Senior Foreign Assistance Program Analyst IV

Competitive Innovations, LLC; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 140,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

Competitive Innovations, LLC seeks a Sr. Foreign Assistance Program Analyst/Subject Matter Expert to support DRL.

The role communicates DRL’s program objectives to State Department and other US government offices involved in Democracy Fund and HRDF grants and oversees budget planning and pre/post award activities. This full-time Washington, DC position requires coordinating with leadership, developing evaluation indicators, and ensuring program compliance with 2 CFR 200 while advising on funding

Qualifications

• Active security clearance required.
• Strong knowledge of 2 CFR 200 and grant mgmt.
• Experience in international programming and NGO context.
• Ability to brief senior DRL and government officials.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategies with the Lead and Evaluation team for portfolio indicators.
• Coordinate with SMEs to meet program deadlines and manage funding.
• Prepare budgets, program reports, and grant documentation.
• Advise DRL leadership on goals, objectives, and funding utilization.
• Respond to Congressional inquiries and liaise with DRL and regional offices.
• Monitor and ensure program compliance with 2 CFR 200 and related rules.

Skills

Security clearance

2 CFR 200 knowledge

International programming

Communication & briefing

Prioritization & multitasking

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree with 12-15 years experience

Master's degree with 8-10 years experience

PhD with 5-7 years experience

Job description

Senior Foreign Assistance Program Analyst IV

• Washington, DC

Competitive Innovations, LLC (CI) is seeking a Sr. Foreign Assistance Program Analyst/Subject Matter Expert to support the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL). The Sr. Subject Matter Expert 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 Global Acquisitions, Office of the Legal Advisor, Congressional Liaison office, Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Foreign Assistance offices. They liaise and consult on program administration, financial planning and acquisition of programming funds. They will respond to Congressional requests for information regarding programs and DRL program objectives. They will also provide information to the NGO community and other implementing organizations regarding the USG’s and DRL grants processes. This is a full-time position located in Washington, D.C. Salary range is $140-$152K.

Responsibilities

• In coordination with the Program Lead, develop strategies, and work with the Applied Learning and Evaluation team to develop portfolio specific evaluation indicators as needed.
• Work closely with Subject Matter Experts to ensure that program deadlines are being met in a timely and efficient matter.
• Coordinate with the GOR in the administration and coordination of programs.
• Work directly with Team Lead and Deputy Directors to oversee program funding for assigned portfolio.
• Develop goals, objectives and programs for utilization of the foreign assistance funding.
• Collect grant documentation for review by decision-making panels 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 in ensure pre-award, award, and ongoing management and monitoring of programs globally.
• Monitoring 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 regional and thematic foreign assistance 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 Global Acquisitions, Office of the Legal Advisor, Congressional Liaison office, Office of Management and Budget and Regional and thematic 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.
• Coordinate and assist the DRL Leadership in the administration and coordination of international human rights and democracy foreign assistance programs.
• May be responsible for office-level actions related to the federal foreign assistance funding program lifecycle. This may include internal and external Communications and Outreach, including managing Hill engagements and paper
• May serve as PRU’s OIG/GAO Coordinator, including coordinating draft responses
• May lead on tasker management, including coordinating with program teams on internal document retrieval, drafting, and clearing responses.
• Depending on experience, may organize regular and ad-hoc trainings for PRU staff such as on managing federal funding and State Department tradecraft.
• May coordinate closely with PRU’s financial team to manage DRL’s Master Award Tracker, coordinate funds planning processes within DRL, including utilizing State department systems such as MyGrants and FACTSInfo

Strategic Planning

• Provide strategic guidance on sensitive human rights issue including working with private sector and other government donors. In coordination with the Program Lead, this position will liaise with the Administration priority issues.
• Work with leadership to engage with and advance high level public private engagements.
• Obtain and maintain expertise in programming and familiarity with the community including expertise in the Do No Harm principals. Work with DRL policy counterparts and outside stakeholders to strengthen the DRL portfolio.

Communications

• Develops communication strategies to disseminate new policy requirements to effectively streamline procedures in the Bureau.
• Maintains documentation and audit trails of past plans, policies, and decision-making activities to provide for organizational continuity.

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 avobe and/or hone expertise in regional or thematic areas including but not limited to: Human Rights, Labor, Internet Freedom, International Religious Freedom, Monitoring and Evaluations.
• As needed and as resources permit, the individual may be asked to directly support the travel of senior DRL, Regional Bureaus and Offices under the purview of the newly established F 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.
• Develops communication strategies to disseminate new policy requirements to effectively streamline procedures in the Bureau.

Minimum Qualifications

• Active Secret Security Clearance
• Bachelors’ degree with 12-15 years of experience or a master’s degree with 8-10 years of experience or a PhD with 5-7 years of work experience
• 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
• Understand the legal requirements of different types of foreign assistance funds
• Strong knowledge of 2 CFR 200
• Experience working in professional, fast-paced, and demanding environments
• The ability to manage competing priorities with minimal supervision
• Experience leading teams and ability to handle diverse work styles
• Qualified candidates that are HUBZone residents, preferred (check your status here: https://maps.certify.sba.gov/hubzone/map#center=39.828200,-98.579500&zoom=5 )