate headquarters authorities.

12. Promotes intercultural competence among staff and PCVs; ensures the Peace Corps program’s policies and procedures promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging; develops a cohesive organization that promotes respect and dignity towards others.

13. Provides assistance and direct leadership for post administrative operations, including budget and finance oversight, general services support, and human resources guidance.

14. Ensures staff receive and complete required trainings, such as safety and security, ethics, cybersecurity.

15. Adheres to applicable US Federal laws, Peace Corps policies and procedures, and local labor laws pertaining to Personal Services Contract (PSC) and other staff engagement, training, treatment, and disciplinary actions. Promotes a collaborative and positive work environment that values staff contributions.

16. Performs other duties or assignments (including technical, relational, and/or administrative), as indicated in an Inter-Agency Agreement between the Peace Corps and the Department of State or another USG Agency in effect and if deemed applicable to the position and/or in furtherance of the goals of the Peace Corps by the AD/OGO or RD while in the country of assignment.

17. Knowledgeable and supportive of Peace Corps safety and security policies and procedures, including the timely reporting of suspicious incidents, persons or articles.

18. Acts as duty officer, as needed.

19. If there is a time at a post of assignment, due to the COVID-19 pandemic or for any other reason, when there are limited or no Peace Corps Trainees and/or Volunteers (jointly referred to as “Volunteers”) at that location, the PSC may be temporarily assigned during that period, as determined by the CD (or AD/OGO), to carry out additional duties and responsibilities in furtherance of the goals of the Peace Corps in order to enhance the ability of Peace Corps Volunteers to perform functions under the Peace Corps Act, including facilitating a safe environment in order for the successful return or increase of Volunteers.

This temporary assignment may require the PSC to provide services and/or support beyond what is listed in their current Statement of Work (SOW). The services and/or support may take many forms, examples of which may include but are not limited to, training, providing administrative, technical, medical, and/or operational assistance, building on host country programs, etc. This temporary assignment also may require the PSC to provide these services and/or support to individuals/organizations other than those listed in their current SOW such as host country government, partner organization(s), community member(s), staff, and/or contractors.

20. Performs other duties or assignments, when deemed necessary by the AD/OGO or RD for the successful management of Peace Corps operations in post of assignment.

As a Senior Advisor, the Contractor may be required to perform the following inherently governmental functions:

· May be designated as a receiving officer if assigned by the Country Director and with the approval of the Regional Director. Responsibilities as a receiving officer include accurate review of goods or services, their accompanying invoices, and the purchase order/contract to ensure that the specifications, quality, amounts, price, timeliness, etc. of the goods are consistent with the terms and conditions of the contract/purchase order after successful completion of the requisite training to perform receiving duties. (See MS 511, the Personal Property Management Handbook and OFMH 19)

· May be designated as a property officer if assigned by the Country Director, in coordination with the Office of Management, and with the approval of the Regional Director. Responsibilities as a property officer include carrying out functions to safeguard and control all U. S. government property assigned to the Peace Corps office; ensures that property duties are assigned appropriately, and that staff are well-trained in how to carry out their duties; oversees maintenance and utilization of property, and the annual and semi-annual inventory and loss reports. The Property Officer can be held financially liable for neglecting to safeguard and control Peace Corps personal property. (See MS 511 and the Personal Property Management Handbook)

· Designated with limited supervisory responsibilities. May only supervise other PSCs. (See MS 732 and the Overseas Contracting Handbook)

Acting Country Director Duties and Responsibilities:

Only during periods when temporarily designated as Acting Country Director, in addition to performing the duties and responsibilities specified above as a Roving Senior Advisor, the Contractor may be required to perform the following inherently governmental functions:

May be temporarily designated as Acting Country Director. In the event of a temporary absence of the Country Director (CD) from a post of assignment, and/or avacancy in the CD position at a post of assignment, the Contractor may temporarily be designated as Acting Country Director, to include carrying out any/all Inherently Governmental Functions (IGFs) related to carrying out that designation. This temporary designation must be made in writing by the AD/OGO and must be carried out in accordance with the procedures specified on the OGO Intranet site. When temporarily designated as Acting Country Director, the Contractor may a) supervise all post staff, including US Direct Hires (USDHs), PSCs, and/or Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs); b) attend Country Team Meeting at the US Embassy (with the US Embassy’s approval), c) sign documents as the chief representative of the Peace Corps in the country of assignment, d) implement permanent or temporary policies and procedures that apply to the post of assignment, and e) make decisions on behalf of the Peace Corps consistent with those made by the CD. (See MS 732 and the relevant procedures on the OGO Intranet site)”

Reference Materials:

US Government-wide and Peace Corps-specific laws, regulations, rules, policies, procedures, and guidance. This includes the Peace Corps Manual and associated referenced documents and other guidance published on the Peace Corps Intranet; the Overseas Financial Management Handbook (OFMH); the Overseas Contracting Handbook (OCH); the Peace Corps “Characteristics of a High Performing Post”; and applicable provisions of the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM); the Foreign Affairs Handbook (FAH); and other regulations.

Required Qualifications

· United States citizenship.

· Receipt and maintenance of a Top Secret security document/clearance.

· Receipt and maintenance of a Worldwide Department of State Medical Clearance.

· Registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) and maintenance of that registration.

· Acquisition and maintenance of international health insurance coverage, which includes coverage for overseas hospitalization.

· Leadership – Minimum 4 years’ experience independently leading (strategic planning, communicating mission, setting goals, etc.) team(s) of at least 12 people in mission driven-organization(s).

· Administration – Minimum 4 years’ experience managing team(s) tasked with policy formulation/implementation, human resource management, financial management, budgeting, logistical/transportation support and/or facilities management.

· Budget Management – Minimum 1 year experience managing a budget of $1 Million USD or more.

· International Project Development and Management – Minimum of 4 years’ experience in project design, development, and implementation in an international setting or for an international organization.

· Intercultural Experience – Minimum of 2 years’ experience living and working in a culture other than one’s own.

· Communication and Representation – Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in senior-level role representing an organization to diverse and high-level officials and stakeholders.

· Writing and Speaking – Provides documented evidence of strong written and oral communication skills (e.g. lists articles or other written works they have authored, public presentations and/or in-person trainings they have given, etc.).

· Availability – Indicates availability and willingness to travel on a Roving basis to various Peace Corps overseas posts, often for extended periods of time, throughout the period of performance, at the direction of the Peace Corps. Does not indicate any significant known limitations to their ability to fulfill this requirement.