The U.S. Mission in Accra, Ghana is seeking a highly motivated and qualified individual for the position of Project Management Specialist – Feed the Future (FtF)) in the Regional Economic Growth Office of USAID/West Africa. The position is located in the USAID/West Africa Economic Growth Team’s Regional Agriculture Office (RAO). The incumbent serves as a Project Management Specialist (PMS) to implement key aspects of USAID Feed the Future programs to increase food security and agriculture investment.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

PROJECT MENAGEMENT SPECIALIST – FEED THE FUTURE (FtF)

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION:

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: % OF TIME

1. Technical Assistance, Agriculture Program Management and Administration 30%

•   USAID/West Africa implements regional programs through contractors and grantees and in some cases directly with beneficiaries in West Africa. These programs conform to approved strategic frameworks, are implemented in compliance with U.S. and other government regulations, and follow standard USAID operating procedures. The task of agriculture program management and administration is to facilitate the smooth operations of these programs and to report on compliance with applicable rules and regulations. Specific duties will include drafting and tracking of internal financial approval documents, performance-monitoring plans, and monthly and annual reports to USAID headquarters, particularly to the USAID/Bureau of Food Security which administers FTF programs worldwide, and to other segments of the U.S. government.

•   The FTF Initiative is a high profile and important program for the U.S. Government. Staff are frequently called upon to prepare position papers, report and advise on food security, agriculture and related policies and issues in West Africa. The incumbent will be expected to perform the above tasks to a wide range of stakeholders including but not limited to USAID/West Africa Mission management, USAID headquarters, other high level officials of the U.S. Government, host country governments, high level regional government and institution officials, other donors, and segments of the private sector involved or affected by agriculture, trade and environment related issues that can ultimately impact regional food security. Thus, the incumbent will be expected to possess excellent interpersonal skills, and perform with a high degree of tact and diplomacy and be expected to resolve any potential disagreements between stakeholders, partners and other donors if necessary.

•   The job holder of this new position will serve as a full-time Contracting/Agreement Officer’s Representative (COR/AOR) for USAID projects/activities in the agricultural, food security and environment sectors. Major current projects in the office include the: cotton program, $16 million over four years; fertilizer program, $20 million over five years; West Africa seed program, $9 million over five years; food security policy programs which include several programs amounting to $2 million per year; trade program, $49 million over five years; capacity building program, $1 million over five years; and support to regional institutions (ECOWAS, CILSS, CORAF), $5 million per year. Additionally, this person will be directly involved in budget formulation, analysis, forecast and control. S/he is administratively responsible for reviewing vouchers from partners, monitoring expenditures and authorizing them for payment.

•   As AOR/COR, the incumbent is directly responsible for voucher review, monitoring expenditures and account status. S/he establishes budgets for partners, monitors their execution and is responsible for all accruals. S/he will be responsible for managing at minimum $6-10 million in program funds annually.

•   As requested, the staff will also assist the RAO to assess progress towards achievement of the CAADP /ECOWAP goals, at the regional level and at national levels throughout the region. This may include but is not limited to the following duties: assist to advance integration and harmonization of policies and systems throughout the West Africa region; foster the
strengthening of regional organizations, networks, and civil society organizations; actively identify and develop opportunities for improved coordination with other major donors active in the region to leverage greater results; and to serve as a liaison, when necessary, with national and regional authorities and organizations such as ECOWAS, other Missions, organizations, industry, the academic sector, and other donors on environmental issues.

2. Contractor/Implementing Partner Oversight 30%

•   Agriculture program management and administration entails working directly with USAID contractors and grantees on tasks specifically assigned by contract, agreement, and technical officers. These tasks may include consultations with colleagues to develop USAID position papers on alternative program-implementation plans, the research and development of concept
papers on new programs to increase trade in agricultural products, and participation on study teams to analyze the effectiveness of ongoing activities in achieving program goals.

•   As AOR/COR or Alternate, the incumbent will be directly responsible for supervising a minimum of two Chiefs of Party and will be responsible for providing oversight and monitoring of the budgets of responsible COR/AOR assigned projects and/or activities.

•   The incumbent will initiate contact and provide expert technical advice and direction to contractor and grantee professionals for which direct oversight responsibilities are exercised, and with contractor professionals in other areas of program focus, working to improve food security in West Africa. This will include informing partners of U.S. strategic priorities in West Africa, and in the realm of food security. S/he will analyze partner reports for validity, accuracy and progress towards meeting annual and overall program goals, to include tracking indicators and ensuring partners are capturing data accurately and accordance with FTF monitoring and evaluation guidance.

•   The incumbent also serves as a senior technical contact, with important position responsibilities including keeping the Contracting and Agreements Officers informed of progress, proposed contract and grant modifications, validity of claims, analysis of proposals, and assessment of contract time extensions. Work complexities will require the development of alternate solutions to reduce time and costs, versatility and innovation. S/he will have full autonomy to resolve programmatic related problems without assistance. S/he will be the person team members and other stakeholders will first go to resolve issues and problems pertaining to the incumbent’s projects/responsibilities.

3. Program-wide Reporting and Information Management 20%

•   The incumbent will assess program effectiveness for the improvement of complex program and management processes and systems encompassing difficult and diverse functions or issues that affect critical aspects of the major programs of the USAID/West Africa RAO. As an expert on long-range planning, s/he recommends and participates in developing strategies for implementing planning for a major program. Recommends short- and long-range goals of the organization, develops detailed plans for implementing them, and oversees implementation of the goals through contractors and grantees. S/he also helps to determine if adjustments or changes in objectives or emphasis are needed in organization functions, and recommends organizational or process changes.

•   Directs the capture, reporting, and analysis of statistical data relating to the organization's operations and directs or personally performs special studies or projects. Prepares and contributes to reports and other presentations on program planning and evaluation. Designs and conducts a wide variety of comprehensive studies and detailed analyses of complex functions and processes related to program planning and management. Identifies and proposes solutions to management problems that are of major importance to planning program direction.

4. Communications 20%

•   The incumbent prepares a variety of documents for publication and dissemination to suit numerous key constituencies both within and outside the U.S. government. There are important rules and regulations that govern how the office may communicate its work, for example, to assure that persons with disabilities have access, or to assure that sensitive personal or classified national security information are properly distributed. Effective communications will generally involve selecting the most appropriate medium and applying the skills necessary to take advantage of particular media, for example the “success story” presented on a glossy onepage handout as well as a web page, the “reporting cable” disseminated to all U.S. diplomatic posts worldwide, and the “spoken remarks” and “scene setters” prepared for the USAID/West Africa Mission Director or other senior U.S. government officials for presentation at a ceremony or other public event.

•   The task of communications is to analyze RAO information, consult with office staff on program priorities and communications objectives, and then assure that the work of the office is described and presented in ways that are relevant and compelling to each of the targeted audiences. The incumbent should be able to understand and interpret defined program objectives, exercising judgment to proceed with implementation of routine communications tasks, yet recognizing when
special circumstances require consultation with the office chief or other senior USAID/West Africa management.

•   Additionally, as a representative of USAID and during execution of her/his AOR/COR duties, the incumbent will be expected to occasionally perform public speaking engagements. But more often, the incumbent will represent the USG in regional meetings with high level regional and national government counterparts and other donors. Incumbent will prepare speeches for high level USG representatives such as the Mission Director and U.S. Ambassador.

Other Duties as assigned:

•   The RAO is small. This necessarily means that all staff will from time to time perform other duties decided by the office chief. These may entail performing work in an “acting” capacity for a colleague who is traveling or on leave, assisting a colleague with an especially urgent task, or personally taking responsibility for a special project.

•   As an example, special projects may require the incumbent to act as an expert on special projects, advising top management on major office issues; or lead, conduct or participate in complex management studies and reviews-particularly those with wide or significant effect upon USAID's strategic focus, policy, processes, operations, fiscal control and economy, and those where the boundaries of the studies may be broad.

Qualification Required & Experience

Applicants must address each required qualification listed below with specific information supporting each item. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not qualified.

•   Education: Bachelor’s Degree or higher in agriculture or related social science role is required.
•   Prior Work Experience: A minimum of seven (7) years of professional-level experience in a related role is required. Prior experience in project design, management, and implementation, and usage of database systems for project monitoring and evaluation, and results/ budget tracking and documentation is required.
•   Language Proficiency: English language (Level 4) proficiency (speaking/ reading) is required. Language proficiency will be tested.
•   Job Knowledge: Service in, or substantial and regular contact and/or dealings with donor agencies involved in food security and agriculture related programs.
•   Skills and Abilities: Excellent computer skills (especially MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint) including the ability to operate required software effortlessly and with minimal instruction or mentoring is required and must have ability to handle multiple activities effectively and at times under tight deadlines. Proficiency will be tested.

Salary range: Grade (FSN 11) GH¢68, 933.00 – GH¢103, 407.00 p.a. (depending on Qualification and Experience)

Location: Accra

How To Apply For The Job

Interested applicants must submit signed cover letter, relevant certificates and CV with references to the Mailing Address:

Regional Executive Office
USAID/West Africa
P.O. Box 1630, Accra

Or by Email to:

acpersonnel@usaid.gov

Note: When submitting your application via email, please start the subject line with the position title. Failure to state this and submit signed cover letter with relevant documents will result in a determination that the applicant is not qualified.

Closing Date: 05 May, 2016

ALL U.S. AND NON-GHANAIAN CITIZENS, WHO ARE NOT FAMILY MEMBERS OF USG EMPLOYEES OFFICIALLY ASSIGNED TO POST AND UNDER CHIEF OF MISSION AUTHORITY, MUST ATTACH COPIES OF THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENCY PERMITS TO THEIR APPLICATIONS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION. NO RELOCATION EXPENSES ARE PROVIDED TO THE JOB LOCATION: ACCRA, GHANA. IF TRANSPORTATION TO ACCRA IS REQUIRED, IT WILL BE THE EMPLOYEE’S RESPONSIBILITY.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted

USAID/Ghana anticipates awarding one Personal Services Contract (PSC) regarding this announcement. Please note that this does not constitute any guarantee