Solicitations open to: Ukrainian Nationals (Residency/Ukrainian Work Permit)

Solicitation No.: 720-121-24-R-10006

Position Title: Executive Assistant

Issuance date: June 7, 2024

Closing date and time: June 27, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Kyiv Time

Work hours: 40 hours (Full time)

Position Grade: FSN-08

Market Value: Basic Annual Rate (in U.S. Dollars): $21,801 – $28,343 In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID/Ukraine. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.

Place of Performance: Kyiv, Ukraine

Period of Performance: Five years with possibility of extension

Security Level Required: Facility Access

STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

The Executive Assistant is located in the Office of the Mission Director. The Executive Assistant serves as the personal assistant to the Mission Director, operating independently of any other position in the performance of the full range of secretarial, protocol, and administrative functions essential to the efficient operation of the Mission’s Front Office.

The Executive Assistant is the primary contact person responsible for the Mission’s Front Office customer service to internal and external partners and other stakeholders, including Mission staff, contractors and grantees and potential contractors and grantees, Implementing Partners (IPs), host-government officials, the Embassy, USAID/Washington, and other customers. In this capacity, the Administrative Assistant is responsible for coordinating information about the USAID Mission, and making sure that information gets to customers on a timely basis and in a professional manner.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Serves as Executive Assistant and personal assistant for the USAID Mission Director, providing the following representative administrative support services: maintains Front Office calendar(s); organizes meetings as directed, ensures Offices scheduling meetings for the Director provide sufficient background and other necessary information for meetings, and sends out meeting notices; makes regular travel arrangements, prepares trip requests, vehicle requests, and travel vouchers; composes complex non-technical correspondence, including reviewing and preparing official responses to unsolicited proposals, as required; researches and assembles information for various reports, briefings, and conferences; prepares routine reports, briefings, presentations, and analyses; follows up with Mission staff members to ensure that various commitments are met; edits written products prepared by or provided to the Front Office; and, on occasion participates on field trips and out-of-office meetings.

B. Performs a variety of administrative and procedural duties, including: providing telephone, receptionist, and protocol services for the Front Office; orders expendable supplies for the Office; files material and maintains the Front Office filing system; receives and controls incoming correspondence and communications; prepares requests for repair of office equipment and systems; and schedules the use of conference rooms in coordination with other Mission administrative staff.

C. Manages arrangements for official USAID Receptions (tracking official representation funds). Reports and accounts for all expenses; develops invitation designs and ensures that invitations are distributed; maintains a record of acceptances on a master guest list; and supervises service providers, as required. Prepares electronic country clearances (eCCs) and travel authorizations/vouchers for Front Office staff, and TDY guests of the Director, and makes or follows up on hotel reservations and other arrangements, as required.

The contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the U.S., or to other Missions abroad, to participate in the “Foreign Service National” Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.

Supervisory Relationship:

The Executive Assistant receives supervision from the Mission Director, and/or his/her designee, who provides assignments in terms of a discussion of the work to be performed and the Director’s priorities. Most work occurs as a result of normal office operations, but special activities may be assigned at any time. The Administrative Assistant independently plans and carries out assignments and is responsible for the accuracy of their personal work; work is normally reviewed in terms of results achieved, and in meeting Office objectives.

Supervisory Controls:

Guidance may be provided to the Director’s Chauffeur, and to Administrative staff Mission wide. However, continuing full supervision of other Mission staff is not contemplated.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demand.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE:

Education: Two years of post-secondary schooling in Secretarial Science or Business Administration, or other related field equivalent to a US junior college or community college diploma, is required.

Work Experience: A minimum of five years of administrative or secretarial work experience, including experience gained in related work with a U.S. Government Agency, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), other donor organizations, host-government organizations, or private-sector institutions is required.

Language Proficiency: Level 4 (advanced professional proficiency) English and local language proficiency (Ukrainian), both oral and written, is required.

EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS:

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The Contracting Officer reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the Contracting Officer determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the Contracting Officer may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

The technical evaluation committee may conduct reference checks, including references from individuals who have not been specifically identified by the offeror, and may do so before or after a candidate is interviewed.

Selection Process and Basis of Evaluation: Offerors who meet the minimum education and work experience qualification requirements will be further evaluated through review of the offeror’s submitted required documents (see points below) and ranked based on the evaluation and selection factors. A competitive range may be established of the highest-ranked offerors, who may be further evaluated through technical/language tests, interviews, and reference checks to determine the most qualified/highest-ranked offeror. Reference checks may be conducted with individuals not provided by the offeror, and without prior notification to the offeror. Any offeror not receiving satisfactory reference checks will no longer be considered for the position. Negotiations may be conducted with the most qualified/ highest-ranked offeror at the conclusion of evaluations.

40 points – Knowledge: The Executive Assistant should have a general knowledge, or the ability to quickly gain such general knowledge, of USAID regulations and procedures, and of good office management practices; and be knowledgeable, or able to quickly become knowledgeable, of overall USAID Front Office responsibilities and activities, as well as possess a very good knowledge of standard office procedures and practices. The Administrative Assistant to the Mission Director must have an excellent understanding of USG file management, mail handling, and correspondence formatting procedures.

60 points – Skills and Abilities: The Executive Assistant must be proficient in keyboarding, including at least Level II typing ability (40 words per minute), and in operating computers with standard software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other software programs as needed. The Administrative Assistant must be proficient in using the Internet and E-mail programs as designated. The Executive Assistant must be proficient in using the Internet and E-mail.

TOTAL POSSIBLE POINTS: 100 points

HOW TO APPLY:

Eligible Offerors are requested to submit a complete application package which must include all the required documents in English electronically to [email protected] with Subject line: Executive Assistant (720-121-24-R-10006).

ANY/ALL application submissions received after the closing date will not be considered.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

1. Cover Letter: A memo or email that outlines how your qualifications and experience meet the selection criteria.
2. Application for Employment (DS-174): The form can be downloaded from this link https://eforms.state.gov/Forms/ds174.pdf.

Offerors must thoroughly complete the DS-174 form in English and are advised to include all of their current and previous work experience related to this position. Offerors may use continuation pages to further explain their relevant work experience, if needed. AND;

3. Current Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV): The CV/resume must contain sufficient relevant information to evaluate the applications in accordance with the stated technical evaluation criteria, listed above.

Application language is English.

IMPORTANT:

IN ORDER TO HAVE YOUR APPLICATION CONSIDERED, YOU MUST SUBMIT ALL THREE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS. IF YOU OMIT ANY OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, COVER PAGE, CV or DS-174 FORM, YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

Note:

• This vacancy is open to Ukrainian Nationals (Residency/Ukrainian Work Permit Required).
• Applications with insufficient, incomplete and inconsistent information to make a determination will not be considered.
• No in-person appointments or telephone calls will be entertained.
• Offerors who are applying for this position must fully meet the education requirement (graduated and degree and/or diploma already received) as specified. At the time of applications, candidates must also meet in full the experience requirement.
• Short-listed candidates will be requested to provide educational documents such as degrees, diplomas, certificates, and other pertinent documents (passport, proof of residency or work permit) as needed. Failure to provide the required documentation will result in the rejection of their application from further consideration.
• The Agency retains the full right to cancel or amend the solicitation and associated actions at any time.

BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES:

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a CCN PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances in accordance to the Mission Policy:

BENEFITS

• Health and Life Insurance coverage: Provided under the Compensation Plan.
• Defined Contribution Plan: Upon separation, a lump sum benefit equal to 12% of the basic salary earned for the duration worked under the appointment.

ALLOWANCES (as applicable)

• Meal Allowances: The annual amount is $853 for employees working on a full-time basis.
• Family Allowances: The mission provides a child allowance. Grants amounts are subject to change as determined by the Ukrainian State Budget Law.
• Unique Conditions of Work Allowances/ Benefits: 10% of Basic Rate Additional information may be provided to the selected offeror at the time of the salary offer.

TAXES:

Taxes apply and are deductible as per the Ukrainian government regulations.

USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs:

USAID regulations and policies governing CCN and TCN PSC awards are available at these sources:

USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/300/aidar

Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms.

Pricing by line item is to be determined upon contract award as described below:

LINE ITEMS

Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs

USAID Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives (AAPD-20-08): Leave and Holidays for CCNs and TCNs, available at https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs/aapd-20-08

Ethical Conduct: By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635. See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations

FAR Provisions Incorporated by Reference

52.204-27 PROHIBITION ON A BYTEDANCE COVERED JUN,2023

APPLICATION

PSC Ombudsman:

The PSC Ombudsman serves as a resource for any Personal Services Contractor who has entered into a contract with the United States Agency for International Development and is available to provide clarity on their specific contract with the agency. Please visit our page for additional information: https://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/personal-service-contracts-ombudsman.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO):

The U.S. Mission in Ukraine provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, or transgender status), national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, religion, marital or parental status, veteran status, membership in an employee organization, political affiliation, or involvement in protected equal employment opportunity (EEO) activity. USAID/Ukraine also strives to achieve equal employment opportunities in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.

The EEO complaint procedure is not available to individuals who believe they have been denied equal opportunity based upon marital status or political affiliation. Individuals with such complaints should avail themselves of the appropriate grievance procedures, remedies for prohibited personnel practices, and/or courts for relief.