Position Title: Training Specialist (Multiple Positions) Solicitation Number: SOL-OFDA-16-000021
Salary Level: GS-13 Equivalent: $92,145 – $119,794
Issuance Date: January 26, 2016
Closing Date: February 16, 2016
Closing Time: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time
Dear Prospective Applicants:
The United States Government (USG), represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), is seeking applications from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal services as a Training Specialist under a United States Personal Services Contract (USPSC), as described in the attached solicitation.
Submittals must be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Applicants interested in applying for this position MUST submit the following materials:
- Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your application, your resume must include:
(a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.
(b) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.
(c) Names and contact information (phone/email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). Current and/or previous supervisors may be contacted for a reference.
(d) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards, or accomplishments.
(e) U.S. Citizenship
Your resume should contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this. This information should be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration.
Supplemental document specifically addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) shown in the solicitation.
USPSC Application form AID 302-3. Applicants are required to complete and sign the form.
Additional documents submitted will not be accepted. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. OFDA reserves the right to select additional candidates if vacancies become available during future phases of the selection process.
Applicants can expect to receive a confirmation email when application materials have been received. Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures, which accompany their applications. Your complete resume and the supplemental document addressing the QRFs must be emailed to:
OFDA Recruitment Team
E-Mail Address: recruiter@ofda.gov Website: www.OFDAjobs.net
Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to OFDA Recruitment Team via the information provided above.
Sincerely,
Renee Reed Contracting Officer
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Training Specialist is an integral part of the humanitarian training team that provides critical analysis on humanitarian issues, coordinates closely with other parts of HPGE and OFDA, develops curriculum for humanitarian training courses, and facilitates training for other USAID Bureaus and federal agencies on the international humanitarian architecture, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response. She/he will provide dedicated support to the Training Manager and help plan organizational strategies and approaches to external training, course development, validation, delivery, and review.
The assignment involves providing expert analytical and advisory support on humanitarian issues and training for the planning, development and execution of U.S. foreign policy within a broad and complex geographic or functional specialty area. The work requires applying a rigorous analytical and detail-oriented approach to the training development.
The role requires significant interaction with other offices, demanding strong diplomatic, facilitation, and communication skills to accurately represent U.S. positions in a complex multilateral setting. Contacts will be within the USG, training counterparts in UN and other agencies, experts, and representatives of non-governmental organizations. Contacts occur in a
wide variety of planned and unplanned, formal and informal settings, including open meetings, and conferences.
The position requires extensive experience with and a thorough understanding of the international humanitarian assistance environment, operations, related policies, regulations, and inter-relationships between the USG, donor, and other international organizations. The position requires the ability to translate broad training and field experience into specialized training courses. Detailed knowledge of humanitarian issues, training development, facilitation experience, managerial experience, and working in an international setting is required.
The Training Specialist’s duties and responsibilities will include the following:
· Support HPGE’s strategy for internal and external education and training courses on humanitarian assistance, international humanitarian architecture, and disaster response issues.
· As part of the training team, help develop a more detailed strategic plan for external training for the intra and inter agency.
· Analyze training needs and requirements to develop new training programs or modify and improve existing programs.
· Maintain strong understanding of the USG interagency, humanitarian policy issues, OFDA’s coordination responsibilities, and response operations that contribute to OFDA’s training strategy for external partners.
· Assist in planning, developing, and providing training using knowledge of the effectiveness of methods such as classroom training, demonstrations, meetings, conferences, and workshops.
· Work effectively as a team member with other members of the Division and OFDA.
· Evaluate instructor performance and the effectiveness of training programs and provide recommendations for improvement.
· Develop and organize effective training manuals, multimedia visual aids, and other educational materials using a variety of media.
· Build solid cross-functional relationships and maintain internal and external OFDA relationships.
· Assist in the development of HPGE strategic plans.
· Support course design from inception to final product of external training courses, specifically applying the principles of adult learning design for both synchronous and asynchronous (e.g. on line courses) learning.
· Support appropriate scheduling and coordination of training, including logistical support.
· Support development of course evaluation procedures and conduct follow-up review of all completed training to evaluate and measure results.
· Coordinate, support, and ensure availability of facilitators, panelists, and guest instructors.
· Provide support on the registration process and all administrative and logistics requirements to hold a training course.
· Help coordinate and schedule training support required from other Division members. Work with OFDA’s Information Technology (IT) team to ensure that all technical elements of the training (e.g. slides, video, VTC, etc.) are set up for delivery during the training.
· Draft and implement a plan of major activities that must take place to host the various humanitarian training courses, e.g. registration, printing materials, IT support, etc. Include a timeline of when these activities must be completed.
· Sign-up for and serve as needed multiple times throughout the year on Washington-based RMTs, which provide services and support to DARTs deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will be varied.
· Serve as the OFDA after-hours duty officer on a rotational basis, for approximately one week every six months.
· As needed, serve on DARTs which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment overseas.
· Supervisor provides administrative directions in terms of broadly defined missions or functions. USPSC works in partnership to plan, design and implement programs, projects, training or other work. Results are considered authoritative and are normally accepted without significant change.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE 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.)
Bachelor’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including but not limited to international relations, training, disaster management, public policy or a related field) plus a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience working on training and curriculum development and on emergency relief and humanitarian assistance issues. Experience developing training programs for adult learners and executives in an international setting is required. Experience working for the USG or with an international organization is preferred.
OR
Master’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including but not limited to international relations, training, disaster management, public policy or a related field) plus a minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience working on training and curriculum development and on emergency relief and humanitarian assistance issues. Experience developing training programs for adult learners and executives in an international setting is required. Experience working for the USG or with an international organization is preferred.
SELECTION FACTORS
(Determines basic eligibility for the position. Applicants who do not meet all of the selection factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.)
· Applicant is a U.S. Citizen;
· Complete resume submitted. See cover page for resume requirements. Experience that cannot be quantified will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements;
· USPSC Application form AID 302-3. Applicants are required to complete and sign the form;
· Supplemental document specifically addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) submitted;
· Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top Secret level security clearance as provided by USAID;
· Satisfactory verification of academic credentials.
· Ability to obtain a Department of State medical clearance.
QUALITY RANKING FACTORS (QRFs)
(Used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified applicants in comparison to other applicants. The factors are listed in priority order from highest to least.)
QRF #1 Please demonstrate your ability to develop, administer, and refine an adult training and education program, along with all associated training materials;
QRF #2 Please demonstrate your knowledge of and/or experience within the international and USG humanitarian response architecture and policy;
QRF #3 Please demonstrate your written communication and oral presentation skills;
QRF #4 Please demonstrate your experience in developing multi-media presentations and training modules; and
QRF #5 Please demonstrate your ability to develop and manage
multiple projects simultaneously, attention to detail, and strong work ethic.
BASIS OF RATING: Applicants who meet the Education/Experience requirements and Selection Factors will be further evaluated based on scoring of the QRF responses. Those applicants determined to be competitively ranked may also be evaluated on interview performance and satisfactory professional reference checks.
Applicants are required to address each of the QRFs in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, and/or education they have received as it pertains to each factor. Be sure to include your name and the announcement number at the top of each additional page. Failure to address the selection factors and/or Quality Ranking Factors may result in not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, and/or training.
The most qualified candidates may be interviewed and required to provide a writing sample. OFDA will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for applicants being considered for selection. Note: Please be advised that references may be obtained independently from other sources in addition to the ones provided by an applicant. OFDA reserves the right to select additional candidates if vacancies become available during future phase of the selection process.
The Applicant Rating System is as Follows:
QRFs have been assigned the following points: QRF #1 – 10 points
QRF #2 – 10 points
QRF #3 – 8 points
QRF #4 – 6 points
QRF #5 – 6 points
Interview Performance Round 1 – 10 points Interview Performance Round 2 – 30 points
Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – 20 points
EmoticonEmoticon