THE FOLLOWING IS A POSTING FOR A PAST POSITION AND IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

RESPONSIBILITIES
The successful candidate will serve as part of OFDA’s Enhanced Regional Team for EMCA. He/she will review proposals from implementing organizations and coordinate interagency review. This will include the preparation of briefing packets, reports and official correspondence to PVO/NGOs, IOs, and UN Agencies. The Disaster Operations Specialist (DOS) will monitor disasters and review, coordinate and track program reports, administer and implement emergency relief and rehabilitation programs. He/She will become proficient in USAID's New Management System (NMS). Other duties will include timely response to declared disasters; the monitoring of prevention, mitigation, and preparedness plans for the assigned countries; serving on or backstopping assessment teams and Disaster Assistance Response Teams; reviewing cable traffic; maintaining office files and attending meetings. Disaster Operation Specialists participate as team members in developing country strategies integrating disaster response and preparedness. Disaster Operations Specialists have team responsibility to monitor incipient disaster situations, coordinate review and approval of program proposals; function as Cognizant Technical Officers for BHR/OFDA program grants and cooperative agreements; as well as monitor and evaluate program accomplishments.  Disaster Operation Specialists are expected to perform these duties both in their home team and in teams to which they might be temporarily re-assigned. A high level of verbal/written communication skills and interpersonal skills are essential. Work or educational experience in the assigned region of responsibility is preferred. The candidate must be a U.S. citizen. Employment is contingent on the candidate's ability to qualify for and maintain a secret clearance with USAID.

Specifically responsibilities are as follows:

Grant Portfolio Management:

Assume primary responsibility for the management of OFDA funded programs in assigned region of responsibility. In coordination with Regional Teams and TAG members:

-- Interface with implementing organizations regarding project proposals submitted for OFDA funding to ensure proposals provide information required by OFDA's Grant Guidelines and to discuss the appropriateness to OFDA program objectives and budget line items;

-- Coordinate interagency reviews proposals for relief programs in disaster stricken countries. This will include developing issues papers, preparing and distributing briefing packets for all invitees, determining the need for follow-up meetings, reporting on the outcome of the proposal review to US Government personnel in the field, and drafting official correspondence to PVO/NGOs, IOs and UN agencies;

-- Prepare all documentation to expedite grant project approval. This will involve properly inputting data into the New Management System (NMS) for transmittal to the USAID Office of Procurement;
 -- Track program reports from grantees and ensure reports are received in a timely manner; read program reports to ensure that program objectives have been achieved; collate input from report for feedback to grantee, and share reports with Regional Team members, as appropriate;

-- Expedite the flow of programmatic and other documents through the clearance process;

-- Perform other duties and responsibilities, as assigned by the Regional Coordinator.

Disaster Mitigation and Response:

Assume responsibility for monitoring threatening and incipient disasters and reviewing, coordinating, administrating, and implementing emergency relief and rehabilitation programs in the assigned region of responsibility consistent with OFDA's regional/country strategy. In coordination with Regional Teams and TAG members:

-- Review and monitor national disaster prevention, mitigation and preparedness plans for assigned countries in collaboration with regional team;

-- Share in the oversight and updating of OFDA's regional and country strategies for the region;

-- Assure a timely and appropriate response to the Ambassador's disaster declaration, including reviewing Mission/Embassy recommendations for assistance, and prepare/clear appropriate guidance to the U.S. Mission/Embassy on resources and strategies to respond to the disaster situation;

-- Coordinate with USAID regional bureaus, other BHR offices, the State Department, Department of Defense, other donor governments, United Nations agencies, PVOs/NGOs, and other international organizations to develop an inclusive US response to the declared disaster;

-- Review the conceptual soundness, technical feasibility and budget for disaster assistance activities and emergency projects;

-- Maintain contact with OFDA field representatives and the OFDA Regional Office to discuss implementation of activities and assessment of disaster mitigation program/needs;

-- Serve on or backstop BHR/OFDA assessment teams and Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) to disaster sites when deemed necessary and follow up with appropriate reports and/or cables.

-- Perform other duties and responsibilities, as assigned by the Regional Coordinator.
 Administrative:

In coordination with Regional Teams and TAG members:

-- Maintain standardized office files for activities that are assigned as principle responsibilities;

--Develop a tracking system for all funded activities including pipeline information;

-- Review daily cable traffic and highlight important information for Regional Team;

-- Attend team, office and other meetings as assigned by the Regional Coordinator; when necessary prepare
summaries of these meetings.

-- As assigned by Regional Coordinator, develop and execute official documents, including but not limited to entries into the NMS, memos, cables, and information requests.

-- Perform other duties and responsibilities, as assigned by the Regional Coordinator.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
To qualify for the GS-12 equivalent salary range indicated above, candidates must have 2 years experience working in OFDA. In addition, applicants should have a total of 4 years of relevant work experience with United States Government (USG), Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO)/Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), International Organizations (IO) and/or United Nations (UN) Agencies (preferably in the area of disaster management) OR 2 year of relevant work experience with USG, PVO/NGO or UN Agency (preferably in the area disaster management) and a Masters Degree in a related field. The salary and grade equivalent of preferred applicants not meeting the above-stated qualifications will depend on previous experience and education.

A GS-11 equivalent shall be applicable for those preferred applicants with a 4-year college degree in a related field and 3 years relevant experience OR a Masters Degree in a related field and 1 year relevant experience. Upon satisfactory performance and accrual of requisite qualifications for the next higher grade, successful applicants may be provided grade increases to the GS-12 equivalent.