Subject Matter Analyst

Akima, LLC•District of Columbia, DC

3d•Onsite

About The Position

EUR/ACE requires a Subject Matter Expert(s) (SME) to liaise with the interagency and coordinate budget and sectoral foreign assistance to Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia in order to help ACE reach its foreign policy objectives. SMEs will coordinate with a variety of stakeholders, including U.S. government representatives, non-governmental representatives, donor community representatives, foreign government representatives and audiences, State Department staff, and the interagency concerning the role of foreign assistance and policies in support of reform priorities for the Bureau in bilateral and regional assistance to the region. The incumbent will support the coordinator’s participation in meetings with foreign officials and other international and multilateral events that feature discussion of foreign assistance, and/or participate him/herself. The Subject Matter Experts will serve as a policy advisor and source of information for the European and Eurasian Affairs Bureau and the South and Central Asia Affairs Bureau (for Central Asia). The Subject Matter Experts would provide support and guidance in analyzing public policy and program options and developing strategies to achieve short- and long-term U.S. government foreign policy goals. The Subject Matter Experts manages assigned assistance portfolios under the supervision of a Sectoral Team Leads, undertakes and coordinates projects from senior level policy working groups, develops summaries/evaluations of options, and assists in forging consensus on recommended options. The Subject Matter Experts may also be required to engage in strategic and other planning tasks that relate to specific sectors of foreign assistance. Subject Matter Specialists may be needed to cover the following areas, but not limited to, democracy assistance, including civil society, governance, judicial reform, anticorruption, and independent media. Provides technical expertise and strategic advice to the office regarding peace and security, cyber, democracy, governance, anti-corruption, human rights, independent media, economic growth, energy, climate, gender, infrastructure, humanitarian, health, and other sectors of foreign assistance. EUR/ACE and vendor must discuss and clear on announcements that are focused on each sectoral/subject matter, as needed. For example, Rule of Law Coordinator, Cybersecurity Assistance Coordinator, Gender Assistance Coordinator.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree (in related field) and/or 3-5 years’ experience in international Subject Matter Specialists/Coordinators/Experts may be needed to cover the following areas, but not limited to, democracy assistance, including civil society, governance, judicial reform, anticorruption, and independent media. Provides technical expertise and strategic advice to the office regarding peace and security, cyber, democracy, governance, anti-corruption, human rights, independent media, economic growth, energy, climate, gender, infrastructure, humanitarian, health, and other sectors of foreign assistance.
At least 3-5 year experience in the specified subject matter/sectoral area. (Areas: democracy assistance, including civil society, governance, judicial reform, anticorruption, and independent media. Provides technical expertise and strategic advice to the office regarding peace and security, cyber, democracy, governance, anti-corruption, human rights, independent media, economic growth, energy, climate, gender, infrastructure, humanitarian, health, and other sectors of foreign assistance. Each announcement/posting will be drafted and specified for the intended subject/area.)
Understanding of U.S. foreign policy goals and objectives as they relate to U.S. foreign assistance efforts in the region.
Excellent project management and interpersonal skills with basic knowledge on interrelated issues such as Military, Cybersecurity, Trafficking in Persons, Democracy, Rule of Law, Independent Media, and/or Economic Growth etc.
Professional knowledge of the principles of political science, international relations, economics, history, geography, or other related disciplines sufficient to research, study, analyze and evaluate factors and conditions involved in the administration of U.S. democracy assistance programs.
Expert knowledge of the rules, responsibilities, relationships, and interests of DoS bureaus and U.S. government agencies in the development of democracy assistance strategies; allocate resources across the U.S. government; direct interagency groups in the development of democracy assistance strategies; allocate resources across the U.S. government; direct interagency groups in the development of policies and programs to meet country/regional U.S. democracy assistance objectives; monitor implementer performance and the expenditure of funds; and participate in the foreign assistance budget process as it relates to foreign assistance funding for democracy assistance in Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia.
Comprehensive knowledge of the range of foreign assistance and budgetary laws, policies, regulations,and precedents applicable to the administration of foreign assistance programs in order to prioritize competing needs, recommend new strategies and programs, translate U.S. foreign policy objectives into informed recommendations on democracy assistance and budget levels, ensure integrity and regulatory compliance of specific actions or programs, and resolve complex high dollar assistance issues.
Comprehensive knowledge of Congressional, Federal, and Department budget and financial management processes, procedures, and requirements to develop, evaluate, and execute substantial annual assistance budgets in support of programs carried out by DoS bureaus, other U.S. government agencies, and nongovernmental implementers designed to effectively contribute to U.S. democracy assistance objectives in Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia.
Extensive knowledge of the political, military, and cultural environments and developments affecting the democracy sector in Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia to ensure that U.S. funded assistance programs meet the U.S. government's strategic objectives.
Extensive knowledge of program performance measurement, monitoring, and evaluation tools to assess the performance of U.S. assistance programs and promote learning within ACE and the Department that can be applied to ongoing foreign assistance resource allocation decisions.
Ability to analyze international development strategies and budgetary policies of the European Union and other donors to avoid program duplication, create synergies, and leverage funding.
Ability to plan, organize, and direct interagency teams and negotiate priorities and funding levels to arrive at interagency consensus for the most effective program portfolios to achieve U.S. objectives in a country and/or region.
Well-developed oral, interpersonal, and written communications skills sufficient to interact effectively with high ranking officials within and outside the U.S. government; produce coherent, persuasive reports, policy recommendations, memoranda, and other written documents and papers; articulate, explain, and defend U.S. and DoS policies and positions; and coordinate, participate in and conduct meetings, briefings, and negotiations to coalesce views of diverse U.S. government agencies into coherent and effective U.S. strategies.
Ability to identify, understand, and interpret relevant political factors and considerations to determine their potential impact on U.S. policy and democracy assistance objectives.
Active Secret clearance required with the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

Coordinate with a variety of stakeholders, including U.S. government representatives, non- governmental representatives, donor community representatives, foreign government representatives and audiences, State Department public affairs staff, and the public concerning ACE’s role and funding priorities, as well as coordinate with relevant stakeholders on tracking of foreign assistance to the region.
Serve as the liaison with a variety of internal and external stakeholders on foreign assistance priorities, planning, formulation, tracking, and negotiations in one or more of the following areas of foreign assistance: democracy and governance, security, economic including energy, cybersecurity, monitoring and evaluation, and other functional areas for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia.
Serve as the chair, lead, or back-up for functional area working groups or ACE’s Annual Budget Reviews related to a functional area, e.g., civilian security, rule of law, cybersecurity, military security, etc.
Draft and clear a wide array of materials, including Congressional Notifications and other official paper, for a variety of audiences concerning the amount, purpose, justification, priorities, role, goals, outcomes, and challenges of U.S. foreign assistance to Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia as directed by ACE executive leadership.
Attend and manage special events such as briefings, conferences, and public meetings for a variety of stakeholders domestically and internationally regarding U.S. foreign policy as directed by ACE executive leadership.
Produce, research, and formulate official responses written and verbal requests as directed by ACE executive leadership.
Represent ACE at strategy, planning, and other relevant meetings as the subject matter expert on functional areas, such as security assistance, energy, rule of law, and anti-corruption, etc.
Coordinate and discuss U.S. foreign assistance policies in support of reform priorities for the Bureau, bilateral, and regional assistance to countries in Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia.
Serve as a Functional Assistance Specialist in planning and coordinating on program strategy and implementation among multiple U.S. government agencies, including State Department Bureaus, overseas missions, and other U.S. agencies.
Provide expertise to the bureau and Department in one or more of the following areas of foreign assistance: democracy and governance, security, economic including energy, cybersecurity, monitoring and evaluation, and other functional areas for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia.
Serve as the EUR/ACE liaison with posts and missions on country and regional priorities and programs related to the development and recommendation of strategies for U.S. government assistance in the areas.
This position may require international travel two-to-four times per year.