Program Design Specialist V OBOTek TO-015

Program Design Specialist V OBO 15 The Maasai Group LLC

Full Time

Arlington, Virginia, United States

Place of Performance: Washington D.C. (Hybrid-) Telework Eligible up to 60%

SCOPE: The contractor shall serve as the Internet freedom & emerging technology specialist/subject matter expert and assist with the project and program design, development, and oversight. Tasks shall include conducting research and analysis on policy and programmatic trends and consolidating volumes of data to draft concise briefing papers, talking points, and public affairs documents. Supporting outreach activities to the U.S. Congress, media, and other public stakeholders; reviewing quarterly reports and grant documents; assisting in the program and budget tracking; analyzing quantitative and qualitative data related to projects awarded, and programmatic and administrative support to NEA/AC Foreign Affairs officers in tracking and responding to implementation of US foreign policy initiatives.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

· Must be a U.S Citizen.

· This position will require the candidate to have a Top-Secret clearance or can obtain one.

· Education: Master’s or Bachelor’s with three years of experience or 9-10 years of relevant work experience.

· Strong (written and oral) communication and organizational skills.

· Ability to multi-task and be detail-oriented.

· Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with various stakeholders of different backgrounds.

· Ability to exercise sound judgment in a politically sensitive environment.

· Ability to work well with others and productively under pressure.

· Programmatic project design, performance indicator development, and monitoring and evaluation experience.

· Demonstrated work experience in internet freedom, censorship, and emerging technologies.

· 3-4 years of background knowledge and experience working on or in the Middle East/North Africa.

· The Program Design Specialist V OBO 15 contractor(s) are expected to be senior Program Design and Support Specialists with significant knowledge of U.S. Government foreign policies and demonstrated relevant experience.

· The Program Design Specialist V OBO 15 contractor(s) will possess skills exemplifying significant attention to detail, the ability to operate in a dynamic environment, expert policy analysis, and inter-agency coordination, including the following: interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate orally and in writing, problem-solving, and significant organizational leadership.

· The Program Design Specialist V OBO 15 contractor(s) will be able to lead and train the other PDS staff in the program’s operation.

· The Program Design Specialist V OBO 15 contractor(s) will require little day-to-day direction to successfully complete grant and programming projects.

· The Program Design Specialist V OBO 15 contractor(s) will generally obtain approval from the supervisor at project completion with minor revisions and seek guidance from supervisors to assist in resolving challenging issues.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Promotes internet freedom in NEA/AC priority areas and serves as the primary point of contact for NEA/AC on internet freedom and emerging tech issues, focusing on innovative anti-censorship protocols and peer-to-peer technologies.

· Advises NEA on how to design, implement, and adjust programs to incorporate emerging technologies safely and strategically in support of USG assistance strategies and congressional earmarks.

· Develops background information and conducts research for presenting policy positions and discovering opportunities for USG assistance in emerging technologies and advances in access and secure communication technologies–including both fixed and mobile applications—especially regarding censorship, network disruptions, and total internet shutdown scenarios.

· Advises Department and inter-agency officials and staff on assistance coordination issues and problems, including developments in information and communications technologies and policies.

· Maintains visibility on all relevant USG internet freedom programs in the region, keeping NEA informed of key developments and assessing the effects of changes in the communication environment and networks in the region.

· Supports communication of U.S. assistance strategy to Congress, media, NGOs, policymakers, and the information and communications industry.

· Participates in and supports program budget formulation and congressional appropriation process for regional assistance.

· Initiates and evaluates scientific, policy, and technical research, identifying developments that might directly impact policy and project objectives.

· Identifies, initiates, and develops strategies and tactics to implement all assigned projects to ensure that they achieve established objectives and make appropriate contributions to the portfolio.

· Deploys expertise to evaluate the effectiveness of project-related operations in meeting established Bureau, office, and USG foreign policy goals and objectives, recommending appropriate improvements or other policy changes.

· Contributes to and influences the establishment of foreign assistance policy coordination in the inter-agency as it relates to internet freedom and emerging technologies in the region.

· Participates in assigned Department and inter-agency working groups and meetings and makes recommendations to these bodies and to Department management on policies or program management approaches that will assist in achieving Department goals.

· Monitors compliance by implementing partners in information technology (IT) and operational security policies and practices, including the protection of sub-partners, participants and beneficiaries through best practices and other compliance standards, including vetting and secure communications.

· Reports instances of security violations or incidents to the appropriate supervisory officials, including security issues and incidents affecting grantees and others in the communities that NEA actively supports.

· Briefs NEA leadership on developments of interest; drafts memorandums, position papers, and cables on internet freedom and emerging technologies.

· Utilizes expertise to analyze, on a qualitative and/or quantitative basis, the effectiveness of project-related operations in meeting established Bureau, office, and U.S. foreign policy goals and objectives, recommending changes or follow-up, as appropriate.

· Leads the drafting and oversight of solicitations for funding applications related to internet freedom.

· Performs assigned Project Officer duties, including reviewing and recommending action on implementer quarterly performance reports; evaluating award burn rates; reviewing indicator data and work-plan progress; recommending action if performance issues are flagged; ensuring that project information included in AC databases and inventories is accurate and up to date; analyzing information and project performance data and proposals, preparing reports, drafts project proposals, memos, and other documents for senior officers.

· Coordinates effectively with other NEA/AC members by sharing information, facilitating cross-portfolio cooperation, and sharing of best practices, and supporting other officers to accomplish team tasks as requested.

DECISION MAKING/JUDGEMENT:

· This position involves projects and/or assignments requiring considerable decision-making authority regarding procedures, processes, plans, and schedules. The ability to work independently or in a team setting is necessary.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

· Must be able to use a keyboard to enter and retrieve data.

· Must be able to lift 5-20 lbs.

· Must be able to remain in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods.

· Must be able to move about to accomplish tasks or move from one worksite to another as required throughout the day.

· CONUS, OCONUS, and Local travel may be required throughout the year.

Telework

Due to the potentially sensitive nature of the work involved, telework is provided on an approval basis and subject to the client’s operational needs. Some work must be done on a classified project or system. Classified or other work defined by the client must be done in person, even if telework for that day was previously approved.