Senior Election Advisor
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72066319R00016
2. ISSUANCE DATE: June 18, 2019
3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: July 17, 2019 (5:00pm Ethiopia's local time.)
4. POSITION TITLE: Senior Election Advisor
5. MARKET VALUE: $90,621 - $117,810 equivalent to GS-14. The final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value based on the successful candidate's salary history, work experience, and educational background. Salaries over and above the top of the pay range will not be entertained or negotiated. Resident-Hires USPSCs are not eligible for any fringe benefits, differentials, or allowances; and are only eligible for FICA, health insurance, and life insurance.
6. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: One year, with four additional one-year extensions pending approval, need, performance, and funding, not to exceed five years.
7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Work.
8. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Secret. The final selected candidates must obtain both the appropriate security and medical clearances within a reasonable period of time. If such clearances are not obtained within a reasonable time or negative suitability issues are involved, any offer made may be rescinded.
9. STATEMENT OF DUTIES
1. General Statement of Purpose of the Contract
The Election Senior Advisor is responsible for helping to oversee USAID elections assistance, coordinating elections assistance activities with other donors, and leading a USAID team of two local election experts. In addition, s/he provides technical assistance to the National Ethiopian Electoral Board (NEBE) in the development a detailed strategic plan for capacity development as well as work plans. As a member of the Office of Democracy and Governance (ODG), the Advisor reports to the ODG Director and participates in high level and technical meetings with participants from the US Embassy, international organizations and foreign embassies, Ethiopian government, and/or private and non-governmental organizations.
2. Statement of Duties to be Performed
Program Design and Management
1. Leads team of two local elections expert in the design and management of elections assistance programming for Ethiopia. Also, provides Technical Advisory support to the Office of Democracy and Governance on the engagement of National and international stakeholders for a new electoral support project.
2. Provides detailed technical assistance on capacity building and electoral operational support for the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections including voter registration, delimitation of district boundaries, field operations, public outreach and communications, logistics, security coordination, and electoral dispute resolution.
3. Provides comprehensive written analyses and reports on the performance of the electoral management bodies
4. Oversees the implementation of the strategic plan for capacity development and electoral reform and provide comprehensive technical guidance for better implementation of the plan
5. Provides technical assistance for the smooth introduction of the reform agenda and work with governmental and international counterparts to ensure its effective implementation
6. Informs decision making by stakeholders on the need for civil/voter registration reform in Ethiopia and assist in the development and implementation of a strategic multi-year plan for civil/voter registration reform as a sustainable Ethiopian solution to the flawed and costly current voter registration process.
7. Provides detailed weekly updates (oral and written) on the status of the election activities in Ethiopia and advises the mission on better and effective implementation of the electoral efforts in the country
8. Oversees USAID assistance resources for the electoral process in Ethiopia and the work of possible elections implementing partners, including UNDP, IFES, Democracy International, National Democratic Institute, and the International Republican Institute.
Coordination
1. Drawing on his/her experience and knowledge, the Election Senior Advisor provides expertise in election administration best practice to the NEBE, to the UNDP, to the USG Interagency Ethiopian Election Support Team and ODG in the oversight of elections assistance programs, and other Afghan and international agencies with responsibilities for the administration and oversight of elections in Ethiopia.
2. Represents USAID in meetings with the Ethiopian government, donor agencies, international organizations and other stakeholders and prepare detailed reports for ODG management and the mission's leadership
3. Supervisory Relationship
The Senior Elections Expert will report directly to the Democracy and Governance Office Director or their designee.
4. Supervisory Controls
Leads team of two local elections expert in the design and management of elections assistance programming for Ethiopia.
10. AREA OF CONSIDERATION:
For USPSC:
• Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident ("green card holder");
• U.S. resident alien means a non-U.S. citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States;
• Submit a complete application as outlined in the solicitation section titled APPLYING;
• Be able to obtain facility access authorization;
• Be able to obtain a Department of State medical clearance;
• Be willing to travel to work sites and other offices as/when requested;
• Employment is subject to funds availability and all the required approvals obtained.
11. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.
12. POINT OF CONTACT: Supervisory Executive Officer, Annmarie Mcgillicuddy and HR Specialist, Fekadu Tamirate at addisusaidjobs@usaid.gov.
II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
Applications will be initially screened by the Human Resources Office to determine whether applicants have met the advertised minimum qualifications. A list of qualified applicants will be referred to the hiring office for further consideration and screening.
EDUCATION: Master's Graduate degree in law, political science, international/development affairs, public administration, public policy area studies or a related field and fifteen (10 years) of successful work experience in the area of international development and election administration is required. -- OR -- Doctoral degree in law, political science, international/development affairs, public administration, public policy, area studies or a related field and 5 years of successful work experience in the area of international development and election administration is required.
WORK EXPERIENCE: Ten (10 years) of successful work experience in the area of international development and election administration is required. For Doctoral degree 5 years of successful work experience in the area of international development and election administration is required.
III. EVALUATION AND ELECTION FACTORS
The following evaluation factors for evaluating applications are established. The Technical Evaluation Committee will establish the competitive range/cut-off points per the evaluation factors listed below. Applicants are encouraged to provide a narrative for each selection criteria listed below in this section. This information will be used for evaluating and scoring each criterion. The TEC will conduct interviews with all offerors in the competitive range and provide the final rating and ranking of the offerors based on the interview. The CO will consider findings from the reference checks as part of the responsibility determination. Be sure to include your name and the solicitation number at the top of each page.
Candidates will be evaluated and ranked based on the following criteria:
1. Education (20 Points): Master's Graduate degree in law, political science, international/development affairs, public administration, public policy area studies or a related field and ten (10 years) of successful work experience in the area of international development and election administration is required. -- OR -- Doctoral degree in law, political science, international/development affairs, public administration, public policy, area studies or a related field and 5 years of successful work experience in the area of international development and election administration is required.
2. Work Experience (50 Points): Ten (10 years) of successful work experience in the area of international development and election administration is required. For Doctoral degree 5 years of successful work experience in the area of international development and election administration is required.
3. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (30 Points): Expert knowledge and understanding of elections and political processes, with deep expertise in international best practices in effective election administration, including civil and voter registration reform. Knowledge of and experience in Africa development environments is preferred. Knowledge of broader development prospects and priorities for Ethiopia is preferred. Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a complex multi-national effort to build consensus around critical elections administration reform decisions and foster collective, coordinated action to implement decisions and successfully advance election administration reform.
IV. APPLYING
For your application to be considered, the following documents must be submitted:
1. Eligible offerors are required to complete and submit the offer form AID 309-2,"OfferorInformationforPersonalServicesContractswithIndividuals,"availableathttp://www.usaid.gov/forms.
2. Offers must be received by the closing date and time specified in Section I, item 3, and submitted to the Point of Contact in Section I, item 12.
3. To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.
4. Letter of Application and current resume.
5. To ensure consideration of offers for the intended position, Offerors must prominently reference the Solicitation number in the offer submission.
6. Application must be submitted ONLY via addisusaidjobs@usaid.gov and the email subject must say -: 72066319R00016 Senior Election Advisor.
7. Please submit the application only once; and
8. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered; the application must be submitted before or on the closing date at local Ethiopia time 5 p.m. (Local Ethiopia, Addis Ababa Time).
V. LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSC HIRES
Once the CO 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 following forms.
1. Medical History and Examination Form (Department of State Forms)
2. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions for National Security (SF-86),or
3. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85)
4. Finger Print Card (FD-258)
VI. BENEFITS
As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits:
(a) Employer's FICA Contribution
(b) Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance
(c) Pay Comparability Adjustment
(d) Annual Increase (pending a satisfactory performance evaluation)
(e) Eligibility for Worker's Compensation
(f) Annual and Sick Leave
VII. TAXES
USPSCs are required to pay federal income taxes, FICA, Medicare and applicable state income taxes.
VIII. USAID REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND CONTRACT CLAUSES PERTAINING TO PSCs
USAID regulations and policies governing USPSC a wards are available at these sources:
1. USAID Acquisition Regulation(AIDAR),Appendix D, "Direct USAID Contracts with a U.S. Citizen or a U.S. Resident Alien for Personal Services Abroad," includingcontractclause"GeneralProvisions,"availableathttps://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf.
2. Contract Cover Page form AID309-1availableathttps://www.usaid.gov/forms.
3. Acquisition and Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins(AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs.
4. 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 5CFR2635. See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations.
END OF SOLICITATION
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The U.S. Mission in Ethiopia provides equal 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. USAID/Ethiopia also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.
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.
Tamirate Fekadu, Human Resources Specialist, Phone 251111306002, Email ftamirate@usaid.gov - Ferehiwot Ferehiwot, Senior HR Assistant, Phone 0111306035, Email fali@usaid.gov
