POSITION: Acquisition and Assistance Specialist (Trainee) – 2 positions
Kindly note that Announcement No. AID-008-16 is: Training Grade of FSN 9; Full Performance Grade is FSN 10.
CLOSING DATE: August 12, 2016
WORK HOURS: Full-time; 40 hours/week
SALARY RANGE: FSN-9 (ZMK 193,244.87 p.a. – ZMK 303,619.92 p.a.) / FSN-10 (ZMK 260,481.82 p.a. – ZMK 400, 540.40 p.a.)
BASIC FUNCTION:
The Acquisition and Assistance Specialist (Trainee) will be located in the Office of Acquisition and Assistance (OAA) within USAID/Zambia. The OAA provides Acquisition and Assistance (procurement) support to USAID/Zambia Technical Offices, Development Objective (DO) and Assistance Objective (AO) Teams, in addition to responding to USAID Regional Office requests of the Mission.
The primary function of the Specialist (Trainee) position is to perform a variety of acquisition and assistance duties, including writing grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and other procurement instruments and prepare amendments in support of USAID/Zambia.
The Specialist (Trainee) reviews and recommends approval or revision of requisitions in the Global Acquisition and Assistance System (GLAAS); reviews and recommends approval or revision of scopes of work (SOW); drafts requests for proposal or quote; performs cost and price analysis; analyzes proposals or quotes received; drafts contracts and contract modifications; analyzes contractor-proposed budgets; recommend revisions to various contract provisions; and prepares Memoranda of Negotiation and other required documentation.
The Acquisition and Assistance Specialist (Trainee) maintains and updates contract files and records, prepares Contractor Performance Reports (CPRs), and supports award closeouts. The Specialist (Trainee) also provides guidance related to administrative award modifications. The Specialist (Trainee) will be responsible for carrying out day-to-day activities in an independent manner.
Acquisition and Assistance Specialist positions are part of an established career ladder, beginning at FSN-09 and ending at FSN-10. Attainment of the full-performance grade is contingent on the Specialists successfully completing required training, meeting agreed-upon objectives and milestones, and performing in a Fully Successful (or equivalent) manner. Promotion to the target FSN-10 grade level is not mandatory, and failure to achieve that high level of performance may be the basis for dismissal.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE
a. Education: A Bachelor’s Degree or the equivalent of a four-year US college/university (or equivalency accreditation if a non-US institution) degree in accounting, law, business, finance, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, and/or organization and management is required.
b. Prior Work Experience: Four or more years of progressively responsible experience in acquisition and assistance, development assistance, or a closely related field is required. As this position is part of a recognized and established career ladder, a minimum of one year of this experience must have been gained working in a USAID Contracting/A&A Office at no less than the next lower grade level.
c. Post Entry Training: The Acquisition and Assistance Specialist (Trainee) will be provided formal training; successful completion of all mandatory Federal Acquisition Certification courses leading to successful completion of Contracting (FAC-C) Level II, in accordance with a formal individual development plan (IDP), is required for progression to the FSN-10 level; along with at least a Fully Successful or equivalent performance evaluation. Additionally, in progressing toward the full Specialist level, the Trainee will be provided other formal and/or on-the-job training as considered appropriate, based on availability of course offerings, and availability of funds.
d. Language Proficiency: Level IV (Fluent) English and local language proficiency (if appropriate), both oral and written, is required. Familiarity with additional languages in Office-supported countries is desired.
e. Knowledge: Knowledge of public and/or private-sector business processes, or the ability to quickly gain such knowledge, is required. An understanding of U.S. Federal and USAID Acquisition Regulations, and/or knowledge and understanding of how to execute and administer a complex acquisition portfolio, and/or the ability to quickly gain such understanding, is required, particularly as it relates to acquisition through methods of negotiation, sealed bidding, small purchase procedures, and that result in standard and established contract types. A basic understanding of markets pertaining to program/project/activity requirements for services and commodities, and a good knowledge and understanding of US market and pricing methods.
f. Skills and Abilities: The ability to plan and administer acquisition activities, and provide adequate acquisition assistance and support for agency programs and projects in a timely manner is required. The ability to apply governing contracting regulations, procedures, and policies to assigned acquisition and assistance programs is required. An ability to deal effectively with high-level representatives of the U.S. and regional business community, and with colleagues in USAID Missions and/or host governments throughout the region is required. Skill in the use of most elements of the Microsoft Business suite is required.
Good analytical, negotiating, and time management skills, along with strong proofreading skills and attention to detail, are required. The ability to work calmly, tactfully, and effectively under pressure is essential, as well as the ability to maintain strict CONFIDENTIALITY, and meet all STANDARDS OF CONDUCT/ETHICS STANDARDS in accordance with U.S. law throughout all phases of acquisition and assistance procurement processes.
SUBMIT ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS TO:
EXOZambiaHR@usaid.gov (E-mailed applications required.)
The email subject heading must read:
Application: Acquisition and Assistance Specialist, AID-008-16
Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
