Agency: U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Organization: Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance, Office of Civil Society, Labor, and Media (DRG/CLM)
Location of Position: Washington, DC
Remote Eligibility: The position is remote eligible.
Open Period: July 22, 2024 – August 5, 2024
Appointment Type: This is an excepted service, time-limited appointment that is not to exceed five years; may be considered for two two-year extensions depending on the needs of the service.
Salary: (USD) $132,860 – $191,900 per year
Number of Vacancies: One

Description of Organization: The DRG Bureau provides technical services to USAID’s Missions worldwide; develops and manages programming to innovate, learn, and address emerging issues; and partners with donors, international organizations, implementing and civil society partners, and the private sector to advance democratic resilience globally. The DRG Bureau galvanizes efforts within the Agency and externally to elevate DRG and anti-corruption as critical components of inclusive and sustainable development. The DRG Bureau ensures that democracy, human rights, and anti-corruption considerations are infused into policy decisions, public outreach, and partner engagement.

The position will serve in CLM and report to the CLM GS-15 Supervisory Office Director or their designee. CLM provides technical leadership and support on strengthening capacity, effectiveness, and sustainability of civil society, media, and labor to USAID Missions and Washington Bureaus, other United States Government entities, and the broader DRG community. CLM supports specific USAID development programs that promote respect for the freedoms of association, assembly, and expression, including those that advance internet freedom, positive youth development, and digital democracy, and promote healthy information ecosystems. The functions of the DRG Bureau and CLM are described in ADS 101, Agency Programs and Functions.

Duties and Responsibilities: .

For more information about the position, please see below.

Conditions of Employment:

• Must be a U.S. citizen. Candidates must indicate whether they are a U.S. citizen. If citizenship is not stated, the application will not be considered; and
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret-level security clearance.

Interested candidates must submit the following documentation:

• Cover Letter: Candidates are required to submit a cover letter expressing interest and clearly addressing the stated requirements for the position;
• Resume/CV: Candidates must include months/years worked for each position listed;
• Writing Sample: Candidates must include at least one writing sample;
• Current security clearance level, if applicable; and
• References: At least three professional references.

Other Applicable Documents:

• Veterans’ Preference: Applicants claiming Veterans’ Preference must submit all appropriate documentation (DD-214, Service Disability Letter, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, etc.); and
• Political Appointee: Applicants serving as a current/former political appointee must submit all appropriate documentation (SF-50s, appointment letter, etc.).

Please submit your application package to [email protected] with the subject line: “FSL APPLICATION PACKAGE: DRG/CLM Democracy Officer (Senior Media Advisor), FL-0301-02.” Application submissions are required by 11:59 p.m. EDT, August 5, 2024. Packages not submitted by the deadline with the specified subject line—or incomplete packages—will not receive consideration. This notice may be used to fill additional vacancies, as the workforce needs of the Bureau may change.

USAID Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Commitment

USAID envisions a world where all individuals are valued, have equitable access to opportunities, and are included, respected, and safe in their societies. USAID embraces diversity as outlined in USAID’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement. We seek to elevate and include the voices of the USAID workforce, recognizing and valuing the unique contributions of all stakeholders. USAID also strives to improve equity for underrepresented communities that have historically been denied fair and just treatment and improve accessibility in all facets at USAID.

Additional resources include:

• EEO Policy Statement
• Reasonable Accommodation Policy
• Foreign Service Salaries – Careers (state.gov)
• Healthcare & Insurance – OPM.gov

Any questions concerning this notice may be directed to:

— DRG FSL Staffing Team, DRG, [email protected]

Introductory Statement: The Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG) integrates technical expertise with values-driven, cross-cutting priorities and modern approaches to the way USAID does its work. It provides technical services to USAID’s missions worldwide, supports programming to innovate, learn, and address emerging issues, and provides technical leadership within the Agency and externally to enhance development impact. Through the DRG Bureau, USAID elevates DRG and anti- corruption as critical components of inclusive and sustainable development and ensures that democracy, human rights and anti-corruption considerations are infused into policy decisions, public outreach and partner engagement. It elevates and unifies USAID’s DRG equities in the U.S. Government and coordinates to advance DRG objectives with a range of partners such as donors, international organizations, implementing and civil society partners, and the private sector.

The Democracy, Human Rights and Governance (DRG) Center provides support for USAID’s programming, as well as expertise and policy leadership in democracy, rights, and governance. The functions of the Bureau and Centers are described in ADS 101

Duties and Responsibilities:

Agency-Wide Technical Resource for DRG Development Issues 60%

POLICY: The incumbent provides policy recommendations and technical advice senior) officials within USAID, on both technical, country, regional and Agency-wide policy priorities related to DRG. S/He coordinates stated DRG activities with relevant cross-Agency Policy Task Teams, and other Bureaus as appropriate. S/He comments on relevant sections of proposed legislation and prepares or reviews position papers, reports and other documents when requested.

LEADERSHIP: Serves as the agency expert and coordinator in providing intellectual leadership and focus to provide policy and budget recommendations, strategy, interventions, and agency mechanisms to support cross-cutting DRG approaches to boost the sustainability and effectiveness of other development sectors, as well as drawing lessons learned from other sectors to improve the sustainability and effectiveness of DRG programs. S/He advises USAID management on the most effective approach to DRG issues and negotiates with other U.S. Government stakeholders, as appropriate, on the approach and rationale behind USAID cross-cutting work. S/He manages related financial, personnel selection, team building, reporting, communication, and program documentation processes to assure services are fully responsive and of top quality.

LEARNING: S/He researches and evaluates intellectual think tank, academic, implementing partner, donor, and other resources which can be concentrated on identifying concepts and solutions to critical problems in the sector. S/He relates such findings and knowledge to the development of internal research platforms, lessons learned, trainings, policy formulation and field support within USAID. S/He continually reviews worldwide political realities, institutional changes and expectations, and applicable research on sustainable development within the DRG arena and those of other development sectors relevant to cross-cutting programs and effectively applies the results to policy guidance and USAID assistance programs. S/He continually collects best practices and lessons learned based on case studies from USAID and other programs, distilling them into useful resources, product, trainings, and research questions to advance the Agency’s cross-cutting work. S/He develops policy/programming options, and recommends appropriate choices, based on a comprehensive analysis of development problems, alternative actions, objectives, and consistency with overall U.S. domestic and international policy and law and disseminates findings on methodologies to USAID assisted countries and the development Community.

FIELD SUPPORT: S/He provides direct, expert technical advice and guidance to USAID Missions and senior Regional Bureau personnel, to ensure that the Paris Principles, Accra Accord and New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States are integrated in cross-cutting programs. S/He researches, develops, pilots and disseminates toolkits to facilitate the practice of integrated programming in field missions across the program cycle. S/He provides policy and program guidance to the field Missions, ensuring that they are kept abreast of key Washington reforms and field-based innovative approaches to directly impact DRG and other development conditions in targeted countries. S/He advises U.S. Missions on how to assure that program content is tailored to the circumstances in each country and assists in the design and implementation of projects to carry out these programs.

TRAINING: S/He designs and conducts training for officers in multiple backstops, including but not limited to DRG, health, food security, and climate change, with a variety of levels of expertise, in Washington and the field, on state-of-the-art approaches to cross-cutting DRG programs throughout the program cycle. S/He collaborates with other Agency-wide, Pillar Bureau and Regional Bureau training initiatives to build off existing platforms, streamline processes and create a clear and consistent message about cross-cutting DRG programming.

MANAGEMENT: As needed/assigned, serve as Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative

(COTR), Agreement Officer’s Technical Representative (AOTR) and/or Activity Manager for DRG projects, performing the full range of project management functions: prepares planning, authorization and implementation documents (e.g., their timely clearance and execution); monitors grantee and contractor performance and project progress to identify substantive or administrative problems, taking corrective action with respect to modifications in projects, initiates and reviews interim and final evaluations.

Provides Information, Communications, and Liaison Services 40%

ADVOCACY: S/He coordinates with high-ranking officials in other donor agencies on the content and approach of their DRG programs and particularly on cross-cutting work. S/He meets with implementing partners to share best practices and state-of-the-art techniques for cross- cutting work. S/He initiates and coordinates agency-wide analysis efforts and dialogue sessions, for the purpose of devising Agency democracy strategy and keeping mission colleagues informed of DRG activities being carried out or planned by other donors. S/He initiates and leads interdisciplinary task forces within and outside the U.S., or organizes and chairs seminars on sectorial problems, development projects, policies, and strategies, and identification of participants. S/He prepares position papers for such meetings and coordinates US negotiating position with other US Government agencies, as requested.

RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING: S/He maintains a continuous interchange with other senior officers in USAID, especially within the other Pillar Bureaus, for information-sharing, identification of

opportunities and constraints to cross-cutting programs, best practices, joint field support and trainings, as well as research platforms and monitoring and evaluation systems. S/He enhances and coordinates effective working relationships across sectorial lines, identifying important areas of interaction and impact between program areas and ensuring that programs are managed to gain the greatest possible benefit from such interactions. The incumbent independently handles complex program issues and provides authoritative guidance.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Other Significant Factors:

BUS CODE: 2283

FLSA: Exempt

Security Clearance: Top Secret

Travel: Occasional (25%) Travel is required.