SOL-391-17-000003)Dev_Asstt._Spe_(M&E)__GS-14.pdf

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ATTACHMENT TO SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL-391-17-000003

SOLICITATION NUMBER: SOL-391-17-000003

ISSUING DATE: July 28, 2017

CLOSING DATE: August 13, 2017 (5pm local time)

POSITION TITLE: Development Assistance Specialist (Monitoring and Evaluation)

MARKET VALUE: $88,136 – $114,578 (GS-14).

ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION POSITION: Islamabad, Pakistan

DIRECT SUPERVISOR: Community Resilience Office Director, Community Resilience Office, Islamabad, USAID/Pakistan

SUPERVISORY CONTROL: Minimum. Incumbent receives supervision, administrative direction and guidance from the Director Community Resilience Office, but is expected to act independently.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The USPSC contract will be for an initial one year period, with four one-year option years

SECURITY ACCESS: Background check or USG security clearance

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: US Citizens and US Legal Residents

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Development Assistance Specialist (Monitoring and Evaluation);

GS-0301-14 - Equivalent

A. BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION:

The work of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist requires teamwork, the exercise of discretion, judgment, and personal responsibility. As a member of a highly operational office, the incumbent is willing and able to perform a wide range of administrative functions to help ensure programmatic success. The incumbent has a high level of integrity and attention to detail to ensure the use of USAID systems and procedures to maintain effective and efficient management of funds, programming, and monitoring and evaluation. The incumbent is highly flexible and willing to work under conditions of ongoing change, and remains professional and respectful of colleagues and authority in a diverse workforce. She or he places a premium on the building of positive relationships with his or her respective team, and with key stakeholders both in and outside of USAID. The incumbent is able to prioritize and complete tasks without follow-up by the supervisor, while also filling in gaps as needed to ensure the responsiveness of the team. The M&E Specialist is a strategic thinker, articulates innovative ideas, presents solutions, and is a positive role model for colleagues both in and outside of Community Resilience Office.

B. MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the direct supervision of the CRO Director or his/her designee, the M&E Specialist will perform the following duties:

• Serve as an authoritative source of consultation for other activity managers and program specialists on performance monitoring and evaluation of CRO programs. Resolve issues and provide advice on matters where policies or decisions covering major areas of uncertainty in approach or methodology are required and where new techniques or information must be developed;

• Provide expert analysis on evaluation and performance monitoring to the CVE Team Management that encompass programmatic milestones, schedules, and budgetary resource planning and execution to support CRO capacity building for using M&E for effective management, operations, and decision making in support of projects/programs;

• Provide interpretations of reports and data that point out trends and identify deviations from standards and/or plans, and project data into the future. Take the lead on collecting information and drafting/editing regular reporting products;

• Review, advise on, and conduct complex analyses, evaluations, or performance monitoring systems in support of organizational programs, systems, and processes, including areas where definitions, methods, and/or data are incomplete, controversial, or uncertain, or where boundaries of the studies are extremely broad and difficult to determine in advance. Recommendations may pertain to complex, interrelated issues or conflicting goals and objectives;

• Coordinate with key stakeholders to routinely conceptualize, update and revise USAID guidance related to action learning, monitoring and evaluation, and program performance management processes ;

• With supervisor’s guidance, fill critical needs for program advisement, management and implementation, management and close-out;

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• Represent CRO interests during meetings with USAID Mission personnel, U.S. Embassy staff, host-country government officials, international organizations, indigenous and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international donors, and others interested in CVE activities;

• Work with the CRO implementing partners to design and implement a monitoring, evaluation, and learning agenda for the activity. This will include monitoring and evaluation plans for individual grant activities as well as higher level program results.

• Work closely with the CRO Director and Activity Managers to develop and coordinate research that can inform CRP program design and contribute to the USG’s understanding of violent extremism in Pakistan.

• Collaborate with CRP Managers, CRP COR, and CRO Director to ensure that findings and recommendations from evaluation activities are effectively integrated into program activities.

• Produce briefing documents that synthesize the successes and lessons learned from the activity for USAID personnel, US Embassy staff, CRP grantees, donors, and other members of the international community.

• Mentor and train CRO office staff and implementing partner field staff as required;

• When required, assume higher representational responsibilities, potentially serving as CRO Director in his/her absence;

• Provide technical assistance based on research and personal field experience to enable the program to develop cutting-edge program monitoring and evaluation systems, and continually refine and improve them;

• Advise partners in developing and refining program objectives, monitoring and evaluation systems, and other resources to aid in the research and learning process;

• Communicate regularly and share program information with other USAID project managers, the U.S.

Embassy, bilateral donors, United Nations organizations, international organizations, and indigenous and international NGOs to ensure visibility and synergy of CRO activities;

• Support the CRO Director to ensure the use of USAID systems and procedures to maintain effective and efficient management of funds, programming, and monitoring and evaluation;

C. SELECTION CRITERIA:

This is a senior-level position in a high-profile foreign assistance program that requires extensive knowledge, experience, maturity, and an ability to function in a complex, highly demanding, and often uncertain environment. Applicants are required to address each of the Selection Criteria on a separate sheet, describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education, and/or awards or recognition they have received relevant to each criteria described below, and any related considerations. Be sure to include your name and the solicitation number at the top of each additional page.

Applicants must submit three written references with complete contact information. Candidates meeting the required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application

V and reference checks. USAID/Pakistan reserves the right to conduct interviews with the most highly ranked applicants. Candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on the following selection criteria (maximum of 100 points):

1. Education (15 Points):

A Master’s degree in a relevant field of study including monitoring and evaluation, international development, statistics, economics, public policy, business administration, or development planning is required.

2. Work Experience (35 Points):

A minimum of Five (5) to seven (7) years of professional in-depth experience of designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation approaches, project management experience with a U.S.

Government foreign affairs agency, international assistance organization, or non-governmental organization in community development, economic development, mediation/arbitration, conflict resolution, democracy and governance, international law, human rights activities, and/or political analysis.

At least One (1) year of overseas field experience working in a developing country including experience working in one or more countries undergoing political transition is required. One year prior supervisory and management experience in a position of similar complexity (including mentoring, guiding, and training staff) required.

A minimum of two (2) of the required 5 to 7 years of experience should be work in politically unstable developing countries or sub-regions. Work experience in Pakistan or in other critical priority countries in South and Southeast Asian countries is also preferred but not required.

3. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (40 Points):

Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of; designing and/or implementing monitoring and evaluation approaches for dynamic and complex environments; interacting and coordinating with local and national governments as well as contractors and non-governmental organizations involved in stabilization initiatives; extracting lessons and , good practices from monitoring and evaluation data, and formulating recommendations that can improve overall program planning, implementation and evaluation; designing and supervising research, data collection and analysis; collaboration with development technical teams on project design and approval documents; Country Development Plans (medium-term program strategy) preparation, sectoral analysis, diagnostics of development challenges; logical and results framework development; semi-annual and periodic program reviews; preparation of Operational Plan and Performance Plan and Report; resource programming, budgeting and planning cycle.

Also, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist is expected to have performed previously with excellence under culturally and operationally diverse settings. Further, s/he must possess a proven ability to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and professionally.

4. Language (10 Points):

Fluent (level IV) English language proficiency, both written and spoken, is required, in addition to a proven ability to communicate quickly, clearly, and concisely, both orally and in writing including technical reports is required.

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A writing sample is required to determine the competitive ranking of qualified applicants in comparison to other applicants) Applicants should provide a response to the following Questions:

1. Please describe your experience developing monitoring and evaluation systems for programs in complex and dynamic environments.

2. What have you learned from your experience designing monitoring and evaluation systems in complex environments?

Responses must be limited to 500 words per question. Any additional words above the limit will neither be read nor scored.

Applicants who clearly meet the Education, Work Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities requirements will be further evaluated based on scoring of the Writing Sample.

Candidates meeting the above required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and reference checks. USAID reserves the right to conduct interviews with the top ranked short-listed applicants. The interview will be one of the determining factors in the final selection.

D. TERM OF PERFORMANCE:

The term of the contract will be for one (1) year. Based upon contractor performance, continued Mission requirements and the continued availability of funds, the contract may be extended annually to a maximum of four (4) more years. Within 2 weeks after written notice from the Contracting Officer that all clearances have been received, or unless another date is specified by the Contracting Officer in writing, and receipt of a valid Pakistan entry visa, the incumbent shall proceed to Islamabad, Pakistan to perform the above services, which may be extended upon mutual agreement and subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

This position has been classified as equivalent to a GS-14 position in the USG Civil Service.

In addition, Islamabad has a 25% Post Differential allowance and 35% Danger Pay, housing, and other benefits per USAID regulations. Basic household furnishings will be available in quarters to be provided by USAID.

FICA and federal income tax will be withheld by USAID. U.S. Resident hire PSCs are not eligible for any fringe benefits (except contributions for FICA, health insurance, and life insurance), including differentials and allowances. Pakistan is a no-dependent post.

E. MEDICAL AND SECURITY CLEARANCE:

The selected applicant must be able to undergo a thorough background check and obtain a USG security clearance and a Department of State Class I medical clearance or fitness certificate.

F. BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES:

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the benefits and allowances listed in this section. [NOTE: A contractor meeting the definition of a U.S. Resident Hire PSC, shall be subject to U.S. Federal Income Tax (including differentials and allowances), but shall not be eligible for any fringe benefits except contributions for FICA, health insurance, and life insurance.]

1. BENEFITS:

• Employer’s FICA and Medicare Contribution

• Contribution toward Health & life insurance

• Pay Comparability Adjustment

• Eligibility for Worker's Compensation

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• Annual & Sick Leave

• Access to Embassy medical facilities, commissary and pouch mail service per post policy

2. ALLOWANCES (If Applicable)*:

(1) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120)

(2) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130)

(3) Post Allowance (Section 220)

(4) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230)

(5) Post Differential (Chapter 500)

(6) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600) and

(7) Danger Pay (Section 650)

(8) Education Allowance (Section 270)

(9) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260) (10)Education Travel (Section 280)

* Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas).

3. FEDERAL TAXES: USPSCs are required to pay Federal Income Taxes, FICA, and Medicare.

G. CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBs) or ACQUISITION AND ASSISTANCE POLICY DIRECTIVES (AAPDs) PERTAINING TO PSCs:

Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives (AAPDs) and Contract Information Bulletins (CIBs) contain changes to USAID policy and General Provisions in USAID regulations and contract. Those documents can be found at this website: http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs

H. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

IMPORTANT: All qualified individuals are requested to submit a signed U.S. Government AID-302-3 form which is available at the USAID website: https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-302-3 . Applicant’s CVs may also be included as an attachment.

All applications should be submitted electronically to:

Attention: Samina Riaz Human Resources Specialist USAID/Pakistan, C/o U.S. Embassy Diplomatic Enclave, Islamabad, Pakistan

To ensure consideration of application for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your application and on the subject line of cover letter. The highest ranking applications may be selected for an interview.

In your cover letter you must answer the following questions and provide explanations where necessary or otherwise answer “not applicable” or “N/A”:

1. Have you ever been employed by any USG agency? If yes, which one(s)?

2. Have you ever been terminated from any employment or permitted to resign? If yes, describe the circumstances under which you were terminated or permitted to resign.

3. Has your security clearance ever been denied, revoked or suspended by any USG agency for any reason?

If yes, describe the circumstances under which such denial, revocation or suspension occurred.

http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-302-3

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4. Have you ever (a) had an international work visa revoked by the issuing country or (b) been ordered to leave a country by either your employer or a host country government prior to the agreed upon termination date of your work contract or visa expiration date? If yes, describe the circumstances.

Applicants may submit an application against this solicitation at any time by 5:00 PM Islamabad time on August 13, 2017 unless revised.