About US Embassy:
Welcome to the United States Embassy in Kampala, Uganda. The United States has enjoyed diplomatic relations with Uganda for over 30 years. Ambassador Scott H. DeLisi currently heads the U.S Mission to Uganda. The Mission is composed of several offices and organizations all working under the auspices of the Embassy and at the direction of the Ambassador.
Among the offices operating under the U.S Mission to Uganda are:
· United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
· Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
· Peace Corps
Job Summary: The Program Management Specialist (Youth and Children) is a key member of the Education, Youth and Child Development Office (EYCD) Office which is responsible for developing and managing youth and orphans and vulnerable children activities. The incumbent serves as a technical advisor, advising senior leadership at the Mission on policies and programs for vulnerable children and youth in Uganda, including innovations and new strategic directions. The senior advisor is also responsible for management and coordination of USG interagency and inter-sectoral youth and children development activities. The Program Management Specialist (Youth and Children) will have comprehensive knowledge and experience in youth and children, with a specific focus on effectively addressing the needs of highly vulnerable children (0-18 years) including safety, wellbeing, growth and development and developing sustainable programmatic interventions that will improve the health, livelihoods, educational opportunities, and access to civic and democratic processes for youth (12-30) in Uganda.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
· Ensure the Mission’s support to vulnerable children through different funding streams, including PEPFAR, child survival, malaria and education is strategic, integrated/coordinated and reflects theories, concepts, principles, practice and current research in the development, implementation and management of child focused activities. Requires close collaboration and communication with other technical/senior advisors working in the same areas. Provide strategic and technical mentoring to USAID implementing partners and staff. (25%)
· Project management of USAID funded grants and activities, includes technical, financial and programmatic oversight of grants and contracts as required by USAID Agreement Officer Representative/Contracting Officer Representative (AOR/COR) designation. Basic functions: ensure USAID supported activities are implemented within the USG foreign assistance framework and are directly linked to attainment of USG and USAID’s strategic objectives with an emphasis on vulnerable children and youth; review and approval of annual workplans, performance monitoring plans, and quarterly/annual reports; reviewing quarterly financial accruals and pipelines; quarterly (minimum) site visits; and monitoring of planned outcomes. (25%)
· The Job holder will collaborate and coordinate the USG response to highly vulnerable children as outlined in Public Law 109-95, the Assistance for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of 2005, in Uganda through a whole of government approach. This requires oversight of an approximate annual $50 million in activities implemented through at least six (6) Agencies (Health and Human Services, USAID, Department of Labor, Peace Corps, Department of Defense and Department of State) and nine (9) Bureaus (National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control, Global Health, Population Refugees and Migration, Africa, International Labor Affairs, Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Program, Health Resources and Services Administration). Liaise with the Washington appointed Special Advisor for Orphans and Vulnerable Children on Uganda’s program and activities. (15%)
· The incumbent will also will provide strategic direction and leadership to the development and implementation of USAID’s youth strategy under the Uganda’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy. This multi-year youth strategy seeks to improve the health, livelihoods, educational opportunities, and access to civic and democratic processes for youth (12-30) in Uganda. Oversee and manage the Mission’s contribution to the youth strategy including coordination and strategic alignment of education, health and HIV/AIDS programs. Developing and forging strategic partnerships with USAID’s Health, HIV/AIDS, Economic Growth, and Democracy, Right and Governance teams, development partners, government agencies and civil society organizations supporting child and youth. (15%)
· Under the guidance of Uganda’s national frameworks including the National Development Plan, the National Policy and Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children, the National Youth Policy, the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan, and others, provide strategic guidance in USAID’s support to the Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development (MGLSD) to support vulnerable children and youth. Through close consultation with the MGLSD, UNICEF and other key partners, including organizational development experts as needed, ensure USAID’s support to the MGLSD promotes and fosters their goals and objectives for supporting youth and children in Uganda. (10%)
· Provide senior USAID representation to Government officials including the Ministers and senior technical staff within the Ministries of Gender, Education, Health and the Office of the Prime Minister. Provide senior-level representation to USG delegations. Represent USAID on other interagency working groups as needed such as the PEPFAR OVC Technical Working Group. (10%)
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
NOTE: All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.
· The ideal candidate for the United States US Embassy Program Management Specialist (Youth and Children) should hold a Masters’ degree in a field relevant to development assistance in the social sectors such as health, education, social welfare or development.
· A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible, professional experience in the field of youth and child development of which at least seven years’ experience in development assistance, or related work for USAID, other donor agencies, host government organizations or civil society/private sector organizations in the field of youth and child development; and five years of which the candidate was living and working in a developing country required.
· Working knowledge of theories, concepts, principles, practice and current research in the development, implementation and management of youth development. Knowledge of theories, concepts, principles, practice and current research in the development, implementation and management of vulnerable children and their households, including social protection and welfare.
· Broad knowledge and understanding of positive youth and child development principles and practices, especially in developing countries.
· Broad understanding and knowledge of programming for conflict and post-conflict affected environments is desirable.
· Detailed knowledge of Uganda’s economic, political, social and cultural characteristics and the history of development assistance, in particular, support to vulnerable children and youth, including current trends and directions.
· Working knowledge of and appreciation for outcomes achieved through multi-sectoral and integrated programming for youth and children.
· Working knowledge of USG, including USAID development policies and priorities, particularly as relates to youth and children.
· Excellent track record in developing innovative, creative and successful programs for youth and children that aims for transformative effects on participants and communities.
· Track record in managing for results and attention to the development of evidence base. Experience to manage grants and contracts, including technical, budgetary and human resource management components.
· Skilled and knowledgeable about developing policies and procedures governing the development, management, administration, implementation and evaluation of youth and children development programs at all levels. Develop creative approaches to new or unfamiliar problems.
· Prior experience with youth workforce development and developing the socio-economic security of vulnerable households is preferred.
· Strong leadership and strong interpersonal skills (written and oral) in order to manage and coordinate multi-agency, multi-sectoral activities. Must build and maintain positive working relationships with a variety of stakeholders including U.S. Ambassador, USAID Mission Director and other heads of USG Agencies, senior levels Government officials, senior level managers and technical staff of development partners, Chief of Parties and project staff. Must be able to represent and defend USG development policies and programs and to explain and interpret host-country attitudes, priorities and concerns to senior USG officials.
· Multitask and exercise sound judgment and decision-making in a very fast paced, dynamic environment.
· Independently and effectively plan, organize and manage and evaluate important, responsible and complex activities to accomplish broader Agency and Mission goals.
· Advance a learning agenda; obtain, analyze and evaluate data; present in meaningful terms to others.
· Possess excellent analytical skills to develop policies and programs and review and provide substantive feedback on concept papers, program designs, workplans, quarterly and annual reports and other government and donor documents.
· Prepare factual and interpretive reports addressing complex, subject matter. Provide information and advice with detachment and objectivity.
· Language Proficiency: Level IV (fluent) English language proficiency, speaking and writing, is required. Knowledge in other local languages is desirable.
How to Apply:
All those interested in working with the US mission in Kampala should send their applications and strictly adhere to the following:
· Universal Application for Employment as a Locally Employed Staff or Family Member (DS-174), Download it Here.
· Candidates who claim US Veterans preference must provide a copy of their Form DD-214 with their application. Candidates who claim conditional US Veterans preference must submit documentation confirming eligibility for a conditional preference in hiring with their application.
· Any other documentation (e.g. essays, transcripts/certificates, awards) that addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.
Submit Application To:
Human Resources Office
By email at KampalaHR@state.gov
NB: Only electronic submissions will be accepted and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Please clearly indicate the position applied for in the subject area of the email submission.
Please use standard file types such as Microsoft Word (.doc) and Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) and please send all documents in one file attachment.
Telephone: 0414-306001/259-791/5
Deadline: 3rd January 2016
The US Mission in Kampala provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. The Department of State also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.