OTI has just opened a Country Representative position located in Cameroon. This is a full-time PSC position at the GS-14 equivalent level. Applications for this position are due no later than July 18, 2016 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time.
Introduction
In line with U.S. foreign policy objectives, the USAID/OTI Cameroon program will work to decrease the impacts of Boko Haram/Islamic State’s West Africa Province (ISWAP) in northern Cameroon. Boko Haram/ISWAP threatens to further destabilize the Sahel, West and Central Africa regions, and its links with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) pose a great threat for ungoverned spaces in the region. Recent security gains against Boko Haram/ISWAP are encouraging, but the social fabric in northern Cameroon has been severely strained due to the conflict. USAID/OTI’s Cameroon program would help to bolster local efforts to strengthen community cohesion and to further undermine Boko Haram/ISWAP’s ability to recruit and operate in Cameroon. The program will work closely with other USAID/OTI programs in the region to better connect U.S. Government efforts along the Diffa-Maiduguri-Maroua corridor.
The Country Representative is a member of the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance (DCHA)/OTI Africa Regional Team, and reports to the OTI Africa Team Leader based in DC. The Country Representative’s principal responsibility will be the strategy development, design, oversight and management of OTI’s Cameroon program. The incumbent will be called upon to represent OTI’s mission and programs to senior-level government officials, in-country visitors, senior officials from other international organizations, bilateral donors, local government officials, and local beneficiaries.
This post is an senior management position requiring excellent managerial and communication skills, an ability to perform in a complex and highly sensitive political environment, experience in policy formulation and negotiation at the highest levels (government and non-government organizations), and a strong interest in assisting countries in transition. The Country Representative should have extensive management experience (both project and personnel) and understand the basics of grantee and contractor/USAID relationships. The candidate should be able to communicate effectively with grassroots organizations and their constituencies, national and local government officials, U.S. Government agencies, and international organization officials. Since work may require continued changes in program direction and implementation, including frequent coordination, the individual will be someone who is highly flexible and willing to work under conditions of ongoing change.
Familiarity with a wide range of issues is necessary, including stabilization, counterinsurgency, community-driven development, elections, subnational governance, mediation/arbitration, conflict resolution, and human rights. Prior work experience with U.S. Government agencies or managing program operations in civil conflicts is preferred. A strong working knowledge of French is a requirement for this position. Willingness to work alongside military colleagues (both U.S. and non-U.S.) is essential. The successful candidate will possess excellent political analysis and reporting skills and the ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy, responsibility and authority in a highly stressful environment while exercising sound judgment in politically charged and challenging security environments. Experience in remote project management is highly desirable, as this position is Yaoundé-based yet will be overseeing a localized program in the Extreme North of Cameroon (Maroua).
CORE FUNCTIONAL AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The work of the Country Representative requires teamwork, the exercise of discretion, judgment, and personal responsibility. As a member of a highly operational office, the incumbent is willing and able to perform a wide range of administrative functions to help ensure programmatic success. The incumbent has a high level of integrity and attention to detail to ensure the use of OTI systems and procedures to maintain effective and efficient management of funds, programming, and monitoring and evaluation. The incumbent is highly flexible and willing to work under conditions of ongoing change, and remains professional and respectful of colleagues and authority in a diverse workforce. She or he places a premium on the building of positive relationships with his or her respective team both in the field and in Washington, and with key stakeholders both in and outside of USAID. The incumbent is able to prioritize and complete tasks without follow-up by the supervisor, while also filling in gaps as needed to ensure the responsiveness of the team. The Country Representative is a strategic thinker, articulates innovative ideas, presents solutions, and is a positive role model for colleagues both in and outside of OTI.
Under the direct supervision of the Washington-based DCHA/OTI Regional Team Leader for Africa or his/her designee, the Country Representative - Cameroon will perform the following duties:
· Conceptualize and design program strategies and objectives in close coordination with OTI staff, USAID personnel, U.S. Embassy and local civil society officials, based on political analysis and U.S. Government policy. When necessary, refine strategic objectives and advocate on behalf of new programmatic approaches in country, linked to neighboring country programs where appropriate;
· As requested by embassies or USAID Missions, provide support for the design and execution of programs that follow OTI’s quick-impact programming model. Support to embassies and USAID Missions may include attendance and/or facilitation of program management processes for follow-on programming including rolling assessments, strategy review sessions, program performance reviews, and management reviews;
· Communicate and coordinate in-country activities between OTI and its implementing partners, the U.S. Embassy, and other donor organizations, and regional OTI programs, where appropriate;
· Design staffing plans to meet overall program objectives and recruit, train, supervise, mentor and evaluate the performance of in-country OTI staff, providing regular feedback;
· Monitor local and regional political developments and regularly brief OTI and partner staff on their potential programmatic impact;
· Manage and provide day-to-day programmatic, operational, and strategic guidance to OTI’s implementing partners (contractors and/or grantees), ensuring that activities are contributing to OTI’s program objectives and are within the partner’s scope;
· Provide recommendations to the Washington-based Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and/or the Regional Team Leader on the implementing partner’s performance, budget, and appropriateness of scope in achieving OTI’s country objectives, presenting modifications thereto;
· Provide USAID concurrence on all implementing partner activities, including final approval of grantees for grants under contract in accordance with USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS);
· Ensure that OTI programs and activities are monitored and evaluated, and that lessons learned feed into ongoing or future activities;
· Analyze and report on current political developments, security concerns, and other pertinent information required to achieve OTI’s program objectives;
· Ensure appropriate resource allocation among OTI field offices and implementing partners;
· Prepare and maintain OTI program budgets for field operations;
· Serve as OTI’s primary liaison with USAID personnel, U.S. Embassy staff, ambassadors, local government officials, UN organizations, indigenous and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other pertinent agencies and organizations. Develop and maintain collaborative relationships to ensure close coordination at the field level, identify the widest range of potential partners and opportunities, and achieve maximum synergy with other programs;
· Prepare operational plans in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy, including logistics and property use guidelines, closeout and hand-over, security procedures, contingency and evacuation plans;
· Ensure the use of OTI systems and procedures to maintain effective and efficient management of funds, programming, and monitoring and evaluation;
· Ensure that all OTI and partner field staff adhere to the in-country security guidelines set by the U.S. Embassy Regional Security Officer and other organizations such as the United Nations or host government;
· Prepare and disseminate programmatic, financial and quarterly reports to the U.S. Embassy, OTI/Washington and other organizations as appropriate;
· Supervise staff in conjunction with the Regional Team Leader (e.g. Deputy Country Representative, Program Managers, Program Assistants, Administrative Program Assistants, etc.). 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;
· Perform other duties as determined by the supervisor to ensure successful OTI program implementation.
HOW TO APPLY:
For full information about this position, as well as instructions on how to apply, please visitwww.OTIjobs.net
