Kenya: USAID Project Management Specialist (Somalia-FFP)

Organization: US Agency for International Development

Country: Kenya

Closing date: 24 Dec 2015

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY – VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR USAID PROJECT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST (SOMALIA-FFP), FOOD FOR PEACE, USAID/KENYA AND EAST AFRICA

OPENING DATE: November 23, 2015

CLOSING DATE: December 24, 2015

OFFICE: Food for Peace

TITLE: USAID Project Management Specialist (Somalia-FFP)

WHO MAY APPLY: Qualified Kenyan Citizens. Employees currently on probation are ineligible to apply.
OR

Third Country Nationals (excludes dual citizenship), who are eligible and have the required Somali language capability and required technical skills; to be hired under the U.S. Embassy Nairobi Local Compensation Pay Plan paid in Shillings. This position offers medical benefits to the employee and his/her immediate family ie. Spouse and children only. Third country nationals will not receive a pension plan. Relocation is at employee’s expense and will not be reimbursed by the U.S. Government.

People with disabilities are encouraged to apply

BACKGROUND

The Regional Food for Peace (FFP) Office in the USAID/Kenya and East Africa (KEA) Mission serves 14 countries in East and Central Africa, with an annual budget of over $1 billion for emergency and development food assistance programs. Staff in the office monitor the regional and country-specific food security situation; directly oversee food assistance programs in countries where there are no FFP staff present; provide technical support to USAID Missions in countries that have FFP staff in-country; represent FFP in regional coordination forums; provide formal and informal training and mentoring for FFP staff in the region; provide surge capacity to respond to new emergencies or cover staffing gaps; and provide program logistics and commodity management support.

The FFP Office works closely with other offices within the USAID/KEA Mission, particularly the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, and Agriculture and Health Offices, to ensure that programs are coordinated and effective. Staff also regularly liaise with inter-agency partners such as the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Agriculture as well as other humanitarian donors, and United Nations (UN) and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners.

The Program Management Specialist (PMS) works primarily on Somalia and provides expert advice, policy and technical guidance, on the design, monitoring, and implementation of food assistance programs to the FFP Office in USAID/Washington (USAID/DCHA/FFP) as well as UN and NGO implementing partners. PMS actions and recommendations are made through consultations and in cooperation with the Regional FFP Office, USAID/DCHA/FFP, other USAID offices, and the international community including the UN, NGOs, host governments, and other humanitarian donors.

The PMS will work under the direction of the Regional FFP Office Chief, or his/her designee. This position requires regular coordination with other FFP team members, representatives from other USAID offices, the humanitarian donor community, and FFP implementing partners, and therefore requires a highly collaborative work style.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The PMS responsibilities will include the following (100%):

a) Serves as expert on FFP food assistance programming for Somalia and advises the USAID/KEA Mission and USAID/DCHA/FFP on food security concerns and provision of food assistance. Such advisement includes alerting to the food security situation, food pipeline concerns and needs, and recommending the appropriate response within the context of the local conditions related to food needs, environmental concerns, market conditions, transport requirements, and the cultural and political situation.

b) Oversees FFP-supported programs in country and monitors partner program activities to ensure adequate compliance with FFP and USAID regulations and achievement of program objectives. Advises on partner compliance with applicable USAID regulations and policies, commodity warehouse and storage requirements, budget analysis, activity progress, and general project implementation management. Prepares recommendations for modifications, improvements, and activity management needs for USAID/DCHA/FFP.

c) Travels to assess in-country program implementation, to participate in and conduct food needs assessments, field monitoring, field evaluations, analysis of program impacts, financial review of activities, assessments of commodity logistics, and assist in the design of food assistance activities and general alignment of food assistance programs with FFP and USAID objectives.

d) As necessary, liaises with other USAID offices, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture on programs. Where feasible, conducts joint monitoring visits and prepares joint action plans to coordinate and improve assistance.

e) Provides regular reporting to FFP Regional Office management, USAID/KEA Mission management, and USAID/DCHA/FFP on the humanitarian and food security situation in the assigned country, to include patterns and trends, site visits, program coordination and implementation, and donor and partner meetings that impact humanitarian efforts.

f) Liaises closely with other humanitarian donors to share information, coordinate on international donor positions, design programs, ensure that FFP resources are programmed effectively, and monitor pledges and commitments.

g) Collaborates with NGOs, UN agencies, inter-governmental organizations, and host country officials to analyze the humanitarian and food security situation and current and projected needs. Represents FFP and USAID position on food assistance regulations, criteria, procedures, and objectives governing the use of food assistance resources for emergency and development assistance.

h) The PMS will be required to assist in creating a supportive work environment that values diversity, and elicits the highest possible level of performance from all team members.

i) Supports other FFP country programs in the East and Central Africa region as needed, and as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Any application that does not meet the minimum requirements stated below will not be evaluated. Only short listed applicants will be contacted. If you have not been contacted within one month from the closing date of this advertisement, please consider your application unsuccessful.

A. Education- 5%: A Bachelor’s degree in a discipline pertinent to food security and food assistance program management, such as humanitarian assistance, agriculture, nutrition, or agricultural economics.

B. Experience- 30%: Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian assistance related to food security programming, including at least one (1) year of on-the-ground field experience implementing food assistance programs. This experience must include analysis of humanitarian response needs and appropriate humanitarian inputs, evaluation of implementing partner outputs and activities and review of progress toward achievement of objectives and goals. Experience in emergency or crisis contexts is desired.

C. Post Entry Training: Rapid familiarization with U.S. Government regulations, policies and procedures—specifically the Food for Peace Act (as amended by the Agricultural Act of 2014), 22 C.F.R. 211 (USAID Regulation 11), 22 C.F.R. 216, 2 C.F.R. 200, 2 C.F.R. 700, and FFP information bulletins.Trainings and seminars related to food assistance—such as the FFP Commodity Management Workshop, FFP Boot camp, and FFP regional monitoring and evaluation workshops—may be provided, subject to offerings and availability of funds. On the job training will be provided through mentoring.

D. Language Proficiency- 5%: Level IV fluency (written/spoken/reading) in English and in Somali. Language ability will be tested. The incumbent will also be required to speak publicly in English and in Somali representing USAID effectively and competently.

E. Knowledge- 40%: The incumbent must have professional-level understanding of in-kind and cash-based food assistance interventions, to include program objectives, design, modalities, implementation, monitoring methods, and reporting systems. Broad knowledge of the East Africa region, particularly Somalia, is desired.

F. Skills and Abilities- 20%: The incumbent must have excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and Somali, and a strong working knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel, and MS PowerPoint.

The incumbent must also have:

• Good interpersonal skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of staff and representatives.

• Ability to review, evaluate and apply complex policies and regulations.

• Ability to provide rapid, concise, accurate reporting, both verbally and in written English.

• Ability to grasp and theorize the complexities of food security, the wide variety of dynamic influencing factors and the potential influence of international food assistance.

• Ability to work cooperatively in a multicultural team.

• Willingness to undertake extensive field work assignments, as necessary.

• A solution-seeking attitude.

POSITION ELEMENTS
A. Supervision Received: Supervisor will set overall objectives and will work with the PMS to determine deadlines and work priorities. The incumbent is expected to take the initiative, act independently, and perform duties.

B. Available Guidelines: Food for Peace Act, Fiscal Year 2015 International Emergency Food Assistance Annual Program Statement (APS), USAID Regulations, warehouse inspection procedures, commodity monitoring reporting requirements..

C. Exercise of Judgment: Incumbent takes overall direction from the Regional FFP Director or his/her designee, but must also be able to work independently in an efficient and timely manner, including preparation of reports, identifying issues and suggesting areas of improvement in various aspects of food assistance program implementation and management, and collaborating with USAID colleagues, and other humanitarian donors and partners.

D. Authority to Make Commitments: The position has no authority to commit funds or re-direct the work of partners. The incumbent will speak with authority on FFP and USG project implementation requirements and regulations acting as both an advisor and information source to contacts within and outside of USAID. All work is performed in collaboration with the regional FFP team.

E. Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The incumbent will work closely with the FFP country team, within his/her area of responsibility, with the Regional FFP Director and Deputy Director, and other donors, the UN, NGOs, and local authorities. These contacts will be for the purpose of collecting and sharing information, participating in coordination meetings and field visits, and representing FFP, as appropriate.

F. Supervision Exercised: None.

G. Time Required to Perform the Full Range of Duties: One (1) Year.

How to apply:

Any application that does not meet the minimum requirements stated below will not be evaluated. Only short listed applicants will be contacted. If you have not been contacted within one month from the closing date of this advertisement, please consider your application unsuccessful.

HOW TO APPLY
Step 1: Register in MyJobsInKenya at www.myjobsinkenya.com

Step 2: Complete the job application questionnaire at www.myjobsinkenya.com/usaid. The applicant must answer all the questions in the Questionnaire.

Step 3: Internal Applicants/Current USG Employees: Attach a memo explaining your qualifications for the position, updated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages), a copy of your most recent Performance Evaluation Report, and copies of all relevant certificates. Scan and attach all the documents as one attachment.

OR

External Applicants/Not Current USG Employees: Attach a letter explaining your qualifications for the position, updated curriculum vitae/resume (no more than five pages), and copies of all relevant certificates. Scan and attach all the documents as one attachment.

Note: All applications MUST be submitted online. Incomplete application packages will not be considered. The closing date for receipt of applications is Thursday, December 24, 2015 at 4:30pm East Africa Time.