USAID Development Program Assistant at the U.S. Embassy

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria comprises of the Embassy in Abuja, FCT, and the Consulate General in Lagos. U.S. Consulate General Lagos is the Mission’s representative to the Nigerian people in the southern region.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: USAID Development Program Assistant (All Interested Candidates) (72062021R10014)

Announcement Number: Abuja - 2021 - 023
Location: Abuja
Series / Grade: LE - 4005 8
Work Schedule: Full-time - Work Schedule is 40hrs per week
Promotion Potential: LE-8

Overview

• Hiring Path: Open to the public
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust - Background Investigation
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Appointment Type Details: Five (5) years renewable, estimated to start on or after August 2021.
• Supervisory Position: No
• Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No
• Travel Required: Occasional Travel, The job may be expected to perform work-related travel.

Summary

• The incumbent’s role is to assist with managing monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) and support activity designs to support the Mission’s development objectives.
• In this position, the incumbent will perform an essential quality control function, which ensures that Mission strategic and programmatic decision-making is based on the best quality performance and context data available.

Duties
Monitoring - 30%:

• Supports the design, implementation, and periodic revisions to the mission PMP.
• Assists in the design of monitoring tools and measures for new projects and activities. This will include conceptual development, technical reviews, ensuring appropriate indicators are used, and coordinating with the Program office on meeting mission and USAID requirements.
• Supports the development of AMELPs.
• Manages the repository of data collection tools, guidelines, and M&E reference documents.
• Helps to ensure that the Mission’s indicator database is up to date.
• Supports efforts to ensure data quality through completion of mandated and recommended Data Quality Assessments (DQA).
• Under the guidance of the MEL Officer, provides training to Mission and partner staff.
• Participates in site visits to verify adequate monitoring and adherence to DQA guidelines.
• Assists technical teams to verify performance data for Portfolio Reviews and helps guide the technical team to improve the quality and format of data presented.
• Works with the technical teams to ensure timely collection and submission of relevant indicator data; aggregates or complies such data for uploading to FACTS INFO NextGen.

Evaluation 30%:

• Maintains an electronic log of all past, present, and planned evaluations.
• Ensures proper planning and management of evaluations (once becoming conversant in Agency evaluation policies and best practices).
• Provides input into the preparation of Program Design and Learning and Evaluation budgets to provide adequate financial resources for evaluations, special studies, and assessments.
• Works with technical and Financial Management offices to develop Independent Government Cost Estimates for evaluations.
• Supports and compiles technical offices' responses to evaluation findings.
• Documents Mission efforts to implement evaluation and assessment recommendations and key findings.
• Supports evaluation and assessment tasks undertaken under any third-party MEL contract.
• Serves as COR, alternate COR, or activity manager for evaluations, as needed.

Collaboration and Learning 20%:

• Tracks and reports innovative and user-friendly approaches that maximize the use of data to improve programming.
• Supports the Mission to execute Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) priorities, including linking teams to external support or mechanisms.

Documentation and Reporting 20%:

• Contributes to the drafting/collation of key Agency performance reporting documents, including the Performance Plan and Report. May assist with components of the Mission Resource Request, Operational Plan, PEPFAR Country Operational Plan, Congressional Notifications, Congressional Budget Justifications, or other reports.
• Supports integration of MEL data into planning and decision-making during strategy development, project and activity design, and activity implementation.
• Contributes to the collection, accurate representation, and reporting of data to Washington stakeholders.
• Serves as a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) specialist for the Mission, gathering programmatic data from technical teams and creating maps, as needed.
• Supports the Mission with data visualization.

Qualifications and Evaluations
Education Requirements:

• A College/University studies in a relevant field such as social science, economics, statistics, project management, public administration, international development is required.

Prior Work Experience:  

• Minimum of three years of progressive responsibilities in activity design or implementation, monitoring, evaluation, development research, use of M&E tools, results frameworks, and performance indicators to measure impact.
• Experience in data collection, synthesis, statistical methods, field research, data visualization, and/or statistical software is required. Professional experience with data quality assessments and organizational learning is required.

Job Knowledge:  

• The MEL Assistant will be required to have a good understanding of USAID or International Donor activity management procedures and guidelines, particularly managing for results, and monitoring and evaluation. The MEL Assistant must have a thorough understanding of administrative operating procedures, database management.
• A sound knowledge of the concepts, principles, techniques, and practices of development assistance is required. A sound knowledge of host-country economic, social, cultural, and political characteristics is required.
• The MEL Assistant will be required to be proactive in keeping abreast of evolving MEL guidelines and policies which affect Mission activities within the Automated Directives System (ADS), Mission Orders, Mission Notices, USG Procurement regulations, Operational Plan, Foreign Assistance indicators, and USAID Program Strategy and Policy Documents.

Requirements:

• Physical Demands: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

Evaluations:

• Applicants who clearly meet the minimum Education, Experience and basic eligibility requirements will be further evaluated based on scoring of the Evaluation Factors listed below. The highest-ranking applicants may be selected for an interview:
  • Knowledge: 10 points
  • Skills and abilities: 10 points
  • Communication and Language skills: 10 points
  • Interview Performance: 70 points

Applications that do not meet the required minimum qualifications will not be scored. Candidates meeting the required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application. USAID reserves the right to conduct interviews with the top-ranked short-listed candidates. If the interview is conducted, the interview will be one of the determining factors in the final selection.

Reference checks will be made only for the successful candidate. If a candidate does not wish USAID to contact a current employer for a reference check, this should be stated in the application letter.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent organizational skills are required. Demonstrated ability to work independently and in collaboration with other team members and units is required. The ability to establish and maintain contacts with implementing partners is required.
• The ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, is necessary.
• The ability to obtain, evaluate, and interpret factual data and to prepare precise, accurate and complete reports is necessary.
• The ability to recognize significant developments and trends reflected from collected data and bring it to the attention of supervisors is required. Proficiency in computer skills is required to effectively operate in this position. The MEL Assistant must be able to draft clear reports and briefing documents in English under short deadlines.
• The incumbent must also have excellent interpersonal and communication skills in order to: 1) facilitate productive professional relationships within USAID's culturally diverse team environment; 2) work calmly, tactfully, and effectively under pressure; 3) demonstrate extraordinary flexibility; and 4) effectively manage multiple tasks at the same time.

Language Proficiency:  

• Level IV English language proficiency, speaking and writing, is required.

Equal Opportunity Employer

• Usaid is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will be considered regardless of age, race, color, sex, creed, national origin, lawful political affiliation, non-disqualifying handicap, marital status, sexual orientation, affiliation with an employee organization, or other non-merit factors. Management may consider the following when determining successful candidacy: nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status.

Other Information:

• 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/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf
• Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms
• 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
• 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   

Taxes:

• The Mission emphasize to its employees of the fact that they are obliged to observe Nigerian Laws, including those concerning income and related tax obligations.  Payment of such taxes is a matter between the individual employee and the Nigerian Government. In the absence of a specific international agreement, the U.S. Government will not withhold local taxes from an employee’s salary.

Marketing Statement:

• USAID is an independent Federal Government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., USAID fosters transformational development around the world. Our work supports economic growth and trade; agriculture and the environment; education and training; democracy and governance; global health; global partnerships and humanitarian assistance. We operate in the following regions of the world: Afghanistan and Pakistan, Africa (all of Africa), Asia, Europe and Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East.
• For more information about USAID, visit http://www.usaid.gov

Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:

• For definitions use URL www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/glossary Open to Cooperating Country National (Nigerians only).

Benefits and Other Info
Agency Benefits:

As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

• Health Insurance
• Annual Salary Increase (if applicable)
• Annual and Sick leave
• Annual Bonus

Allowances (as applicable):

• Transportation Allowance
• Meal Allowance
• Miscellaneous Allowance
• Housing Allowance.

Salary
NGN 8,664,538 annually.

Application Closing Date
15th March, 2021.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Important Notice

• Eligible applicants are required to complete this on-line application process and submit any applicable required documents by 11:59 p.m. GMT on the closing date of this announcement. 
• Please note that all required documents must be received by the closing date online, and that we will determine your eligibility and qualifications based solely on the material received by the closing date. 

Required Documents

• Current Resume
• Cover Letter
• Relevant Certificates
• NYSC Certificate
• University Degree Certificate
• List of References

Next Steps:

• After the closing date for receipt of applications, all applications will initially be screened for conformity with minimum requirements and a shortlist of applicants developed. Applications from candidates which do not meet the required selection criteria will not be considered.
• A committee will be convened to review the shortlisted applications and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria as stated above.  Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants.