Country: Haiti
Closing date: 16 Jun 2015
Position Title: Regional Advisor
Solicitation Number: SOL-OFDA-15-000060
Salary Level: GS-14 Equivalent: $86,399 - $112,319
Issuance Date: June 2, 2015
Closing Date: June 16, 2015
Closing Time: 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time
Dear Prospective Applicants:
The United States Government (USG), represented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), is seeking applications from qualified U.S. citizens to provide personal services as a Regional Advisor under a United States Personal Services Contract (USPSC), as described in the attached solicitation.
Submittals must be in accordance with the attached information at the place and time specified. Applicants interested in applying for this position MUST submit the following materials:
1.Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your application, your resume must include:
(a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Dates (month/year) and locations for all field experience must also be detailed.**Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.**
(b) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.
(c) Names and contact information (phone/email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). Current and/or previous supervisors may be contacted for a reference.
(d) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments.
(e) U.S. Citizenship
Your resume should contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information should be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration.
2.Supplemental document specifically addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) shown in the solicitation.
Additional documents submitted will not be accepted.Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. OFDA reserves the right to select additional candidates if vacancies become available during future phases of the selection process.
Applicants can expect to receive a confirmation email when application materials have been received. Applicants should retain for their records copies of all enclosures which accompany their applications. Your complete resume and the supplemental document addressing the QRFs must be mailed, delivered or emailed to:
OFDA Recruitment Team
529 14th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20045
E-Mail Address: recruiter@ofda.gov
Telephone Number: (202) 661-9300
Website: www.OFDAjobs.net
Any questions on this solicitation may be directed to OFDA Recruitment Team via the information provided above.
Sincerely,
Renee Reed
Contracting Officer
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Disaster Response - Working directly under the guidance and supervision of the SRA, the Regional Advisor will:
· Travel to the scene of a disaster or potential disaster and assist in initial assessments of damages and needs; determine appropriate relief assistance and emergency interventions, in consultation with OFDA/Washington and/or the SRA; and provide timely reporting cables and other written analysis of these events;
· Coordinate and liaise with representatives of host governments, donor governments, PIOs, NGOs, U.S. Embassies, and USAID Missions to facilitate cooperation and coordination in disaster response activities;
· Monitor DCHA/OFDA-funded activities and report in accordance with OFDA guidelines, policies, and requirements;
· Serve as required as DART Team Leader or as a DART team member during a disaster response;
· Demonstrate outstanding communication skills in maintaining regular contacts with the regional (and/or sub-regional) office in their area of responsibility and with OFDA/Washington;
· Prepare requested field updates and subject reports, as required by OFDA/Washington.
Disaster Preparedness - Working closely with the LAC Team, the Regional Advisor will:
· Provide professional advice and transfer of best practices to representatives of host government organizations, PIOs, and NGOs in the development of strong emergency and disaster preparedness/mitigation programs;
· Exercise outstanding analytical skills in the design, development, and implementation of strategies, disaster assistance, and response management for OFDA, local governments, and other donors/organizations as appropriate;
· Advise regional officials, including host country authorities and other USAID and/or U.S. Embassy officials on OFDA’s efforts in disaster response and management;
· Provide support for other OFDA initiatives in the assigned region as identified by the Regional Advisor’s respective Regional Office and/or sub-regional team. Support may include, but is not limited to, assessment/evaluation visits, project design exercises and hazards/vulnerability/risk analysis;
· Coordinate with other agencies/organizations to identify critical disaster concerns affecting the region and countries and develop projects/activities for addressing these;
· Work with representatives of local and regional institutions and private/public sector organizations to incorporate preparedness and mitigation into appropriate programs;
· Prepare a wide range of strategic and analytical reports on current or anticipated emergencies, as well as comprehensive preparedness documentation on assigned countries;
· May serve on DARTs which may require immediate (within 24 hours) deployment overseas for an extended period of time.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
(Determines basic eligibility for the position. Applicants who do not meet all of the education and experience factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.)
Bachelor’s degree with study in, or pertinent to, the specialized field of, but not limited to, international relations, development, economics, food policy or a specific country; and nine (9) years of progressively demonstrated experience in emergency relief, refugee, and IDP activities, and/or disaster preparedness programming and management, three (3) years of which must be overseas. Such experience must have a humanitarian focus and include responsibility in determining budget levels, selecting programs for funding, and/or managing and evaluating funded programs in a results type framework.
OR
Master’s degree with study in, or pertinent to, the specialized field of, but not limited to, international relations, development, economics, food policy or a specific country; and seven (7) years of progressively demonstrated experience in emergency relief, refugee, and IDP activities, and/or disaster preparedness programming and management, three (3) years of which must be overseas. Such experience must have a humanitarian focus and include responsibility in determining budget levels, selecting programs for funding, and/or managing and evaluating funded programs in a results type framework.
SELECTION FACTORS
(Determines basic eligibility for the position. Applicants who do not meet all of the selection factors are considered NOT qualified for the position.)
● Applicant is a U.S. Citizen.
● Complete resume submitted. See cover page for resume requirements. Experience that cannot be quantified will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.
● Supplemental document specifically addressing the Quality Ranking Factors (QRFs) submitted.
● Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret up to Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information level clearance.
● Ability to obtain a Department of State medical clearance.
● Satisfactory verification of academic credentials.
QUALITY RANKING FACTORS (QRFs)
(Used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified applicants in comparison to other applicants. The factors are listed in priority order from highest to least.)
QRF #1 Please describe your demonstrated program development and/or management experience in the field of humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, preparedness, mitigation, and/or disaster risk reduction;
QRF #2 Please describe your knowledge of and experience in dealing with host country governments and local authorities, and coordinating relief activities with other U.S. Government agencies (e.g. Department of State, Department of Defense, USAID missions, and Embassies), United Nations (UN), international organizations, and non-governmental organizations in providing humanitarian assistance;
QRF #3 Please describe your demonstrated experience developing, implementing and assessing disaster responses and plans, and developing strategic plans for humanitarian assistance and disaster risk reduction;
QRF #4 Please describe your demonstrated overseas field experience in humanitarian assistance, refugee and IDP assistance, emergency relief and/or development; and
QRF #5 Please describe both your English and French/Creole oral and written communication skills as demonstrated through the preparation of reports, briefings, and other communications used to inform strategic decision making.
BASIS OF RATING:Applicants who meet the Education/Experience requirements and Selection Factors will be further evaluated based on scoring of the QRF responses. Those applicants determined to be competitively ranked may also be evaluated on interview performance and satisfactory professional reference checks.
Applicants are required to address each of the QRFs in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, and/or education they have received as it pertains to each factor. Be sure to include your name and the announcement number at the top of each additional page. Failure to address the selection factors and/or Quality Ranking Factors may result in not receiving credit for all pertinent experience, education, and/or training.
The most qualified candidates may be interviewed and required to provide a writing sample. OFDA will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. Professional references and academic credentials will be evaluated for applicants being considered for selection. Note: Please be advised that references may be obtained independently from other sources in addition to the ones provided by an applicant. OFDA reserves the right to select additional candidates if vacancies become available during future phase of the selection process.
The Applicant Rating System is as Follows:
QRFs have been assigned the following points:
QRF #1 – 15 points
QRF #2 – 10 points
QRF #3 – 10 points
QRF #4 – 10 points
QRF #5 – 5 points
Interview Performance – 30 points
Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – 20 points
Total Possible Points: 100
How to apply:
Applications must be received by the closing date and time at the address specified in the cover letter.
Qualified individuals are required to submit:
1.Complete resume. In order to fully evaluate your application, your resume must include:
(a) Paid and non-paid experience, job title, location(s), dates held (month/year), and hours worked per week for each position. Dates (month/year) and locations for all field experience must also be detailed. Any experience that does not include dates (month/year), locations, and hours per week will not be counted towards meeting the solicitation requirements.
(b) Specific duties performed that fully detail the level and complexity of the work.
(c) Names and contact information (phone/email) of your current and/or previous supervisor(s). Current and/or previous supervisors may be contacted for a reference.
(d) Education and any other qualifications including job-related training courses, job-related skills, or job-related honors, awards or accomplishments.
(e) U.S. Citizenship
Your resume should contain sufficient information to make a valid determination that you fully meet the experience requirements as stated in this solicitation. This information should be clearly identified in your resume. Failure to provide information sufficient to determine your qualifications for the position will result in loss of full consideration.
2.Supplemental document specifically addressing the QRFs shown in the solicitation.
Additional documents submitted will not be accepted.
By submitting your application materials, you certify that all of the information on and attached to the application is true, correct, complete, and made in good faith. You agree to allow all information on and attached to the application to be investigated. False or fraudulent information on or attached to your application may result in you being eliminated from consideration for this position, or being terminated after award, and may be punishable by fine or imprisonment.
To ensure consideration of applications for the intended position, please reference the solicitation number on your application, and as the subject line in any email.
DOCUMENT SUBMITTALS
Via mail: 529 14th Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20045
Via email: recruiter@ofda.gov