The OTI Deputy Country Representative – Nigeria is a full time Personal Services Contract (PSC) position at the GS-13 equivalent level located in Nigeria. Applications for this position are due no later than August 18, 2016 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time.
Job Title: OTI Deputy Country Representative – Nigeria
Introduction
The OTI Deputy Country Representative – Nigeria is a member of the Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA)/OTI Africa (AFR) Regional Team, reports to the OTI Country Representative or his/her designee, and is based in Nigeria. The Deputy Country Representative’s principal responsibility is to support the OTI Country Representative in the development, oversight, and management of the OTI country program.
Despite Nigeria’s economic status and resource wealth, poverty, corruption, and conflict are endemic throughout Nigeria. The main sources of conflict across the country are related to poor resource management, corruption, and poor governance—shortfalls which are further exacerbated by the Boko Haram led insurgency in the northeast and which has spread over the borders and into the Lake Chad Basin region which encompasses parts of Niger, Chad, and Cameroon. The violent Boko Haram insurgency in the country’s northeast has been fomenting instability in Nigeria and threatening broader regional stability for some time. Boko Haram gained international notoriety with the kidnapping of over 300 girls in Borno State, creating a political window of opportunity for USG stabilization efforts in the region.
OTI’s Northeast Nigeria program seeks to further U.S. foreign policy objectives in Nigeria through support which targets drivers of instability in northeast and the Lake Chad Basin region. Drivers may include, but are not limited to, violent extremism, political and economic exclusion, particularly among youth and marginalized groups, lack of state presence and/or good governance coupled with a lack of opportunities for political participation. OTI intends to address these critical issues through a flexible, small-grants mechanism which tailors approaches to the varied needs of communities in northeast Nigeria. The program may utilize both “soft” (e.g., cultural and recreational activities, media and strategic communications) and “hard” (e.g., small-scale infrastructure) activities to better connect communities, local actors, and the Nigerian government and to increase youth resistance to violent extremism. The program may also support national level activities, or other emerging transition needs.
Due to the sensitive, fragile, and challenging environments in which OTI works, the office’s approach to programming is one that seeks to find creative, entrepreneurial, and unique ways to approach problem sets. These dynamic contexts require that programs adapt to rapidly evolving situations and that teams continually explore assumptions and test innovative tools and methods to achieve program objectives. Given OTI’s short-term political mission, its unpredictable working environments and the diffuse problems it seeks to address, OTI has developed ways to get smart quickly and act fast. OTI has honed a program approach that uses iterative strategic planning, where staff constantly review the current political situation, create relationships with communities and key actors, and undertake activities that will test what works and what doesn’t in order to inform future activities and priorities. Core qualities of a successful OTI program are characterized by a team that is able to be: fast, flexible, iterative, adaptive, and entrepreneurial.
CORE FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The work of the Deputy Country Representative 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 OTI 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 both in the field and in Washington, 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 Deputy Country Representative is a strategic thinker, articulates innovative ideas, presents solutions, and is a positive role model for colleagues both in and outside of OTI.
Under the direct supervision of the, DCHA/OTI Country Representative for Nigeria or his/her designee, the Deputy Country Representative will perform the following duties:
· Represent OTI interests during meetings with USAID Mission personnel, U.S. Embassy staff, host-country government officials, international organizations, indigenous and international NGOS, international donors, and others interested in DCHA/OTI activities;
· Provide continued guidance on the identification and development of projects that meet OTI funding criteria, further OTI programmatic objectives, and complement other projects and programs implemented by other OTI offices as well as with USG agencies and donor organizations;
· As requested by Embassies or USAID Missions, provide support for the design and execution of programs that follow OTI’s quick impact programming model. Support to Embassies and USAID Missions may also include attendance and/or facilitation of program management processes for follow-on programming, including but not limited to rolling assessments, strategy review sessions, program performance and management reviews;
· Evaluate proposals and work with diverse groups, many of which have not previously had international funding;
· Assist the Country Representative in monitoring the performance of the OTI implementing partners in the implementation of OTI-financed activities designed to achieve OTI strategic objectives;
· If required, travel extensively in low security areas of focus to monitor and assess political conditions, meet with potential grantees, and develop activity ideas;
· Mentor/train other OTI and implementing partner field staff as required;
· Take the lead on collecting information and drafting/editing regular reporting products;
· When required, assume higher representational responsibilities, potentially serving as Acting OTI Country Representative in his/her absence, for example;
· Perform a wide range of administrative functions (budget preparation, financial management, records management, travel assistance, etc.) to help ensure programmatic success;
· Assist in developing an exit strategy in coordination with the OTI Country Representative that ensures reasonable time to transition from OTI programs to follow-on USAID or other donor programs;
· As appropriate, communicate regularly and share program information with other USAID project managers, the US Embassy, bilateral donors, UN Organizations, International Organizations, and indigenous and international NGOs to ensure visibility and synergy of USAID/OTI activities;
· Support the Country Representative to ensure the use of OTI systems and procedures to maintain effective and efficient management of funds, programming, and monitoring and evaluation;
· When required, report regularly to the OTI Country Representative and OTI/Washington on the status of: 1) grant development and implementation, 2) OTI contractor performance, 3) Foreign Service National (FSN) staff support needs and morale, 4) communication and coordination issues among OTI offices with other U.S. Government entities, 5) security concerns, 6) relations with local partners, including local, state and national government representatives, and 7) other pertinent information required to achieve OTI’s program objectives;
· Assist the Country Representative in managing and/or supervising the Foreign Service National Staff, including but not limited to program officers, administrative assistants and drivers;
· Supervise staff as delegated by the Country Representative (e.g. Program Managers, Program Assistants, Program Administrative Assistants, etc.). Provide orientation, training, and mentoring for staff supervised; assign work, explain how duties are to be performed to meet expectations and communicate how the successful performance of those duties will be measured; evaluate staff performance; recognize good performance; communicate where performance needs to be improved; resolve complaints; and approve leave requests and timesheets as well as training, travel and program and operations requests; and
· Perform other related duties as determined by the supervisor or OTI Regional Team Leader to ensure successful OTI program implementation.
SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:
The Deputy Country Representative will be supervised by the OTI Country Representative or his/her designee in the country of assignment. The incumbent is expected to take initiative, act independently, and manage his/her tasks with minimal supervision. Though this is a senior field-based position, the incumbent is expected to actively and proactively collaborate with OTI/Washington leadership, and to fully utilize, embrace, and become an expert on OTI systems and processes. Failure to adequately perform the scope of work above and/or failure to take direction from the supervisor may result in corrective actions, including denial of step or grade increases, extension of contract probationary periods, performance improvement plans, and/or termination for the convenience of USAID/OTI.
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:
The supervisor will set overall objectives and resources available, and work with the employee to develop deadlines, projects, and work to be accomplished. The employee will be responsible for planning and carrying out assignments, resolving most conflicts, coordinating with others, and interpreting policy in terms of established objectives. Keeping the supervisor informed of progress, the employee may determine the approach to be taken and the methodology to be used. The supervisor will review completed work from an overall standpoint of feasibility, compatibility with other work, or effectiveness in meeting requirements.
1. PHYSICAL DEMANDS
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
While in Nigeria, the work is generally sedentary and does not pose undue physical demands. However, the position also requires travel throughout the country of assignment, which may involve some additional physical exertion including long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain, or carrying of moderately heavy items (less than 50 pounds).
Work Environment:
While in Nigeria, the work is primarily performed in an office setting. However, the position also requires travel throughout the country of assignment, which may additionally involve special safety and/or security precautions, wearing of protective equipment, and exposure to severe weather conditions.
2. POINT OF CONTACT:
OTI Recruitment Team
529 14th Street, NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20045
Telephone Number: (202) 836-7455
E-Mail Address: OTIjobs@usaid.gov
I. Minimum Qualifications Required for this position
(Determines basic eligibility for the position. Applicants who do not meet all of the education and experience factors are considered NOT qualified for the position. See detailed instructions for demonstrating Education/Experience under “Applying”)
The USAID Office of Transition Initiatives Deputy Country Representative post is a middle management position requiring excellent managerial and communication skills, an ability to perform in a complex and highly sensitive political environment, experience in policy formulation and negotiation at the highest levels (government and non-government organizations), and a strong interest in assisting countries in transition. The candidate must be mature, self-reliant, a team player, a problem-solver, and able to manage a diverse portfolio of grants. S/he should have extensive management experience (both project and personnel) and understand the basics of grantee and contractor/USAID relationships. S/he should be able to communicate effectively with grassroots organizations and their constituencies, national and local government officials, USG agencies, and clerics or other religious leaders. Since work may require continued changes in program direction and implementation, including frequent coordination, the individual will be someone who is highly flexible and willing to work under conditions of ongoing change.
Familiarity with a wide range of issues is necessary, including but not limited to community development, mediation/arbitration, conflict resolution, democracy/governance and human rights. Prior work experience with US Government agencies and/or managing program operations in civil conflicts is preferred. The successful candidate will possess excellent political analysis and reporting skills and the ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy, responsibility and authority in a highly stressful environment while exercising sound judgment in politically charged and challenging security environments.
At a minimum, the applicant must have:
(1) A Master’s Degree with five (5) years of work experience;
OR
A Bachelor’s Degree with seven (7) years of work experience;
AND
(2) A minimum of five (5) years of 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;
(3) A minimum of one (1) year of overseas field experience working in a developing country, of which six (6) months must include experience working in one or more countries undergoing political transition;
(4) A minimum of one (1) year of supervisory experience (including mentoring, training, and guiding staff).
How to Apply
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