OverviewBackground
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator provides overall direction to the Agency in its administration of the U.S. foreign economic assistance programs and the appropriations made available for such purposes under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended. USAID leads international development and humanitarian efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance and help people progress beyond assistance by reducing the reach of conflict, preventing the spread of pandemic disease, and counteracting the drivers of violence, instability, transnational crime and other security threats. USAID is the world's premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. Working to help lift lives, build communities, and advance democracy, the Agency carries out U.S. foreign policy by promoting broad-scale human progress at the same time it expands stable, free societies, creates markets and trade partners for the United States, and fosters good will abroad.
USAID’s faith-based center leads the Agency’s engagement with faith-based organizations and religious communities to advance development and humanitarian goals worldwide. Housed within the Bureau for Inclusive Growth, Partnerships, and Innovation (IPI) in the Local, Faith, and Transformative Partnerships (LFT) Hub, the faith-based center helps to strengthen, expand, and diversify USAID’s partner base and drive locally-led development.
Work
The Mission Support Specialist serves as a core member of LFT’s faith-based center. The goal of this position is to work with office leadership to effectively implement USAID’s Building Bridges in Development Policy and to steward the office’s client services portfolio. The position will oversee the full lifecycle of SRE technical assistance, from creating innovative tools, knowledge products and learning resources, to actively driving demand for their adoption and use. The analyst will be responsible for fostering strong client relationships through responding to Mission’s requests, fulfilling technical assistance needs and ensuring high-quality service delivery. The analyst will also play a key role in implementing the office’s learning agenda and driving evidence, research and learning in the Agency around Strategic Religious Engagement. This position directly supports the office’s Capacity Building Workstream.
The individual must be motivated and proactive, and able to prioritize tasks and track deadlines as well as multitask. International development and/or field experience, particularly with a demonstrated history working in or alongside religious communities and faith-based organizations in a development or humanitarian context, is required. Knowledge of USAID is preferred.
Responsibilities Duties and Responsibilities
1. Supports the implementation of an integrated mission engagement strategy that advances USAID’s Strategic Religious Engagement policy goals;
2. Oversees the full lifecycle of SRE technical assistance, from creating innovative client services based on Mission need, to actively driving demand for their widespread adoption and use;
3. Manages and responds to technical assistance requests from USAID Missions, including requests for in-person training delivery, ensuring high-quality service delivery and efficient project close out;
4. Leads the implementation of a 5-year Agency-wide learning agenda on Strategic Religious Engagement by designing and deploying evidence-based tools, learning resources and knowledge products for Mission staff;
5. Coordinates Agency-wide SRE learning events and engagement opportunities, working with office colleagues to socialize key news, moments, events, and initiative milestones across agency channels;
6. Advances the team’s training portfolio by regularly facilitating SRE courses in Washington, DC, at USAID Missions and online;
7. Enhances the team’s training capabilities by co-creating original, high-quality, contextualized training content with and for country-office staff;
8. Supports the administration and of new office-level training programs via USAID University and other platforms;
9. In coordination with office leadership, liaises with partner organizations, bureau points of contact and members of the Interagency to integrate collaboration, learning and adaptation (CLA) approaches in SRE policy implementation;
10. Manages the office’s ongoing internship program and supports the development of an annual SRE research fellowship program.
Strong Skill Sets Needed
● Oral and Written Communications
● Public Speaking and Facilitation
● Critical Thinking (Analyzing and Synthesizing)
● Teamwork and Collaboration
● Prioritizing and Multitasking
● Advanced Project Management Skills
Qualifications1. Technical expertise in religious engagement, along with demonstrated experience working with religious communities or faith-based organizations in a development or humanitarian context;
2. Experience developing and/or deploying evidence-based knowledge products and tools with respect to religious engagement in development and humanitarian assistance;
3. Demonstrated experience facilitating technical trainings, learning events and/or peer-to-peer knowledge exchanges;
4. Proven experience in client service delivery, including the ability to manage client relationships, understand client needs and offer tailored solutions that align with organizational objectives;
5. Strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to effectively address client concerns, anticipate potential challenges and communicate solutions clearly to drive high levels of client satisfaction;
6. Proven ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including religious actors, government/multilateral officials and civil society representatives, to foster collaboration and promote collective learning;
7. Excellent written and verbal skills in English. The ability to read, analyze, and interpret policy documents, reports, and correspondence; and
8. U.S. citizen who is eligible to obtain a facilities access clearance (FAC)
Preferred Qualifications
1. Familiarity with USAID’s mission, policies and procedures, as well as a deep understanding of the Agency’s approach to faith-based engagement.
2. Advanced degree in religious studies, international relations, political science or a related field.
3. Knowledge of client services best practices and tools, including leading industry trends.
Education
Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, International Development/Relations, Religious Studies, Business Administration or a related field with 8 years of experience, or a Master’s Degree and 6 years of experience.
USAID Assumptions and Constraints:
1. Work may be required outside of core hours. The contractor will be notified in advance if after-hours support is required.
2. Travel up to 20% may be required.
About HighlightFor over ten years, Highlight has provided Development and Modernization, Secure IT, and Mission Solution services to our federal government customers. Our team knows the technology; we understand how our customers and their stakeholders work; and we know how to implement industry best practices to deliver high-quality, end-to-end solutions that minimize risk and maximize results.
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