Program Officer (Assistance Coordination) with Security Clearance

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Job description

The Secretary's Office of Global Women's Issues (S/GWI) promotes the rights and empowerment of women and girls globally through U.S. foreign policy, partnerships, and programs. The Program Officer and Data Analyst (program officer) position on S/GWI's Global Programs Unit is responsible for data analysis and assistance coordination related to S/GWI, Department, and interagency gender equality assistance processes as well as for assisting S/GWI Grant Officer Representatives (GORs) and other staff in ensuring effective execution of program requirements by establishing systematic methods for every stage of the grant and program process, including pre-award, award, and post-award. The program officer will have experience with foreign assistance and international programming, ideally related to gender equality and women's empowerment; women's economic security; Women, Peace, and Security (WPS); prevention of and response to gender-based violence (GBV); and/or related areas. The position may report to the Director or Deputy Director of the Global Programs Unit. The program officer will support with the following: Data analysis and assistance coordination. The program officer will coordinate within the Department and interagency on gender equality foreign assistance. This includes liaising extensively with Department bureaus and offices to provide technical assistance and obtain information needed to report to internal and external stakeholders on gender equality assistance programs. S/he will liaise with relevant stakeholders to advise on standards and best practices for gender equality assistance to inform program design, budget and performance reporting, strategic planning, and related processes. Program design and oversight. The program officer will 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 will provide S/GWI leadership technical assistance throughout the federal assistance life cycle that includes pre-award, award, and post-award phases in grants and cooperative agreements. The program officer will also assist with Departmental briefings to congressional staffers on programs. Duties and responsibilities: Duties may be performed with minimal supervision and/or training Support the S/GWI Global Programs Unit on all matters relating to grant, program, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) data, and to track and provide guidance and training on implementation of required 18 FAM 301 activities and general gender equality assistance programming requirements. Work directly with Department staff (including program staff, bureau planners, and budget analysts), USAID and other interagency staff, and other foreign assistance donors, to analyze and evaluate trends, best practices, and provide evidence-based data for gender equality program design and oversight. Evaluate and analyze large administrative and other datasets, including of a sensitive nature for high level initiatives, and represent S/GWI in expert working groups on programmatic evaluation and data. Provide training and technical assistance within the Department on gender equality assistance reporting to ensure Department bureaus and offices accurately report on assistance programming to advance the rights and empowerment of women and girls globally. Lead and/or assist on multiple Office of Foreign Assistance (F) and related processes, including Technical Budget Recommendations, Foreign Assistance Gender Equality Roundtables, and dissemination of program successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Draft and clear the annual Gender Equality Spend Plan, in coordination with USAID, and other Congressional reports, answers to requests for information, and similar materials for internal and external stakeholders Lead on taskers related to reporting on programming for Congressional, interagency, the Office of Foreign Assistance (F), strategic planning guidance, improving MEL processes, and serving as subject matter expert (SME) on gender equality issues and program processes. In coordination with S/GWI Global Programs leadership, develop strategies and work with monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) staff to develop portfolio specific evaluation indicators as needed. Advise senior S/GWI officials on development of goals, objectives, and programs for utilization of foreign assistance funding. Coordinate with Grant Officer Representatives (GORs) in the administration and coordination of programs and to ensure that program deadlines are being met in a timely and efficient matter. Work directly with S/GWI Global Programs leadership to oversee program funding for assigned portfolio. Collect grant documentation and review and provide analysis of program and budget proposals for review by decision-making panels who will select grant recipients according to established evaluation criteria and within available funding levels. Skillfully communicate verbally and in writing to provide briefings, status reviews, and advice upon request to the other S/GWI 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 and obtain necessary approvals from regional bureaus, Post leadership, and within S/GWI. Remain informed on the changing political environment in the designated portfolio as well as global issues impacting any assigned region(s) by regularly meeting with grantees, women leaders, researchers, and other donors. Communicate S/GWI's program objectives to other State Department and U.S government offices, including but not limited to regional bureaus, office of acquisitions management (AQM), office of the legal advisor (L), congressional liaison office (H), office of foreign assistance (F), USAID, and other interagency offices. Assist with Congressional requests for information regarding programs and S/GWI program objectives. Coordinate with policy colleagues to prepare papers and brief S/GWI leadership for meetings on issues related to a specific policy thematic area or region. Prepare budget and programmatic reports that track grant obligation data and program successes for active grants. Prepare responses to auditor inquiries on programs. Attend stakeholder workshops and conferences on topics related to duties and responsibilities, provide program monitoring and technical assistance to grantees, while supporting S/GWI GORs. Assist in the coordination of foreign assistance funding throughout the federal assistance life cycle that include pre-award, award and post-award phases in grants and cooperative agreements. Coordinate and assist S/GWI Global Programs leadership in the administration and coordination of gender equality and women's empowerment foreign assistance programs. Requirements: Must have knowledge of and experience in managing foreign assistance and international programming in addition to relevant education and training. Experience related to gender equality and women's empowerment; women's economic security; Women, Peace, and Security (WPS); prevention of and response to gender-based violence (GBV); and/or related areas is strongly preferred. Strong knowledge of 2 CFR 200. Must be able to obtain security clearance. Must be able to travel globally to highly sensitive areas as needed. Experience working in professional, fast paced, and demanding environments. Ability to manage competing priorities with minimal supervision. Experience working on diverse teams and ability to handle diverse work styles. Understanding of the legal requirements of different types of foreign assistance funds. Preference will be given to applicants who have expertise with Department of State and/or USAID assistance coordination. Education: Bachelor's degree with 6-8 years of work experience or a master's degree with 3-5 years of work experience or a PhD with 2-4 years of experience preferred.

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