Program Officer (SME II), Advancement of Human Rights and fundamental freedoms, Bureau of Democracy,

Job Description

Job Description

Salary : $100,000 - $112,000 Annually

Contracting Resources Group, Inc. (CRG) is a Woman-Owned Small Business, specializing in several core markets within the Federal Government. Our professional services depth includes program management and evaluation, strategic communications, acquisitions management, and IT solutions. CRG is a leading management consulting firm, in part because of our ability to attract the highest quality team members through our emphasis on culture, competitive compensation, and benefits packages. Since 2002, CRG has consistently received top performance ratings from customers and teaming partners and industry awards, including Inc. Magazines 5000 list of the Fastest Growing Companies in America , the Department of Labor HireVets Platinum Medallion award, and the Washington Business Journal, Inc. 5000, and Baltimore Suns Best Places to Work awards.

Description :

CRG is seeking a full-time Program Officer II to provide support to the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labors Office of Global Programs (DRL / GP) at the U.S. Department of State (Africa team). The Program Officer shall be responsible for ensuring effective execution of program requirements : establishing systematic methods of program execution, evaluation, and advocacy; determining whether funding is warranted and available and assessing activities to determine funding requirements; analyzing program and budget proposals and presenting them to the State Department and interagency panels; preparing justification or recommendation memoranda for review and approval by appropriate officials; and providing follow-up problem-solving assistance, guideline interpretations, and technical consultations as required to applicants. The Program Officer shall assist with Departmental briefings to congressional staffers on these programs.

The Program Officer represents and communicates DRLs program objectives to other State Department and U.S government offices involved in programming Democracy Fund and Human Rights and Democracy Funds (HRDF) and other transfer funding to include, but not be limited to, regional bureaus, Office of Acquisitions Management, Office of the Legal Advisor, Congressional Liaison office, Office of Management and Budget and USAID offices. The Contractor shall liaise and consult on program administration, financial planning and acquisition of programming funds. The Contractor shall respond to Congressional requests for information regarding programs and DRL program objectives. The Contractor shall also provide information to the NGO community and other implementing organizations regarding the USG and DRL grants processes.

The Program Officer maintains, updates and develops as necessary systems for the efficient and accessible retrieval of documents regarding the allocation, notification, transfer and implementation of Democracy Fund, HRDF, transfer funding, and special Congressionally-mandated funds, and tracks the award of grants.

The Program Officer shall apply internal control measures to protect organizational integrity and prevent unauthorized use or misappropriation of sensitive and classified material; report instances of security violations / problems to the appropriate supervisory / management official; assume full responsibility for safeguarding all classified and sensitive (but unclassified) material and equipment in assignment area(s).

The ideal candidate should have demonstrated experience with designing, implementing, and / or overseeing democracy and human rights foreign assistance programs for sub-SaharanAfrica. Language proficiency in French is preferred but not required. The ideal candidate should have experience managing programs in closed environments and a commitment to 'Do No Harm' and engaging with civil society, journalists, and other at-risk groups. The candidate must have superb interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity; advanced written or oral communication skills including for high-level policy-making audiences; and a strong commitment to teamwork and collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities :

• Coordinate with the grants officer representative in the administration and coordination of programs
• Assist Team Lead and Deputy Directors to oversee program funding for assigned portfolio.
• Help develop goals, objectives and programs for utilization of the foreign assistance funding.
• Collect grant documentation for review by decision-making committees who will select grant recipients within available funding levels.
• Liaise with offices involved in administration, financial planning and acquisition of program funding.
• Skillfully communicate verbally and in writing to provide briefings, status reviews, and advice upon request to the other DRL program staff and senior personnel on grant issues.
• Work on designated portfolio to ensure pre-award, award, and ongoing management and monitoring of programs globally.
• Monitor grantee budget execution and drawdowns to ensure program objectives are met and are in accordance with 2 CFR 200.
• Negotiate program solicitation language with regional bureaus, Post leadership, and within DRL.
• Advise senior Bureau officials on development of goals, objectives and programs for utilization of foreign assistance funding.
• Remain informed on the changing political environment in the designated portfolio as well as global issues impacting the region by regularly meeting with grantees, human rights defenders, researchers, and other funders.
• Communicate DRL's program objectives to other State Department and U.S government offices involved in programming Democracy Fund and Human Rights and Democracy Funds (HRDF) and other transfer funding to include, but not be limited to, regional bureaus, Office of Acquisitions Management, Office of the Legal Advisor, Congressional Liaison office, Office of Management and Budget and USAID offices.
• Coordinate with policy colleagues to prepare paper and brief DRL Bureau leadership for meetings on issues related to a specific region or thematic area.
• Prepare budget and programmatic reports that track grant obligation data and program successes for active grants.
• Review and provide analysis of program proposals to decision-making panels who will select grant recipients within available funding levels.
• Prepare responses to auditor inquiries on programs.
• Assist with responding to Congressional requests for information regarding programs and DRL program objectives.
• Attend stakeholder workshops and conferences on topics related to their duties and responsibilities, provide program monitoring and technical assistance to grantees, while supporting the FTE.
• Preferred candidates may have demonstrated expertise and knowledge in the following regional or thematic areas : Western Hemisphere Affairs, South Central Asia, East-Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe. Near- Eastern Affairs, Democracy, Human Rights, Labor, Internet Freedom, International Religious Freedom, Gender, Marginalized Populations, Rapid Response, Security and Human Rights, Global Affairs Portfolio, Monitoring and Evaluations.

Additional responsibilities may include :

Action Items :

Requirements :

Education :

Benefits

Full-time employees are eligible for 401k, Roth, Employee and Family Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance, Supplemental Insurance, 11 Federal Holidays, and a minimum of three weeks PTO which includes sick and personal leave. CRG provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Salary : $100,000 - $112,000