Position Title: Interagency Specialist (Multiple Positions)
Solicitation Number: SOL-OFDA-16-000015
Salary Level: GS-13 Equivalent: $90,823- $118,069
Issuance Date: January 15, 2016
Closing Date: February 5, 2016
Closing Time: 5:00 P.M. EST
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 an Interagency 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:
1. 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. Dates (month/year) and locations for all field experience must also be detailed. 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 solicitation. 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.
2. Supplemental document specifically addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) shown in the solicitation.
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 Interagency Specialist will provide critical analysis on disaster and coordination issues; work closely with officials within the USG disaster response and humanitarian assistance community; organize quarterly coordination forums; initiate creative new approaches to partnerships; and serve as a key source of information on humanitarian issues pertaining to the interagency for the office. S/he will help plan organizational strategies and responses to humanitarian crises, actively work with other members of the office, and anticipate and prepare documents and briefing memos on humanitarian issues for key meetings and events.
The Interagency Specialist will manage critical issues within the interagency community on behalf of OFDA and must have the ability to both multi-task and be detail and results oriented. The assignment requires providing expert analytical and advisory support on a wide range of humanitarian issues for the planning, development, and execution of U.S. foreign policy objectives within a broad and complex environment. The work requires applying a rigorous analytical approach to data.
Contacts will be primarily within the USG, other teams within the HPGE and Disaster Response Divisions (DRDs), analysts and officials in international organizations and other agencies, and representatives of non-governmental organizations in partnership with the HPGE Policy Team. The role requires the ability to work within a team structure that has significant interaction with U.S. and foreign delegates, demanding strong diplomatic and communication skills to accurately represent U.S. positions in a complex, multilateral setting, based on guidance from Washington. Contacts occur in a wide variety of planned and unplanned, formal and informal settings, including open meetings and conferences, where the Interagency Team may be called upon to explain and defend U.S. positions on humanitarian issues.
The position requires extensive experience with, and a thorough understanding of, the U.S. disaster response structure, international humanitarian assistance environment, operations, related policies, regulations, and inter-relationships among the USG, donor and other international organizations. Detailed knowledge of humanitarian operations and the working of other federal agencies are required.
Specific areas of responsibility include:
Strengthening / Building Interagency Relationships
· Assist in developing and implementing the OFDA strategy for interagency engagement.
· Maintain database of interagency partners.
· Work with other federal agencies to determine what capabilities they can provide for an international disaster response as part of the database.
· Coordinate with other federal agencies to provide OFDA staff with briefings on federal capabilities.
· Maintain database of all Interagency Agreements and Memorandum of Understandings that OFDA has with other USG agencies.
· Support the development of an agenda and convening of the OFDA quarterly International Disaster Forum.
· Work with other OFDA divisions to identify and support pre-identified interagency agreements.
· Support the Interagency Team with interagency coordination meetings and calls as needed in support of the Disaster Response Divisions.
· Attend external interagency meetings as requested.
· Maintain an understanding of the political and institutional environment in which decisions are made and implemented in humanitarian situations.
· Assist the Training Team in the development of training materials and research for OFDA’s interagency training, as well as logistical support, as needed.
· Provide OFDA briefings as appropriate.
· Sign-up for and serve, as needed, on Washington-based RMTs, which provides 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; and
· As needed, serve on DARTs which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment overseas for an extended period of time.
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, human rights, economics, public health, disaster management, public policy or a related field) plus seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience working in emergency relief and humanitarian assistance, preferably with at least one (1) year working overseas. Experience working on interagency coordination and policy engagement related to international humanitarian and disaster issues, domestic disaster assistance or with USG agencies required. Applicants must demonstrate work experience with a humanitarian organization or with a USG federal agency.
OR
Master’s degree with significant study in or pertinent to the specialized field (including but not limited to international relations, human rights, economics, public health, disaster management, public policy or a related field) plus five (5) years of progressively responsible experience working in emergency relief and humanitarian assistance, preferably with at least one (1) year working overseas. Experience working on interagency coordination and policy engagement related to international humanitarian and disaster issues, domestic disaster assistance or with USG agencies required. Applicants must demonstrate work experience with a humanitarian organization or with a USG federal agency.
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.
● 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.
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 Proven experience in the role of liaison with USG interagency relationships at all levels throughout the humanitarian and foreign policy communities; Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse array of individuals and organizations involved in disaster assistance, particularly USG agencies, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and host governments; Understanding of federal agencies engaged in international disaster assistance and disaster risk reduction.
QRF #2 Demonstrated knowledge and experience with U.S. policy and regulations for international responses to natural disasters and complex emergencies; Proven experience in providing expert guidance in the area of humanitarian assistance with regard to the policy implications of issues and developments, based on hands-on operational experience in the field of humanitarian action.
QRF #3 Demonstrated ability to consistently perform in a high visibility, high-pressure environment. Strong work ethic and ability to initiate, multi-task with attention to detail, and develop and manage multiple projects simultaneously. Please provide specific examples.
QRF #4 Knowledge of the structures, mandates, and policies of the United Nations system; a thorough on-the-ground knowledge of the international humanitarian system concepts, and issues.
QRF #5 Demonstrated skill in oral and written communication, preparing and presenting analysis, providing guidance, soliciting sensitive information, and negotiating agreements.
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. 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 – 13 points
QRF #2 – 11 points
QRF #3 – 10 points
QRF #4 – 6 points
QRF #5 – 5 points
Interview Performance – 35 points
OFDA will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews.
Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – 20 points
Total Possible Points: 100
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