RE-ADVERTISEMENT: Project Development Specialist (Private Sector Engagement and Investment)
Position summary
Introduction
Job description
Basic Function of Position:
The Regional Economic Growth Office (REGO) leads activities focusing on strengthening the private sector, increasing trade and investment, enhancing the business enabling environment, and increasing access to finance in the Southern Africa region. The Project Development Specialist (Private Sector Engagement and Investment) is a senior professional specialized in private sector development, leading the Mission’s effort to work with the U.S, multilateral, and southern Africa private sector across all technical sectors to promote access to finance, value chain development, policy design and implementation for market openness, and best practices for institutional strengthening to transition to and promote market based solutions to development challenges.
The position will ensure that USAID programming supports U.S. Government private sector engagement policy objectives in Southern Africa, focusing on the strategic priorities of host government partners, and develop an extensive network of trusted relationships and partnerships with U.S., international and regional private sector actors including executives of companies, business associations, industrial parks, financial institutions, and investment funds. The position will similarly develop relationships with Southern African public and private entities with trade promotion and investment mandates such as trade finance institutions, free zone/special economic zone authorities and trade and investment promotion agencies and bodies. Similarly, the Project Development Specialist will have relationships with key development partners with investment tools and mandates such as the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), International Finance Corporation, African Development Bank and other bilateral/multilateral development finance institutions.
The Project Development Specialist (Private Sector Engagement and Investment) is a key member of REGO, and reports to the REGO Director or designee and has no formal supervisory responsibility.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
a. Program Development and Management 60%
The Project Development Specialist – Private Sector Engagement and Investment will design, manage the implementation of projects and activities, and evaluate contracts, grants, and/or innovative financing instruments, and serve as the Agreement/Contracting Officer’s Representative for contracts or agreements in the USAID Southern Africa Regional Economic Growth Office portfolio.
Draft internal and external USG documents required for reporting the status and plans of activities. These include annual operational plans, annual resource plans, annual performance reports, Congressional Budget Justifications, Congressional Notifications, procurement documents, technical reports, briefing materials for high level U.S. and other Government officials in the region, and other reporting, as necessary.
Contribute to required monitoring and evaluation efforts, such as the development of monitoring, evaluation and learning plans, completion of data quality assessments, and completion of portfolio reviews.
Carrying out ad hoc assignments as dictated by unforeseen operational requirements at the discretion of USAID Mission Director, Deputy Mission Director, and REGO Director.
In addition, USAID Southern Africa has developed a Private Sector Engagement strategy in alignment with the Agency’s overall strategy. In coordination with the Regional Program and Project Development Office, the Project Development Specialist will assist USAID bilateral missions, USAID Southern Africa offices, and non-presence countries in Southern Africa with further developing private sector engagement activities and identifying potential private sector projects and transactions for consideration for USAID and USG partner support. Information and data.
Representation & Technical Leadership: 40%
The Project Development Specialist – Private Sector Engagement and Investment will provide technical leadership to ensure that USAID/Southern Africa economic growth programming represents best practices in the field for promoting inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction.
Serve as a technical professional, advising on the development and implementation of Mission economic growth-related strategies and activities in private sector development.
Lead USAID program execution to strengthen and deepen engagement with regional government agencies, private sector companies, and civil society organizations on issues of private sector development.
Lead effective outreach and coordination within the U.S. Government interagency in South Africa and with USAID and other USG colleagues in the U.S. and Southern Africa region.
Build and maintain close relations with private industry, international and regional research institutions, centers of excellence, and a wide network of professional colleagues, to assess, analyze, and identify trends and policies related to economic growth in Southern Africa.
Represent USAID/Southern Africa at meetings, workshops, and conferences organized by various organizations, including other donors and international organizations.
Lead the Mission's efforts to work with the U.S., multinational, and southern Africa private sector across all technical sectors to implement the Mission’s action plan for PSE.
In consultation with the REGO Director, the Project Development Specialist will lead the coordination between
REGO and the Prosper Africa Executive Secretariat, inter-agency partners, and the Embassy’s economic
working group (i.e., “deal team”). Occasionally, transactions will be identified that require further sub-working groups and the Project Development Specialist will lead USAID’s engagement with those working groups.
The Project Development Specialist – Private Sector Engagement and Investment will respond flexibly to other work-related requirements, such as:
Responding to Washington inquiries, including those for Congress.
Supporting VIP visits.
The Project Development Specialist – Private Sector Engagement and Investment will be expected to travel a significant portion of the time in South Africa and the Southern Africa region to perform the duties listed above.
POSITION ELEMENTS
Supervision Received: Specialist is directly supervised by the Regional Economic Growth Office Director or designee.
Supervision Exercised: The supervision of other staff is not contemplated.
Available Guidelines: USAID's Automated Directives System, Mission Orders, and policies. Code of Federal Regulations and Federal Acquisition Regulations.
Exercise of Judgment: A high degree of independent judgment and initiative is expected. The Specialist receives general and technical direction and minimal day-to-day supervision. The Specialist is expected to carry out all duties in an independent manner, calling on the supervisor for highly complex decisions and matters of policy. Exercise of sound judgment for management issues, politically sensitive issues, and routine implementation issues is required.
Authority to Make Commitments: The candidate is fully responsible for and is expected to provide project management expertise and complete recommendation(s) to Mission management. The Specialist may be designated as a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and Agreement Officer’s Representative (AOR) and will have full authority and responsibility as delegated by the Contracting Officer/Agreement Officer, ADS, and other Mission and USAID guidelines for these functions. Routine management is expected based on accepted practice and established procedures and processes
Nature, Level, and Purpose of Contacts: The Specialist will have regular contact with regional leaders from host governments, private sector companies, civil society organizations, other international development organizations, U.S. government agencies, and implementing partners. These contacts are needed to stay abreast of development issues, develop or modify activities, and ensure collaboration. Within USAID, the Specialist will have regular contact with staff from other offices within the Mission, regional USAID staff, Mission Directors and Deputy Mission Directors, and Washington-based staff. The purpose of these contacts is to ensure regional collaboration and that any activities are achieving U.S. government objectives
Time Expected to Reach Full Performance Level: One year.
V. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS
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 ***url***/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.Technical Knowledge (40 points)
2. Work Experience (40 points)
3. Skills and Abilities (20 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; and
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 USAID.pnet.co.za 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:
Engeline Sebego, Telephone: (012) 452-2188
Thabang Mothupi, Telephone: (012) 452-2198
Heather Franklin, Telephone: (012) 452-2028
Lavinia Denation, Telephone: (012) 452-2054
Seja Matlakala, Telephone: (012) 452-2358
Carol Masemola Telephone: (012) 452-2058
Odessa Sifora Telephone: (012) 452-2112
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:
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 ***url***/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf
Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at ***url***/forms will be used for this contract.
Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at ***url***/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 ***url***/web/oge.nsf/OGE Regulations .
Minimum requirements
Education: A minimum of a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or a related field is required
Prior Work Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible, professional-level experience in investment, finance, and/or business development is required. Experience must have provided the opportunity for participating in business expansion or investment and/or finance facilitation.
Post Entry Training: Training in all aspects of USAID's systems for strategy development, activity management, and program monitoring and evaluation will be provided. Further education and training in specific financial sector and economic growth areas will be provided, as needed. Contracting/Agreement Officer Representative COR/AOR training will be provided and must be completed within 18 months.
Language Proficiency: Level IV English speaking, reading, and writing skills required.
Job Knowledge: The Specialist is responsible for maintaining thorough knowledge of current developments in economic growth, financial sector development, enabling environment issues, and for establishing and maintaining professional working relationships with representatives from the public sector, private sector, and civil society within the Southern Africa region. In addition, the Specialist must be knowledgeable of USG trade policies and USAID policies, regulations, and procedures.
Skills and Abilities: The Specialist operates independently, and her/his work is reviewed primarily based on results achieved within the broad constraints of policy and priorities. The Specialist must be able to independently analyze political, social, economic, and policy issues and formulate, present, and defend economic growth-related development activities. The Specialist must be highly diplomatic and have excellent presentation and writing skills. In addition, the Specialist must be fully proficient with computer software such as the Microsoft Office Suite