Administrative Assistant

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

USAID DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING) AND DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANT’S BANK ACCOUNTS.

1. SOLICITATION NO.: 72061524R10014
2. ISSUANCE DATE: January 23, 2024
3. CLOSING DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS: February 06, 2024 (4:30 PM East Africa Time).
4. POINT OF CONTACT: USAID Kenya and East Africa Human Resources, e-mail at [email protected]
5. POSITION TITLE: Administrative Assistant
6. MARKET VALUE: Equivalent to FSN-7 Step 1 (1: 2,012,922.00 KSH per annum) to Step 13 (3,321,866.00 KSH per annum).In accordance with AIDAR Appendix J and the Local Compensation Plan of USAID/Kenya and East Africa. The salary range provided is inclusive of all allowances. All applicable taxes will be deducted from the stated gross market rate. Final compensation will be negotiated within the listed market value.
7. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The services provided under this contract are expected to be of a continuing nature that will be executed by USAID through a series of sequential contracts, subject to the availability of funds, the continued need for services and successful performance. It is anticipated that the selection of the successful candidate will be completed within an estimated six-month period from the closing date of this solicitation.
8. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Nairobi, Kenya;with possible travel as stated in the Statement of Duties.
9. ELIGIBLE OFFERORS: Open to qualified Kenyan Citizens, including current locally hired employees of the US Mission in Kenya. Employees presently on probation are ineligible to apply.
10. SECURITY LEVEL REQUIRED: Security certification issued by the US Embassy RSO.

II. STATEMENT OF DUTIES

General Statement of Purpose of the Contract

The Administrative Assistant serves as the principal administrative support person for the Office of Economic Growth and Integration (OEGI) Office Chief and reports to him/her directly and/or his/her designee, operating independently to ensure that administrative functions are performed effectively, efficiently, and in a manner that promotes harmony and problem-solving, ensuring other Office staff members may be more effective.

The Administrative Assistant is the primary contact person responsible for OEGI Office customer service to internal and external partners and other stakeholders, including Mission staff, contractors and grantees and potential contractors and grantees, Implementing Partners (IPs), host-government officials, the Embassy, USAID/Washington, and other customers. In this capacity, the Administrative Assistant is responsible for coordinating information about the Office and making sure that information gets to customers on a timely basis and in a professional manner.

Statement of Duties to be Performed.

1. The Administrative Assistant receives and places phone calls, sends and receives e-mail and faxes, and sets up meetings and makes appointments at the request of the supervisor and other Office staff with Mission, Host- Government, Implementing Partners (IPs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), donor organizations, private-sector, and other contacts; arranges transportation, as needed; and, takes minutes when requested. The Administrative Assistant schedules appointments based on a good knowledge of the Office Director’s commitments and maintains the Office calendar, reminding the supervisor and others of meetings and appointments. The Administrative Assistant takes messages in the absence of the Office Director and other staff, directing callers to other staff members, or answering questions personally; prepares visitor access requests, receives and assists visitors, answers questions, or directs them to a staff member who can assist them; schedules meetings for the Office Director, and ensures that attendees are briefed or provided proper background material for meetings; and, participates in arranging for conference/meeting room space as required by the size of the group and maintaining conference/meeting room schedules, in coordination with other Mission administrative staff. The Administrative Assistant meets with other Mission support staff on a regular and recurring basis to update and improve standard operating processes.
2. The Administrative Assistant maintains control of correspondence for the Office, including program/project/activity files provided by Contracting/Agreement Officer’s Representatives (CORs/AORs) and other Specialists, establishing and maintaining computerized tracking systems to track Office actions, providing weekly reports to the Office Director, receiving and screening Office mail not addressed to a particular individual, drafting responses to routine correspondence and letters, distributing incoming official mail to Office personnel and attaching pertinent background material, and searching files and records to assemble background information for correspondence and other pending actions. The Administrative Assistant reviews outgoing mail for proper address, routing, attachments, etc., prior to dispatch, reviewing outgoing correspondence for accuracy and conformance with Mission formatting procedures and special instructions. The Administrative Assistant distributes internal policies and procedures and, as necessary, maintains a tracking system of when staff received new policies and/or procedures.
3. The Administrative Assistant establishes and maintains files according to standards set by the Mission Correspondence and Records (C&R) Technician/Supervisor in the Executive Office (EXO) and by USAID/Washington, marks correspondence and other documents for filing, and files accordingly. Reviews all correspondence prepared in the Office or elsewhere for the supervisor’s signature, corrects errors by drafters and edits correspondence, and ensures that responding correspondence meets requirements posed by incoming correspondence to which it pertains. The Administrative Assistant maintains and updates handbooks, operating procedures, and other documents, such as visitors’ lists, telephone listings, personnel rosters, and leave, travel, and training schedules.
4. The Administrative Assistant uses computer and web-based word processing, spreadsheets, and software applications in the performance of a variety of assignments. Drafts electronic country clearances (eCCs); reports time and attendance; assists incoming personnel with check-in procedures and departing personnel with check- out procedures; prepares travel requests for the Office staff for official travel. Types a variety of correspondence, creates electronic trackers, develops charts, and prepares other documents in draft and final form, proof-reading for format and consistency with standard formatting requirements prior to submitting for signature. As required, the Administrative Assistant locates documents routed for clearance, and obtains and tracks clearances and signatures. As required by workload, the Administrative Assistant may be assigned to the Front Office, or assigned to support other office Administrative Assistants, during the absence of the job holder.

Supervision Received

The Administrative Assistant receives supervision from the OEGI Office Chief, and/or his/her designee, who provides assignments in terms of a discussion of the work to be performed, and Office priorities. Most work occurs as a result of normal Office operations, but special activities may be assigned at any time. The Administrative Assistant independently plans and carries out assignments and is responsible for the accuracy of their personal work; work is normally reviewed in terms of results achieved and in meeting Office objectives.

Supervision Exercised

Full supervision of other Mission staff is not contemplated.

Physical Demands: The work requested does not involve undue physical demands.

III. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION

Any application that does not meet the minimum requirements stated below will not be evaluated.

1. Education: Two or more years of post-secondary schooling in Secretarial Science or Business Administration, or other related field equivalent to a US junior college or community college diploma, is required.
2. Prior Work Experience: A minimum of three years of administrative or secretarial work experience, of which two years should be in related work with a U.S. Government Agency, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), other donor organizations, host-government organizations, or private-sector institutions is required.
3. Post Entry Training: The Administrative Assistant will be provided familiarization training on USAID operations, and on specific regulations and procedures (such as records management, travel, and correspondence management). Additional training in-country may be provided from time to time, depending on course offerings and the availability of space and funds.
4. Language Proficiency: Level 4 (advanced professional proficiency) English and Kiswahili proficiency, both oral and written, is required.

IV. EVALUATION AND SELECTION FACTORS

The Government may award a contract without discussions with offerors in accordance with FAR 52.215-1. The CO reserves the right at any point in the evaluation process to establish a competitive range of offerors with whom negotiations will be conducted pursuant to FAR 15.306(c). In accordance with FAR 52.215-1, if the CO determines that the number of offers that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the CO may limit the number of offerors in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated offers. The FAR provisions referenced above are available at https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far.

• Job Knowledge (60 points)

The Administrative Assistant should be familiar, or able to quickly become familiar with the responsibilities and activities of the Office of Economic Growth and Integration (OEGI), as well as possess a general knowledge of standard office procedures and practices. The Administrative Assistant should have the ability to develop an excellent understanding of USG file management, mail handling, and correspondence formatting.

• Skills and abilities (40 points)

The Administrative Assistant must be proficient in keyboarding and in operating computers with standard software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other software programs as designated. The Administrative Assistant must be proficient in using the Internet and E-mail.

Total possible points: 100