OTI Program Operations Specialist

The OTI Program Operations Specialist is a full-time Personal Services Contract (PSC) position at the GS-11/12 equivalent level and located in Washington, DC. Offers for this position are due no later than March 2, 2022 at 1:00pm Eastern Time. For full information about this position, as well as instructions on how to apply, please read the entire solicitation at www.OTIjobs.net.

INTRODUCTION:

The OTI Program Operations Specialist is a key administrative position in a busy office that responds rapidly to crisis situations. The principal responsibility of the Program Operations Specialist is to ensure that CPS/OTI personnel, particularly those who are field-based staff, receive prompt and reliable support. To achieve this, OTI relies on Program Operation Specialists who have the capacity to work well within a team environment. The incumbent will be an individual who is operationally-minded, highly flexible, enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, and seeks innovative ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations support and programs.

The Program Operations Specialist is experienced in a multitude of functions that comprise operations support for OTI programs, and provides services that require professionalism, knowledge, diplomacy, and operational expertise in program support. This individual must be readily available to provide the required services on an intermittent basis, often on short notice with little time for preparation. While the vast majority of the work will be performed in Washington, D.C., field travel may be required. OTI field offices are located in countries with complex problems, often in difficult and harsh environments, with some offices located in countries where there is no USAID presence.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

At the GS-11 Program Operations Specialist Level:

Note: Duties and responsibilities are listed in the order of importance for this position.

• Provide program operations support for new OTI country program start-ups, country program management and close-outs. This includes actions relating to NSDD-38 issues, ICASS invoices, and other administrative management activities related to OTI country program operations;
• Respond to requests for information and tasks regarding OTI programs and operations;
• Provide knowledge management support including but not limited to tracking documents, lessons learned, and best practices across OTI programs in regard to administration and operations. Assist teams in the creation and/or maintenance of information products in support of political transition programs;
• Coordinate with OTI’s three (3) divisions Operations and Management Division (OMD), Field Programs Division (FPD), and the Program Learning and Innovation (PLI) Division on program operations issues/tasks;
• Initiate and maintain effective relationships with all USAID staff, other USG agencies and implementing partners, share procedures and systems, maintain effective administrative practices, and seek out innovative ways of conducting business to improve efficiency and effectiveness;
• Provide program operations assistance to organizations outside of OTI for the purpose of enhancing OTI’s goals and objectives;
• On an ad hoc basis, fill critical program operations staffing needs primarily in Washington, D.C.; and,
• Serve on temporary details within OTI, other USAID bureaus/offices, or other USG agencies under this scope of work for a period not to exceed six months. Duties performed while on detail must be directly related to the scope of work. Contracting Officer (CO) approval is required for the temporary detail. Any extension past the six months requires CO approval.

At the GS-12 Program Operations Specialist Level:

Note: Duties and responsibilities are listed in the order of importance for this position.

• Serve as a technical advisor on the Operations Bullpen Team, a group of intermittent USPSC senior management advisors providing program operations, administrative and resource management expertise and support in Washington and overseas. Provide evaluation processes and guidance on approach and methodology to the Operations Bullpen Team;
• Provide operations support for new OTI country program start-ups, country program management and close-outs. This includes actions relating to NSDD-38 issues, ICASS invoices, and other administrative management activities related to OTI country program operations;
• Develop, interpret, and ensure implementation of administrative management policies, regulations and procedures, with latitude for exercise of independent judgment. Maintain a constant awareness of compliance with regulatory requirements affecting administrative management services;
• Provide managerial and supervisory support including, but not limited to orientation, training and mentoring for supervised staff; assign work, provide guidance on how duties are to be performed to meet expectations and communicate how successful performance will be measured; evaluate staff performance; recognize good performance; communicate where performance needs to be improved; resolve complaints; and approve leave requests, timesheets, training, travel, and program and operations requests;
• Provide knowledge management support including but not limited to tracking documents, lessons learned, best practices across OTI programs and/or operations. Assist teams in the creation and/or maintenance of information products in support of political transition programs;
• Serve on technical evaluation committees as necessary for OTI procurements. Serve as Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or COR Backstop for acquisition and assistant actions;
• Coordinate with OTI’s three (3) divisions Office and Management Division (OMD, Field Programs Division (FPD), and the Program Learning and Innovation (PLI) Division on program operations issues/tasks. Attend respective team meetings, and provide reports to the supervisor as appropriate;
• Respond to requests for information and tasks regarding OTI programs;
• Initiate and maintain effective relationships with all USAID staff, other USG agencies and implementing partners, share procedures and systems, maintain effective administrative practices, and seek out innovative ways of conducting business to improve efficiency and effectiveness;
• On an ad hoc basis, fill critical program operations staffing needs primarily in Washington, D.C.;
• Provide program assistance to organizations outside of OTI, for the purpose of enhancing OTI’s goals and objectives; and,
• Serve on temporary details within OTI, other USAID bureaus/offices, or other USG agencies under this scope of work for a period not to exceed six months. Duties performed while on detail must be directly related to the scope of work. Contracting Officer (CO) approval is required for the temporary detail. Any extension past the six months requires CO approval.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

At a minimum, the offeror must have:

At the GS-11 level:

(1) A Master’s Degree with two (2) years of work experience;

OR

A Bachelor’s Degree with four (4) years of work experience;

AND

(2) Two (2) years of experience providing administrative support, including liaising with both staff and senior-level managers;

(3) One (1) year of experience supporting program operations for an organization;

(4) Demonstrated experience drafting program operations documents that support overseas operations.

At the GS-12 level:

(1) A Master’s Degree with three (3) years of work experience;

OR

A Bachelor’s Degree with five (5) years of work experience;

AND

(2) Three (3) years of experience providing administrative support, including liaising with staff and senior-level managers;

(3) Two (2) years of experience supporting program operations for an organization, of which one (1) year must be with an international assistance organization;

(4) Demonstrated experience drafting program operations documents that support overseas operations.

Please direct questions about this position or the offer process to the OTI Recruitment Team at otijobs@usaid.gov.