Afghanistan Desk/Program Officer
AMEX holds a new 5-year contract with the Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs (OAPA) of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). AMEX seeks the right candidate to serve as an Afghanistan Desk/Program Officer for OAPA on this contract. This is a short-term consultant or staff position with AMEX. The position is located in downtown Washington, DC. The position is available now and is expected to continue for 6 months, with the possibility of being renewed for another 6-12 months thereafter.
Background: As Afghan, Pakistani, American, and allied military forces work to rid these countries of extremism, the civilian effort is focused on re-establishing stability in a region devastated by decades of war and misrule. OAPA supports USAID programs in Afghanistan and Pakistan and represents USAID in inter-agency committees, to the public, Congress and to other governments and partners. USAID’s programs aim to increase stability while also building mid- and longer-term systems across sectors, including agriculture, health, education, democracy and governance, economic growth, and infrastructure. As the principal agency management for US Government development assistance in Afghanistan and Pakistan, USAID operates in a complex interagency structure, requiring close coordination with the Departments of State, Agriculture, and Treasury, and the U.S. military.
There is substantial Congressional activity in the winter and spring months. To address the issue, a contractor is needed for six months to provide additional support to the Afghanistan Division to manage this heavy workload, focusing on the following tasks:
- Provides continuous review of the field program and status to appraise the progress report toward achievement of objectives.
- Prepares and advances to completion Congressional briefing materials, briefing papers and other documents for the senior management of USAID as well as the USG.
- Provides action to implement country programs, including the necessary technical and administrative support.
- Meets and corresponds with representatives of the host country, the U.S. Congress, other federal departments and agencies, and private citizens interested in USAID/Afghanistan’s programs.
- Participates in meetings on a range of policy, strategic and programmatic issues: intra-office, intra-Agency, interagency and other working group meetings.
- Prepares reports and/or written analyses regarding USAID policies and positions on difficult or complex matters.
- Educates both incoming USAID and other USG staff about USAID’s programs in Afghanistan as requested.
Minimum Required Skills and Qualifications:
- Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain a SECRET level security clearance
- Have at least 4 years of experience in providing the same or similar services
- Have at least 4 years of experience working in data management
- Graduate degree and prior experience in or dealing with Afghanistan preferred
To apply, e-mail the following documents: 1) your most complete and current resume, 2) cover letter that includes your earliest possible start date, 3) contact details (name and location of organization, phone and email of person to contact) for at least two references where you have done similar work, and 4) a completed and signed USAID 1420 form to: resumes@amexdc.com by February 13 and specify OAPA Desk Officer in the subject line of the email.
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Program Assistant for Afghanistan & Pakistan Affairs
AMEX seeks a Program Assistant on a contract to support the Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs (OAPA) of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This is a full-time staff position with AMEX, with full benefits, located in downtown Washington, DC. The position is available now and is expected to continue through the next 5 years. The person will perform a range of programmatic and administrative support functions as described below.
- Drafts and edits briefing and information materials for review by USAID and OAPA leadership.
- Researches and prepares briefing books and press packets for VIP visits to Afghanistan and for high level inter-agency meetings
- Researches developments in key sectors pertinent to the USAID/Afghanistan portfolio and maintains a working knowledge of current USAID/Afghanistan programs.
- Serves as a point of contact and liaison for requests for information from members of U.S. government agencies and other entities in Washington and the United States.
- Attends and writes summary reports of NGO and Think Tank events related to a variety of Afghanistan foreign policy and development issues, and maintains a calendar of these events.
- Drafts presentation and briefing materials on the Afghanistan program.
- Assists with travel arrangements for the Afghanistan Desk.
- Provides logistical support for Afghanistan Mission senior management while in Washington, which includes coordinating interagency meetings, retreats, swearing-in ceremonies, etc.
- Arranges orientation consultations for new staff posted to the Afghanistan Mission.
- Arranges events, meetings, briefings, and teleconferences with the interagency, implementing partners, the Afghanistan embassy, and USAID/Afghanistan.
- Manages the calendar for the Director of the Afghanistan Division.
- Provides new staff with relevant background materials and assists in setting up their offices.
Required Skills and Qualifications:
- Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain a security clearance at the Secret level
- Bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to international development (international relations, political sciences, social sciences, economics, etc.)
- Previous relevant experience
- Proficiency in office software applications
- Interest in and understanding of political, social, and economic issues in the developing world
- Proactive, initiative-taking, attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, excellent written and spoken communication skills
- Interest in and knowledge about the political situations in Afghanistan and Pakistan helpful
To apply, e-mail your most complete and current resume, cover letter that includes your earliest possible start date, and a completed and signed USAID 1420 form to resumes@amexdc.com by February 3, 2012 and specify OAPA Program Assistant in the subject line of the email.
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Senior Executive Administrative Assistant
AMEX seeks a Senior Executive Administrative Assistant on a contract to support the Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs (OAPA) of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This is a full-time staff position with AMEX, with full benefits, located in downtown Washington, DC. The position is available now and is expected to continue through the next 5 years. The person will support a high level OAPA official by performing the following functions:
The Executive Administrative Assistant position is located in the Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs, and is responsible for tracking and monitoring administrative communications and assigned tasks.
Office Activities Coordination 60%
- Coordinates extensively with disparate organizational elements to facilitate and support the administrative work of the organization, based on knowledge of the agency's mission, function, and substantive programs in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- Schedules and prioritizes appointments and meetings for the supervisor, accepting or declining invitations on own initiative and in accordance with protocol requirements.
- Coordinates meeting locations, dates, participants, and agendas. Ensures that briefing materials for the supervisor are prepared and provided at least two days prior to scheduled meetings/events.
- Coordinates the purchase of equipment and services for the organization. Follows standard procedures for procurements requested by the supervisor.
- Screens all telephone calls and personal visitors, who frequently represent the highest levels of international, national, state, and local governments or major businesses.
- Prepares all travel related documentation and makes all travel arrangements for the supervisor..
Mail, Correspondence, and Report Processing 40%
- Acts as the office administrative point of contact, serving as an informational resource regarding administrative procedures and practices for subordinate offices.
- Receives all correspondence for the supervisor. Replies to mail not requiring the supervisor's attention, routing all other matters to the appropriate subordinate unit. Maintains a correspondence tracking system to ensure that deadlines are met and assignments are completed. Screens all publications, directives, and periodicals, bringing items of significance to the supervisor's attention.
- Reviews outgoing correspondence for clarity, consistency, completeness, and compliance to organizational policy. Contacts senior Office officials to develop information and assemble data not readily available for use by the supervisor in replying to correspondence.
Required Skills and Qualifications:
- Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain a security clearance at the Secret level
- Bachelor’s degree
- Previous relevant experience in supporting and dealing with high level private organization or government officials
- Proficiency in office software applications
- Tactful, proactive, initiative-taking, attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, excellent written and spoken communication skills
- Interest in and knowledge about the political situations in Afghanistan and Pakistan helpful
To apply, e-mail your most complete and current resume, cover letter that includes your earliest possible start date and other pertinent information, and a completed and signed USAID 1420 form to resumes@amexdc.com by February 10, 2012 and specify OAPA Senior Executive AA in the subject line of the email.
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Stability Operations Specialist
AMEX seeks to employ a senior-level Stabilization and Conflict Specialist to serve as the Subject Matter Expert in these areas under AMEX’s contract with USAID’s Office of Civilian Military Cooperation (CMC). The Specialist will provide the intellectual leadership for the office in the areas of conflict and stabilization. S/he will also be required to train USAID, DoD and other government personnel in USAID’s District Stability Framework—DSF tool, in anticipation to their deployment to Iraq, Afghanistan, or other conflict countries. This is a full-time position that must be performed in Washington, DC, with some possible travel to conflict zones, Europe, and one or two U.S. military bases. The position will become available in early February 2012.
Major duties include:
a. Deliver Stability Operations Training (District Stability Framework—DSF): The Specialist will build capacity within the OMA Training Division by serving as a Stability Operations and Developmental SME (Subject Matter Expert) for USAID, the Military and others. S/he will be required to deliver DSF training to both military and civilian audiences.
b. Evaluate the Effectiveness of Training: The Specialist will coordinate with the Stabilization Unit in Afghanistan to implement a validation/feedback process to ensure that field-based refinements are integrated into the DSF tool and future instruction.
c. Identify Best Practices and Foster Integration Into Training: Field level implementation of DSF has grown tremendously in the past year, and is continuing to expand at a rapid pace throughout USAID, other civilian agencies, and U.S. and foreign military units. As a result, there is a need to continue developing and improving the tool based on lessons learned and best practices identified in the field. The Specialist will be responsible for collecting best practices that emerge from field use, identifying lessons learned and incorporating this information back into the training. S/he will also support efforts in Afghanistan to conduct a formal evaluation of the DSF tool.
d. Work in the field both domestically and internationally with USAID, DoS, NGOs, and military personnel : CMC's Stability Operations training is being implemented worldwide and is continuing to expand. As a result, the specialist must be able to travel domestically and internationally in order to assist with training of the DSF tool, and to conduct Azimuth checks.
REQUIREMENTS
- U.S. Citizenship is required, in order to be eligible for a security clearance.
- Have solid expertise on the causes and consequences of conflict, including the policies and practices of developing countries and regions as they relate to and influence conflict issues dealing with security sector reform.
- Have practical knowledge in the areas of conflict management and mitigation practices, fragility frameworks, early warning, support to peace processes, reconciliation, and security sector reform.
- Have practical as well as theoretical knowledge of stability operations/conflict programming in non-permissive environments, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Sudan.
- Have experience developing and delivering training programs.
- Have a minimum of eight years’ experience in a relevant international development field, working on program designing, planning and management.
- Familiarity with USAID’s District Stability Framework (DSF) is a plus.
- Minimum Level of Education: Hold a master’s degree in a field relevant to development and program planning in the area of conflict, such as conflict studies, international relations, political science and/or related area sufficient to design, facilitate and evaluate technically appropriate conflict management and mitigation activities. Holding a Ph.D. is a plus.
If you meet the qualifications and are available to start work in the expected timeframe, please email (1) your most current and complete resume, (2) a DSF Skills Summary Form that addresses your qualifications and experience in each of the above-specified requirements, (3) a USAID 1420 form, and (4) a cover letter that specifies your earliest availability for this position, to: resumes@amexdc.com with the subject line “DSF Training Specialist.” Applications are needed by Wednesday, December 28, 2011.
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Proposal
and Technical Writers
AMEX
is preparing proposals on international evaluation,
training, development, and trade projects and
seeks qualified persons to help AMEX home-office
staff in one or more of the following tasks: analyzing
procurements and formulating response strategies
and concepts; undertaking relevant research; drafting
technically sound proposals in response to the
RFPs; and developing work plans, activities, and
performance indicators. The positions are short-term.
Candidates must have
and describe successful track records in having
developed funded proposals from USAID, other US
Government agencies, or other international funding
agencies.
Minimum qualifications
include: 10 years of solid knowledge and technical
expertise in any field of international assistance
and development; six years of related and successful
proposal writing experience; proven experience
in designing international development assistance
projects, work plans, or activities; clear understanding
of, and experience with, local international government
issues; international development program concepts
and performance requirements.
Please email a resume
and cover letter that highlights your experience
as it relates to the required skills to resumes@amexdc.com
with the subject line Proposal Writer.
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