USAID Human Resources Specialist 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 below:

Job Title: USAID Human Resources Specialist (Current Mission Employees Only) (72062023R10003)

Announcement Number: Abuja-2022-128
Location: Abuja
Hiring Agency: Embassy Abuja
Series/Grade: LE - 4005 11
Promotion Potential: LE-11
Work Schedule: Full-time - 40 hours per week

Overview

• Hiring Path: Open to the public
• Who May Apply/Clarification From the Agency:
  • For definitions use URL www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/glossary
  • Employees of Mission – Nigerian Citizens and Permanent Residents only.
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust - Background Investigation
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Appointment Type Details: Five (5) years renewable, estimated to start on or after December 2022

Summary

• The position serves as the USAID/Nigeria expert and advisor on all phases of personnel management and serves as USAID's liaison with Nigeria State/HR on all LES personnel matters.
• Duties include but are not limited to recruitment and contracting of local and international staff, evaluation and classification of positions, training and employee development, ethics and conduct, orientation, disciplinary actions, award programs, and the preparation of various periodic and non-recurring reports. 
• Supervisory Position: Yes
• Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No
• Travel Required: Occasional Travel
  • The contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the United States, or to other Missions abroad, to participate in the “Foreign Service National” Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.

Duties
FSN Human Resources Administration 30%:

• Serves as the primary contact for all USAID/Nigeria's FSN employees for policy and procedural operation with respect to FSN personnel administration.
• With the assistance of the Human Resources Assistants, initiates, maintains and secures all employees' data and evaluation files accurately and completely.
• Prepares and maintains contracts and amendments for all PSCs for review and signature of the Executive Officer; ensures that all personnel contracting files have all documentation based on the standards set in Appendix D of AIDAR; and ensures that the FSN performance evaluation requirements for contracts renewals are met.
• Formulates budget for all PSC contracts using excel and other mathematical calculations.
• Services as the subject matter specialist in Human Resources management Keep currently informed on all new policies and pertinent U.S. Government and Nigeria regulations and how these apply to USAID.
• Brief staff at least twice a year and serve as a resource for other staff when questions or problems in HR arise. Provides on the job training and guidance to staff on HR procedures.
• A comprehensive knowledge of HR procedures is required.

Recruitment Processing and Contracting 30%:

• Manages and facilitates the recruitment and selection process for USAID/Nigeria.
• Ensures announcements are posted and applications are reviewed for qualifications compliance.
• Also ensures consistency of process by validating processes with a process checklist. Coordinates the selection process.
• Prepares vacancy announcements by e-mail and posting in the Post Newsletter and composes for advertisements for the national local papers for internal and external recruitment.
• Participates in the solicitations of USPSC/TCN solicitation through the USAID/Washington website.
• Oversees screening and short-listing of candidates by obtaining and compiling personal, educational and employment references, and verifying same, as part of recruitment efforts; schedules and arranges interviews.
• Oversees performance tests to candidates.
• Ensures preparation of salary range determinations for USPSC, TCNPSC, and CCNPSC personal service contracts.
• Drafts letters of offer and initiates the medical examinations and security clearance process for all selected FSN and TCN employees.
• Participates in interviewing candidates, as appropriate.
• Also works closely and provides input and advice and recommendation to the team leaders on recruitment, promotion, separation, incentive programs of the assigned staff.

Evaluation and Classification of Positions 15%:

• The incumbent must have a thorough understanding of the MClass system.
• This task is both highly sensitive and entails a great deal of professional judgment by the incumbent.
• Negative decisions following recommendations by the incumbent must not only be well grounded, but also explained to the originating offices and concerned individuals with tact, to avoid morale problems.
• Incumbent manages the overall process of position management for USAID.
• Regularly reviews the approved staffing pattern and recommends action for position classification to the Executive Officer.
• Advises and assists employees and supervisors in preparing accurate and current job descriptions reflecting duties and organizational relationships for authorized positions.
• Prepares position classification documentation.
• Performs desk audits and confirms, edits, or rewrites position descriptions, as necessary.
• Recommends title, series for each position reviewed.
• Prepares the appeal process by preparing the paperwork and contacting the relevant personnel.

USDH, USPSC, RHUSPSC, TCNPSC HR Responsibilities 15%:

• The incumbent is responsible for preparing the documentation for establishing new USDH positions upon approval from the Management in the Mission, in coordination with AMS/Washington.
• Responsible for NSDD-38 process, from drafting action memorandum requests for establishing new positions and which require Mission Management's and Ambassador's approval.
• The incumbent administers the annual validation process of USDH positions, ensuring timely submission of data to AID/Washington.

Local Employee Pay and Benefit Management 10%:

• The incumbent serves as the USAID HR person responsible for the liaison with the U.S. Embassy Nigeria and serves as the sole resource responsible for providing leadership, advice and professional guidance on all matters related to local employees and local practices. 

Qualifications and Evaluations
Education Requirements:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources Management, International General Management, Public Administration, Psychology, Arts / Science or a related field is required.

Experience:  

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the field of HR Management and human resources development is required.

Job Knowledge:

• The Job Holder must have an in-depth professional-level knowledge of Automated Directives System (ADS), Chapter 3 FAM - FSN Compensation, FSN Position Classification, FSN Handbook, 3FAM, AID specific handbooks and associated agency personnel manuals and regulations required.
• A thorough knowledge of MClass, and associated manuals required.
• A thorough knowledge of USG contracting regulations (AIDAR, AAPD, etc.) and procedures is required. 

Skills & Abilities:

• Excellent analysis and management support skills, excellent leadership, organizational and time management skills, tactful, personable, compassion and understanding with an interest in serving people to maintain smooth and effective working relationships with all Mission personnel at all levels is required. Demonstrated ability to manage HR activities/operations and supervise administrative personnel is required.
• The incumbent must be able to exercise significant professional judgment related to the HR operation and HR setting up and development and issues requiring policy development and application, innovative solutions, and/or options to enable practical resolutions in heavy workload/high stress environment.
• Good interviewing and analytical skills to make objective position evaluation decisions and present them concisely is required.
• Ability to apply and interpret regulations to current situations is required.
• Excellent computer skills in use of a word processing system, Excel, and other MS Office applications is required.

Language:  

• Level IV fluency in English both written and spoken, is required. 

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.

Evaluation Factors:

• Knowledge - 15 points
• Skills and Abilities - 10 points
• Language Skills - 5 points
• Interview Performance - 70 points
• Total Possible Points: 100 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.

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 factor. 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
• 'Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals form (AID 309-2) 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   

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

Remuneration
N18,063,974 Annually.

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

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

Allowances (as applicable):

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

Application Closing Date
24th November, 2022.