Solicitation for Resident Hire U.S. Personal Services Contractor (U.S. PSC) Executive HR Advisor, GS-15

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. SOLICITATION NO.: Mission Notice 22-140
2. ISSUANCE DATE: August 24, 2022
3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: September 05, 2022 1630 hours Nairobi time)
4. POINT OF CONTACT: Elizabeth Mailu, email at [email protected] with a copy to Jonathan Chappell, email at [email protected]
5. POSITION TITLE: Resident Hire U.S PSC Executive HR Advisor
6. MARKET VALUE: $112,890 to $146,757 annually equivalent to GS-15. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value. As a resident hire position, it does not include offshore benefits such as housing, post differential, relocation benefit and post allowance.
7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two (2) year base period, with three one-year options subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance or better.
8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya. Overseas U.S PSCs may be authorized to telework or remote work only from a location within Kenya, in accordance with the Mission policy. Telework or remote work from outside Kenya may only be authorized in certain situations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract.
9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to U.S. Nationals (U.S Citizens and/or U.S Resident Aliens[1]) residing in Kenya. Citizenship, if dual, must be clearly stated. This is a resident-hire position and therefore all offerors must be residing in Kenya.
10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret
11. STATEMENT OF DUTIES/POSITION DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

The Executive Officer Position is located in a consolidated Executive Office (EXO) that provides administrative support services to KEA’s two operating units, Kenya-Bilateral and East Africa Regional, and provides support to USAID/Somalia.

KEA is currently comprised of 13 separate offices, including the Offices of Foreign Disaster Assistance, Transition Initiatives and Food for Peace. EXO is normally comprised of three USDHs (one Supervisory Executive Officer and two Executive Officers), one USPSC, and 35 CCNs to oversee Human Resources (HR), Administrative Procurement, Travel, Information Technology, and Communications and Records teams. EXO also has KEA’s Geospatial Information Services (GIS) team and the Partner Liaison Security Operation (PLSO), which provides security support to KEA and its implementing partners (IPs). EXO engages the U.S. Embassy International Cooperative Administrative Support Services (ICASS) system for general support operations and oversees the operation of the USAID-owned Annex building. On the interagency management team, this position is responsible to represent USAID in a series of senior roles, including the Emergency Action Committee, Housing and Awards Committees. As a member of the senior management team, this position provides management advice and support to the interagency and to a USAID/KEA Front Office consisting of a Mission Director and three Deputy Mission Directors (DMDs).

USAID/KEA seeks to strengthen Mission adherence to USAID policy and regulations, maintain momentum with procurement actions, mission self-care initiatives, provide continued improvement to administrative management systems and provide mentoring and training to Mission and EXO staff. USAID/KEA seeks an Executive Officer to handle this broad range of Executive Office functions. The Executive Officer promotes customer service outreach, assessment and improvements of work processes, interface with the Department of State regarding shipping and customs, housing, facilities, and personnel related issues, management of sensitive personnel issues, local solutions and security, and other related actions. Prior knowledge of U.S. Government (USG) procedures and systems knowledge to facilitate continuity of operations is a requirement for selection.

BASIC FUNCTION OF THE POSITION

The USPSC Executive Advisor is expected to be available for eleven months, in order to fill the role of the Executive Officer pending the assignment of a US Direct Hire employee to fill this role. S/He will manage aspects of the procurement actions of the office, but will not be required to perform contracting officer functions if not warranted. In accordance with AID policy (Automated Directives System 527) the EXO serves as an advisor to the Mission Directors and Mission staff with responsibility for providing leadership, advice and staff support in the administrative management functional areas. In this capacity s/he is tasked with developing innovative methods for providing improved administrative and logistical support services. The EXO is the focal point and is responsible for ensuring that adequate management and logistical support is provided for all mission administrative services.

The U.S PSC EXO Advisor serves/is responsible for coordinating the delivery of effective and efficient administrative and logistic support to the Mission. Duties involve intensive professional/ administrative functions of concurrent phases requiring ongoing development and problem resolution. Under the direction of the Supervisory Executive Officer, the Executive Officer:

• Plans, directs, and administers the management functions of the Mission including supervising Executive Office non-USDH staff; develops, interprets, and ensures implementation of administrative management policies, regulations, and procedures; formulates, interprets, and communicates long-range principles, policies, and objectives for administrative services programs. Serves as the key communicator of new administrative policies and procedures. Ensures successful implementation of large-scale administrative, Human Resources, and organizational changes as required.
• Prepares workforce planning scenarios based on various budget scenarios; provides policy advice and guidance on the management and support functions and services required for effective program implementation.
• Participates in project planning and review to evaluate administrative support implications, feasibility, projected costs, and drafting or advising on appropriate administrative support budgets; advises and supports the Mission Director and Deputy Mission Director (RISS) on the full range of personnel matters, including development and implementation of appropriate personnel procedures and workforce planning.
• Analyzes Mission management requirements and develops the operating expense and administrative program support budgets for the mission with the Controller. Directs the administration of the operating expense budget and administrative portion of the program support budget to ensure prompt and legal obligation of funds.
• Serves on Post Boards and Committees as required including the Joint Awards Program, ICASS Budget Committee, Housing Board, etc.; serves as the USAID Unit Security Officer (USO) and administers the extensive mission security program under the guidance of the RSO and M/SEC.
• Provides advice and manages functions associated with the organizational changes and the resulting impact on support operations for the mission support offices. Specifically, the position will assist in managing the changing relationship as the Executive office takes on more roles as a support services provider to USAID/Somalia.

12. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The primary location of work will be on the U.S. Embassy/USAID compound in Nairobi, Kenya. No special demands are required to perform the work.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants meeting the required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application and obtained through reference checks.

Education (10 points)

Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in an area related to Organizational Development, Management, Business Administration, Government/Political Science, Non-Profit Management, or other related field is required. Master’s degree in one of the above fields is desirable. Professional training and certification in government contracting required.

Knowledge/Experience (40 points)

• A minimum of 10 years relevant professional experience in government administrative services support in developing countries, including experience in institutional capacity assessment and strengthening.
• Demonstrated knowledge of policy, technical and operational aspects of government contracting, travel and human resources management.
• Direct work experience with an international organization and/or donor agency; a thorough working knowledge of USG operations, regulations, policies, procedures and programs desirable.
• Extensive knowledge of USAID (AIDAR) and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), USAID assistance regulations, OMB Circulars, the USAID Automated Directive System and USAID A&A Policy Directives and Contract Information Bulletins is required.

Skills/Abilities (50 points)

• Superior writing skills.
• Superior interpersonal and communication skills including ability to collaborate with host-country officials, Embassy Officials and interact with partners, contractors and other stakeholders at senior levels.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment and communicate highly technical information to both expert and lay audiences, and achieve consensus on policy, project, research, and administrative matters.
• Ability to readily understand, analyze and discuss issues around institutional capacity strengthening and development practices. Ability to facilitate meetings and make oral presentations logically and persuasively to senior officials and partners in a multi-cultural context.
• Superior ability to work independently, plan work, complete assignments, and lead team to complete assignments according to established deadlines.
• Proven ability to mentor staff in human resources management, procurement, general services and administrative operations of a USG or international donor organization overseas Mission.

TOTAL: 100 points

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS: The USAID reserves the right to obtain from previous employers relevant information concerning the applicant’s past performance and may consider such information in its evaluation.

[1] U.S. resident alien means a non-U.S. citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States.