USAID Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist at the U.S. Embassy

The U.S. Mission to Nigeria comprises of the Embassy in Abuja, FCT, and the Consulate General in Lagos. U.S. Consulate General Lagos is the Mission’s representative to the Nigerian people in the southern region.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: USAID Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist (Current Mission Employees only) (72062022R10004)

Announcement Number: Abuja-2021-140
Location: Abuja
Promotion Potential: LE-12
Series / Grade: LE - 4005 12
Hiring Agency: Embassy Abuja
Work Schedule: Full-time - Work Schedule is 40hrs per week
Telework Eligible: No

Overview

• Hiring Path: Open to the public
• Who May Apply / Clarification From the Agency:
  • For definitions use URL www.usaid.gov/ads/policy/glossary
  • Current Mission Nigeria Employees Only.
• Security Clearance Required: Public Trust - Background Investigation
• Appointment Type: Permanent
• Appointment Type Details: Five (5) years renewable, estimated to start on or after December 2021
• Supervisory Position: Yes
• Relocation Expenses Reimbursed: No
• Travel Required: Not Required.

Summary

• The Specialist provides technical assistance necessary to execute a full range of procurement actions in the (USAID / Nigeria) Office of Acquisition and Assistance.
• The support includes but is not limited to complex multi-million-dollar grants and cooperative agreements, contracts, task orders, delivery orders, purchase orders, modifications to these instruments and other miscellaneous administrative actions.

Duties
Conducts Procurement Action Planning Work (10%):

• Applies highly specialized contracting skills and knowledge involving the development of comprehensive planning strategies and appropriate long-range plans for new or complex actions many of which are structured with a prime contractor/recipient having two or more subcontractors/sub-grantees and requiring substantial contract administration.
• Advises the technical staff/Activity Managers in the preparation of required descriptions of the proposed activity including statements of work, specifications, program descriptions, program announcements, budget, evaluation criteria, etc.
• Provides backstopping services to technical personnel by advising on resolution of special procurement problems associated with waiver requests, expediting of deliveries, apparent overlapping of responsibilities and resolution of claims.
• Represents the OAA/Nigeria as a full team member of one or more technical office teams. • Coordinates proposal/application review panels and advises technical staff on procurement issues. Serves on project review committees.
• Advises the technical staff in the preparation of procurement planning documents.
• Provides counseling and training to new project/technical staff on USAID regulations and Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) requirements.

Performs Mentoring Responsibilities (20%):

•  Provides mentoring and training of one Cooperating Country National Personal Service Contractor (CCNPSC) Acquisition and Assistance Specialist.
• Provides on-the-job training to less senior OAA/Nigeria staff and interns and assists the supervisory Contracting Officer in selecting appropriate developmental assignments for them; and reviews the work of the CCNPSC.
• Organizes the preparation of annual work objectives with the Contracting Officer; follows-up on the progress of the less senior OAA employees; recommends training courses for the OAA staff for FAC-C compliance, etc.

Analyzes Sources for Services Procured and Prepares Solicitations (20%):
Pre-award Expertise and Services:

• Develops new or innovative acquisition plans, source selection plans, and contract/grants terms and conditions that serve as models for future procurements.
• Prepares and issues solicitations for United States and Third Country National Personal services contracts (USPSCs/TCNPSCs), as well as contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements.
• Advises the technical staff of the selection of appropriate acquisition and assistance mechanisms to accomplish agency or mission programmatic objectives; and makes choice of instruments recommendations to the Contracting Officer.
• Reviews Modified Acquisition and Assistance Documents (MAARDS) requesting acquisition or assistance requests for complex services or programs.

Negotiates Procurement Services (25%):
Pre-award Expertise and Services:

• Evaluates proposals and applications for responsiveness to the solicitations and documents the relative strengths and deficiencies of each proposal.
• Obtains reports and references, ensuring that offerors’/applicants’ past performance has been relevant and of high quality.
• Plans the negotiation strategy, coordinates, and leads the negotiations which are conducted with contractors/grantees to develop the award price and terms.
• Performs in-depth cost analysis of offers/applications.
• Guides the technical team in the best practices of “best value” selection, and performance-based technical approaches.

Performs Post-Award Duties and Responsibilities including Conducting Research, Analysis, and Interpretation (25%):

• Organizes and conducts post-award conferences including orientation meeting with the selected contractor and all cognizant Mission support offices, beneficiaries, and relevant implementing employees to ensure that mobilization efforts will be conducted efficiently and that all terms and conditions of procurement instruments are clear and well-understood by all parties.
• Responsible for contract administration sufficient to ensure that the terms and conditions of the award are met, and that the contractor meets delivery schedules and/or performance milestones in a timely manner to achieve Mission objectives.
• Conducts award administration tasks including site visits, incorporation of change orders, drafting correspondence, initiating contractor performance evaluations, monitoring of reporting requirements, advising Contracting/Agreement Officer’s technical representatives (CORs/AORs) and contractors on their administration responsibilities, etc.
• Represents the OAA at performance-related Team meetings held by the Mission. Assists the technical and project teams to develop appropriate indicators for work plans and contract documents.

Qualifications and Evaluations
Requirements:

• Physical Demands: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.
• Education Requirements: Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Political Science, International Relations, Social Sciences, or related field is required. Specialized training in USG acquisition is desired.

Evaluations:

• Applicants who clearly meet the minimum Education, Experience and basic eligibility requirements will be further evaluated based on scoring of the Evaluation Factors listed below. The highest-ranking applicants may be selected for an interview:

  • Knowledge: 25 points
  • Skills and abilities: 10 points
  • Communication & Language skills: 5 points
  • Interview Performance (Written/Oral): 60 points
  • Total Possible Points: 100 points

Applications that do not meet the required minimum qualifications will not be scored. Candidates meeting the required qualifications for the position will be evaluated based on information presented in the application. USAID reserves the right to conduct interviews with the top ranked short-listed candidates. If the interview is conducted, the interview will be one of the determining factors in the final selection.

Reference checks will be made only for the successful candidate. If a candidate does not wish USAID to contact a current employer for a reference check, this should be stated in the application letter.

Qualifications
Prior Work Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible, professional acquisition and assistance experience is required. At least 5 years of them must be in a procurement capacity with USG.

Job Knowledge:

• In-depth knowledge of USG acquisition and assistance procedures and detailed understanding of Federal Acquisition Regulations, practices and procedures and Mission's strategic plan; and highly detailed understanding of: Analyzing and organizing large amounts of detailed information such as cost issues/factors and contract types, as relates to requirements; Knowledge of the organizations interested in and capable of performing USG contracts, grants and cooperative agreements; Knowledge of local procurement laws/policies; etc. is required.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work with minimal supervision is required. One-year mentoring experience; Highly detailed understanding/application of negotiation techniques and cost and price analysis; High level analytical skills and sound judgment to select appropriate A&A is required

Language Proficiency:

• Level 4 (advanced professional proficiency) English both oral and written, is required.

Other Information:

• USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR), Appendix J, “Direct USAID Contracts With a Cooperating Country National and with a Third Country National for Personal Services Abroad,” including contract clause “General Provisions,” available at https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/aidar_0.pdf
• Contract Cover Page form AID 309-1 available at https://www.usaid.gov/forms
• Acquisition & Assistance Policy Directives/Contract Information Bulletins (AAPDs/CIBs) for Personal Services Contracts with Individuals available at http://www.usaid.gov/work-usaid/aapds-cibs
• Ethical Conduct.  By the acceptance of a USAID personal services contract as an individual, the contractor will be acknowledging receipt of the “Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch,” available from the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, in accordance with General Provision 2 and 5 CFR 2635.  See https://www.oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/OGE%20Regulations  

USAID is an Equal Opportunity Employer

• All qualified candidates will be considered regardless of age, race, color, sex, creed, national origin, lawful political affiliation, non-disqualifying handicap, marital status, sexual orientation, affiliation with an employee organization, or other non-merit factor. Management may consider the following when determining successful candidacy: nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status.

Marketing Statement:

• USAID is an independent Federal Government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., USAID fosters transformational development around the world. Our work supports economic growth and trade; agriculture and the environment; education and training; democracy and governance; global health; global partnerships and humanitarian assistance. We operate in the following regions of the world: Afghanistan and Pakistan, Africa (all of Africa), Asia, Europe and Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Middle East.For more information about USAID, visit http://www.usaid.gov

Taxes:

• The Mission emphasize to its employees of the fact that they are obliged to observe Nigerian Laws, including those concerning income and related tax obligations.  Payment of such taxes is a matter between the individual employee and the Nigerian Government. In the absence of a specific international agreement, the U.S. Government will not withhold local taxes from an employee’s salary.

Salary
NGN17,733,456 - NGN26,496,574 Annually.

Benefits and Other Info
Benefits:
As a matter of policy, and as appropriate, a PSC is normally authorized the following benefits and allowances:

• Health Insurance
• Annual Salary Increase (if applicable)
• Annual and Sick leave
• Annual Bonus

Allowances (as applicable):

• Transportation Allowance
• Meal Allowance
• Miscellaneous Allowance
• Housing Allowance.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Important Notice

• Eligible applicants are required to complete this on-line application process and submit any applicable required documents by 11:59 p.m. GMT on the closing date of this announcement.
• Please note that all required documents must be received by the closing date online, and that we will determine your eligibility and qualifications based solely on the material received by the closing date. 

Required Documents:

• Current Resume
• Cover Letter
• Relevant Certificates
• NYSC Certificate
• University Degree Certificate
• List of References

Next Steps:

• After the closing date for receipt of applications, all applications will initially be screened for conformity with minimum requirements and a shortlist of applicants developed. Applications from candidates which do not meet the required selection criteria will not be considered.
• A committee will be convened to review the shortlisted applications and evaluate them in accordance with the evaluation criteria as stated above.  Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. No response will be sent to unsuccessful applicants.
• For More Info: HR Section 000-000-0000 [email protected]

Application Deadline  5th January, 2022.