CRG178 Program Officer - SMEII - South, Central Asia with Security Clearance

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Job description

Program Officer - South, Central Asia
Location: Harry Truman Building (Main State) or State Department Annex 1 (SA-1), DC (3 days on-site hybrid)
Clearance: Secret Our client is a Woman-Owned Small Business, specializing in several core markets within the Federal Government. Our professional services depth includes program management and evaluation, strategic communications, acquisitions management, and IT solutions. Our Client is a leading management consulting firm, in part because of our ability to attract the highest quality team members through our emphasis on culture, competitive compensation, and benefits packages. Since 2002, Our Client has consistently received top performance ratings from customers and teaming partners and industry awards, including Inc. Magazine's 5000 list of the Fastest Growing Companies in America , the Department of Labor HireVets Platinum Medallion award, and the Washington Business Journal, Inc. 5000, and Baltimore Sun's Best Places to Work awards. Description: Our Client is seeking a full-time Program Officer II to provide support to the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor's Office of Global Programs (DRL/GP) at the U.S. Department of State. The Program Officer shall be responsible for ensuring effective execution of program requirements: establishing systematic methods of program execution, evaluation, and advocacy; determining whether funding is warranted and available and assessing activities to determine funding requirements; analyzing program and budget proposals and presenting them to the State Department and interagency panels; preparing justification or recommendation memoranda for review and approval by appropriate officials; and providing follow-up problem-solving assistance, guideline interpretations, and technical consultations as required to applicants. The Program Officer shall assist with Departmental briefings to congressional staffers on these programs. The Program Officer represents and communicates DRL's program objectives to other State Department and U.S government offices involved in programming Democracy Fund and Human Rights and Democracy Funds (HRDF) and other transfer funding to include, but not be limited to, regional bureaus, Office of Acquisitions Management, Office of the Legal Advisor, Congressional Liaison office, Office of Management and Budget and USAID offices. The Contractor shall liaise and consult on program administration, financial planning and acquisition of programming funds. The Contractor shall respond to Congressional requests for information regarding programs and DRL program objectives. The Contractor shall also provide information to the NGO community and other implementing organizations regarding the USG and DRL grants processes. The Program Officer maintains, updates and develops as necessary systems for the efficient and accessible retrieval of documents regarding the allocation, notification, transfer and implementation of Democracy Fund, HRDF, transfer funding, and special Congressionally-mandated funds, and tracks the award of grants. The Program Officer shall apply internal control measures to protect organizational integrity and prevent unauthorized use or misappropriation of sensitive and classified material; report instances of security violations/problems to the appropriate supervisory/management official; assume full responsibility for safeguarding all classified and sensitive (but unclassified) material and equipment in assignment area(s). Preference will be given to applicants who have experience with programs that advance human rights and fundamental freedoms in Afghanistan or Central Asia. Familiarity working in Eastern Europe or Northern Asia will also be applicable. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of civil society working in Afghanistan and/or Central Asia as well as regional political dynamics. Experience working with projects in closed and closing spaces will be considered highly competitive. Language fluencies for Central Asia or Afghanistan is competitive but not required. Duties and Responsibilities: Coordinate with the grants officer representative in the administration and coordination of programs
Assist Team Lead and Deputy Directors to oversee program funding for assigned portfolio.
Help develop goals, objectives and programs for utilization of the foreign assistance funding.
Collect grant documentation for review by decision-making committees who will select grant recipients within available funding levels.
Liaise with offices involved in administration, financial planning and acquisition of program funding.
Skillfully communicate verbally and in writing to provide briefings, status reviews, and advice upon request to the other DRL program staff and senior personnel on grant issues.
Work on designated portfolio to ensure pre-award, award, and ongoing management and monitoring of programs globally.
Monitor grantee budget execution and drawdowns to ensure program objectives are met and are in accordance with 2 CFR 200.
Negotiate program solicitation language with regional bureaus, Post leadership, and within DRL.
Advise senior Bureau officials on development of goals, objectives and programs for utilization of foreign assistance funding.
Remain informed on the changing political environment in the designated portfolio as well as global issues impacting the region by regularly meeting with grantees, human rights defenders, researchers, and other funders.
Communicate DRL's program objectives to other State Department and U.S government offices involved in programming Democracy Fund and Human Rights and Democracy Funds (HRDF) and other transfer funding to include, but not be limited to, regional bureaus, Office of Acquisitions Management, Office of the Legal Advisor, Congressional Liaison office, Office of Management and Budget and USAID offices.
Coordinate with policy colleagues to prepare paper and brief DRL Bureau leadership for meetings on issues related to a specific region or thematic area.
Prepare budget and programmatic reports that track grant obligation data and program successes for active grants.
Review and provide analysis of program proposals to decision-making panels who will select grant recipients within available funding levels.
Prepare responses to auditor inquiries on programs.
Assist with responding to Congressional requests for information regarding programs and DRL program objectives.
Attend stakeholder workshops and conferences on topics related to their duties and responsibilities, provide program monitoring and technical assistance to grantees, while supporting the FTE.
Preferred candidates may have demonstrated expertise and knowledge in the following regional or thematic areas: Western Hemisphere Affairs, South Central Asia, East-Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe. Near- Eastern Affairs, Democracy, Human Rights, Labor, Internet Freedom, International Religious Freedom, Gender, Marginalized Populations, Rapid Response, Security and Human Rights, Global Affairs Portfolio, Monitoring and Evaluations.
Additional responsibilities may include: Liaise with U.S. embassies and consulates regarding the award, management, and monitoring of grants.
Drafting reports and other documents for the team and program staff.
Drafting and clearing internal papers and memoranda regarding evaluations.
Organize and participate in meetings, trainings, and/or conference events.
Undertake additional training to ensure they obtain relevant skills needed to advance U.S. policy and programming priorities and meet requirements of this SOW. Attend trainings or conferences to further knowledge in relations to duties and responsibilities listed above and/or hone expertise in one or more following areas regional or thematic area: Western Hemisphere Affairs, South Central Asia, East-Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe. Near- Eastern Affairs, Democracy, Human Rights, Labor, Internet Freedom, International Religious Freedom, Gender, Marginalized Populations, Rapid Response, Security and Human Rights, Global Affairs Portfolio, Monitoring and Evaluations.
As needed and as resources permit, the Contractor shall be asked to directly support the travel of senior DRL Bureau and U.S. Department of State officials and/or at the direction of and in coordination with the Grants Officer Representative and/or Grants Officer, conduct program monitoring visits at the project implementation site to monitor grantee activities.
Report on program activities monitored and analyze to support both the Grants Officer Representative and/or the Grants Officer in their evaluation of programs.
Action Items: Develop and finalize Notice of Funding Opportunities in coordinate with Program Specialists
Conduct panels throughout the grant review process
Communicate with Grant Officer, and process memos to finalize awards
Track status of procurement actions and awards packages report for portfolio teams. Requirements: The Contractor shall have knowledge of and experience in international programming in addition to relevant education and training, ideally with a strong understanding of domestic and foreign NGO administration.
Must have a strong understanding of different types of foreign assistance funds.
Must be able to obtain/hold a Secret security clearance (U.S. Citizenship required). Awareness of the requirements and understanding of 2 CFR 200
Must be able to travel globally to highly sensitive areas as needed.
Experience working in professional, fast-paced and demanding environments.
The ability to manage competing priorities with minimal supervision.
Must be able to obtain security clearance.
Education: Bachelors' degree with 7-9 years of experience or a master's degree with 5-7 years of experience will be reviewed for position.

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