The USAID Project Management Specialist (Strategic Information/Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning [SI/MEL]) is located in the Health Office, Strategic Information Division, and plays a lead role in the development of effective PEPFAR strategic information and monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems in support of the full range of Contracting/Agreement Officer’s Representative (C/AOR) managing Mission PEPFAR programs/projects/activities.

 

The Senior Specialist applies evaluation research to the monitoring of program/project/activity implementation in order to document results, and to translate SI and MEL and other data into meaningful policy and program improvements. The Senior Specialist serves as a subject matter expert and key contributor to strengthening the capacity of information systems, providing senior-level technical guidance to Health Office leaders, the broader USAID Mission, implementing partners (IPs) involved in PEPFAR program monitoring and evaluation, and within the host government. The Senior Specialist serves as a C/AOR or Activity Manager, responsible for providing technical and programmatic guidance to assigned activities.

 

 

 

 

  

 

Job Knowledge: The Senior Specialist must have in depth, professional-level knowledge of development approaches and methods for performance analysis, data visualization, and program design, monitoring and evaluation. The Senior Specialist must have excellent knowledge of MEL systems, public health programming, and international donor operations in the sector. The Senior Specialist must have knowledge and understanding of the economic, political, social, and cultural characteristics of the host country; development problems in the health sector in the host country and the region; an understanding of the resources, resource constraints, and overall development prospects and priorities of the host country and the region. The Senior Specialist must have working knowledge of USG legislation, policy, and practice relating to monitoring, evaluation, and learning, and of USAID programming policies, regulations, procedures, and documentation, and of the objectives, methodology, and status of assigned activities.  

Skills and Abilities: The Senior Specialist must have the ability to plan, organize and execute complex SI/MEL activities, including the ability to provide technical leadership and apply this ability to programming in the host country and the region. The Senior Specialist must have the ability to issue precise and accurate factual reports using rigorous analytical and interpretive skills. Excellent communication skills both writing and speaking, especially in being able to communicate technical subjects to individuals with nontechnical background. This role requires the ability to respond professionally and adjust in fluid situations in order to meet deadlines in the face of competing priorities and time pressures. Excellent computer and software skills including ability in excel, SPSS, STATA, R and/or other analytical databases.

Post Entry Training: Familiarization training in USAID- and PEPFAR-specific procedures, regulations, and methods, and orientation to working from a donor-Agency perspective, will be provided. Successful completion of formal C/AOR training is necessary for proper job performance and will be provided. Training to maintain professional capability in the field, and other courses offered for professional USAID staff, as appropriate; and, courses, seminars, conferences, and other activities in fields related to the function and needed to maintain and update professional qualifications may be provided as they become available, subject to availability of funds.

 

Supervision Received: The Senior Specialist (Strategic Information / Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning [SI/MEL]) works under the very general supervision of the Health Office Chief, and the closer but general supervision of the Strategic Information Division Chief. The supervisor makes assignments in terms of overall objectives and resources available. Completed work is reviewed in terms of achievement of program/project/activity goals, effectiveness in meeting host-country and USAID objectives, and integration with other initiatives in the Office and Mission portfolio. Some technical direction may come from other professionals in the Office; in general, however, the Senior Specialist will be expected to exercise considerable autonomy and best judgment in discharging the duties of the assignment.

 

Supervision Exercised: Continuing supervision of other Division and Office staff is not anticipated. The Senior Specialist may be assigned as a group/Team Leader but will not serve as a full supervisor. The Senior Specialist is expected to serve as mentor to C/AORs, assistant-level staff, and others in SI and MEL systems and processes, and to provide other work guidance as assigned.

 

Available Guidelines: Available guidelines include USG program/project/activity guidance, rules, and requirements; USAID Mission Orders, Mission strategy, and other relevant reports; the Automated Directives System (ADS); USAID Mandatory and Standard Provisions, and the FAR and AIDAR; and, PEPFAR operational plans, Country Operational Plans, host-government Five-Year Strategic Plans (or equivalent), and other published and unpublished guidelines. Guidelines are often general in nature and not specific to the situation at hand, requiring considerable interpretation.

 

Exercise of Judgment: The Senior Specialist applies independent judgment in working with health-systems professionals throughout the Mission, the host government, IPs, and stakeholders; in providing on-site SI and MEL studies of USAID program/project/activity implementation: and, in devising approaches to resolving technical, administrative, managerial, and/or policy deficiencies and problems. Judgment must be exercised in setting priorities, in determining when intervention in programs/projects/activities is necessary, and in reaching consensus on conclusions and recommendations.

 

Authority to Make Commitments: The Senior Specialist exercises the authority given to activity managers and C/AORs and may make administrative arrangements consistent with ADS guidance and Mission and Office policy. The Senior Specialist takes action and establishes priorities based on available guidelines and professional judgment. Guidance is sought when needed, and superiors informed of activity and project status. Within the scope of the authority delegated, the Senior Specialist may indicate to ranking counterparts and IPs that they will make a recommendation to USAID on a specific activity, issue, or problem. The Senior Specialist has no independent authority to commit the USG to the expenditure of funds but may negotiate ad referendum for the supervisor.

 

Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The Senior Specialist has a full range of contacts within the Mission, at all levels, and maintains contact with IPs implementing USAID-funded programs/projects/activities in the sector. Within the Embassy, contacts are with counterpart staffs, and with senior staff as needed. Host-government, local, and other, contacts vary widely with the type of activity being implemented and may be at any level. Frequent and substantive personal contacts with officials of the host government, and with the private sector, are for the purpose of explaining and defending Health Office and USAID policies, objectives, and procedures, and to transmit and interpret host-government and private-sector attitudes and concerns to senior USAID officials. In addition, the Senior Specialist provides technical assistance and guidance on best practices to USG staff, and host-government and partners. 

Time Expected to Reach Full Performance Level: One year.

 

 

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

 

The following factors, and points for each, will be the basis for the evaluation of applications meeting the required minimum qualifications. All applications will be evaluated based on the documentation submitted with the application. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation.

1.     Work Experience (30 points) 

2.     Job Knowledge (30 points)

3.     Abilities and Skills (30 points) 

4.     Education (10 points)

How the Selection will be made:

The successful candidate will be selected based upon the following:

• A preliminary review of the applicant's submitted package (which includes the cover letter and CV) to establish that minimum educational, work experience and English writing fluency requirements are met

• Assessments to include English writing skills, and Microsoft Office proficiency that might include any of the following: Word, Excel, PowerPoint; and any technical skill test that might be deemed appropriate

• A personal face to face interview 

• Reference checks

USAID/SA’s Human Resources Section will perform the preliminary review (Step 1 above) to eliminate those applications that do not meet the minimum educational and written English language requirements before forwarding the rest to the Technical Office or Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) for further review and assessment.

  

The TEC will review each of the forwarded applications against the established evaluation criteria to develop a shortlist of applicants to be tested and possibly interviewed. Applicants will be contacted for testing (Step 2) and/or possibly interviews. Based on the results of the tests an applicant may be dropped from the interview list.

Following the interview (Step 3), during which the applicant will be evaluated against the established criteria, the TEC will make a preliminary determination of candidates to be considered for employment and forward that list to HR. The TEC Chairperson will conduct and document reference checks (Step 4) and advise the TEC members of the results of these checks. Please note that references may be solicited from current as well as former supervisors in addition to the references you provide in your application package. References will only be solicited for those interviewed applicants who are being considered for ranking.  

Based on this final input, the TEC will make its final decision on candidate ranking, prepare a selection memo for the review and approval of the Contracting Officer, after which an offer of employment will be made to the successful candidate. Unsuccessful candidates who were interviewed will be contacted and advised of their non-selection. As positive medical and security clearances are a condition of employment, the selected candidate will undergo stringent investigation prior to employment with USAID/SA.

Submitting an Offer:

• All interested and eligible candidates should visit http://usaid.ci.hr to apply. Applicants with P-net accounts can log-in from the above website to apply and first-time users will be required to register on the site before they can apply.  

• Kindly note that when you apply via cellphone you are not able to complete the required questionnaire. And if you do not complete the required questionnaire for the position, you will automatically be eliminated from further review.

• For an application to be considered complete, please include a high-quality cover letter, explaining why you are qualified for the position and a CV of no more than 4 pages.  Failure to comply with these instructions may result in your application being considered “non-responsive” and eliminated from further consideration. 

• Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I.

• To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.

• The U.S. Mission in South Africa provides opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status or sexual orientation. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also strives to ensure equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations.

• Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Applicants who do not follow the application instructions may be dropped from further consideration.

Points of Contact:  

• Heather Franklin, Telephone: (012) 452-2028

• Lavinia Denation, Telephone: (012) 452-2054

• Thabang Mothupi, Telephone: (012) 452-2198

• Engeline Sebego, Telephone: (012) 452-2188

• Odessa Sifora, Telephone: (012) 452-2112

• Carol Masemola, Telephone: (012) 452-2058

• Alicia Veldman, Telephone: (012) 452-2088

• Kim Sias, Telephone: (012) 452-2206

Applicability: 

This position is open to South African citizens and South African permanent resident permit holders. USAID Southern Africa management will consider nepotism/conflict of interest, budget, need for continuity, and residency status in determining successful applications. Current USG employees on probationary status (i.e., within their first year of employment) are not eligible to apply.

The EEO complaint procedure is not available to individuals who believe they have been denied equal opportunity based upon marital status or political affiliation. Individuals with such complaints should avail themselves of the appropriate grievance procedures, remedies 

for prohibited personnel practices, and/or courts for relief.

References: 

Three (3) references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts. The references must be able to provide substantive information about your past performance and abilities. USAID reserves the right to contact your previous employers for relevant information concerning your performance and may consider such information in its evaluation of the application.

VI. COMPENSATION 

This position will be compensated in accordance with the U.S. Mission for South Africa’s Local Compensation Plan (LCP). The successful candidate’s salary level will be based on prior job-related experience and salary history.

VII.  REQUIRED FORMS FOR CCNPSC HIRES 

Once the Contracting Officer informs the successful Offeror about being selected for a contract   award, the CO will provide the successful Offeror instructions about how to complete and submit the forms.

VIII. BENEFITS

The plan includes basic salary, miscellaneous allowance, pension fund and medical aid subsidy.

IX.  TAXES 

Every CCNPSC staff member in the Mission regardless of agency affiliation is required as a   condition of employment, to pay their taxes to the South African Government.

X. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO CCNPSCs

USAID regulations and policies governing CCNPSC awards are available at these sources:

1. 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

2. Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms will be used for this contract.

3. Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs .

4. 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 Regulations .

Education: Completion of high school and two or more years of post - high school education equivalent to an administration or secretarial diploma is required.

 

Prior Work Experience: At least three years of substantive/relevant administrative experience is required. Relevant work experience for this position is experience in program administration and project management.

Language Proficiency: English language fluency (Level IV English), in oral, reading and written communications. Fluency in at least one of the other South African official languages is required.