Solicitations open to: Ukrainian Nationals (Residency/Ukrainian Work Permit)
Solicitation No.: 720-121-24-R-10005
Position Title: Project Management Specialist (Humanitarian)
Issuance date: May 15, 2024
Closing date and time: June 04, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Kyiv Time
Work hours: 40 hours (Full time)
Position Grade: FSN-10
Market Value: Basic Annual Rate (in U.S. Dollars): $32,180 - $41,841 In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID/Ukraine. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.
Place of Performance: Kyiv, Ukraine
Period of Performance: Five-Year Period of Performance with possibility to renew in accordance with ADS 309: - Personal services contracts are subject to the five-year limitation in accordance with FAR Part 17. In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J, CCNPSCs are of a continuing nature and expected to be part of a series of sequential contracts, each not to exceed the five-year limitation in the FAR. Start date is pending security and medical clearance approval.
Security Level Required: Facility Access
STATEMENT OF DUTIES:
The Project Management Specialist (PMS) is located within USAID/Ukraineโs Office of Humanitarian Assistance (OHA). The PMS provides expertise, oversight, technical guidance, coordination, and representation of activities procured and implemented by USAIDโs Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) in Ukraine. This position supports BHAโs operations by managing and monitoring ongoing programs and liaising with potential and new implementing partners, managing technical review of proposals and concept notes, and assisting in monitoring and evaluation through documentation and conducting regular site visits.
This position will blend program management and oversight with diplomatic acuity, communication skills, and relationship building. The PMS will work as a technical professional on humanitarian assistance within USAID/Ukraine OHA, advising the USAID/Ukraineโs OHA Office Director and team as well as partners and other stakeholders regarding all elements required for the successful and effective implementation of BHA-funded humanitarian assistance in Ukraine. The PMS will receive technical guidance, direction, and formal supervision from the Project Management Specialist (PMS). With the Mission Directorโs approval, the PMS will also become Agreement Officer Representative (AOR)/Contracting Officer Representative (COR) certified, and may serve as AOR/COR for USAID/BHA awards as needed.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Monitoring and Program Oversight, Program Management (50%)
The Project Management Specialist (PMS) with support from the USAID/Ukraine Office of Humanitarian Assistance (OHA) Project Management Specialist, provides oversight and technical direction to the implementation of strategies and interventions designed to strengthen the design, management, reporting, and coordination capacity for BHA activities in Ukraine. The PMS is also one of the primary contacts for implementing partners for BHA awards, responding to requests for information and guidance on award parameters and BHA regulations. The PMS provides monitoring and evaluation through participation in the USAID/BHA Ukraine third-party monitoring mechanism, conducts regular site visits to ensure high quality project performance, supports implementing partner activities on the collection and reporting of performance results, guides quality data assessments, and assists in the development and refinement of activity progress benchmarks and indicators. The PMS solves challenges related to executing awards and maintains an ongoing dialogue regarding contextual and award-specific issues affecting humanitarian organizations in Ukraine. The PMS provides recommendations on BHAโs budget and strategy process, sectoral and funding priorities, and offers feedback on current and future programming. The PMS discusses potential funding opportunities with current and potential partners, and receives and reviews concept notes and applications. The PMS encourages partners to share program updates, including access impediments, operational challenges, safety and security incidents, any no-cost modifications or other award modifications, etc. The PMS maintains knowledge of BHA award and activity management by reviewing and understanding current and updated BHA emergency award guidelines and attending relevant sessions pertinent to BHA award management. The PMS must become certified and serve as an Agreement Officerโs Representative/Contracting Officerโs Representative (AOR/COR), as assigned. The AOR/COR provides financial and programmatic oversight of all aspects of managing the agreement or contract; this includes but is not limited to reviewing invoices, requests for approvals, program and project deliverable such as work plans, annual reports, month status reports, travel requests, key personnel requests, and financial and budget reports.
Coordination, Representation, and Communication (30%)
In collaboration with implementing partners and interested organizations, the PMS organizes visits to BHA-funded program sites for USAID/Ukraine's OHA and Regional Office staff, Embassy Kyiv staff, and USAID staff from Washington, DC; schedules, travel logistics, security details and transportation for USAID/BHA visitors from the region and Washington, D.C; compiles notes, readouts and action points of meetings and engagements as needed; and coordinates with international organizations (IOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the host government to prepare briefings and field visits for official USG visitors and provides administrative support for in-country visitors to facilitate access to compound. The PMS acts as a liaison between implementing partners and BHA headquarters, including AORs/CORs, the BHA Ukraine team within the Europe Division (EUR), and the BHA Technical Program Quality (TPQ) team during both application review and implementation periods. In coordination with the PMS, and the Washington, D.C. based Office of Middle East, North Africa, and Europe (MENAE)/Ukraine Team, the PMS works with NGOs, IOs, and United Nations (UN) agencies that are developing proposals for BHA to ensure compliance with BHAโs guidelines. The PMS organizes and attends regular virtual and in person meetings with implementing partners, as necessary. In the event BHA deploys a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and/or activates a Response Management Team (RMT) in Washington, the PMS may be called upon to serve in a response role. While serving on the DART, there may be some additional physical exertion including long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain, or carrying of moderately heavy items (less than 50 pounds) during site visits. Additionally, the work may involve special safety and/or security precautions, wearing of protective equipment, and exposure to severe weather conditions during site visits. The PMS also facilitates the arrival of DART personnel and ensures they are aware of unique constraints and requirements in Ukraine.
Reporting (20%)
The PMS, in consultation with the PMS, identifies, analyzes and reports on policies and trends that impact humanitarian needs or policies (including external studies and reports), reports on progress in partnersโ work in a concise and consolidated way that can be used in summaries and talking points, and maintains datasets of relevant POCs, funding or other information to facilitate responses to info requests or for talking points. The PMS ensures consistency of messages in information, fact sheets, press releases, responses to requests for information, briefing papers, and other public-information materials related to USAID/BHAโs humanitarian programs in Ukraine.
The contractor is eligible for temporary duty (TDY) travel to the U.S., or to other Missions abroad, to participate in the \"Foreign Service National\" Fellowship Program, in accordance with USAID policy.
Supervisory Relationship: The PMS receives supervision from the Project Management Specialist (PMS), and/or his/her designee, who provides assignments in terms of a discussion of the work to be performed and the Office Directorโs priorities. Most work occurs as a result of normal office operations, but special activities may be assigned at any time. The PMS independently plans and carries out assignments and is responsible for the accuracy of their personal work; work is normally reviewed in terms of results achieved, and in meeting Office objectives.
Supervisory Controls: None
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work requested does not involve undue physical demand.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE:
Education: Minimum of University (Bachelorโs) degree in political science, international development or affairs, social sciences, humanities, public or business administration, logistics/operations, or related field is required.
Work Experience: Minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, development, emergency assistance, or social services is required.
Language Proficiency: Level IV (Fluent) speaking/reading/writing English and Level IV (Fluent) speaking/reading/writing of Ukrainian is required.
EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS:
The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The Contracting Officer reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the Contracting Officer determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the Contracting Officer may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.