Short-Term Technical Assistance Subject Matter Experts

Job Description

ProSidian Seeks a Short-Term Technical Assistance Subject Matter Experts (STTA) (Time and Materials) in Mid Atlantic Washington Metropolitan Area (Northern Virginia | Washington DC | Maryland) to support an engagement for an independent agency of the United States Federal Govt. that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance . 

ProSidian Team Members work to provide technical, management and program support services and deliverables supporting an international Economic Growth, Education and Environment (E3) Local Sustainability Institutional Support Contract (LS-ISC).  Under this contract, The ProSidian provides staffing, institutional, operational, technical, and administrative support to “E3/LS” present and future programs, including long-term technical assistance (LTTA) and short-term technical assistance (STTA).  We support the E3/LS vision, development objective, and three Practice Areas (locally-led development | volunteerism | cooperative development).

Short-Term Technical Assistance Subject Matter Experts (STTA) Candidates work to support requirements in the form of subject-matter experts (SMEs) to various Functional Area (FA) management issues related to Foreign Aid and Development Assistance including monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, and capacity building services to advance Foreign Aid and Development Assistance Mission Effectiveness.   We work across all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth with a particular focus on Economic Growth, Education and Environment (E3) initiatives through Local Sustainability Institutional Support (LS-ISC).  The three main technical areas within E3/LS’s portfolio are locally-led development, volunteerism, and cooperative development.

ProSidian Short-Term Technical Assistance (STTA) Subject Matter Experts will support E3/LS Development Objectives with staff and partners that have the knowledge, skills, tools, and resources to ensure that assistance aligns with the priorities of local actors; is inclusive of marginalized populations; leverages local capacities and resources; and engages with local systems in ways that build upon and strengthen local leadership, capacity, and self-reliance to sustain development over time.  To achieve this vision and these objectives, E3/LS focuses on three practice areas: (1) technical leadership, where locally led approaches to development are put to work in The Foreign Aid and Development Assistance Agency Programs and USG policies and strategies; (2) evidence and learning, where USAID builds evidence for locally owned and sustained development through research, innovation, and evaluations; and (3) agency policy, capacity, and culture, where Agency staff and leadership are champions and practitioners of locally led approaches through uptake of new knowledge, skills, and mindsets.

ProSidian Consulting is pursuing a five-year Local Sustainability Institutional Support Contact (LS-ISC) Contract.   The goal of this mechanism is to create a central platform for support services that will strengthen, support and facilitate The Agency’s E3/LS-ISC  Mission. 

*** MULTIPLE QUALIFIED CANDIDATES SOUGHT ON CONTRACT CONTINGENT BASIS ***

• Provide Short-Term Technical Assistance (STTA) Subject Matter Expert For:  Program Analysis (PA) | Communications and Knowledge Management (CKM) | Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) | Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) | Knowledge Management Practices (PMP) | Public Financial Management [PFM] | Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Planning (PMEP) | Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Planning (PMEP) Services | Public Financial Management (PFM) Support | Evaluation and Assessment Services | Administrative Support | Program Support (AS/PS) | Award Management (AM) | Event And Travel Support (AM) | Other Logistical Support As Needed
• Lead and support knowledge audits focused on The Local Sustainability Institutional Support Contact (LS-ISC) Mission, including conducting a knowledge needs analysis involving questionnaires, focus group discussions, interviews with key stakeholders and workshops; knowledge inventory analysis to cover workflow and business processes analysis, content analysis and systems analysis; knowledge flow analysis; and knowledge mapping.
• Lead and support Actions And Activities for creating a knowledge-sharing culture, including augmenting position descriptions for staff members whose job is primarily to share or distribute knowledge; knowledge-sharing and/or mentoring goals as part of an employee’s performance plan; establishing a reward system to recognize staff for sharing knowledge through formalized incentives; and formalizing regular networking opportunities within the Mission for the sharing of knowledge, including brown bags, presentations by experts and subject-matter workshops.
• Lead and support actions supporting the knowledge management process, including integrating knowledge sharing and learning into development programs and activities, including drafting language to be included in contracts for implementing partners; providing incentives and recognition for knowledge sharing and innovation by implementing partners; integrating the use of  subject areas and workspaces as a knowledge sharing platform for mission staff and operating units; creating capacity for simplified information access by developing a system for standard information classification (taxonomy) and filing structures in the mission; and establishing After Action Learning processes to enable strategic planning teams to benefit from and pass on lessons learned.
• Actions and activities for the effective utilization of technology, including establishing and maintaining expertise directories for use by the mission on the Intranet and  platform; developing a document management system for organizing and retrieving documents; carrying out knowledge mapping to identify the knowledge that the Mission wants to manage; instituting After Action Learning programs; and institutionalizing and promoting available training programs that provide staff members at The Foreign Aid and Development Assistance Agency with the understanding and skills to use new knowledge sharing technologies and processes.
• Ensure that short- and long-term knowledge management team members recruited under this contract are of a high caliber and possess the required technical expertise.

Qualifications

The Short-Term Technical Assistance Subject Matter Experts (STTA) shall have consecutive employment in a position with comparable responsibilities within the past five (5) years, Must be able to use a computer to communicate via email; and proficient in Microsoft Office Products (Word/Excel/Power point) and related tools and technology required for the position.  Work products shall be thorough, accurate, appropriately documented, and comply with established criteria. The candidate shall ensure that duties are performed in a competent and professional manner that meets milestones/delivery schedules as outlined.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required:  GS-15 Equivalent (e.g., STTA subject matter expert, etc.):  Ph.D. or  equivalent from an accredited college or university in a relevant field with at least eight years of experience relevant to international development.

• Undergraduate degree or higher in a field related to organizational learning, knowledge management, political science, economics or development studies.
• Minimum of seven years of experience in The Foreign Aid and Development Assistance Agency Short-Term Technical Assistance (STTA)  within an international development context.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Candidate must have strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated ability to propose possible resolutions to complex technical, managerial or operational problems.
• Demonstrated leadership, management, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated proactivity, attention to detail, working within deadlines, and ability to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and client service provision with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience living or working in developing countries and language proficiency in geographic area preferred.
• Familiarity with USG policies, related to monitoring and evaluation.
• Fluency in written and oral English required.

Possess in-depth understanding of Foreign Aid and Development Technical Assistance principles technical leadership, evidence and learning, agency policy, capacity, and culture where Agency staff and leadership are champions and practitioners of locally led approaches through uptake of new knowledge, skills, and mindsets and ability to design and deliver knowledge management activities.

• Previous experience linking content development and engagement strategies that facilitate the delivery of information through learning platforms and activities.
• Requires proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office with an emphasis on Excel spreadsheet skills, PowerPoint, Internet, and e-mail applications.
• Work products shall be thorough, accurate, appropriately documented, and comply with established criteria. The candidate shall ensure that duties are performed in a competent and professional manner that meets milestones/delivery schedules as outlined.

Experience in international development, including work with USAID, a USAID implementing partner, and/or a local organization. Strong preference to candidates that have spent meaningful time working in a developing country who understand such environments.

• Experience in international development or social change is a strong plus.
• Familiarity with community-led development is a strong plus.
• Experience consulting and/or providing superior customer service related to complex international development matters, including analytical, advisory, and training support.
• Expertise in one or more technical area relevant to The Agency’s  program they will be supporting, such as (but not limited to) program design, monitoring and evaluation, organizational learning, etc. in support of locally-led development, volunteerism, and/or cooperatives development.
• Demonstrated interpersonal and problem-solving skills, and excellent written and oral communication abilities.

TRAVEL:  Travel as coordinated with the technical point of contact and approved in writing by the Contracting Officer in advance, is allowed, in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations.  LOCATION:  Work shall be conducted at the Mid Atlantic Washington Metropolitan Area (Northern Virginia | Washington DC | Maryland)

• U.S.  Citizenship Required
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Products (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, & Adobe)
• All ProSidian staff must be determined eligible for a “Facility Access Authorization” (also referred to as an “Employment Authorization”) by the USG’s designated Security Office.

Additional Information

As a condition of employment, all employees are required to fulfill all requirements of the roles for which they are employed; establish, manage, pursue, and fulfill annual goals and objectives with at least three (3) Goals for each of the firms Eight Prosidian Global Competencies [1 - Personal Effectiveness | 2 - Continuous Learning | 3 - Leadership | 4 - Client Service | 5 - Business Management | 6 - Business Development | 7 - Technical Expertise | 8 - Innovation & Knowledge Sharing (Thought Leadership)]; and to support all business development and other efforts on behalf of ProSidian Consulting.  

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Teamwork – ability to foster teamwork collaboratively as a participant, and effectively as a team leader
• Leadership – ability to guide and lead colleagues on projects and initiatives
• Business Acumen – understanding and insight into how organizations perform, including business processes, data, systems, and people
• Communication – ability to effectively communicate to stakeholders of all levels orally and in writing
• Motivation – persistent in pursuit of quality and optimal client and company solutions
• Agility – ability to quickly understand and transition between different projects, concepts, initiatives, or work streams
• Judgment – exercises prudence and insight in decision-making process while mindful of other stakeholders and long-term ramifications
• Organization – ability to manage projects and activity, and prioritize tasks

------------ ------------ ------------

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Business Tools –  understanding and proficiency with business tools and technology, including Microsoft Office. The ideal candidate is advanced with Excel, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word, and proficient with Adobe Acrobat, data analytic tools, and Visio with the ability to quickly learn other tools as necessary.
• Business Tools – understanding and proficiency with business tools and technology, including Microsoft Office. The ideal candidate is advanced with Excel, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word, and proficient with Adobe Acrobat, data analytic tools, and Visio with the ability to quickly learn other tools as necessary.
• Commitment - to work with smart, interesting people with diverse backgrounds to solve the biggest challenges across private, public and social sectors
• Curiosity – the ideal candidate exhibits an inquisitive nature and the ability to question the status quo among a community of people they enjoy and teams that work well together
• Humility – exhibits grace in success and failure while doing meaningful work where skills have impact and make a difference
• Willingness - to constantly learn, share, and grow and to view the world as their classroom

------------ ------------ ------------

BENEFITS AND HIGHLIGHTS

ProSidian Employee Benefits and Highlights: Your good health and well-being are important to ProSidian Consulting. At ProSidian, we invest in our employees to help them stay healthy and achieve work-life balance. That’s why we are also pleased to offer the Employee Benefits Program, designed to promote your health and personal welfare. Our growing list of benefits currently include the following for Full Time Employees:

• Competitive Compensation: Pay range begins in the competitive ranges with Group Health Benefits, Pre-tax Employee Benefits, and Performance Incentives. For medical and dental benefits, the Company contributes a fixed dollar amount each month towards the plan you elect. Contributions are deducted on a Pre-tax basis.
• Group Medical Health Insurance Benefits: ProSidian partners with BC/BS, to offer a range of medical plans, including high-deductible health plans or PPOs. ||| Group Dental Health Insurance Benefits: ProSidian dental carriers - Delta, Aetna, Guardian, and MetLife.
• Group Vision Health Insurance Benefits:ProSidian offers high/low vision plans through 2 carriers: Aetna and VSP.
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) Retirement Savings Plans help you save for your retirement for eligible employees. A range of investment options are available with a personal financial planner to assist you. The Plan is a pre-tax Safe Harbor 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a company match.
• Vacation and Paid Time-Off (PTO) Benefits: Eligible employees use PTO for vacation, a doctor’s appointment, or any number of events in your life. Currently these benefits include Vacation/Sick days – 2 weeks/3 days | Holidays - 10 ProSidian and Government Days are given.
• Pre-Tax Payment Programs: Pre-Tax Payment Programs currently exist in the form of a Premium Only Plan (POP). These Plans offer a full Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Plan and a tax benefit for eligible employees.
• Purchasing Discounts & Savings Plans: We want you to achieve financial success. We offer a Purchasing Discounts & Savings Plan through The Corporate Perks Benefit Program. This provides special discounts for eligible employees on products and services you buy on a daily basis.
• Security Clearance: Due to the nature of our consulting engagements there are Security Clearance requirements for Engagement Teams handling sensitive Engagements in the Federal Marketplace. A Security Clearance is a valued asset in your professional portfolio and adds to your credentials.
• ProSidian Employee & Contractor Referral Bonus Program: ProSidian Consulting will pay up to 5k for all referrals employed for 90 days for candidates submitted through our Referral Program.
• Performance Incentives: Due to the nature of our consulting engagements there are performance incentives associated with each new client that each employee works to pursue and support.
• Flexible Spending Account: FSAs  help you pay for eligible out-of-pocket health care and dependent day care expenses on a pre-tax basis. You determine your projected expenses for the Plan Year and then elect to set aside a portion of each paycheck into your FSA.
• Supplemental Life/Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance: If you want extra protection for yourself and your eligible dependents, you have the option to elect supplemental life insurance. D&D covers death or dismemberment from an accident only.
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance: Disability insurance plans are designed to provide income protection while you recover from a disability.

----------- ------------ ------------

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - See Below Instructions On The Best Way To Apply

ProSidian Consulting is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants foremployment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, or Vietnam era, or other eligible veteran status, or any other protected factor. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

ProSidian Consulting has made a pledge to the Hiring Our Heroes Program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the “I Hire Military” Initiative of The North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) for the State of North Carolina. All applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of Veteran Status.

Furthermore, we believe in "HONOR ABOVE ALL"  - be successful while doing things the right way. The pride comes out of the challenge; the reward is excellence in the work.

FOR EASY APPLICATION USE OUR CAREER SITE LOCATED ON http://www.ProSidian.com/ OR SEND YOUR RESUME’S, BIOS, AND SALARY EXPECTATION / RATES TO CAREERS @ PROSIDIAN.COM.

ONLY CANDIDATES WITH REQUIRED CRITERIA ARE CONSIDERED.

Be sure to place the job reference code in the subject line of your email.  Be sure to include your name, address, telephone number, total compensation package, employment history, and educational credentials.