THE FOLLOWING IS A POSTING FOR A PAST POSITION AND IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY
Regional Information Officer for Latin America
1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: M/OP-99-1016
REGIONAL INFORMATION OFFICER for LATIN AMERICA and the CARIBBEAN (LAC) in
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
Latin America and the Caribbean are extremely vulnerable to both natural
and technological disasters which have worsened in recent years due to
population pressures, urbanization, and extreme climatic events. However, LAC's capacity to manage disasters has
grown substantially in recent years and Latin American and Caribbean nations are now generally capable of
managing disasters up to moderate severity without external assistance. In major events, however, most nations of
the region face a serious risk of having their overall coping capacities overwhelmed by disaster response
requirements.
OFDA's strategy seeks to reduce the demand for disaster relief, chiefly by increased preparedness and mitigation
activities at the community level, and by strengthening governments' capacity to meet immediate post-disaster
needs so as to prevent deterioration in the situation of disaster victims.
STATEMENT OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
POSITION REQUIREMENTS: The incumbent shall possess the following minimum qualifications:
AS A MATTER OF POLICY, AND AS APPROPRIATE, A PSC IS NORMALLY
AUTHORIZED THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS:
1. BENEFITS
2. ALLOWANCES (if Applicable). *
3. CONTRACT INFORMATION BULLETINS (CIBs) PERTAINING TO PSCs
LIST OF REQUIRED FORMS FOR PSCs
THE FOLLOWING IS A POSTING FOR A PAST POSITION AND IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY
2. ISSUANCE DATE: April 28, 1999
3. CLOSING DATE/TIME SPECIFIED FOR RECEIPT OF
APPLICATIONS: May 12, 1999
4. POSITION TITLE: Regional Information Officer for Latin America
5. MARKET VALUE: $45,236 - $58,808 (GS12 Equivalent)
6. INITIAL PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Approx. June 1, 1999 to May 31, 2001
7. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: San Jose, Costa Rica
8. JOB DESCRIPTION (TO INCLUDE EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR POSITION):
The Regional Information Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean will
be based in San Jose, Costa Rica, and will report to the Senior Regional
Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean, also based in San Jose.
The Regional Information Officer will be responsible for collecting
information on the activities of the OFDA/LAC Team, and writing reports on
all aspects of the team's activities. The duties and responsibilities of
the Regional Information Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean will
include:
a) Responding to humanitarian emergencies--natural, technological and
conflict-related disasters--throughout the region. The incumbent will be
required to travel on short notice for periods up to thirty days as a
critical component of U.S. Government disaster and humanitarian response.
As part of this travel, the incumbent will report and occasionally conduct
initial assessments of damage and humanitarian needs, report
recommendations of appropriate relief assistance/interventions, and
facilitate and coordinate actual U.S. Government emergency response
activities;
b) Maintaining liaison with representatives of the national-level
governmental and non-governmental bodies (including international and
regional organizations) responsible for information management during
disaster situations, and facilitate the flow of this information between
the affected country, the USAID/OFDA Regional Office in San Jose, Costa
Rica, and USAID/OFDA Headquarters in Washington, DC.;
c) Reporting on non-response related activities of the OFDA Regional Office
in San Jose. This will include reporting on training activities,
mitigation activities, and institutional/network building activities;
d) Facilitating development of OFDA/LAC Strategic Plan, in coordination
with OFDA/W Information Officer assigned to LAC region ;
e) As assigned, serving as the information coordinator for reporting from
field teams to OFDA/W;
f) Maintaining close relation with USAID Missions, U.S. Embassies, host
governments, and with national, international, and non-governmental
organizations that provide disaster relief and/or engage in disaster
preparedness or mitigation activities in the region. As required, the
incumbent will assist these entities with needs analyses and in identifying
appropriate program content, and shall facilitate liaison with other
regional, international, and UN organizations;
g) Assisting OFDA/LAC in the identification of disaster mitigation measures
that could be linked to disaster response activities, with a view toward
reducing the vulnerability of disaster-prone communities; and
h) Serving on Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DART) or Assessment Teams
when such teams are dispatched from OFDA/W to the LAC region.
a) U.S. citizenship;
b) Current USAID security clearance required;
c) Masters degree in international relations/development or a related field;
d) At least five years relevant work experience with the U.S. Government,
an international organization or a non-governmental organization, of which
at least three years will have been in disaster management or a related field;
e) At least three years of related work experience in one or more countries
in Latin America and/or the Caribbean;
f) Fluency in English and Spanish;
g) Demonstrated ability to produce superior field reporting instruments
such as cables, situation reports, assessment findings, and recommendations;
h) Demonstrated ability to work with the diverse array of individuals and
organizations involved in disaster response and mitigation, including U.S.
Government agencies (e.g., USAID, U.S. State Department, U.S. Department of
Defense, U.S. Center for Disease Control, U.S. Geological Survey),
international organizations, non- governmental organizations, UN agencies,
and host governments;
i) Demonstrated understanding of U.S. Government's role (past and present)
in disaster response and mitigation in Latin America and the Caribbean;
j) Demonstrated understanding of and ability to meet information needs
(operational, situational, and programmatic) and requirements of
USAID/OFDA/Washington, USAID/OFDA/LAC, OFDA Field Teams, and USAID
Missions. At least one year experience working with USAID/OFDA preferred;
k) Demonstrated ability to produce reports and documents with limited
instructions and guidance;
l) Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal
skills; and
m) Demonstrated ability to work effectively and harmoniously in a team
environment.
This is a GS-11/12 equivalent position ($37,744 to $58,808), with prior
experience being the determining factor in determining whether the
position falls in the GS-11 or GS-12 range.
Employee's FICA Contribution
Contribution toward Health & Life Insurance
Pay Comparability Adjustment
Annual Increase
Eligibility for Worker's Compensation
Annual & Sick Leave
(A) Temporary Lodging Allowance (Section 120).
(B) Living Quarters Allowance (Section 130).
(C) Post Allowance (Section 220).
(D) Supplemental Post Allowance (Section 230).
(E) Separate Maintenance Allowance (Section 260).
(F) Education Allowance (Section 270).
(G) Education Travel (Section 280).
(H) Post Differential (Chapter 500).
(I) Payments during Evacuation/Authorized Departure (Section 600), and
(J) Danger Pay (Section 650).
98-25 Defense Base Act (DBA) Coverage and DBA Waiver List
98-24 Use of Compensatory (Comp) Time by PSCs
98-23 Guidance Regarding Classified Contract Security and Contractor
Personnel Security Requirements
98-16 Annual Salary Increase for USPSCs
98-14 Change in Required Application Form for USPSCs
98-10 Personal Services Contracts (PSCs) Annual Health Insurance Costs
98-5 CONTRACTUAL COVERAGE FOR MEDICAL EVACUATION (MEDEVAC) SERVICES
98-3 Class Deviation to 31.205-6(g)(3), Foreign National Severance Pay
Under Professional Services Contracts
97-16 Class Justification for Use of Other Than Full & Open Competition for
Personal Services Contracts with U.S. Citizens Contracted with Locally with CCNs and TCNs
Subject to the Local Compensation Plan, and for Overseas Contracts of $250,000 or Less
97-11 (Corrected) 1997 FICA & Medicate Tax Rates for Personal Services
Contracts
97-6 Contractual Coverage for Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Services
97-3 New USAID Contractor Employee Physical Examination
96-23 Unauthorized Provision in Personal Services Contract
96-19 U. S. Personal Services Contract (USPSC) - Leave
96-11 PSC's Annual Health Insurance Costs
96-8 Determining a Market Value for PSCs Hired Under Appendix D, Handbook 14
94-9 Sunday Pay for U.S. Personal Services Contractors (PSCs)
93-17 Financial Disclosure Requirements Under a Personal Services
Contractor (PSC)
1. Standard Form 171 or Optional Form 612.
**2. Contractor Physical Examination (AID Form 1420-62).
**3. Questionnaire for Sensitive Positions (for National Security) (SF-86),or
**4. Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions (SF-85).
**5. Finger Print Card (FD-258).
NOTE: Form 5 is available from the requirements office.
_______________
* Standardized Regulations (Government Civilians Foreign Areas).
** The forms listed 2 through 5 shall only be completed upon the advice of
the Contracting Officer that an applicant is the successful candidate for the job.