Solicitation for USPSC - Senior Governance Advisor

This position is part of the Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG). USAID currently manages over $1.7 billion a year on a broad range of democracy programs covering justice, human rights, citizen security, civil society, media, local government, legislatures, constitutional reform, political parties, elections, anti-corruption, and anti-trafficking in persons. These efforts are critical to improve government effectiveness, accountability, transparency and legitimacy, and to ensure citizens are empowered to play a role in public affairs and the decisions that affect their daily lives. They also underpin the sustainability of the Agency’s socio-economic development sectors. The DRG Bureau leads the Agency in supporting overall efforts to advance democracy, human rights, and governance.

The DRG Bureau’s annual budget is over $268 million, with over 150 staff, comprised of U.S. Direct Hires (USDHs), contractors, and Fellows. The DRG Bureau currently has nine technical offices: Management and Cadre Support (MCS); Civil Society, Labor and Media (CLM); Anti-Corruption Center (ACC); Global Trends and Technology (GTT); Democratic Elections and Political Processes (EPP); Governance (GOV); Justice, Rights, and Security (JRS); Policy, Learning, and Integration (PLI); and Program Office (PO). The DRG Bureau’s goal is to lead USAID’s efforts to invigorate democracy, enhance human rights and justice, and bolster governance that advances the public interest and delivers inclusive development. The DRG Bureau achieves this through high quality support to USAID Missions, generating and disseminating knowledge on best practices, and providing leadership on DRG to the wider USG and the international development community.

The Office of Governance (GOV) is one of the DRG Bureau’s technical offices. GOV meets Agency and DRG Bureau objectives by providing technical leadership and support on national and subnational governance, effective national institutions, public sector reform, economic governance and public financial management. GOV supports resilient, transparent, and accountable executive and legislative institutions at all levels of government. GOV helps partner governments to strengthen capacity to provide responsive services to their citizens, mobilize and manage public resources, and promote locally led development and inclusive economic growth.

Working as part of GOV, the Senior Governance Advisor will help the DRG Bureau meet high demand for technical assistance by providing support – both on TDY and in Washington D.C. – to Missions, Embassies, and other USG operating units. The Senior Governance Advisor will support the development of strategy and country-level plans, the design and evaluation of programs, development of performance indicators, assessments, and the integration of evidence-based, best-fit governance approaches into cross-sectoral programming. The Senior Governance Advisor may also serve as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR)/Agreement Officer's Representative (AOR) for at least one of GOV's implementing mechanisms, and/or alternate COR/AOR or activity manager of other GOV-managed activities. On TDY and in Washington, the successful offeror will work closely with USAID and Department of State colleagues to: identify opportunities for USAID to support governance priorities; design activities responding to those opportunities; work with partners to effectively implement those activities; monitor the impact of those activities; and other associated technical and managerial assistance. The successful offeror will develop performance indicators, assessments, design and evaluate programs, and provide other Mission technical support. The successful offeror will coordinate with intra- and interagency colleagues on strategy, policy, and resource allocation issues.