Solicitation for a Cooperating Country National Personal Service Contractor – USAID Philippines

Qualification
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
1. SOLICITATION NO.: USAID-2020-17
2. ISSUANCE DATE: 09 July 2020
3. CLOSING DATE/TIME FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: 22 July 2020 / 11:59PM
4. POSITION TITLE: USAID Project Management Specialist (Private Sector and Finance), FSN-11
5. MARKET VALUE: Php 1,392,681.00 – Php 2,158,649.00 basic salary p.a. equivalent to FSN-11
in accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan (LCP) of the U.S. Embassy Manila. The salary offer will be based on a combination of the candidate’s salary history and of the U.S. Embassy Manila’s LCP, and will be within the annual range listed above.
6. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: The position is based in Manila, Philippines.
7. STATEMENT OF DUTIES:
The USAID Project Management Specialist (Private Sector and Finance) is located in the Office of Economic Development and Governance (OEDG), USAID/Philippines. The Specialist reports to the OEDG Deputy Office Director. The Specialist is responsible for performing a range of development assistance functions in the design, development, management, monitoring and evaluation of economic development and governance activities, particularly as they relate to access to private sector development, access to finance and providing support to USAID/Philippines on private sector engagement (PSE) to support USAID/Philippines’ Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS).
The Specialist serves as the Contracting/Assistance Officer Representative (COR) and Activity Manager for assigned programs related
to finance and private sector development. The Specialist provides the office and USAID/Philippines with policy recommendations and advice on access to finance, private enterprise development and on strategic engagement with the private sector. Day-to-day activities will include a combination of strategic level management and policy guidance to the Front Office, Program Resources Management Office, technical teams, and other USAID staff on building public private partnerships as well as guiding, and at times, leading the Private Sector Engagement working group.
The Specialist’s role includes travel in the Philippines; interaction with USAID/Philippines-funded contractors and grantees; coordination with other donors and U.S. Embassy colleagues; and dialogue with leading counterparts in both the public and the private sector. The Specialist possesses a high degree of creativity, maturity, flexibility, and familiarity with the economic growth activities enumerated above, and has strong interpersonal and communication skills, and a thorough knowledge of USAID programming and project procedures and requirements.

Major duties and responsibilities include:
Development and management of private sector development and finance sector development programs (40%), Development and implementation of strategies for effective engagement of private corporations and outreach to potential alliance partners, including the cultivating of relationships with key individuals, corporations, foundations, and other private entities (30%), Strengthening of the capacity of USAID staff to build and promote alliances (15%), Program/Policy Analysis and Reporting (15%)

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIP:
Under the direct supervision of the OEDG Deputy Office Director or designee. The Specialist is expected to work with a high degree of independence and should be able to establish priorities, adhere to and meet established deadlines, and perform responsibilities and duties with minimal guidance and little or no follow-up. Supervision is not contemplated.
8. AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to all interested individuals who are Filipino citizens or non-Filipino citizens lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the Philippines, and who also have the required work permits. USAID/Philippines does not sponsor work permits.
9. POINT OF CONTACT: Human Resources Division via aidmnlhr@usaid.gov

II. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION
a. Education – A Master’s degree in the field of Economics, Business Administration (such as Public Policy, Business Management, Finance) International Development, International Trade and Finance, or related subject or the equivalent is required. Note: Additional education may NOT be substituted for Experience.
b. Prior Work Experience – The Specialist is required to have a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible, professional- level experience in finance, business or project management related work and technical, analytical and quantitative analysis. A
thorough understanding of major problems frequently faced by developing economies and hands-on experience and knowledge of project development, management, and procurement policies, and procedures are required. The Specialist must also have a high degree of technical, analytical, and quantitative skills in analysis of markets and policies. Experienced in marketing, brokering business transactions and partnerships with local and international business leaders, NGOs, high-wealth individuals, and/or senior government officials and bringing such transactions to closure. Note: Additional experience may NOT be substituted for Education.
c. Language Proficiency / Communication Skills – Must have excellent communication skills in English and Tagalog, both in oral and written forms. With this level of communication skills, the Specialist is expected to: prepare regular and ad hoc reports, project documentation, and briefing papers, develop and deliver professional quality reports and presentations, and possess the ability to translate, on occasion, when the Specialist may need to act as an interpreter.
d. Job Knowledge – Must have comprehensive knowledge of: 1) concepts, principles, techniques, and practices of the assigned professional field of specialization; 2) Philippines’ economic, political, social, and cultural characteristics; and 3) Philippines’ development prospects, priorities, resources in the assigned field of specialization, especially in relation to private sector development overall, and the financial sector in particular. This position requires a thorough knowledge, or potential to acquire such knowledge, of United States Government (USG) legislation relating to development assistance, foreign assistance programming and policies, program development, and program implementation procedures and documentation. The Specialist must be skilled in project monitoring and evaluation methodologies, and some knowledge in the planning and budgeting processes.
e. Skills and Abilities – Proven ability to work independently with minimal supervision or guidance is required. Strong interpersonal skills are required with the demonstrated ability to establish and maintain an extensive range of contacts with working-level officials of the Philippine Government, and influential persons in the private sector and private voluntary organization community. The Specialist must also have a high degree of technical, analytical, and quantitative skills in analysis of development activities and policies. The Specialist must be a self-starter to be responsive to client needs with the ability to work calmly, tactfully and effectively under pressure and adapt to the existing management team.
In addition, the position requires an entrepreneurial, goal-oriented approach to assistance, and the ability to diplomatically and tactfully confront and resolve institutional bureaucratic problems in managing activities. The Specialist must be able to communicate effectively, sensitively, and accurately with:
1) USAID project beneficiaries and participants
2) all categories of USAID employees;
3) Philippine Government officials at the Secretary level, provincial and district;
4) other international and local organizations, donors, United Nations (UN) and other international organizations and other embassies;
5) counterparts at
the USAID in Washington and at the State Department (at the US Embassy in Manila and in Washington); and
6) the general public.
The Specialist is required to be able to prepare briefing documents, including participation in and leading the drafting of certain sections
of annual technical, programmatic and financial reports. Must also be able to prepare reports, correspondence, and documents in
English in a professional and competent manner requiring few or no editorial changes.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS
1. Education (10%)
2. Prior Work Experience (25%)
3. Language Proficiency / Communication Skills (15%)
4. Job Knowledge (25%)
5. Skills and Abilities (25%)

Additional Notes:
– USAID reserves the right to reject any and all applicants.
– Only short-listed applicants will be notified.
– To be a competitive candidate, the applicant must meet the minimum
requirement of each of the Evaluation and Selection Factors.

IV. HOW TO APPLY:
1. Interested applicants are required to submit an application letter and a comprehensive resume.
2. Applications must be received by 22 July 2020 / 11:59PM, and submitted via email to aidmnlhr@usaid.gov
3. All applicants are requested to prominently indicate the solicitation number (Solicitation No.: USAID-2020-17) in the subject line of
their email submission.
V. BENEFITS/ALLOWANCES
The compensation package includes mid-year and year-end bonuses, health and life insurance, and a supplementary retirement plan.