Careers

Program Analyst

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The program analyst provides support to technical staff in the USAID Bureau for Food Security (BFS), and will perform a variety of both complex and routine administrative and analytical duties. Working in support of the BFS Front Office and Communications and Engagement Team, the incumbent will report directly to the Communications and Engagement Team Lead. The program analyst serves as a key link between the BFS, other USAID bureaus, the USAID Front Office, and interagency partners. The incumbent will work closely with other members within the various offices across BFS and the Agency to coordinate and assist with briefing materials, scheduling requests, and other internal correspondence. Duties may also be administrative, including scheduling meetings and maintaining program files and databases, to more complex analytical-type tasks such as collecting, compiling, and analyzing data for various program documents and designing and maintaining spreadsheets in support of Congressional and internal correspondence tracking systems. The program analyst ranks tasks in order of importance and impending deadlines, and handles several tasks simultaneously. The incumbent is also expected to become familiar with office/division technical issues and policies. Because BFS leads USAID’s efforts to advance the goals of Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative, the incumbent must also develop a working knowledge of Feed the Future activities and an understanding of related interagency processes. The incumbent must develop a working knowledge of USAID policies, processes, and guidelines, BFS and Feed the Future priorities, and corporate practices and procedures. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Serves as primary point of contact in BFS to manage various program documents and internal correspondence -- including memos, briefing materials, scheduling requests, waivers, amendments, project authorization documents, action memos, cables, Congressional Notifications, Technical Notifications, and requests, ensuring that all documentation is complete and in compliance with USAID rules, regulations, and standards. Works closely with USAID Executive Secretariat and responds to daily requests for deliverables originating in the USAID Front Office.
• Provides timely response and follow-ups to various program document and internal correspondence needs. This includes routing requests, tracking/incorporating edits, coordinating/tracking clearances, providing support to technical staff in drafting material, and organizing responses to ensure exceptional quality of final submitted material.
• Coordinates with technical staff and partners, as needed, to ensure that final content is completed in a timely manner and submitted as required. This includes liaising and following up regularly with both technical and senior staff as appropriate and advising BFS staff of relevant deadlines, required materials, and proper procedures for seeing tasks through from start to finish.
• Attends meetings, workshops, and conferences as needed to remain apprised of new developments and emerging issues related to food security, agricultural development, and Feed the Future.
• Supports the BFS Front Office and Communications and Engagement Team with preparation for upcoming meetings and events, including scheduling meetings, reserving rooms, preparing documents, and taking notes during meetings.
• Researches, plans, analyzes, and organizes information and content for use in briefings, publications, and reports as needed.
• Maintains well-organized document tracking systems and program files. Assists in the design and maintenance of spreadsheets/databases and related processes to support these systems as needed.
• Develops and maintains critical intra-bureau, intra-agency, and interagency relationships in order to help facilitate document review/clearance processes.
• Collects and compiles data for use in regular and ad hoc reporting on the status of programs from various sources such as cooperating agency reports, USAID reports and documents, and technical staff. Ensures that schedules and deadlines are met.
• Supports collection and distribution of material to USAID missions, USAID/W offices, host country institutions, and cooperating agencies.
• Provides ongoing communications support on a variety of tasks as needed, including creating information packets, drafting fact sheets and other materials (either directly or in coordination with staff and partners), contributing content for online and social media platforms, assisting with dissemination of information, supporting development of presentations and speeches for Front Office staff and others in BFS, and assisting with coordination/implementation of events and exhibit booths.
• Learns branding requirements of USAID and Feed the Future, supports branding compliance, and answers questions regarding implementation. • Provides short-term backstopping support as requested for BFS staff.
• Provides technical assistance as requested or assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, and/or EXPERIENCE
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. The position requires a college degree -- preferably in English, Communications, Journalism, or Public Relations – and professional office experience. Requires proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office with an emphasis on Excel spreadsheet skills, PowerPoint, Internet, and e-mail applications. Experience in the use of database applications is recommended. Candidate must possess strong attention to detail and have exceptional organizational skills. Candidate must demonstrate very strong writing, editing, and organizational skills. Candidate must possess excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks. Candidate must be willing to multi-task and manage several ongoing priorities under tight deadline pressure. Candidate must be adept at synthesizing information and problem-solving with limited guidance. Secret Security Clearance is required and must be obtained.

PREFERRED SKILLS:
• Interest and knowledge of food security, agricultural development, economic growth, and development issues, programs, and organizations. • Demonstrated initiative, self-confidence, creativity, professionalism, oral and written communication skills, and extremely strong interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively with a wide range of people as a team player.
• Outstanding multi-tasking and time management skills.
• Ability to remain focused, calm, and collected under deadline pressure.

LANGUAGE SKILLS
Must have excellent writing skills in English. Oral and written communications skills and the ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to reports and financial tracking systems. Must be proficient with basic financial management and budgeting concepts. Must have excellent Excel skills.

REASONING ABILITY
Ability to apply common-sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Must have excellent analytic skills and reasoning ability. The incumbent should be able to work under moderate supervision and bring a proactive, problem-solving approach to carrying out duties. The successful candidate will demonstrate initiative and an eagerness to learn technical and program management.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS None. PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.