U.S.Mission VientianeAnnouncementNumber: Vientiane-2018-013PositionTitle: ProjectManagementSpecialist

(GovernanceandVulnerablePopulations)OpeningPeriod: 05/14/2018-05/25/2018Series/Grade: FSN-4005-11ForMoreInfo: HumanResourcesOffice

MailingAddress:U.S.Embassy,VientianeThadeuaRoad,SomvangTaiVillagePOBox114,Vientiane,Laos

Telephone: 856-21-487000E-mailAddress: VientianeHRO@state.gov

WhoMayApply: AllInterestedApplicants/AllSourcesMarketing Statement:Weencourage you to readandunderstand theEight (8)QualitiesofOverseasEmployeesbeforeyouapply.https://careers.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Eight-Qualities-of-Overseas-Employees.pdfSummary:TheU.S.Mission inVientiane is seekingeligibleandqualifiedapplicants for thepositionofProject Management Specialist (Governance and Vulnerable Populations) in the U.S. Agency forInternationalDevelopment(USAID)/LaosCountryOffice.Workschedule:FullTime(40hoursperweek)Start date:Candidatemustbeable tobeginworkingwithina reasonableperiodof timeof receiptofagencyauthorizationand/orclearances/certificationsortheircandidacymayend.SupervisoryPosition:NoBASICFUNCTIONOFPOSITIONTheProjectManagementSpecialist (PMS) servesasa technicaladvisorongovernanceandvulnerablepopulation issues for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/ RegionalDevelopment Mission for Asia (RDMA) Laos Country Office. The job holder will lead in the design,implementation, coordination and evaluation of project activities across a broad range of issuesgovernance issues that benefit vulnerable populations. The PMS serves as technical representative inLaos for grants, contracts, and/or cooperative agreements; monitors and evaluates awardeeperformance; recommends methods for improved performance; develops implementation oversightplans,andperformsregularfinancialtrackingandoversightamongotherduties.ThePMSreportstotheLaosCountryOfficeDeputyDirector.ThepositionrequiresworkrelatedtravelwithinLaos.Duties:

TheincumbentprovidesprogrammaticandtechnicalsupporttoUSAID-fundedprogramminginadditionto assistingwith strategic planning, frameworkdevelopment,management and/or implementationofothergovernanceandvulnerablepopulationsactivitiesasneeded.A.Project/ProgramDesignandManagement:(45%)

1. Serve as Agreement Officer Representative (AOR)/Contract Officer Representative (COR) toprovide day-to-day management of contracts or agreements, as well as sub-grants and sub-contracts for the Rule of Law and Laos Counter-Trafficking in Persons programs and activities,amongother governance and vulnerable populations activities. Thepositionmay also serve asalternateoncontractsoragreements.

2. Develop Statements of Work (SOW) as related to new activity designs, and serve on activitydesignteamsforinnovativenewactivities.

3. Develop and implement project activity Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems withimplementingpartners.

4. Meet frequently with project implementers and conduct regular sites visits to monitor theirprogramactivities.

5. Coordinatecloselywiththeprimaryimplementingpartnerand/orlocalgranteestoensuretimelysubmissionofreports,includingquarterlyreports,financialreports,andindicatordata.

6. Reviewnarrativereportsandcommunicatekeyprojectsuccessesand/orconcernstoappropriateLaosandRDMAcolleagues.

7. Recommend actions to implementing partners to improve program activities and follow up toensurerecommendationsarecarriedout.

8. Review financial reports from project implementers to monitor financial indicators, such asexpenditures, burn rates, pipelines, need for incremental funding, congruity of expendituresagainstactivities,approvevouchers.

9. Providetechnicaladviceandcollaborationinprogramdevelopmentwithimplementingpartners,includingapprovalofgrantproposals.

10. Managefieldsupportactivities,includingreviewandapprovalofproposedworkedplans.11. Provide direction,monitoring and evaluation and day-to-day field oversight of projects within

his/herportfolio.B.TechnicalAdvisor,StrategicPlanningandBudgeting:(20%)

1. Serveastheleadtechnicaladvisoronawiderangeofgovernanceandvulnerabilityissues,suchas rule of law, human trafficking vulnerability, conflict and peace-building and humanitarianassistance.

2. Directly undertake negotiations with contract/agreement partners, sub-grantees, associatedgovernment counterparts and other decision-makers on issues affecting the governance andvulnerable populations program performance, implementation, evaluation, impact andsustainabilityissuesand/orotherprogrammatters.

3. Provide issues-orientedbriefingsandpresentationsforEmbassyVientiane,LaosCountryOffice,and RDMA staff on governance and vulnerable populations programming and recent socio-politicaldevelopmentsaffectingthoseprograms.

4. Provide expert advice and analysis to senior members of USAID/RDMA and the Laos CountryOfficeandpartnerorganizationsonsuchissuesasruleoflaw,counteringtraffickinginpersons,inclusivedevelopment,politicalprocesses,humanrightsandotherrelatedareas.

5. ProvidetechnicalandprogrammanagementadviceandhelpcoordinateUSAID’sinvolvementinpreparationof Laos’programand/orplanningandbudgetdocuments, semi-annualandannualprogressreports,andotherdocuments,asrequired.

6. Provide technical guidance and leadership by collaboratingwith theGovernment of Laos, U.S.Government, and governance technical working groups; stakeholders and donors’ partner

meetings.Manageevaluation/assessment/study/analysisandotherstrategicinformationactionsonruleoflaw/governance,traffickinginpersons,andotherrelatedareas.

7. Perform budget formulation duties involved in the process of preparing detailed analyses andestimates of annual funding needs; regularly track obligated budget and expenditures for allgovernance and vulnerable populations activities in response to required annual budgetreporting.

8. WorkincollaborationwiththeGovernmentofLaostoassistinthedevelopmentofannualworkplans,strategiesandpolicies,keepinginlinewithUSAIDobjectivesandgoals.

9. Track partner performance data from other related programs and donor agencies in order tomakeinformedstrategicdirectionfromUSAIDperspectives.ProvideupdatedinformationtotheLaosCountryOfficeDirectorandtheRDMAEconomicGrowthandVulnerablePopulations(EGVP)teamasneededandrelevant.

10. Coordinate with relevant staff in the development and oversight of automated systems fortrackingtheprincipalbudgetaryprocessesthroughouttheyearsuchasMission/BureauResourceRequests, Country Budget Justifications, Congressional Notices, Country Operational Plans,PerformancePlanandReports,reprogrammingrequests,andchangenotices.

11. Coordinatewith other donor/international/multinational agencies (such asUNWomen,UNDP,the World Bank, United Nations Children's Fund, Japan International Development Agency,KoreanInternationalDevelopmentAgency,theAsiaFoundation,andothers)onimplementation,strategyandpolicyissues.

C.Embassy/HostCountryRelations,Networking/Liaising:(20%)

1. Establish strongworking relationshipswithpolitical andother staff from theU.S. EmbassyandotherembassiesandGovernmentofLaosofficials.

2. Establishandmaintaincollaborativeworking relationshipswithotherdonors, internationalandmultilateralinstitutions,NGOS,Community-BasedOrganizations,Faith-basedOrganizations,etc.tocoordinateU.S.Governmentassistance.

3. Establish and maintain a range of important contacts with senior businesses, organizedassociations, and community leaders to build partnerships in support of U.S. governance andvulnerablepopulationsprogramming.

4. OrganizedonorandstakeholderconsultationsandcoordinationmeetingstopreventduplicationofeffortsandtoinformU.S.Governmentvisitors.

5. Coordinateanddeveloppartnerships insupportofRDMA/LaosactivitiesbyrepresentingUSAIDindonoranddiplomaticmeetings;strengtheningnetworksandpartnershipswithlocal,national,and international organizations; and interacting with key U.S. Government (USG) and Asiaregionalcounterparts.

D.Reporting/CommunicationsandResearch:(15%)1. Collectquarterly,annual,andperiodicprogrammaticdataforanalysisanddiscussion.2. Analyze project data and synthesize narrative reports to contribute to the Laos and RDMA

Operational Plans, Congressional Budget Justification, and Performance Monitoring Plan. Thistaskincludes:a)trackingperformancedataforruleof lawandcounteringtraffickinginpersonsactivitiesandother relatedactivities frompartners,aswell as international, governmentalandnongovernmentalsources;b)preparing inventoriesofcurrent indicators, informationcollected,and information needed; c) proposing options for more effective and efficient data collectingmethods; d) verifying data accuracy; e) determining whether data is in accordance withperformanceindicators.

3. CollateprojectdataandsynthesizereportingtocontributetoRDMA’sandLaos’annualinternaloperatingunitreportsandportfolioreviews.

4. Researchlatestinformationandinterventionmethodologiesforrelevantdevelopmentactivities.

5. Represent USAID at regional and national level conferences and workshops and be able toexplainanddiscussgovernanceandvulnerablepopulationsprogramsandrelateddevelopmentissues.

QualificationsandEvaluationsEducation: Bachelor’s Degree in International Development, Public Policy, Business or PublicAdministration,Economics,Trade,orotherrelateddisciplinesinartorthesocialsciencesisrequired. Experience:Aminimumoffive(5)yearsofexperienceininternationaldevelopmentisrequired,whichshouldincludeatleastthreeyearsofexperiencedeveloping,implementingandevaluatinggovernance,ruleoflaw,counter-traffickinginpersonsorothervulnerablepopulations,and/orhumanrights-relatedprogrammingwithaninternationaldonororimplementingpartner. JobKnowledge:Acomprehensiveknowledgeof theconcepts,principles, techniquesandpractices forimplementing development interventions in inclusive development, human rights, vulnerablepopulations,democracy/governanceand/orhumanitarianassistanceisrequired.GeneralknowledgeofthedevelopmentissuesinLaosandtheorganizationsinvolvedindevelopmentactivitiesisrequired.Theposition also requires the incumbent to have knowledge in development project design,implementation,managementandevaluation.Language:LevelIV(fluent)speaking,readingandwritingEnglishandLaoarerequired.SkillsandAbilities:

- Must be able to manage the entire program cycle, including project design, implementation,evaluation and learning. Ability to provide technical advice in program development andimplementationwithimplementingpartnersisrequired.

- Must be able to manage field support activities, including review and approval of work plans,monitoringandevaluationplans,andreports.

- Mustbecompetentinfinancialmanagementskillstoensureresponsiblestewardshipoffunding.Ability to review financial reports and monitor financial indicators, such as expenditures, burnrates, pipelines, need for incremental funding, congruity of expenditures against activities, andapprovevouchersarerequired.

- Mustbeable to:obtain,analyze,andevaluateavarietyofdata;organizeandpresent technicalinformationinconcisewrittenandoralform;plan,develop,manageandevaluateimportantandcomplex programs independently; furnish information and advice in assigned areas objectively;follow oral instructions, and organize, prioritize and follow through on all assignments withminimaloversight;andfocusondetails.

- Must have excellent interpersonal communication and negotiation skills in order to facilitateproductive, professional relationships. Must be able to communicate clearly with high-levelofficials and other representatives in providing technical advice, negotiating agreements, andexplainingcomplexregulationsandlaws.

- Mustbeable toworkeffectivelyasa teammember inanestablishedculturallydiverseMissionTeam environment.Must be amotivated self-starter who canmanage his/her own timewhilebalancingmultipleprioritiestocompleteassignmentsinatimelymanner.

- Must be proficient in word processing, spreadsheets, databases and office software such asMicrosoftWord,Excel,PowerPoint,andGoogleapplications.MustbeabletoeffectivelylearnanduseAgencyspecificsoftwarerelatedtoworkarea.

EQUALEMPLOYMENTOPPORTUNITY(EEO):TheU.S.Missionprovidesequalopportunityandfairandequitable treatment inemployment toall peoplewithout regard to race, color, religion, sex,nationalorigin,age,disability,politicalaffiliation,maritalstatus,orsexualorientation.Evaluation/SelectionProcess:Applicationswillbeinitiallyscreenedforeligibilityinaccordancewiththerequiredqualificationsmentionedabove.Tobeconsideredforcandidacy,applicantsmustaddresseachcriterion in their application as to how theymeet theminimum qualifications for this position. Top-rankedcandidateswhomeettheminimumqualificationwillbegivenarecruitmenttest.Applicantswithpassingmarksfromtherecruitmenttestwillbeinvitedfortheinterview.Therecruitmenttestandtheinterviewwillbestructuredaroundtheselectioncriteriaabove.USAIDwillscreenfornepotism/conflictofinterestindeterminingsuccessfulcandidacy.Referencecheckswillbeconductedoncetheapplicantpool is narroweddown to the top candidate(s).Only shortlisted candidates for final interviewwill benotified of the selection result. Internal candidates must have successfully completed a one yearprobationaryperiodofemploymentbeforebeingeligibletoapply.HowtoApply: AllcandidatesmustbeabletoobtainandholdaLocalSecurityCertificationclearance.Applicants must submit a Universal Application for Employment (DS-174) from our websitehttps://la.usembassy.gov/embassy/jobs/To apply for this position, applicants should electronically (or hardcopy) submit the documents listedbelowRequiredDocuments:Pleaseprovidetherequireddocumentationlistedbelowwithyourapplication:• DS-174Applicationform• Acopyofdegreeandtranscript• AcopyofnationalIDcard• Acopyofresidencyand/orworkpermit(fornon-Laoscitizen)• Othersasrequired,e.g.,acopyofprofessionallicense,certificate,etc.WhattoExpectNext: Applicantswhoareinvitedtotakealanguageorskillstest,orwhoareselectedforaninterviewwillbecontactedviaemail.Thank you for your application and your interest in working at the USAID Laos Country Office, U.S.MissionVientiane.