Anticorruption Program Advisor (ACB)

Job Description

Job Description

Anticorruption Program Advisor

BACKGROUND

The U.S. Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy and the Secretary of State is the President's principal foreign policy advisor. The Department of State's mission is to advance U.S. national security interests, fight terrorism, protect U.S. interests abroad, and implement foreign policy initiatives that build a freer, prosperous, and secure world.

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) keeps Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice and fairness by strengthening their police, courts, and corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores.

INL's Office of Aviation and Cross Border Programs (INL/ACB) leads the Bureau's cross-border and cross-regional program management in the areas of aviation, counternarcotics, natural resource crimes, illicit finance and complex criminal investigations, and the International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEA). INL/ACB is responsible for working on these issues with various counterparts across the Department of State and within the U.S. interagency, including the White House, Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of the Treasury. In addition, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector also form key partners in INL/ACB efforts. INL/ACB manages an annual foreign assistance budget of over $150 million.

INL/ACB's Illicit Finance and Complex Criminal Investigations portfolio plays a leadership role in INL, the Department, and the interagency community in combatting anticorruption and related transnational criminal issues. The portfolio's principal roles are 1) domestic policy development through interagency and intra-department coordination, 2) development of and participation in multilateral processes and other diplomatic and public diplomacy initiatives, and 3) development and management of funded projects and activities to advance our policy goals. The team can also collaborate with or assist INL regional offices on development and implementation of bilateral programs with an anticorruption component. The team works closely with the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Department of the Treasury, and other partners, in several key international efforts, with a focus on adoption of international standards, fostering international cooperation, processes to promote concrete follow-up action, and capacity building. This work is responsible for the coordination of all anticorruption law enforcement training and technical assistance activities undertaken by INL/ACB, and serves as the key focal point for the Bureau on anticorruption issues and as a resource for expertise to the Department and various interagency working groups.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

USGI is seeking an Anticorruption Program Advisor to serve as an anticorruption advisor for the Office of Aviation and Cross Border Programs (INL/ACB) and provide assistance in aspects of these programs. The Advisor's work will focus on anticorruption aspects of INL's training and technical assistance programs with international organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and U.S. law enforcement agencies and will engage in each of the other aspects of the team's work upon request. The Advisor will provide program support to the design and implementation of criminal justice sector capacity building programming, support oversight and management responsibilities for existing programs, and facilitating the administrative responsibilities for obligating the anticorruption foreign assistance funds. The Advisor will provide support on other INL/ACB teams and in other INL program offices.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitor a portfolio of projects, gauging progress against negotiated objectives and implemented program adjustments based on reports and assessments
• Support INL/ACB and Bureau representatives within the interagency, intergovernmental meetings, and outside organizations on issues related to anticorruption, presenting (in conjunction with FTE staff) on Bureau and Department priorities as needed
• Conduct self-directed academic and technical research on subjects relevant to the topic of countering corruption. Programs will span multiple fiscal years and will be implemented in multiple regions, constrained by notification requirements
• Ensure program performance while adhering to relevant notification and financial parameters of specific fiscal years. The incumbent will also oversee and monitor the expenditures of prior fiscal years to ensure full liquidation of obligated funds
• Serve as expert on innovative and impactful capacity building and reform programmatic approaches. The incumbent will have sufficient experience and expertise to manage specialized anticorruption programs, designing and developing strategic objectives, analyzing monitoring and evaluation reports, and overseeing adjustments to implementation
• Support Grants Officer Representatives (GOR) and Contracting Officer Representatives (COR) on the team with multiple agreements
• Provide support on all aspects of the budget and obligation process, such as justification, formulation, notification, proposal solicitation, and obligation, supporting AORs, GORs, or CORs, as needed
• Actively oversees the implementation of centrally managed programs funded across multiple years, including enhancing INL/ACB's approach to monitoring and evaluation for anticorruption programs
• Perform at the direction of the Branch Chief on multiple programs in support of Bureau objectives. Aid in reviewing budgets and providing program estimates, evaluates program effectiveness in relation to the funding expended, and aid in assessing USG law enforcement assistance activities to determine funding requirements and whether funding is warranted and available
• Develop a portfolio of programs that collectively counters the transnational criminal threat, accounting for and in support of existing programming efforts within the Bureau, Department, and interagency
• Develop and maintains the greatest level of visibility on the collective programming environment through direct outreach, participation in working groups and professional organizations, and convening subject matter experts. The incumbent's analytical papers and program design will reflect an understanding of the complex problem set and drivers of corruption, and the unique role INL/ACB plays in support of relevant Bureau, Department, and U.S. government geographic and policy priorities
• Aid in conducting program review and assessment of new and ongoing programs and makes recommendations based on findings. All final decision making is completed by FTE staff
• Liaise with other internal DoS and external donor entities, as well as Think Tanks and NGOs to identify and share information on innovative and effective technical assistance activities
• Coordinate with multilateral policy teams within INL/ACB, to align programming consistent with U.S. policies pursued through international fora such as UN, OSCE, OECD, OAS, ASEAN, ECOWAS, sanctions programs against international actors, and other relevant initiatives
• Within the Bureau, coordinate programs within INL and across the State Department to ensure consistency across Department actions, travel to assess programs, and provide briefings at U.S. embassies on program objectives
• Cultivate and develop contacts with senior officers in partnering federal agencies, including Department of the Treasury and the United States Secret Service to maintain appropriate visibility on law enforcement operational programs, objectives, and techniques relevant to formulating hypotheses and programmatic design to counter transnational criminal operations

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• U.S. Citizen
• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• Two to four years' experience in relevant field
• Demonstrated knowledge of specific country issues, including specialized knowledge of international narcotics and law enforcement, or similar type programs sufficient to ensure project work is in compliance with management policies and procedures and in conformance with the Foreign Assistance Act and other regulatory procedures and guidelines
• Proven knowledge of Federal policies and procedures including methods of providing assistance and the Federal budget process
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with a wide range of players
• Demonstrated ability to provide advice, guidance, and consultation with regard to the interpretation and application of analysis
• Experience drafting US government reports and documents, such as the INCSR, embassy cables, and other documents
• Demonstrated knowledge of processes related to project management and foreign assistance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated two to four years' experience in foreign affairs, foreign assistance, and/or public policy or closely related fields
• Demonstrated knowledge of foreign affairs
• Proficiency in English grammar, punctuation, usage, and style and able to edit in a form suitable for lay audiences
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships and provide excellent customer service
• Demonstrated skill and ability in managing multiple concurrent activities of varying complexity, including changing priorities and short turn-around times, while maintaining a high degree of quality of work product
• Demonstrated proficiency in computer and web-based applications including Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat

REPORTING AND RELATIONSHIPS

The Advisor will report to his/her contracting company and will receive direction from the Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), and/or Government Technical Monitor (GTM).

LEVEL OF EFFORT

Hours for this position will be the core hours of the Department of State: Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week, 8 hours per day. The level of effort for this position is equivalent to Program Advisor/Specialist Level 2.

TELEWORK

If applicable, telework is authorized only with prior INL Office Director, Contracting Officer, and Contracting Officer's Representative approval, in accordance with Department of State and INL policies.

SUPPLEMENTAL HOURS

Supplemental hours for this position are authorized in accordance with the award and shall not exceed the designated ceiling.

POSITION LOCATION

The physical work location is INL/ACB office at State Annex 1 (SA-01), Columbia Plaza, 2401 E Street, NW, Washington, DC.

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT

DOS will provide office space, computer, phone, and other required equipment and supplies necessary to complete all job requirements. DOS will own and maintain all furnished property.

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENT

A Secret security clearance is required for this position; however, the Contractor may begin work with an interim Secret security clearance.

TRAVEL

Travel is authorized for this position in accordance with the award and shall not exceed the designated ceiling.

TRAINING

This BPA Call provides for mandatory training for DOS-specific equipment, systems, and processes (reference 13 FAM 300 Agency Mandated Training), which shall be completed promptly and in accordance with Department policy. These trainings do not require INL Contracting Officer (CO) approval.

Travel related training (i.e. FACT (CT650), HTSOS-C etc.), may be required, if applicable. The Contractor's Program Manager (PM) shall coordinate with INL/EX/GAPP to determine if applicable and if INL (CO)'s approval is required prior. All other training requires INL CO approval.

USGI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.