Senior Program Advisor

Creative Corrections, LLC•Washington, DC

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Creative Corrections is actively recruiting exceptional candidates to be considered for a Senior Program Advisor position located in Washington, DC. This will be a contract role within the U.S. Department of State. The U.S. Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy and the Secretary of State is the President’s principal foreign policy advisor. The Department of State’s mission is to advance U.S. national security interests, fight terrorism, protect U.S. interests abroad, and implement foreign policy initiatives that build a freer, prosperous, and secure world. The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) keeps Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice and fairness by strengthening their police, courts, and corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores. INL’s Office of Africa and the Middle East (INL/AME) is responsible for the development, supervision, coordination, and implementation of international narcotics control and anticrime foreign assistance activities and policy for Africa and the Middle East. This position is contingent upon award of contract for BPA Call. POSITION OVERVIEW TITLE: Senior Program Advisor LOCATION: Washington, DC. SECURITY CLEARANCE: A Secret security clearance is required for this position; however, the contractor may begin work with an interim Secret security clearance. CLOSING DATE: March 5, 2026 POSITION DESCRIPTION The purpose of this part-time Third-Party Contract (TPC) is to provide an experienced Senior Program Advisor who shall be ready to extend subject matter expertise to INL/AME on current and future U.S. assistance efforts in the Palestinian territories. Specifically, the Advisor will assist in the planning and implementation of relevant security and criminal justice programs in the West Bank, as well as advise INL on security issues in the broader region. The Senior Program Advisor will support INL/AME to advance program goals and objectives by conducting analysis, drafting documents, responding to requests for information, organizing and attending meetings, and liaising with Department and interagency counterparts, physically located at two sites: Main State (HST) and Columbia Plaza (SA-1). PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance for this order will be one (01) year from the date of award with the option to extend for six (06) months subject to performance, need, and funding.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship
A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Demonstrated experience working in the Department of State, including INL.
A minimum of ten years’ experience in relevant field.
Demonstrated knowledge of specific regional issues, including specialized knowledge of international narcotics and law enforcement programs sufficient to ensure project work is in compliance with management policies and procedures and in conformance with the Foreign Assistance Act and other regulatory procedures and guidelines.
Proven knowledge of Federal policies and procedures including methods of providing assistance and the Federal budget process.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with a wide range of players.
Demonstrated ability to provide advice, guidance, and consultation with regard to the interpretation and application of analysis.
Experience drafting State Department reports and documents, embassy cables, and other documents.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in International Affairs.
At least ten years’ experience working in the development of law enforcement, criminal justice, transnational organized crime, illicit financing, terrorism, counter-narcotics, and anti-corruption programming in an international environment, preferably in the Palestinian Territories and with INL.
Demonstrated knowledge of U.S. policies, geopolitical issues, history, and current events relating to the Palestinian Territories.
Experience working or coordinating with other relevant U.S. government agencies (e.g., Department of Justice, Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, etc.).
Experience in conducting large-scale program assessments for INL, especially in the Middle East.
At least ten years’ experience working in the State Department at a senior level to provide high-level programmatic and policy advice within the Department and INL context.
At least ten years’ experience with developing and implementing U.S. foreign assistance in INL.
Experience with U.S. government human-rights and anti-terrorism vetting procedures.
Experience working on contracts and other INL implementing mechanisms.
Experience starting new, large-scale programs for INL.
Experience closing or realigning large-scale programs for INL.
Experience working with senior host-government officials and senior U.S. government officials, including senior U.S. embassy personnel.
Demonstrated leadership experience as high levels and ability to lead a group of experts.

Responsibilities

Serves as the primary advisory resource for the INL/AME West Bank Team, ensuring that the Director and Team Lead are apprised of all matters relating to INL programs in the Palestinian territories.
Provides senior-level advisory support for INL’s West Bank program, including navigating the complexities of politics and programming in an insecure, volatile, and politically charged environment; takes lessons learned from previous INL programming and helps develop strategies to support INL engagement.
Provides senior-level advisory support for establishing new, medium to large-scale programs for INL that includes a variety of complex INL mechanisms.
Utilizing subject matter expertise, aids in drafting a variety of technical, programmatic, policy, funding, and informational memoranda and letters; provides input to the Team Lead as a subject matter expert regarding Congressional testimony, inquiries, or reports; press guidance; and interagency, bilateral and multilateral agreements, in accordance with Department policies and regulations and relevant legislation.
Provides expert guidance to assist in implementing, monitoring, and evaluating U.S. foreign policy directives related to INL projects being carried out in the Palestinian territories.
Conducts research and makes recommendations to Team Lead regarding the management of programs.
Reviews and analyzes policy, intelligence, and programmatic documents and makes recommendations based on findings.
Aids in conducting program reviews and assessments of new and ongoing programs and makes recommendations based on findings.
Aids in reviewing budgets and providing program estimates to determine funding requirements and whether funding is warranted and available.
Supports liaison efforts within organization and with other government agencies and nongovernmental organizations.
Travels occasionally to the U.S. Embassies in Jerusalem and Amman for site visits and “hands on” mentoring/training.
Prepares background materials and reports to be used by senior Department officials, INL/Front Office, INL/AME leadership, and relevant embassy staff in preparing speeches, briefings, and testimony to articulate INL engagement on relevant issues in the Palestinian territories.
Supports vetting responsibilities for INL/AME to mitigate risks to INL programs in both human-rights (Leahy vetting) and anti-terrorism areas to include researching and developing vetting procedures and guidelines for the bureau.
Liaise with Department and interagency counterparts, including the Terrorist Screening Center on Foreign Terrorist Affiliation vetting matters, including preparing vetting requests and reporting results to INL/AME.
Supports programmatic assessments for the Middle East region.
Provides support for developing policies, including drafting documents, and conducting analyses, feasibility studies, and strategy options.
Assists in the evaluation of implementers’ performance (e.g., by collecting information performing an analysis, or making recommendations).