Mission Support Program Analyst (MSPA)

Position description

The Unsolicited Solutions for Locally Led Development Program (US4LLD) is seeking a Mission Support Program Analyst (MSPA) to provide direct technical and administrative support to USAID Missions focused on locally led development. This position is located in the Local, Faith, and Transformative Partnerships Hub (LFT) within USAID’s Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships, and Innovation (IPI).

The working hours of the US4LLD core team are 8:30 am-5:00 pm Central Africa Time, Monday through Friday, as a mechanism to engage continuously with USAID Missions worldwide. Candidates are required to work in a similar zone or be able to work with at least six hours of daily overlap with that time zone, and more is preferred. If based in Eastern Standard Time (EST) in the U.S., daily work hours would be 5 am-1:30 pm. This opportunity is open to all U.S. Citizens and permanent residents, including those living outside the U.S. This position is remote eligible.

Background

LFT operates within IPI and focuses on supporting USAID’s efforts to strengthen, expand, and diversify its partner base. Since 2015, USAID’s Local Works unit has been at the forefront of locally led development, enhancing the Agency’s ability to empower local actors to lead their own development. Local Works provides funding and technical support to USAID Missions to expand and deepen relationships with local actors, to invest in the ability of local actors to resolve development challenges sustainably, and to facilitate learning that benefits the whole Agency.

The US4LLD Program is part of Local Works and focuses on supporting USAID Missions in moving forward with unsolicited concept submissions that advance locally led development. Globally, the program spans over 25 USAID Missions and plays a critical role at USAID, supporting the Agency in innovating and advancing locally led development practice.

MSPAs play a critical role in supporting partners and advising Mission colleagues, sharing best practices, facilitating collaboration, and encouraging work that uses all available tools to advance locally led development at USAID. The broader Local Works team includes colleagues specializing in Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), policy development and dissemination, communications, and training who also support the US4LLD Program’s goals.

Through the US4LLD Program, MSPAs have a unique opportunity to join a small and driven team and play a key role in contributing to the development and operations of a quickly growing and impactful global program.

Position Summary

The MSPA position provides direct technical assistance, oversight, and support to USAID Mission teams implementing locally led development programming under the US4LLD Program and plays a key role in strengthening the Program’s global learning.

This opportunity offers a competitive salary range of $100,000 – $124,000, commensurate with experience and education. The MSPA role has a potential for international travel up to 10-15% of the year.

Successful applicants must have the ability to obtain and maintain a USAID Facilities Access Clearance.

Key Responsibilities

Please note that this is an illustrative list of responsibilities. MSPAs collaborate with their technical manager to develop a scope that reflects the program’s needs and the MSPA’s experience, interests, and bandwidth.

Mission Support (50%):

• Provides technical support to USAID missions and local partners utilizing locally led development approaches in program design, implementation, and adaptive management.
• Develops and maintains relationships with USAID Mission staff participating in the US4LLD Program, supporting their onboarding to the program, process planning, activity and award design, and implementation of US4LLD-supported activities.
• Champions and guides Missions to effectively integrate locally led development approaches, including co-creation, adaptive management, participatory MEL, local resource mobilization, sustainability planning, and more.
• Advises USAID Mission staff on good practices for engaging with new and local partners in award processes, drawing from Mission experiences across the US4LLD Program’s portfolio, USAID policy, and Agency learning.
• Develops and leads presentations, training, ongoing correspondence, and oral and written briefings.
• Initiates, organizes, and coordinates programmatic and administrative arrangements for meetings, collaborative projects, and workshops.

Program Learning (40%):

• Supports the US4LLD Program team in resource development, peer learning, and events to advance the technical practice around locally led development within Locally Led Development Initiatives (LLDI) Missions, partners, and the Agency, and provides practitioners with the tools and resources to do their work
• Develops and disseminates a range of products appropriate to the various needs of key audiences, including USAID staff, USAID partners, and development practitioners.
• Provides a consistent approach to program guidance, onboarding materials, and training for new Mission staff on processes and procedures.
• Manages and improves the US4LLD Program’s information and data infrastructure to facilitate efficient and effective capture, storage, synthesis, and use of structured and unstructured data.
• Supports peer learning initiatives that strengthen capacity in locally led development and cultivate supportive networks for LLDI Missions.

Administration and Professional Development (10%):

• Contributes to planning, implementation, and evaluation of activities under the annual work plan.
• Assists with the design and implementation of program monitoring and learning.
• Keeps track of new developments and emerging issues in the field of locally led development

Qualifications

• Knowledge and experience in the implementation of locally led development approaches.
• Ability to obtain a USAID Facilities Access Clearance.
• Ability to work with at least 6 hours of daily overlap with 8:30 am-5:00 pm Central Africa time.
• Master’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university in a relevant field with at least six years of experience relevant to this job description OR bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university in a relevant field with at least eight years of experience relevant to this job description.
• Experience with international development project analysis, design, implementation, management, administration, reporting, monitoring, procurement, financial operations, and training.
• Experience facilitating small and large groups using collaborative and participant-led approaches.
• Demonstrated cross-cultural, interpersonal, and customer service skills. Strong ability to navigate diverse personalities and adapt messaging and positioning to the needs and motivations of others to achieve successful outcomes.
• Strong attention to detail, striving towards clarity, professionalism, and tact in oral and written communications. Ability to write internal and public-facing documents, emails, and other communications that clearly express ideas and require limited editing by others.
• Conceptual and analytical skills to conduct independent research and analysis, and assess complex issues from a range of perspectives.
• Ability to integrate program feedback, stay attuned to opportunities to advance the program’s mission, and contribute strategically to improvements to processes.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including data visualization, written products, and presentations.
• Ability to perform tasks independently with limited direction. Develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identify priority activities and assignments; adjust priorities as required.
• Experience living and/or working in low or middle-income countries.
• Data/information management and organization skills, specifically using Google Workspace Apps
• Familiarity with USAID’s Mission and work. Familiarity with USAID’s program cycle and regulations is preferred, but willingness to continuously learn is key!

Values and Commitments

Following the core values of IPI/LFT, LLDI, and its programs, this position requires a commitment to:

• Look Locally and build upon existing local initiatives, ideas, resources, and capacity to solve local problems. We engage in ways that respect existing networks and relationships, valuing new and nontraditional partners who understand the local context.
• Listen to the end user and ensure local voices are heard every step of the way to shift the power of development priority-setting and decision-making to local actors. We seek to prioritize local expertise and values in defining and measuring success, strengthen accountability to local communities and constituents, and create research and learning that is valued by and accessible to members of the communities served.
• Advocate for local leadership by pushing the envelope, questioning assumptions, and promoting innovative ways to empower local actors.
• Facilitate and be client-focused so that USAID, other donors, partner organizations, and local constituents all benefit from shared learning.
• Experiment, learn, and share to explore new approaches, test old assumptions, and take smart risks to make development more empowering for those who receive assistance.
• Recognize shared contribution by valuing approaches that recognize complexity, monitor network-level and systemic change, and generate evidence using complexity-aware methods wherever appropriate.
• Take the Long View. Understanding local systems, challenges, and opportunities takes time; building relationships takes time, and supporting enduring change takes time. We create new opportunities for USAID to focus on long-term outcomes that last.

Application instructions

Please submit a resume and cover letter to apply for this position. The cover letter should be tailored to specifically address your interest in and experience with the qualifications above and your motivation for this particular role, including your lived and professional experience. Your cover letter should also outline the range of hours you are able to work on a daily basis, indicating how much overlap with Central Africa Time you can work each day.

Don’t check off every box in the qualifications listed above? Please apply anyway! From RP’s inception, Diversity & Inclusion have always been key to our success. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and our employees are people with different strengths, experiences, and backgrounds who share a passion for improving people’s lives. Diversity not only includes race and gender identity but also age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and many other parts of one’s identity. All of our employee’s points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility. We encourage all to apply to this role for the opportunity to join the R.P. team!

Benefits

• Health Benefits: Medical, Vision, Dental
• 4% retirement match with 100% vesting
• Company paid STD and LTD
• Company paid basic life insurance
• Competitive PTO package

R.P. Professional Services, LLC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment terms and conditions, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply for this position, please use the following link: https://apply.workable.com/rp-pro-services/j/67708093E6/.

RP Professional Services, LLC will only consider candidates who apply through this link.