About Us

International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI), a U.S. based international development consulting company established in 1987, has worked in over 100 countries and implemented over 300 projects. IBTCI serves government agencies, private sector companies, and several donor agencies. IBTCI specializes in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) and institutional support across many areas and sectors including, but not limited to, conflict and crisis, democracy and governance, agriculture, economic growth, food security, education, environment, and global health.

Job Title: USAID/Haiti/PCPS Program Design Advisor

Department/Location: USAID Haiti Program Office

Type: Consultancy

Clearance Required: Facilities Access Clearance

Overview: The Program Design Advisor will undertake duties and responsibilities in the following areas:
A) Strategic Planning and Project Design; B) Development Policy Advice and Guidance; and C) Implementation Support.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties/Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Strategic Planning and Activity Design (40%)- The Program Design Advisor provides expert advice and support to technical teams in activity design, documentation, and management related to USAID/Haiti’s development programs. In this capacity, s/he:
  • Serves as the Mission’s subject matter expert on project and activity design to advise and guide strategic planning including the work of PCPS staff and technical teams on strategic analysis, implementation of USAID/Haiti’s CDCS, and the Agency’s program cycle.
  • Supports the continued alignment of the Mission’s portfolio to the CDCS/SF structure and approved results framework.
  • Supports Mission review of proposed projects and advises on activity design based on the Mission strategy, results framework, and expert project development analysis.
  • Provides input to ensure that Concept Papers, required analyses and Project/Activity approvals are in compliance with USAID ADS guidelines and coordinates closely with staff to ensure clearance of documents as required.
  • Advises the PCPS and Front Offices on critical key issues/constraints affecting Haiti programs. The incumbent also identifies actual or potential implementation problem areas and recommends corrective action, with particular emphasis on helping to identify areas of analytical inquiry that should be pursued to strengthen activity implementation.
  • Provides programmatic management input on high visibility projects, consulting with professionals in various sectors.
  • Promotes collaboration by technical and PCPS teams, including interagency collaboration on USG priorities.
• Development Policy Advice and Guidance (40%)- The Program Design Advisor provides expert advice on a variety of strategy issues, such as the Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) and/or Strategic Framework (SF), to the Program Office Director and Front Office. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • Advising on new developments in Haiti and their implications for the CDCS/SF – strategic direction and implementation. S/he identifies and analyzes barriers and issues to policy implementation, etc.
  • Assisting the Mission to ensure that the CDCS continues to be data driven and evidence-based.
  • Providing support to the Program Office Director on the application of development paradigms and aid effectiveness principles with host country and international partners on matters of broad USG interest.
  • Supporting new strategic/political initiatives that may arise such as but not limited to the inclusion of Haiti into Global Fragility Act countries.
  • In coordination with mission staff, undertaking planning and coordination with USAID/W on reviews, negotiation, and approvals of the USAID Haiti budget.
  • Coordinating and providing inputs into interagency reporting documents, cables or other materials as requested by the mission, Embassy, and USAID/Washington.
  • Preparing recommendations for implementation of new processes, systems, procedures or organizational change; and assisting management in monitoring the implementation of new processes, procedures, timelines and systems as related to helping the Mission function more inclusively, efficiently and effectively.
  • Supporting the training of both new and local personnel in the application of new processes, systems, and procedures. In coordination with mission supervisors, involving staff extensively in the work of the unit, exposing them to increasing levels of responsibility, substance and independence. This may include mentoring staff as needed.
  • Guiding staff in the strategic planning process, results frameworks, and related tasks for producing the strategic plan and CDCS/SF or other such strategic plans. The Program Design Advisor provides mentoring of staff in developing the overall strategy and CDCS/SF as a part of the Agency’s project cycle.
  • Supporting and advocating for donor coordination and strategic engagement to leverage development resources with external partners, including non-traditional, local, and new partners.
  • Preparing and obtaining internal USG approvals for new Development Objective Agreement (DOAG) documents and amendments with the Government of Haiti. This requires excellent problem-solving skills to resolve unforeseen complications.
  • Assisting the Mission to pursue more alliances with corporations, foundations, etc. and seeking greater Haitian contribution and ownership in assistance programs as directly related to the implementation of the CDCS and/or SF.
  • Interprets and advises on guidance for implementing partners to ensure regulations are followed and/or actions are put in place to mitigate deficiencies. The Program Design Advisor reviews compliance deficiencies and tracks and monitors actions to address anomalies in a timely manner.
  • Coordinates with technical offices, USAID/W and/or regional environmental officers to review and approve IEEs, and ensure environmental compliance and reporting in alignment with Agency guidelines.
• Implementation Support (20%)- The incumbent supports the Mission’s implementation and reporting requirements by providing advice on planning, budgeting and performance reporting processes as follows:
  • Provides expertise on budgeting of foreign assistance resources and applies an understanding of budget cycle and resource management processes including legislative requirements to optimally align activity and project budget resources with strategy and policy objectives. Analyzes budget data in order to propose budget solutions to pipeline issues, changes in the country context, USG priorities and programmatic performance.
  • Enhances project and program monitoring by leading the implementation of change management. The incumbent advises on Agency performance management procedures and assists in applying learning to project design and implementation.
  • Contributes to the Mission’s assessment of program objectives and the review of performance progress. S/he will play a key role in the Mission’s performance reviews, including the support of Portfolio Reviews of each technical team and any special performance reviews.
  • Supports the selection, recruitment, mentoring, recognition and retention of PCPS Office personnel. Mentors and helps focus professional/technical staff throughout the Mission to develop and implement impactful programs.
  • Advises on the preparation of mandated reports to Washington by supporting coordination of overall preparations and submission of the annual Operational Plan (OP), Performance Plan and Report (PPR), Mission Resource Request (MRR), Congressional Budget Justification (CBJ), and Congressional Notifications.
  • Advises on outreach and communication with various external entities including the Embassy Public Diplomacy Section to support development and foreign policy objectives. The incumbent articulates Agency policies and US foreign policy, communicates well with people at all levels and effectively facilitates discussions and/or meetings. This may include high-level briefings and presentations to various internal and external audiences on all strategic and programmatic issues.
  • Mentors across cultures and across disciplinary specialties, skillfully wielding influence where there is no direct line of authority, and provides rapid assessment of opportunities and constraints.
  • Responds flexibly and capably to a wide range of work-related requests such as: (1) U.S. Embassy and USAID/Washington requests; 2) stakeholder requests for program information; 3) advice on unsolicited proposals; and 4) carrying out ad hoc assignments that are not inherently government work, as dictated by unforeseen operational requirements at the discretion of the Program Office.

Supervision Controls:

The incumbent will be supervised by the Office Director and/or their designate. The supervisor will provide broad direction and outline work objectives. The incumbent will have significant decision-making ability and latitude in planning and executing agreed assignments by the supervisor. S/he will have significant ability to make time sensitive technical decisions in consultation with the supervisor. The incumbent is expected to work both independently and as a part of a team with little or no direction as well as support senior office management. The incumbent also has the authority to prioritize his/her own workload in undertaking his/her duties.

Deliverables

Project GIS Maps: March 2024

Project Design Guidance: April 2024

Program Office Resource/Template Page 2024

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in design, planning, and programming with international agencies.
• At least five years of experience managing teams within a development context.
• Experience leading coordination within and outside USG, especially building relationships with partners in the public and private sectors, host country nationals, bilateral and multilateral donors and/or NGOs is required.
• In-depth technical knowledge of principles and practices of development and working across teams; and planning, programming, activity design, program implementation and monitoring is required.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in program management, international development or related field is required.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience working in Haiti is desirable but not required.
• Professional knowledge of a broad range of program planning, activity design, implementation, and staff development.
• Knowledge of major development challenges in Haiti cultural/work environments is highly desirable.

Other Pertinent Information:
Strong cross-cultural and interpersonal skills are required to establish and maintain productive working relationships with staff and counterparts both inside and outside of USAID. The incumbent must also demonstrate strong technical, analytical, and quantitative skills for programming and activity design. S/he must be able to work in a demanding, complex interagency and often high-stress environment to meet deadlines and ensure consensus in submitting quality work products to USG. Must be a self-starter with strong advocacy, diplomatic and leadership abilities.

Working Environment: Work is typically performed in an office environment. Currently the company is allowing for hybrid work in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area. This can be updated by the company.

Physical Requirements: This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear, see, and lift small objects up to 20 lbs.

Supervisory Responsibility: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Travel: International travel may be required and may include travel to fragile and/or conflict-prone zones.

Work Authorization: Candidate must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

About the Organization:

IBTCI has been in business since 1987. We specialize in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL), Institutional Support (IS), Financial & Risk Management (FRM), Supply Chain Management & Procurement (SCMP); Social & Behavior Change (SBC) and Capacity Building. We provide these services across many sectors including, but not limited to, agriculture, resilience & food security, conflict & crisis, democracy & governance, economic growth & trade, education & human capacity development, energy & infrastructure, environment & climate change, global health & WASH and humanitarian and disaster assistance. At IBTCI, our colleagues are encouraged to collaborate and be part of the solution while getting the tools and guidance needed to grow and support our clients’ missions.

IBTCI is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identification, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran, or any other classification protected by applicable anti-discrimination laws. We prohibit and do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability, or unable to use the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact the Talent Acquisition team at TalentAcquisition@ibtci.com (Do not send your resume to this account, for consideration please apply in our career page, https://careers.ibtci.com/jobs).