Kenya: USAID Project Management Specialist (Finance & Investment)

Organization: US Agency for International Development

Country: Kenya

Closing date: 11 Apr 2016

BACKGROUND

This position operates under the direction of the REI Deputy Office Chief for Trade, but with flexibility for planning, organizing, and executing assigned responsibilities. S/he must understand and apply a highly technical body of knowledge and analysis in finance and investment, applicable regional and national laws and regulations, and programmatic strategies for assisting in advancing the regional agenda for deepening integration. S/he must understand and apply Agency regulations and instructions. The incumbent plans and undertakes important projects and carries them to completion with minimal supervision. Demands are heavy on the demonstration of initiative, resourcefulness, and sound judgment. S/he will work independently, while informing and consulting within REI as necessary.

The Specialist will support USAID’s engagement primarily with the private sector to develop partnerships and interventions in finance and investment to support regional economic growth. Guidance received from REI management will be focused on strategy, program objectives, and priorities. Within such guidelines, the incumbent supports the strategic implementation of the Agency’s regional finance and investment agenda and activities, working closely with national and regional government counterparts, private sector leaders, and other key stakeholders to enable more efficient and effective mobilization of capital for regional development impact.

The Specialist will work to advance regional finance and investment in East Africa which are critical to its economic growth and food security. The incumbent is responsible for providing technical leadership to ensure that the programs supported by REI and its bilateral client Missions are evidence-based and data-driven, informed by current analysis and research, and take into account best practices and lessons learned. The incumbent will manage assistance that responds to key opportunities and challenges in expanding regional finance and investment in East Africa. Lastly, the incumbent will engage in informed policy debate to improve the enabling environment for increasing finance and investment.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Project Management Specialist for Finance and Investment will support REI in the following ways:

Program Management and Related Duties (55%)

The incumbent will produce applicable analysis to inform the design, management and implementation of USAID’s regional finance and investment activities facilitated by REI’s assistance programs, and the partnerships that work to advance the integration agenda in the region.

The incumbent will develop and manage new and existing finance and investment programs and activities as a member of the REI team. These duties include activity or project implementation, identifying and resolving program issues, assuring that all activities are carried out in a technically sound and cost-effective manner, and in accordance with all applicable Mission and Agency directives and requirements. S/he will serve as the Agreement/Contracting Officer"s Representative (AOR/COR), Alternate, AOR/COR, or activity manager for programs and activities included in REI’s Trade Africa and regional Feed the Future portfolio, and may also be responsible for activity management in collaboration with other technical offices. The incumbent will fulfill the responsibilities defined in the AOR/COR letter issued by the Nairobi Office of Acquisition and Assistance.

The incumbent will be responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of implementing partners and other trade and agriculture sector activities with finance and investment objectives, for obtaining and reporting on results and possible setbacks, and for initiating programmatic adjustments, when necessary. This will include analyzing and quantifying the opportunities in key sectors for investment, regulatory environment for capital markets, and challenges to deepening regional financial integration. The Specialist is responsible for assessment and recommendations to REI and the Mission at the strategic level, and monitoring and evaluation at the project/activity levels, including development of M&E plans and Data Quality Assessments. The incumbent is responsible for analysis, drafting narratives and providing other inputs into Agency reporting and strategies (Trade Africa, Feed the Future), and Mission planning (Operational Plan) and reporting (Performance Plan and Report; Mission Resource Request, CBJ, CBN, etc.) The Specialist will support REI, Mission, and USG efforts to ensure effective, efficient, cost-effective, and responsible programming and reporting in compliance with USG and USAID regulations and ethics standards, and, ultimately, help the USG and USAID achieve its Trade Africa and Feed the Future goals in East Africa.

Technical Specialist and Representational Duties (45%)

The Specialist will serve as the Mission’s lead technical advisor on regional finance and investment. The Specialist will possess the most up to date capacities for and knowledge of financial markets and global trend analysis affecting regional and national finance and investments, and will keep the Mission informed of these trends. The Specialist will be considered an expert resource on finance and investment, and will be expected to participate actively in internal and external strategy discussions with private sector and government leaders at the level of Minister and Permanent Secretary. The Specialist will also actively engage across sectors at the Mission related to finance and investment.

The Specialist will identify ways to further meet both USG foreign policy and USAID policy objectives in East Africa. This includes liaising closely with USAID’s Global Development Lab on technical solutions, and the development of new, innovative concepts and program designs which engage both traditional and non-traditional partners, with a focus on local solutions. S/he will contribute to monitoring, evaluation, analysis and learning at the Project and Development Objective level. S/he will synthesize trends at the regional/national levels, and incorporate learning from all analysis into current and future programming and share extensively across all stakeholders.

The Specialist will be responsible for ensuring that USAID development assistance programming in East Africa is informed by the latest analysis and research in designing and implementing programs that enable expansion of regional finance and investment. S/he will engage in regular technical exchanges with the regional business community and other key stakeholders as necessary to stay abreast of issues, trends, risks, and market dynamics that create constraints and opportunities for finance and investment. The Specialist is expected to develop and strengthen networks with business associations, national trade support institutions, and international organizations concerned with free trade and regional market integration, especially the regional economic communities of EAC and COMESA. S/he will further maintain close relations with private industry and a wide network of professional colleagues to build knowledge and expand contacts within a portfolio of targeted sectors and value chains.

The Specialist will be required by REI to maintain relationships and convene stakeholder meetings with a wide range of stakeholders in regional and bilateral governments, private sector and civil society organizations, donor agencies, implementing partners, EAC and COMESA, and other stakeholders on regional finance and investment to advance regional integration. Ability to maintain strong relationships across broad stakeholders, in particular the private sector, is critical to the successful achievement of position goals. S/he will represent USAID and the USG at high levels with internal and external audiences as required. S/he will work to facilitate knowledge management through exchange of technical information and ideas, to collaborate on cross-cutting issues, to provide effective collaboration among actors in the sector, and to promote program/project synergies. As the USG often serves as an interlocutor, the incumbent will be looked upon to actively engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders to advance USG and USAID priorities.

Other Duties as Assigned

Adaptability will be required as the Specialist"s primary responsibilities may change over time as the USAID’s Mission’s strategy is developed, partnerships with Regional Inter-Governmental Organizations (RIGO) evolve, and joint agendas develop. The incumbent is expected to respond flexibly and capably to a wide range of work-related requirements. This includes, but is not limited to, responding to U.S. Congressional inquiries and other Washington policy and operational requests, supporting VIP visits, and carrying out ad-hoc assignments as dictated by unforeseen operational requirements at the discretion of the Mission Director, Deputy Director, or REI’s Office Chief. S/he 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, including accomplishment of all other duties 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: Master"s degree in Applied Economics, Business, Finance, Public Policy, Public Administration or other directly related field is required.

B. Experience 40%: Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in finance, investment, or related advisory and consulting work. Experience working with East African private sector, in particular the financial sector, is required. Experience working with East African governments and donors required.

C. Post Entry Training: The following training may be provided, based on the availability of courses and funds: Programming Foreign Assistance, Project Design and Management; Contracting/Agreement Officer’s Representative (COR/AOR), Evaluation Methods, Cost-Benefit/Value Analysis; and other USAID or outside training opportunities directly relevant to the performance of core responsibilities. The incumbent will be required to complete Contracting/Agreement Officer’s Representative (COR/AOR) certification.

D. Language Proficiency: Level IV (Fluent) English in speaking and writing is required. The applicant must demonstrate ability to communicate expertly and prepare well-written reports in English.

E. Knowledge 30 %: A comprehensive knowledge of the East African finance and investment environment as they relate to advancing regional trade and integration. Knowledge of best practices in improving the policy environment for finance and investment and maximizing their development impact in the sub-Saharan African context is required.

F. Skills and Abilities 30%:

· Ability to work effectively with high-level personnel from the private sector, government, implementing partners and other development organizations.

· Ability to develop, synthesize, and advise on institutional positions and strategies within the context of expanding regional finance and investment.

· Ability to prepare reports and technical and policy briefs with short deadlines.

· Ability to process information from a wide variety of sources into cohesive, polished documents.

· Ability to adapt in the face of change, synthesize new information, and then provide sound advice to Mission management and others.

· Ability to assess problems and develop sound solutions, such as planning for and administering funds, personnel and equipment to best serve program oversight objectives.

· Ability to work with minimal supervision in a fast paced environment.

· Strong communications and interpersonal skills.

· Advanced competency in MS Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

POSITION ELEMENTS

A. Supervision Received: The incumbent will receive minimal supervision from the Deputy Office Chief for Trade for REI, unless otherwise directed by the Office Chief of REI, in the day-to-day performance of assigned duties. S/he will handle work assignments independently according to established policies, previous training, and accepted practices. S/he will be expected to develop her/his own work schedule and procedures for accomplishing tasks, and to independently resolve problems that may arise during execution of objectives.

B. Available Guidelines: USAID and State Department regulations (ADS, AIDAR, FAM, Standardized Regulations), and where appropriate, USAID Mission Orders, and relevant USAID directives, policies, and strategies.

C. Exercise of Judgment: The incumbent will exercise professional judgment to make decisions and recommendations on the USAID agriculture portfolio. S/he will apply appropriate Agency and Federal regulations and policies to a broad spectrum of technical and program support matters and in communications with Mission employees, East Africa private sector individuals, and counterparts at other donor organizations. The Mission may make policy based on her/his recommendations.

D. Authority to Make Commitments: The incumbent will speak with authority on USAID project implementation requirements and regulations acting as both a specialist and an information resource to contacts in both public and private sectors. S/he is expected to represent USAID/Kenya and East Africa with mid and high level government and other counterparts; however, s/he cannot commit USG funds.

E. Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The incumbent will interact regularly with high-ranking government/management officials, officials in donor agencies (including other USG agencies), and staff of local and international private sector and civil society organizations. Most contacts will be in the sectors most impacted and prioritized by Regional Inter-Governmental Organizations and partner state integration and related to policy, planning and budgeting, program implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.

F. Supervision Exercised: None

G. Time Required to Perform the Full Range of Duties: One year.

NOTE

Current USG employees must meet the "time-in-grade" requirement of 52 weeks in the previous lower grade to qualify for the position at the level in this vacancy announcement or be at the same grade for which the position is being recruited.

How to apply:

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 Monday, April 11, 2016 at 4:30pm East Africa Time.