OTI USPSC Transition Advisor/Senior Transition Advisor – Worldwide (GS-13/14) (Multiple, Tandem, Intermittent)

The OTI Transition Advisor/Senior Transition Advisor is an intermittent Personal Services Contract (PSC) position at the GS-13/14 equivalent level and located Worldwide. Offers for this position are due no later than July 25, 2023 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.

1. INTRODUCTION

The OTI Transition Advisor/Senior Transition Advisor position utilizes the oversight and management experience and skills gained from working with political transition programs and operations in the field, to advise on programmatic and operational processes in support of transition programming overseas. This position also supports assessments, new country start-ups, program implementation, program performance management processes, and training and mentoring for field-based and Washington staff. The incumbent may also be involved in strategic design of various OTI country programs and the development of management products and processes that respond to Office priorities. The incumbent is considered an expert in the field of political transitions, and has the demonstrated experience and skills to effectively support these programs both in the field and in Washington.

The OTI Transition Advisor/Senior Transition Advisor position allows OTI to take advantage of the accumulated field experience of incumbents and apply it across the Office. Having access to individuals with hands-on experience in transition programming enhances our ability to deepen understanding, identify opportunities and constraints, and be more prepared to execute programming when necessary. The Transition Advisor/Senior Transition Advisor position provides OTI with a pool of technical experts who are capable of flexing across teams, in the field and in Washington, to advise on programmatic and operational processes based on their deep familiarity of transition programming.

CORE FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The OTI Transition Advisor/Senior Transition Advisor – Worldwide position utilizes the experiences and skills gained from providing oversight and management of political transition programs and operations in the field to advise on programmatic and operational processes in support of transition programming overseas. You also support assessments, new country

start-ups, program implementation, program performance management processes, and training and mentoring for Washington and field-based staff. You may also be involved in the strategic design of various OTI country programs or the development of management products and processes that respond to Office priorities. You are considered an expert in the field of political transitions, and have the demonstrated experience and skills to effectively support these programs.

The work of the Transition Advisor/Senior Transition Advisor requires teamwork, the exercise of discretion, judgment, and personal responsibility. As a member of a highly operational office, you are willing and able to perform a wide range of administrative functions to help ensure programmatic success. You are highly flexible and willing to work under conditions of ongoing change, and remain professional and respectful of colleagues and authority in a diverse workforce. You place a premium on the building of positive relationships with their respective team both in Washington and in the field, and with key stakeholders both in and outside of USAID. You are a team player, able to prioritize and follow up on their own actions without prompting, while also assisting a busy supervisor to track and respond to incoming requests and

routine tasks, filling in gaps as needed to ensure the responsiveness of the team. You are highly responsible, service oriented, organized, pay close attention to detail, and are able to receive and respond to constructive criticism in a professional manner. You are a strategic thinker, articulate innovative ideas, present solutions, and are a positive role model for colleagues both in and outside of OTI. You are also committed to upholding USAID/OTI’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Vision and Values as outlined in the background.

Under the direct supervision of the Washington-based Chief, Field Programs Division (FPD) or the Chief, Program Learning and Innovation Division (PLI), or the Chief, Operations and Management Division (OMD), or their designee, you will perform the following duties:

At the GS-13 Transition Advisor level:

• Provide technical support to OTI programs and teams. Examples of tasks may include: provision of ad hoc support to new OTI country program start-ups; participation in the conceptualization and design of program strategies and objectives in close coordination with staff from OTI, USAID, the U.S. Department of State, and/or the implementing partner based on political analysis and U.S. Government policy; and support for the design and execution of programs that follow OTI’s quick impact programming model;
• Provide assistance with ongoing evaluations of OTI programs or activities in the field; or related lines of programming implemented by other operating units within the Agency; review program budgets; assist in selection of program implementers such as grantees, contractors, and personal services contractors; support monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management, and improved business practices; analyze and report on current political developments and security concerns; assistance with closeout activities; and provision of on call technical assistance;
• Fill critical needs for program advisement, management and implementation as well as staffing gaps in the field and, at times, in Washington, DC; including but not limited to Deputy Team Lead and Deputy Country Representative positions;
• Represent and articulate OTI’s mission, global programs, and business model to those within and outside USAID;
• Serve as a liaison with other CPS offices, other USAID Bureaus/Independent Offices (B/IOs), and other U.S. government agencies on program and policy direction;
• Provide orientation, training, and mentoring for staff supervised; assign work, explain how duties are to be performed to meet expectations and communicate how the successful performance of those duties will be measured;
• Evaluate staff performance; recognize good performance; communicate where performance

needs to be improved; resolve complaints; and approve leave requests and timesheets as well as training, travel and program and operations requests; and,

• Serve on temporary details within OTI, other USAID bureaus/offices, or other U.S. Government (USG) agencies under this scope of work for a period not to exceed six (6) months. Duties performed while on detail must be directly related to the scope of work, but may not be directly related to OTI programs or activities. Contracting Officer (CO) approval is required for the temporary detail. Any extension past the six (6) months requires CO approval.

At the GS-14 Senior Transition Advisor level:

• Provide expert technical support to OTI programs and teams. Examples of tasks may include: act as OTI’s in-country Start-Up Manager for limited periods of time for new OTI country program start-ups; serve as the lead in conducting assessments for possible new country programs; conceptualize and design program strategies and objectives in close coordination with staff from OTI, USAID, the U.S. Department of State, and/or the implementing partner based on political analysis and U.S. Government policy; support for the design and execution of programs that follow OTI’s quick impact programming model;
• Provide advanced technical assistance with ongoing evaluations of OTI programs or activities in the field; or related lines of programming implemented by other operating units within the Agency; manage program budgets; supervise the implementation of OTI-financed activities, including overseeing and/or managing the selection of program implementers such as grantees, contractors, and personal services contractors; assist in selection of program implementers such as grantees, contractors, and personal services contractors; support monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management, and improved business practices; analyze, synthesize and report on current political developments and security concerns; execute closeout activities; and provision of on-call technical assistance;
• Fill critical needs for program advisement, management and implementation as well as staffing gaps in the field and, at times, in Washington, DC; including but not limited to Country Representative positions;
• Adroitly represent and articulate OTI’s mission, global programs, and business model to those within and outside USAID;
• Liaise with other CPS offices, other USAID Bureaus/Independent Offices (B/IOs), and other

U.S. government agencies on program and policy direction; Stay abreast of innovations in the OTI model/approach and support application of innovation to OTI programs and elevate best practices/approaches/notable results for office and CPS bureau-wide learning;

• Supervise staff as delegated by the supervisor (e.g. Country Representatives, Deputy Country Representatives, etc.); Evaluate staff performance; recognize good performance;

communicate where performance needs to be improved; resolve complaints; and approve leave requests and timesheets as well as training, travel and program and operations requests;

• Provide orientation, training, and collaborative mentoring for staff supervised; assign work, explain how duties are to be performed to meet expectations and communicate how the successful performance of those duties will be measured; and,
• Serve on temporary details within OTI, other USAID bureaus/offices, or other U.S. Government (USG) agencies under this scope of work for a period not to exceed six (6) months. Duties performed while on detail must be directly related to the scope of work, but may not be directly related to OTI programs or activities. Contracting Officer (CO) approval is required for the temporary detail. Any extension past the six (6) months requires CO approval.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:

The Transition Advisor/Senior Transition Advisor will be supervised by the FPD Chief, the PLI Chief, or the OMD Chief, or their designee. They will also work under the general guidance and direction of the OTI Country Representative in the field.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS:

At the GS-13 level, the incumbent’s supervisor sets overall objectives. The incumbent and supervisor together develop deadlines, projects, and work to be done. The incumbent independently plans, designs, and carries out projects, studies, and programs. Completed work is reviewed only from an overall standpoint in terms of feasibility, compatibility with other work, or effectiveness in meeting requirements, or expected results. Technical problems are generally resolved without reference to supervisors.

At the GS-14 level, the supervisor provides administrative direction in terms of broadly defined missions or functions. The incumbent independently plans, designs and carries out projects, studies, and programs. Results of the work are considered technically authoritative. There is no higher level official technically responsible for administering the program/project.

1. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While in Washington, the work is generally sedentary and does not pose undue physical demands. While traveling overseas, there may be some additional physical exertion including long periods of standing, walking over rough terrain, or carrying of moderately heavy items (less than 50 pounds).

1. WORK ENVIRONMENT:

While in Washington, the work is generally performed in an office environment. While traveling overseas, the work may additionally involve special safety and/or security precautions, wearing of protective equipment, and exposure to severe weather conditions.

1. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

(Determines basic eligibility for the position. Offerors who do not meet all of the education and experience factors are considered NOT qualified for the position. See detailed instructions for demonstrating Education/Experience under “Submitting an Offer”)

At a minimum, the offeror must have:

At the GS-13 Transition Advisor level:

1. A Master’s degree with five (5) years of work experience;

OR

A Bachelor’s degree with seven (7) years of work experience;

OR

An Associate’s Degree with eight (8) years of work experience;

OR

A High School Diploma with nine (9) years of work experience;

AND

1. Five (5) years of project management experience with a U.S. Government foreign affairs agency, domestic or international assistance organization, or non-governmental organization in community development, economic development, mediation/arbitration, conflict resolution, democracy and governance, international law, political analysis, and/or human rights activities;
2. One (1) year of overseas field experience (in person or virtual). A virtual temporary duty (TDY) is defined as work that would have been conducted in an overseas location if not for the COVID pandemic;
3. One (1) year of supervisory experience (including but not limited to mentoring, training, and guiding staff).

At the GS-14 Senior Transition Advisor level:

1. A Master’s degree with seven (7) years of work experience;

OR

A Bachelor’s degree with nine (9) years of work experience;

OR

An Associate’s Degree with ten (10) years of work experience;

OR

A High School Diploma with eleven (11) years of work experience;

AND

1. Six (6) years of project management experience with a U.S. Government foreign affairs agency, domestic or international assistance organization, or non-governmental organization in community development, economic development, mediation/arbitration, conflict resolution, democracy and governance, international law, political analysis, and/or human rights activities;
2. Two (2) years of overseas field experience (in person or virtual). A virtual temporary duty (TDY) is defined as work that would have been conducted in an overseas location if not for the COVID pandemic;
3. Three (3) years of supervisory experience (includes mentoring, guiding, and/or training staff).