Vacancy Announcement: Project Development Specialist (PDS)
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) seeks to hire a Project Development Specialist (PDS) to work in the Program Development and Analysis (PDA) Office of USAID/Kenya.
The position is open to qualified Kenya citizens and is based in Nairobi.
The Program Development and Analysis (PDA) Office is responsible for broad program support, coordination and specific management functions.
The PDA Office serves as the principal advisor to the USAID/Kenya Director on:
(a) social, economic and development issues;
(b) strategic planning, programming and budgeting;
(c) program and project development;
(d) monitoring and evaluation of the Mission portfolio; and
(e) program implementation of activities that fall outside of the Mission’s sectoral programs.
The incumbent serves as the Mission’s Project Development Specialist and is the USAID/Kenya official responsible for providing substantive advice and support for the development and implementation of all programs/projects across sectors within the USAID/ Kenya portfolio.
He/she provides expert advice on all aspects of the development and implementation of projects and program and performs the full range of consultative, information gathering, conceptualization, designs, development implementation, monitoring and evaluative services of broad scope and complexity.
Additionally the incumbent ensures that all USAID/Kenya activities are designed and implemented in keeping with the Agency’s rules, regulations, procedures and best practices.
The incumbent establishes effective working relationships with the highest level USAID, Government of Kenya and other donor officials as well as representatives of non-governmental organisations and the private sector.
The incumbent must be highly knowledgeable in the substantive and administrative elements of U.S. Government assistance mechanisms and procedures and be capable of working independently with minimal direction.
The incumbent serves as the alter ego the Mission’s Deputy Director and Chief of the PDA Office, and in his/her absence, takes full responsibility for the provisions of project/program-related assistance to Mission Offices.
The incumbent will supervise an Assistant Project Development Specialist and a Procurement Specialist.
Required Qualifications:
Any application that does not meet the minimum requirements stated below will not be evaluated. Only short listed applicants will be contacted.
If you have not been contacted within one month from the closing date of this advertisement, please consider your application unsuccessful.
Education: A Master’s degree in the social sciences, international relations/development, public affairs/administration, business administration, law, or a related field is required.
Experience: A minimum of 6 to 8 years of professional international development/public administration experience in an international setting is required, including program planning and design (e.g. project conceptualization documentation, preparation of activity approval documents, strategic planning, procurement planning) and program monitoring and implementation support (e.g. review of procurement documentation, implementation letters).
Speech writing experience and knowledge of African development issues, and supervisory experience, preferably in the African context is an advantage.
Experience with the GOK, U.S. Government (USG), international donors, or other development organizations is an advantage. (40%)
Knowledge: The incumbent must be able to obtain, analyze, and evaluate complex data and prepare precise and accurate analyses, written reports and oral briefing of information received.
The incumbent must be able to develop and maintain an extensive range of contacts and working relationships with senior GOK officials, donors, offices of the USG, NGOs and the private sector. (30%)
Abilities: Demonstrated supervisory capacity working with subordinates and multi-functional teams, overseeing workflow and diverse inputs to produce a high quality final product is required.
The ability to research and gather information from multiple technical sources, to analyze and transform it into well-written, easily understood, non-bureaucratic prose, and meeting short deadlines is required.
The candidate must be able to work independently and manage competing priorities under pressure. A broad understanding of development issues is required, preferably in an African context. (30%)
Those fulfilling the requirements of the position should submit their application, together with a detailed curriculum vitae/resume and all relevant attachments to:
The Human Resources Office,
USAID, P.O. Box 629, Village Market 00621,
Nairobi, Kenya
Re: Project Development Specialist, PDA, USAID/Kenya
Applications must reach the USAID HR office by COB November 06, 2009.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
USAID Kenya Jobs: Project Development Specialist (PDS)
