OTI Deputy Country Representative – Europe Regional Media Program at US Agency for International Development

The OTI Deputy Country Representative – Europe Regional Media Program is a full-time Personal Services Contract (PSC) position at the GS-13 equivalent level and located in Kyiv, Ukraine. Offers for this position are due no later than February 3, 2022 at 1:00pm Eastern Time. For full information about this position, as well as instructions on how to apply, please read the entire solicitation at www.OTIjobs.net.

INTRODUCTION:

The OTI Deputy Country Representative is a member of the Conflict Prevention and Stabilization (CPS) Bureau and within OTI reports to the OTI Regional Team Lead.

In September 2021, OTI conducted an assessment to explore the prospect of developing a regional media program based out of Ukraine. The assessment examined whether OTI could bring any technical/programmatic resources to complement existing programming in the media space in the region by launching a regional program focused on social impact entertainment. The assessment team recommended that OTI move forward with designing a regional media program. The program’s goal will be to support creative content reflecting social values aligned with greater Euroatlantic integration and provide alternatives to disinformation

Due to the sensitive, fragile, and challenging environments in which OTI works, the office’s approach to programming is one that seeks to find creative, entrepreneurial, and unique ways to approach problem sets. These dynamic contexts require that programs adapt to rapidly evolving situations and that teams continually explore assumptions and test innovative tools and methods to achieve program objectives. Given OTI’s short-term political mission, its unpredictable working environments and the diffuse problems it seeks to address, OTI has developed ways to get smart quickly and act fast. OTI has honed a program approach that uses iterative strategic planning, where staff constantly review the current political situation, create relationships with communities and key actors, and undertake activities that will test what works and what doesn’t in order to inform future activities and priorities. Core qualities of a successful OTI program are characterized by a team that is able to be: fast, flexible, iterative, adaptive, and entrepreneurial.

The Country Representative’s principal responsibility will be development, oversight and management of USAID/OTI’s country program. The incumbent will be called upon to support the OTI Deputy Country Representative with managing an implementing partner and may be called upon to represent OTI’s mission and programs to U.S. Embassy, Host government officials, in-country visitors, and senior officials from other international organizations, bilateral donors, and local government officials.

Aligned with USG policy priorities, USAID/OTI’s rapid and targeted programming addresses emerging issues and empowers local implementing partners to leverage timely and locally driven activities that enhance engagement between government and citizens and promote norms of tolerance, coexistence, and dialogue.

The USAID/OTI program coordinates with, and complements, other USAID Missions and Department of State assistance efforts, as well as those of other donors.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Represent OTI interests during meetings with USAID Mission personnel, U.S. Embassy staff, host-country government officials, international organizations, indigenous and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international donors interested in CPS/OTI activities;
• Provide guidance on the identification and development of projects that meet OTI funding criteria, further OTI programmatic objectives, and complement other projects and programs implemented by other OTI offices, U.S. government agencies and donor organizations;
• Provide support for the design and execution of programs that follow OTI’s quick impact programming model in embassies or USAID Missions. 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;
• Review proposals and grant concepts and work with diverse groups, many of which have not previously had international funding;
• Collaborate with the Country Representative in monitoring the performance of OTI implementing partners in the implementation of OTI-financed activities designed to achieve OTI strategic objectives;
• Travel to monitor and assess political conditions, implementing partner operational platforms, meet with potential grantees, host-country government and other program counterparts, and develop activity ideas;
• Mentor and train other OTI and implementing partner field staff;
• Take the lead on collecting information and drafting/editing regular reporting products;
• Assume higher representational responsibilities, potentially serving as Acting OTI Country Representative in their absence as needed;
• Perform a wide range of administrative functions including budget preparation, financial management, records management, and travel assistance to help ensure programmatic success;
• Coordinate with the OTI Country Representative to develop an exit strategy that ensures reasonable time to transition from OTI programs to follow-on USAID or other donor programs;
• Communicate regularly and share program information with other USAID project managers, the US Embassy, bilateral donors, UN Organizations, International Organizations, and indigenous and international NGOs to ensure visibility and synergy of USAID/OTI activities;
• Support the Country Representative to ensure the use of OTI systems and procedures to maintain effective and efficient management of funds, programming, and monitoring and evaluation;
• Report to the OTI Country Representative and OTI/Washington on the status of: 1) grant development and implementation, 2) OTI contractor performance, 3) Foreign Service National (FSN) staff support needs and morale, 4) communication and coordination issues among OTI offices with other U.S. Government entities, 5) security concerns, 6) relations with local partners including local, state and national government representatives, and 7) other pertinent information required to achieve OTI’s program objectives;
• Manage and/or supervise the FSN staff, including program officers, administrative assistants and drivers alongside of the Country Representative; and,
• Supervise staff as delegated by the Country Representative (e.g. Program Managers, Program Assistants, Program Administrative Assistants, etc.). Provide orientation, training and mentoring for USAID 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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

At a minimum, the offeror must have:

1. A Master’s Degree with five (5) years of work experience;

OR

A Bachelor’s Degree with seven (7) years of work experience;

AND

1. Five (5) years of project management experience with any of the following organizations: a non-governmental organization in community development, mediation/arbitration, conflict resolution, democracy and governance, international law, human rights activities, and/or political analysis; an international assistance organization, or a U.S. Government foreign affairs agency;
2. One (1) year of overseas field experience (in person or virtual). A virtual temporary duty (TDY) is defined as work that would have been conducted in an overseas location if not for the global COVID pandemic;
3. One (1) year of supervisory experience (including but not limited to mentoring, training, and guiding staff).

Please direct questions about this position or the offer process to the OTI Recruitment Team at otijobs@usaid.gov.