I. GENERAL INFORMATION
- SOLICITATION NO.: Mission Notice (MN) 20-53
- ISSUANCE DATE: 05/28/2020
- CLOSING DATE/TIME: 06/11/2020 at 04:30 p.m. (Nairobi Time)
- POSITION TITLE: Partnerships and Operations Manager
- MARKET VALUE: $92,977 to $120,868 annually equivalent to GS-14. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.
- PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Two (2) year base period, with three one-year options subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance or better.
- PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya
- AREA OF CONSIDERATION: U.S. Citizens currently residing in Kenya1. Citizenship, if dual, must be clearly stated. Resident Hire U.S. Personal Services Contractor means a U.S. citizen or resident alien who, at the time of hire as a PSC, resides in the cooperating country (i) for reasons other than employment that provides for repatriation to the U.S., including (A) with a U.S. Government agency;(B) under any U.S. Government-financed contract or agreement; or (C) under any other contract or employment arrangement.(ii) as a spouse or dependent of a U.S. citizen with employment that provides for repatriation to the U.S., including (A) with a U.S. Government agency; (B) under any U.S. Government-financed contract or agreement; or (C) under any other contract or employment arrangement.
- SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: USAID/Washington-issued clearance level at the Facility/Computer Access Level
- POINT OF CONTACT: Executive Office/Human Resources, Patrick Bii, HR Assistant, email at [email protected]
- PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The primary location of work will be on the U.S. Embassy/USAID compound in Nairobi, Kenya. No special demands are required to perform the work.
12. STATEMENT OF DUTIES/POSITION DESCRIPTION
Background/Introduction
USAID/KEA is a large, full-service Mission. Sectors targeted are health, governance, agriculture, private sector development, environmental conservation, and education. The HPN Office programs are expansive, providing quality health care to millions of Kenyans nationwide through a mix of integrated services designed to strengthen local capacity. It offers life-saving treatment to over one million HIV/AIDS patients on antiretroviral drug therapy. The FY 2020 health budget is over $400 million; the estimated five-year budget is over $2 billion. Kenya is one of the largest recipients of resources through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), funding levels for HIV/AIDS allocated to the USAID for FY 2020 are approximately $300 million.
HPN includes a cross-cutting HPN Partnerships and Operations team to manage the communications, budgeting, financial management, planning, and reporting needs of the office. The Partnerships and Operations team is tasked with: internal and external communications and outreach, aligned with the Mission Development Outreach and Communications (DOC) team; compiling quarterly, annual, and ad hoc reporting, including USAID’s Operational Plan (OP), Performance Plan and Report (PPR), Quarterly Financial Reviews, and Portfolio Reviews, the PEPFAR Country Operational Plan (COP), and the Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI) Malaria Operational Plan (MOP), among others; supporting development and design of new Project Appraisal Documents (PADs) and activity designs; and implementing a broad range of activities in support of the Journey to Self-Reliance, developing strategies on improvement of staff performance management, skills and competency development for staff and other important initiatives – all to maximize our development impact with the least amount of US taxpayer dollars.
All of the functions of the HPN Partnerships and Operations team advance Agency priorities by building the capacity of USAID staff, our implementing partners and host governments through more effective management approaches; improving our stewardship of US taxpayer dollars through routine and comprehensive budget analyses; delivering effective messaging to our partners and constituents; and helping lead HPN’s contribution to USAID/KEA’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) and Regional Development Cooperation Strategy (RDCS).
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
The HPN Partnerships and Operations Manager will be based in the HPN Office, supporting the HPN leadership and the entire staff, expected to reach 122 individuals under the new organogram, and will report directly to the HPN Deputy Office Director-Analytics, Policy, Partnerships, and Systems (APPS). The HPN Partnerships and Operations Manager will manage two teams, the eight-person Partnerships Team, as well as the five-person Operations Team, and two support staff (a PMA and an Administrative Assistant).S/he will advise the HPN Office and Mission regarding issues affecting partnerships and operations programming, planning, development, budgeting, and implementation, providing formal and informal training to staff in skills and competencies relevant to their areas of expertise and position responsibility.
S/he will lead all health (PEPFAR, PMI, FH, other) financial and programmatic reporting to the HPN Office Director and other relevant stakeholders (Deputy Directors, Team and Sub-Team Leaders, PEPFAR Coordinator, and the Strategic Planning and Analysis, or SPA Office) and to Washington. The incumbent ensures that the entire HPN Office is following detailed programmatic and technical guidance from Washington. The incumbent works with the HPN Team, the SPA Office, and Controller’s Office to further develop practical financial tracking systems, and works with OFM and the SPA Office to provide formal and informal training to staff in these areas. The HPN Partnerships and Operations Manager will assure accurate, well-documented reporting on achieving the PEPFAR, PMI, Global Health Security Agenda, TB, Family Health, and the Mission’s overall program; assures that such reporting represents and justifies the Government of Kenya’s and the Mission’s future program plans to USAID/Washington and Congress;, and assures that such reporting contributes to effective management of the health program.
The Partnerships role will include engaging and maintaining contacts with the myriad of stakeholders the HPN Office engages with throughout the portfolio. This includes national and county governments, private and public sector entities, civil society organizations including NGOs and CBOs, regional organizations, multilateral and bilateral donors and organizations, among others. Currently, USAID is expanding its connections with Government of Kenya entities at all levels, with a particular focus on Counties and Regions. The HPN Partnerships and Operations Manager will play a key role in the
development of MOUs with Regions and Counties, a key step in formalizing and strengthening these important relationships.
Planning and Reporting: 30%
● Ensure the effective and efficient development, implementation, and reporting of the HPN program.
● Assess the effectiveness and efficiency of project management efforts across the seven technical teams within HPN.
● Advise and support the HPN leadership regarding HPN portfolio adherence to the Foreign Assistance (F), Agency, Africa Bureau, State/Africa and Mission policies and directives.
● Ensure adherence of the HPN portfolio to USAID and Mission-specific processes and requirements for design and formal approval of all new and amended projects and activities.
● Prepare and disseminate process and procedural advice and guidance, both written and verbal, to HPN staff on cross-cutting programming and operations issues.
● Contribute to HPN’s preparation of the PEPFAR Country Operational Plan (COP), the Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI) Malaria Operational Plan (MOP), the Mission’s annual Operational Plan (OP), and its Performance Plan and Report (PPR), as well as Portfolio Reviews and other processes as required.
● Lead Portfolio Reviews of activities consisting of central (i.e. USAID/W) and bilateral projects or activities and programs, with multiple program elements and sub-elements, through development, implementation and closeout.
Budgeting and Procurement: 25%
● Provide overall direction, quality control and oversight of HPN’s budgeting and procurement efforts through the Budget Specialist.
● Lead HPN’s preparation of the Mission’s Quarterly Financial Reviews, accrual reporting, and the annual obligation of funds processes.
● Assure rigorous monitoring and analysis of financial outlays against planning levels and reprogramming in conjunction with the PEPFAR Coordinator’s Office and the Mission’s SPA Office.
● Coordinate and stay abreast of all procurement actions in HPN, primarily through the Mission’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA), but also through USAID/Washington-led and other procurement mechanisms in order to provide updates to HPN leadership.
● Provide HPN leadership with routine and ad-hoc requests for information on HPN’s budget and procurement plan for current management and planning for out-years, including providing recommendations for budgetary and procurement related decisions.
● Contribute to the narrative design of activities (projects), amendments and related statements of work.
● Leads and coordinates the reviews or arranges for the review of proposals for new activities as well as for commitments, obligation and de-obligation actions.
● Lead and coordinate the HPN Office procurement planning including annual planning and longer- term procurement planning
● Outline timeline and track progress toward procurement of new awards and amendments to existing awards.
Outreach and Communications: 20%
● Participate in the update of HPN’s strategic communication strategy, and support messaging to highlight the progress of HPN-funded activities towards the achievement of their overall goals
and USAID/KEA objectives. The communications strategy should also advance policy and strategic engagements under USAID’s Journey to Self-Reliance agenda.
● Maintain an HPN repository of publications, fact sheets and briefers and work with the DOC to ensure periodic publications are completed and submitted on time.
● Provide overall direction, quality control and oversight of HPN’s outreach and communications efforts through the Communications Advisor.
● Provide quality control of communications products and services to ensure consistent and high- quality messaging and engagement.
● Improve HPN internal coordination with East Africa bilateral USAID missions and Embassy Staff to ensure all parties are well informed of HPN activities and programs and are effectively coordinating implementation activities.
● Coordinates internal communications and requests for information in support to the HPN leadership, through drafting and providing comments on various documents, such as position papers, talking points, concept papers, activity progress reports and evaluations, briefings checklists (BCLs), newsletters, etc.
General Management and Partnerships: 25%
● Proofread and edit HPN materials to provide quality control.
● Directly supervise up to four members of the 15-member HPN Partnerships and Operations Team.
● Plan and oversee the professional development of the newly-expanded team, including skills and competency development, mentorship and professional development of HPN Partnerships and Operations Team staff, with the goal of building human and institutional capacity and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the staff through inclusive and involved supervision and leadership.
● Facilitate the management of relationships with key HPN partners’ technical and senior leadership counterparts including Government of Kenya representatives, USAID mission staff, regional entities outside and inside Kenya, AID/W staff, and USAID interagency colleagues.
● Leads the development, implementation, and monitoring of MOUs with Counties, Regions, and other entities as relevant
● Oversee planning and management of logistics for HPN and USAID/KEA health conferences, training events, press interviews, VIP visits, launches of project activities, or other events to ensure events run smoothly and meet USAID messaging goals.
● The HPN Partnerships and Operations Manager will oversee the Partnerships Team, which includes five Regional Liaison Specialists who will support these efforts in specific regions, a Health Regional Intergovernmental Organization (RIGO) Specialist who will focus on regional linkages inside and outside of Kenya, and a Health and Civil Society Specialist who will strengthen already existing linkages with NGOs and CBOs, and establish new partnerships
● Convene and lead meetings as needed to address activity (project) issues.
Position Elements
Knowledge level required: The HPN Partnerships and Operations Manager requires mastery of program principles, concepts, practices, methods, and techniques related to international development, which includes a combination of the following broad areas: effective leadership of teams, strategy design, activity management, communications, budgeting/financial management, human resource development, and procurement, preferably related to HIV/AIDS, child survival, reproductive health/family planning, tuberculosis, health systems and/or policy, food security, water/sanitation/hygiene (WASH), or nutrition. The Contractor will need to possess substantive knowledge on USG foreign assistance programming, and a thorough knowledge of USG policies, priorities and strategies, as well as in-depth knowledge in
partnership development and maintenance, outreach and communications, budgeting, procurement, and activity management including planning. In-depth knowledge and demonstrated senior-level strategic planning and management experience in leading health teams, and in overseeing office operations, is required. A comprehensive understanding of the principles and the theories of health programming, their application and adaptation, and the ability to influence policies and decisions through negotiations and recommendations is also essential. The incumbent must have an in-depth understanding of the issues affecting USG health programs and health program management as well as recognized dynamics which govern internal decision-making structures/processes.
Decision making: The Contractor is required to possess a high degree of competence, maturity, and leadership and management skills, as well as knowledge of health development issues and experience in international health programming. The Contractor will also need knowledge of health issues prevalent in developing countries and effective strategies in dealing with such issues, excellent management skills to strategize, develop and implement effective program activities involving programmatic and financial planning and reporting, budgeting and procurement, excellent administrative and organization skills to oversee the performance of teams and team members, and excellent verbal communication skills, tact and diplomacy to establish and maintain working relationships with internal and external clients and counterparts. The work requires a mastery of program principles, concepts, practices, methods, and techniques related to development in broad areas of crosscutting and interdisciplinary specialized program/project management. This depth and breadth of knowledge is sufficient to resolve especially difficult and critical questions, problems, and issues which may not be susceptible to treatment in traditional ways and to take actions which significantly affect overall program application. The position requires the use of resourcefulness and perception, based on thoroughly experienced judgment, to deviate from or extend traditional practices, methods, and techniques, to adapt general guides, or to resolve situations where precedents are not applicable. The contractor has responsibility for independently planning, designing, and carrying out his/her work. Results of the work are considered technically authoritative and are normally accepted without significant change. If the work should be reviewed, the review concerns such matters as fulfillment of program objectives, effect of advice and influence on the overall program, or the contribution to the advancement of the program.
The HPN Partnerships and Operations Manager will provide leadership on critical USAID program cycle functions, including but not limited to the key areas of budgeting, planning (COP, MOP, OP), outreach and communications, partnerships, and activity management. The significant difficulties and major responsibilities involved in these critical areas mean that the contractor must regularly make technical and programmatic decisions under general administrative direction to ensure that HPN partnerships and operations effectively provide the myriad types of support required to meet the ambitious goals of the Mission’s health program. These and other features of the assignment combine to present the HPN Partnerships and Operations Manager with the most complex problems, issues, and questions of program approach, methodology, and application which frequently require the development of new operational policies, practices, methods, and techniques. All of the functions of the HPN Partnerships and Operations team advance Agency priorities by building the capacity of USAID staff, implementing partners and host governments through more effective management approaches; improving the stewardship of US taxpayer dollars through routine and comprehensive budget analyses; delivering effective messaging to our
partners and constituents; and helping lead HPN’s contribution to USAID/KEA’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) and Regional Development Cooperation Strategy (RDCS). These are some of the considerations that the HPN Partnerships and Operations Manager has to reflect on in the decision- making process and execution of his/her duties. At this level, the HPN Partnerships and Operations Manager will perform unusually difficult and responsible assignments which affect sizable portfolios and require advanced occupational expertise and judgment to support
Guidelines: Guidelines consist of administrative policies and precedents, and may be published or unpublished. USAID regulations (including the Automated Directives System, FAR, AIDAR), others including but not limited to the USAID/KEA Country Development Cooperation Strategy, PEPFAR PMI, and GH guidelines, as well as the HPN Office results framework, Bureau directives, and technical/program references are applicable, all or in part, but are stated in general terms and require adaptation and/or interpretation for application to the health issues and problems encountered in KEA. For example, operating guidance provides a broad overview of program goals and strategies as well as priorities, but does not detail how the identified program/project activities will be accomplished. The Contractor uses initiative and resourcefulness in deviating from, refining, or extending traditional methods and practices, or in developing and recommending new or substantially modified methods, criteria, or policies.
A great deal of independent judgment is required to analyze, interpret, and adapt prior experience, particularly as guidelines are updated and new activities developed. Within a range determined by the contractor and superiors, the contractor exercises independent judgment in planning and follow-up of actions and assignments. HPN Partnerships and Operations Manager uses initiative and resourcefulness in deviating from, refining, or extending traditional methods and practices, or in developing and recommending new or substantially modified methods, criteria, or policies.
Complexity: The purpose of the work is to plan and carry out a variety of important program-related activities and to ensure the effective and efficient development, implementation, and reporting of the HPN program and project management efforts across the seven technical teams within HPN. The work involves establishing criteria (e.g. developing guidance or procedures for major activities), assessing program effectiveness, investigating or analyzing a variety of unusual conditions or questions, and providing advisory or oversight services to HPN Office and Mission regarding issues affecting partnerships and operations programming, planning, development, budgeting, and implementation, and providing formal and informal training to staff in skills and competencies relevant to their areas of expertise and position responsibility. Assignments typically involve problems that are particularly difficult, or that are systemic in nature.
Scope and Effect: The Contractor will be responsible for overall management of the cross-cutting HPN Partnerships and Operations Team responsible for communications, budgeting, financial management, planning, and reporting needs of the HPN Office. All of the functions of the HPN Partnerships and Operations Team advance Agency priorities by building the capacity of USAID staff, our implementing partners, and host governments through more effective management approaches; improving our stewardship of US taxpayer dollars through routine and comprehensive budget analyses; delivering effective messaging to our partners and constituents; and helping lead HPN’s contribution to USAID/KEA’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy and Regional Development Cooperation Strategy. Work results are critical to the successful completion of the largest, most diverse, and most complex Mission projects or programs. The work product or service affects the work of other experts, the development and implementation of major aspects of the program, and the well-being of substantial numbers of people on a long-term basis.
Level and Purpose of Contacts: The Contractor must maintain professional and effective working and senior-level contacts with internal and external stakeholders including USAID and other USG officials (USAID DOC, Embassy Public Affairs, Embassy Political/Economics Officers, the Foreign Commercial Service, the PEPFAR Coordination Office, Centers for Disease Control, Department of Defense, etc.), senior implementing partner representatives, and other key staff, as well as Government of Kenya officials at multiple levels. The incumbent consults with other professional or technical personnel, and user organizations in the entities listed above, to coordinate action positions or representation at events, to develop or move specific agendas and actions, including defending positions as needed, and to reconcile
conflicts when these occur. All this occurs in the context of the incumbent’s routine work. Technical problems are generally resolved without reference to supervisors.
Work Environment: Work is primarily performed in an office setting. If the employee travels, the work may additionally involve safety and/or security precautions, wearing of protective equipment, and exposure to severe weather conditions.
Travel Requirement: The employee must be available and able to travel within Kenya, and regionally. Travel may represent up to 25% of total work time.
Support Items: The employee will be provided with the support services, equipment, and supplies necessary to perform the work. This will include shared office equipment (such as printer, scanner and shredder), and a workstation that includes a desk, computer, file cabinets, and network access, with the possibility for mobile computing devices based on need and Mission management approval.
Sunday Pay: Is not authorized.
II. SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
The incumbent must meet the following requirements in education and professional experience:
- Education: A Master’s degree in a relevant professional discipline such as International Development/Affairs, Political Science, Public Administration, Business Administration or a related discipline is required.
- Professional Experience: The candidate is required to have a minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible international development experience, which includes a combination the following: effective leadership of teams, strategy design, activity management, communications, budgeting/financial management, human resource development, and procurement, preferably related to HIV/AIDS, child survival, reproductive health/family planning, tuberculosis, health systems and/or policy, food security, water/sanitation/hygiene (WASH), or nutrition. The candidate must also have significant experience in program development and implementation; a broad and in-depth experience in implementing technical programs and strategies; experience in consultations and facilitation of various teams with diverse backgrounds and development perspectives; applying broad USG (or similar development organizations) principles, policies and strategies; effective coordination of the interagency, partner country, and/or other donors; and collaborating with USG leadership at working and senior levels. Experience in Kenya and/or East Africa is preferred.
- Skills and Abilities: Leadership skills that demonstrate a focus on professional growth, inclusiveness, and collaboration across a diverse workforce to promote unity and teamwork are essential. Demonstrable high-level management and coordination skills to lead fast-paced, results-driven, multiple technical teams are required, as is the ability to work under pressure to meet project or event deadlines. The incumbent must have proven skills in capacity building and mentoring local staff in a developing country context, including excellent interpersonal, facilitation, and team building skills. The Contractor must have a clear understanding and demonstrated skills in developing, implementing, and reporting on international assistance activities, a demonstrated capability for complex analysis, and the ability to obtain, analyze, and evaluate complex data on a variety of programs. The incumbent must also possess skill in conceptualizing programs, policies, and plans, and developing strategies for their management and implementation. The candidate must be able to integrate short and long range objectives of the USAID/KEA HPN office and the Global Health Bureau with cultural/organizational needs. The ability to exercise considerable ingenuity, as well as tact and diplomacy skills, are required to establish and develop
sustainable working relationships at the highest level and different settings within the GoK and private sector as well as within USAID’s internal environment. The ability to navigate and manage politically sensitive issues, and a demonstrated ability to lead meetings and presentations with internal and external stakeholders, are also needed.
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. FAR provisions of this solicitation are available at https://www.acquisition.gov
Applicants who clearly meet the skills and qualifications requirements will be further evaluated based on scoring of the Evaluation Factor responses submitted with the applicant’s application. Applicants are required to address each of the following Evaluation Factors in a separate document describing specifically and accurately what experience, training, education and/or awards they have received that are relevant to each factor. The evaluation factors will be used to determine the competitive ranking of qualified applicants in comparison to other applicants. Be sure to include your name and the announcement number at the top of each additional page. Failure to specifically address the Evaluation Factors may result in your not receiving credit for all your pertinent experience, education, training and/or awards.
Applicants should cite specific, illustrative examples for each Evaluation Factor. Responses must be limited to 500 words per factor. Any words above the limit will neither be read nor scored.
Factor #1: Demonstrated experience managing or implementing operations functions, such as budgeting and procurement, reporting, planning, and outreach and communications related to health and development, preferably in Kenya/East Africa.
Factor #2: Demonstrated experience developing and managing U.S. Government foreign assistance activities, related to health including HIV/AIDS, RMNCAH, and malaria, and reporting on progress and challenges of the activities.
Factor #3: Demonstrated experience coordinating with U.S. Government agencies, international organizations, national or local governments, and/or other high-profile entities preferably in support of health activities including HIV/AIDS.
Factor #4: Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining partnerships with governmental and nongovernmental agencies including the private sector and civil society, regional and/or international organizations, national or local governments, and/or other entities preferably in support of health activities including HIV/AIDS.
The most qualified candidates may be interviewed, required to perform a writing/editing exercise, and demonstrate an ability to operate commonly used office application software. USAID will not pay for any expenses associated with the interviews. In addition, applications (written materials and interviews) will be evaluated based on content as well as on the applicant’s writing, presentation, and communication skills.
Evaluation Scoring:
Factor #1 – 20 points
Factor #2 – 20 points
Factor #3 – 10 points
Factor #4 – 10 points
Writing/Editing exercise – 15 points Interview Performance – 25 points
Satisfactory Professional Reference Checks – Pass/Fail (no points assigned) Total Possible Points: 100
How to apply
Interested applicants are required to submit the following:
1) Offer form AID 309-2, “Offeror Information for Personal Services Contracts with individuals,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-309-2
2) An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) or resume (no more than five pages)**, cover letter** explaining your qualifications for the position, copies of all relevant certificates and include three (3) to five (5) references, who are not family members or relatives, with working telephone and e-mail contacts.
Applications must be submitted electronically via email to [email protected] by the closing date and time indicated above.
To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission/cover letter.
More Information
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