Senior Foreign Assistance Program Analyst III - Internet Freedom

Competitive Innovations, LLC (CI) is seeking a Sr. Foreign Assistance Program Analyst/Subject Matter Expert III to support the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), Office of Global Programs. The Sr. Subject Matter Expert represents and communicates DRL’s program objectives to other State Department and U.S government offices involved in programming Democracy Fund and Human Rights and Democracy Funds (HRDF) and other transfer funding to include, but not be limited to, regional bureaus, Office of Acquisitions Management, Office of the Legal Advisor, Congressional Liaison office, Office of Management and Budget and USAID offices. They liaise and consult on program administration, financial planning and acquisition of programming funds. They will respond to Congressional requests for information regarding programs and DRL program objectives. They will also provide information to the NGO community and other implementing organizations regarding the USG and DRL grants processes. This is a full-time position located in Washington, D.C.

Responsibilities:

• Maintain, update and develop as necessary systems for the efficient and accessible retrieval of documents regarding the allocation, notification, transfer and implementation of Democracy Fund, HRDF, transfer funding, and special Congressionally-mandated funds; and track the award of grants.
• In coordination with the team lead, develop strategies, and work with the Applied Learning and Evaluation team to develop portfolio specific evaluation indicators as needed.
• Work closely with Subject Matter Expert I and II to ensure that program deadlines are being met in a timely and efficient manner.
• Coordinate with the Grants Officer Representative in the administration and coordination of programs.
• Work directly with Team Lead and Deputy Directors to oversee program funding for assigned portfolio.
• Develop goals, objectives, and programs for utilization of foreign assistance funding.
• Collect grant application documentation for review by decision-making panels who will nominate grant recipients within available funding levels.
• Liaise with offices involved in administration, financial planning and acquisition of program funding.
• Skillfully communicate verbally and in writing to provide briefings, status reviews, and advice upon request to the other DRL program staff and senior personnel on grant issues.
• Work on designated portfolio to ensure pre-award, award, and ongoing management and monitoring of programs globally.
• Monitor grantee budget execution and drawdowns to ensure program objectives are met and are in accordance with 2 CFR 200.
• Negotiate program solicitation language with regional bureaus, Post leadership, and within DRL.
• Advise senior Bureau officials on development of goals, objectives and programs for utilization of foreign assistance funding.
• Remain informed on the changing political environment in the designated portfolio as well as global issues impacting the region by regularly meeting with grantees, human rights defenders, researchers, and other funders.
• Communicate DRL's program objectives to other State Department and U.S government offices involved in programming Democracy Fund and Human Rights and Democracy Funds (HRDF) and other transfer funding.
• Coordinate with policy colleagues to prepare paper and brief DRL Bureau leadership for meetings on issues related to a specific region or thematic area.
• Prepare budget and programmatic reports that track grant obligation data and program successes for active grants.
• Review and provide analysis of program proposals to decision-making panels who will select grant recipients within available funding levels.
• Prepare responses to auditor inquiries on programs.
• Assist with responding to Congressional requests for information regarding programs and DRL program objectives.
• Attend stakeholder workshops and conferences on topics related to their duties and responsibilities, provide program monitoring and technical assistance to grantees, while supporting the FTE.
• Assist in the coordination of foreign assistance funding throughout the federal assistance life-cycle that include pre-award, award, and post-award phases in grants and cooperative agreements.
• Coordinate and assist the DRL/GP Leadership in the administration and coordination of international human rights and democracy foreign assistance programs.

Additional responsibilities may include:

• Liaise with U.S. embassies and consulates regarding the award, management, and monitoring of grants.
• Drafting reports and other documents for the team and program staff.
• Drafting and clearing internal papers and memoranda regarding evaluations.
• Organize and participate in meetings, trainings, and/or conference events.
• Undertake additional training to ensure they obtain relevant skills needed to advance U.S. policy and programming priorities and meet requirements of this SOW. Attend trainings or conferences to further knowledge in relations to duties and responsibilities listed above and/or hone expertise in one or more following areas regional or thematic area: Western Hemisphere Affairs, South Central Asia, East-Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe. Near- Eastern Affairs, Democracy, Human Rights, Labor, Internet Freedom, International Religious Freedom, Transitional Justice, Monitoring and Evaluations, Gender, Marginalized Populations, Security and Human Rights.
• As needed and as resources permit, the individual may be asked to directly support the travel of senior DRL Bureau and U.S. Department of State officials and/or at the direction of and in coordination with the Grants Officer Representative and/or Grants Officer, conduct program monitoring visits at the project implementation site to monitor grantee activities.
• Report on program activities monitored and analyze to support both the Grants Officer Representative and/or the Grants Officer in their evaluation of programs.

Minimum Qualifications:

• The ideal candidate would have experience with: implementing technology programs in closed environments; management of grants and contracts; development or deployment of anti-censorship or secure communication software; knowledge of open source standards; demonstrated commitment to Internet freedom and human rights work, and superb interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity for working with multinational staff and partners. Demonstrated capacity for advanced writing, editing, and public communications concerning Internet Freedom policy issues, including for high-level policy-making audiences, is a must. Additionally, the applicant must show strong experience with and understanding of local and international policy-making processes, impacting the exercise of human rights online, and direct experience interfacing with such processes.
• Eligible to obtain Secret Security Clearance; required to start in position.
• Bachelors’ degree with 10-12 years of experience or a master’s degree with 8-10 years of experience or a PhD with 5-7 years of work experience.
• Knowledge of and experience in managing international programming in addition to relevant education and training, ideally with a strong understanding of domestic and foreign NGO administration.
• Understanding of the legal requirements of different types of foreign assistance funds.
• Strong knowledge of 2 CFR 200.
• Experience working in professional, fast-paced, and demanding environments.
• Ability to manage competing priorities with minimal supervision.
• Experience leading teams and ability to handle diverse work styles.
• Qualified candidates that are HUBZone residents, preferred.