USAID Project Management Specialist - Monitoring & Evaluation (Current Mission Employees only) (72062020R10023) at US Embassy

Announcement Number: Abuja-2020-051
Series / Grade: LE - 4005 10
Work Schedule: Full-time - Work Schedule is 40hrs per week
Promotion Potential: LE-10
Telework Eligible: No

Overview

• Hiring Path: Open to the public
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust - Background Investigation
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Appointment Type Details: Five (5) years renewable, estimated to start on or after April 2021
• Supervisory Position: No
• Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No

Who May Apply / Clarification From the Agency:

• For definitions use URL www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/glossary
• Open to Internal Candidates Only

Marketing Statement:

• USAID is an independent Federal Government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., USAID fosters transformational development around the world. Our work supports economic growth and trade; agriculture and the environment; education and training; democracy and governance; global health; global partnerships and humanitarian assistance. We operate in the following regions of the world: Afghanistan and Pakistan, Africa (all of Africa), Asia, Europe and Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East.
• For more information about USAID, visit http://www.usaid.gov

Summary:

• The M&E Specialist will provide expert technical support to help ensure accountability and effectiveness of Economic Growth and Environment (EGE) portfolio activities.
• S/he will provide detailed technical advice on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) to EGE staff and implementing partners (IPs), and support to maintain required M&E documentation working closely with the Agriculture and Environment Specialist and in conjunction with Mission Program Office.

Travel Required:

• Occasional Travel
• Incumbent is required to perform work-related travels.

Duties
Performance Management (50%):

• The incumbent will provide expert technical support to the senior management and technical staff of the EGE Office, and Program Office Monitoring & Evaluation and Learning (MEL) staff, to strengthen MEL and knowledge management throughout all EGE activities, with special emphasis on implementing best practices in Nigeria.
• Advise on the formulation of performance management plans (and/or MEL plans) for all EGE activities in order to more effectively track milestones and report on selected standard performance indicators, as well as custom indicators. The incumbent will help to ensure that appropriate data collection procedures are used and supports the implementation of regular data quality checks.
• The incumbent proactively ensures awareness and inclusion of internationally recognized best practices in MEL across the EGE portfolio.
• The M&E Specialist assists senior staff within the EGE team in representing USAID to implementing partners (IPs), NGOs, Government of Nigeria (GON) agencies and other national and international groups and bodies in order to develop effective MEL strategies and plans for EGE activities that meet national and international standards.
• Ensures that adequate resources are allocated in project and activity designs to conduct robust MEL tasks.
• S/he advises on and oversees the warehousing and analysis of monitoring and evaluation data.
• S/he serves as a member of activity design teams, providing expert technical advice on developing activity monitoring, evaluation and learning plans (AMELP), results frameworks, log frames, indicators and baseline and target results.
• S/he collaborates with EGE staff (AORs, CORs, Activity Managers) and IPs in the preparation and presentation of MEL reports according to USAID requirements.
• S/he assists in preparing scopes of work for assessments and evaluations in collaboration with EGE staff; participates in selecting contractors for those assessments; reviews assessment reports; and coordinates the process of providing written comments/feedback on draft reports to contractors.
• Also working closely with the Agriculture and Environment Specialist, s/he ensures that AMELPs formulated by IPs for each activity contains a performance monitoring framework with clear-cut goals, outcomes, outputs, inputs, processes, indicators, data needs and sources, and reporting formats for effective monitoring and evaluation.
• The incumbent assists with the preparation and analysis of performance data for quarterly monitoring and semi-annual portfolio reviews for activity managers, office management and Mission management to understand the progress of each activity regularly and accurately in the EGE portfolio.

Reporting, Support and Representation (25%):

• The job holder provides support to maintain the EGE Performance Monitoring Plan on a regular and timely basis in conjunction with the Program Office.
• Participates in activity reviews, data calls and presentations and assist the EGE Office with preparation and analysis of performance data for the bi-annual Mission portfolio reviews, including establishing appropriate performance indicators, implementing partners’ monitoring and evaluation plans and compiling and analyzing data for the Performance Plan and Report (PPR), the Operational Plan, the Federal Managers Financial Integrity Act, and other standard reports.
• The incumbent attends external meetings, committees and task teams, including GON-facilitated technical working groups, as needed to represent the EGE Office.

Project Management (25%):

• The M&E specialist will serve as Activity Manager for agreements and contracts. This includes those focusing on monitoring, evaluation and/or research, as well as those supporting program evaluations, special studies, etc.
• S/he will provide review and approval of work plans, budgets, performance monitoring plans, quarterly and annual performance reports, and other key documents for assigned USAID-supported activities.
• The specialist provides guidance on new program initiatives and drafts program documents to secure funding and implement activities and employs skills and expertise in financial and program management to provide oversight and ensure that USAID-supported programs achieve anticipated results; are linked to and enhance attainment of EGE objectives, which are aligned with GON priorities; and are implemented within the framework of the U.S. Government foreign assistance policies.

Supervisory Relationship:

• The job holder will work closely with the Agriculture and Environment Specialist under the direct supervision of the EGE Deputy Office Director who will provide overall objectives and results to be achieved.
• Assignments are made orally and in writing. Achievements are regularly evaluated for conformance with USG policies and objectives, as well as individual work objectives, with feedback provided.

Requirements, Qualifications and Evaluations
Physical Demands:

• The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

Education Requirements:

• A minimum of University degree in Agriculture, Statistics, Economics, or Business Administration is required.

Evaluations:

• Education: 10 points
• Prior Work Experience: 20 points
• Job Knowledge: 30 points
• Language Proficiency: 10 points
• Skills and abilities: 30 points

Applications that do not meet the required minimum qualifications will not be scored. Candidates meeting the required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application. USAID reserves the right to conduct interviews with the top-ranked short-listed candidates. If the interview is conducted, the interview will be one of the determining factors in the final selection.

Reference checks will be made only for the successful candidate. If a candidate does not wish USAID to contact a current employer for a reference check, this should be stated in the application letter.

USAID is an Equal Opportunity Employer:

• All qualified candidates will be considered regardless of age, race, color, sex, creed, national origin, lawful political affiliation, non-disqualifying handicap, marital status, sexual orientation, affiliation with an employee organization, or other non-merit factors. Management may consider the following when determining successful candidacy: nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status.

Qualifications
Prior Work Experience:

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience working in monitoring, evaluation and learning in either the agriculture, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and/or power sectors is required. At least three of these years must be with international and/or donor organizations.
• Demonstrated experience successfully monitoring, evaluating and reporting for activities in any of the sectors listed above is required.

Job Knowledge:  

• Expert knowledge of M&E for economic growth programs (in any of Agriculture, WASH and Power sectors) in Nigeria is required, including technical, social, and cultural aspects. Specialized knowledge of the aspects of managing M&E programs, and evidence-based practices and policies (for M&E management in particular).
• The job older must demonstrate knowledge of the concepts, principles, techniques, and practices of the Government of Nigeria (GON) programs in any of Agriculture, WASH and Power sectors.

Skills and Abilities:

• The job holder must have the ability to plan, organize, manage, monitor and evaluate all activities in the EGE Office portfolio.
• S/he must have expert skills and abilities to manipulate and analyze large data sets; to adapt to continuously changing guidelines and requirements from USAID; and to work under pressure with tight deadlines.
• S/he must have strong verbal communication and diplomatic skills in order to form good working relations with implementing partners staff, high level national and state government officials, other development partners and external stakeholders.
• Expert writing skills to prepare and edit regular and ad-hoc reports that clearly translate highly technical information into actionable information, in keeping with Agency standards, are required.
• The job holder must have advanced ability to use IT software specific to economic growth programs and statistics; and must be expert in Microsoft Excel as well as proficient in PowerPoint, Word and email platforms and their Google equivalents.
• S/he must have a strong capacity to manage activity goals and achievements, both technical and financial; must have skills in project programming and strategy development; and must be able to work effectively in a team environment to achieve consensus on policy, project and administrative matters.
• The job holder must have the ability to acquire knowledge of USAID programming policies, procedures, regulations and documentation, and of the objectives and methodology of assigned activities

Language Proficiency:

• Level IV fluency in English Language for speaking, reading, and writing is required.

Agency Benefits
As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

Benefits:

• Health Insurance
• Annual Salary Increase (if applicable)
• Annual and Sick leave
• Annual Bonus.

Allowances (as applicable):

• Transportation Allowance
• Meal Allowance
• Miscellaneous Allowance
• Housing Allowance.

Other Information:

• USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf
• Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms
• Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs
• Ethical Conduct.  By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635.  See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations   

Taxes:

• The Mission emphasize to its employees of the fact that they are obliged to observe Nigerian Laws, including those concerning income and related tax obligations. Payment of such taxes is a matter between the individual employee and the Nigerian Government. In the absence of a specific international agreement, the U.S. Government will not withhold local taxes from an employee’s salary.

Salary
NGN12,772,559 - NGN19,256,113.