Serves as the Mission's principal expert and authoritative source on foreign assistance coordination.
Exercising comprehensive oversight and accountability of foreign assistance programs, ensuring the proper use of taxpayer resources through compliance with federal regulations, Department policies, and fiduciary standards.
Bears direct responsibility for identifying and preventing fraud, waste, or mismanagement.
Leads the Assistance Coordination Unit and directs a team of professional staff including one LE Coordinator and one LE Project Management Specialist, with responsibility for expanding team capacity as mission requirements grow. Establishes performance standards, conducts performance evaluations, provides mentorship, and makes recommendations on personnel actions.
Coordinates all USG foreign assistance to Moldova, including energy, health and security cooperation – to include military, border, and cyber security.
Lead Embassy response to mandatory foreign assistance processes, including the Congressional Budget Justification, Performance Plan Review (PPR), Operations Plan, and budget requests.
Manage assigned programs and establish systematic methods of program execution, evaluation or advocacy; liaise with co-donors and EUR/ACE on funding. Serve as a Grant Officer as needed.
Lead special projects that advance office and team initiatives.
Provide technical leadership in drafting written materials and coordinate efforts to inform stakeholders.
Independently formulates comprehensive strategies and policy recommendations to advance Mission objectives and Department priorities using foreign assistance.
Exercises expert judgment in developing innovative approaches to complex, unprecedented assistance challenges where established guidelines may not exist.
Ensure project designs are realistic, achievable, measurable, and accountable, and align with the America First Agenda.
Apply and adapt qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques to address complex program challenges where information may be incomplete or conflicting.
Draft materials to prepare officials for engagements and handle meeting arrangements, notes, challenges, and follow-up.
Independently evaluates and makes authoritative recommendations on viability of options and alternatives to existing foreign assistance.
Anticipate potential policy problems, assess their impact and reaction, and ensure that policy recommendations are consistent with USG and Department objectives.
Ensure that the team meets deadlines for inquiries, correspondence, and reports.
Provide expert advisory services to Embassy leadership, interagency partners, and implementing organizations on complex program design and policy.
Lead and direct regular meetings with USG foreign assistance community and support USG efforts to coordinate with the donor community including foreign missions and donor agencies, such as the EU, UN, World Bank and others.
Serves as the principal representative of the USG at conferences, workshops, and meetings. Exercises expert judgment in capturing key decisions, action items, and policy implications, and ensures timely dissemination and follow-up with relevant stakeholders.
Navigate organizational conflicts and competing priorities to build consensus and secure acceptance of recommendations.
Develops innovative solutions to novel and complex assistance challenges where precedents are limited or non-existent.
Acts as control officer for visits and delegations in areas of responsibility. Assist with various administrative duties and visitor scheduling as necessary.
Other duties as assigned.
II. Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Leads the ACOORD, overseeing section operations to include establishing workplans, evaluating performance, and providing constructive feedback to subordinates. Obtains and maintains GO certifications.
Leads ACOORD’s coordination within Embassy Chisinau, ensuring foreign assistance is actively considered by Embassy stakeholders to support achievement of bilateral and Department objectives. Proactively works within the Embassy, Washington, and local stakeholders to develop new foreign assistance ideas aligned with Department priorities.
Establishes systematic methods to support coordination and reporting on assistance programs execution, evaluation, and advocacy. Facilitates interagency meetings including with other partner agencies as appropriate. Independently handles meeting notes, presentations, and tracks follow-up as needed. Drafts and participates in the negotiation with Moldovan officials of relevant bilateral agreements. Briefs Embassy leadership, as required.
Independently analyzes complex policy options and formulates comprehensive strategies for achieving short or long-term USG policy goals. Serves as principal advisor to senior staff on assistance policy matters. Proposes options and alternatives to current or proposed policies. Compiles, analyzes, and presents data to senior officials for use in policy formulation and program decision-making, exercising expert judgment in recommending courses of action. Provides analysis and advice and on all aspects of project and initiative development and oversight under ACOORD’s areas of responsibility. Develops action plans to maximize USG capability and impact. Provides policy expertise on related USG assistance priorities and facilitates communication between teams.
Exercises expert-level analytical judgment in researching, reviewing, analyzing, and interpreting developments affecting current or planned foreign assistance activities. Takes leadership rolein interagency working groups and meetings and makes recommendations to these bodies and to management on new policies or approaches that will assist in achieving policy objectives using foreign assistance.
Work with all Mission agencies and non-resident programs to coordinate assistance efforts in line with Mission priorities. The incumbent keeps Post aware of all U.S. Government (USG) assistance programs and works to integrate them with Mission priorities, maintaining information on each agency’s assistance programs. He or she will collect, organize and package information on USG assistance to respond to requests from Washington and Embassy leadership.
Directs and manages the comprehensive foreign assistance budget and reporting process, coordinating all Mission agencies to prepare required responses for the annual Mission Resource Request, Strawman, Congressional Budget Justification, Annual Budget Reviews, Operation Plan Report, Performance Plan and Report, and Integrated Country Strategy, as applicable. He or she will inform the Front Office regarding Congressional decisions such as earmarks and work with Mission agencies to maximize Mission priorities within those constraints. The ACOORD Chief will relay Post priorities and relevant information to EUR/ACE and other policymakers regarding USG assistance.
Coordinates, drafts, and contributes to reporting and tracking of programs. Prepares presentations on activities for use by the leadership using a variety of software and data visualization tools. Drafts and contributes to agendas and preparatory memoranda program meetings. Organizes interagency and Embassy consultations for current and potential partners on visits to Moldova.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Marketing Statement: THIS IS NON-STATUS, NON-PERMANENT POSITION. YOU DO NOT ACQUIRE A COMPETITIVE OR EXCEPTED SERVICE STATUS FROM THIS POSITION.
Duration of Appointment: 1 year renewable for up to 4 additional years.
Key Requirements:
U.S. Citizenship is required.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance.
Incumbent will be subject to random drug testing.
*Incumbent must be willing to relocate to Chisinau, MOLDOVA.
Candidate Selection: Selections may be made as early as one week after the announcement is posted. Offer will be made based upon application meeting the minimum requirements for the position. Selectee must be in Washington, D.C., by their Entry On Duty (EOD) date.
Salary: FS-02 Equivalent ($125,574 - $184,409).
For award, NEA-SCA/EX will negotiate for this contract based on the following:
- Entry-level salary is at Step 1 of the grade range assigned to solicitation.
- Consideration given for experience relevant specifically to the solicitation requirements.
- Level and extent of experience dictates the salary level within the grade range.
Veteran's Preference: Veteran's preference is not applicable to this position.
**The applicant’s resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must highlight work experience and professional certifications related to this opportunity. If selected for an interview applicant may be required to provide a writing sample.**