General Development Officer

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. Our work supports economic growth and trade; agriculture and the environment; education and training; democracy and governance; global health; global partnerships and humanitarian assistance.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), listed as one of the top ten best places to work in the Federal Government, is currently recruiting General Development Officer.  The General Development Officer position has been extended to September 30, 2009.

Major Duties of the General Development Officer include:

The General Development Officer (GDO) FPOs will be based in a province in Afghanistan and assigned to one of approximately 26 NATO/ISAF PRTs. The FPOs will live and work with other members of the PRT often in rustic and challenging conditions. The FPO s responsibilities are twofold. First, the FPOs will serve as the head of a USAID field office co-located with the PRT. In this capacity, the FPOs are responsible for USAID strategy and operations within the PRT s AOR to include representation to local government and communities, enabling the success of nationally-run USAID programs, and supervision up to two local national staff. Over time, FPOs are expected to develop a productive relationship with one or more USAID programs (i.e. health, education, infrastructure, governance etc.) and may be asked to perform specific duties including monitoring and evaluation and occasionally as technical consultants to these programs. The second role of FPOs is to support the PRT itself, primarily by helping to set the strategy and guide the activities of the PRT. In US-led PRTs, FPOs are the lead US Government (USG) agency on reconstruction and development issues. This includes advising and interacting with other agencies within the PRT as well as the local government and communities. The FPOs will be involved in security, political and other matters, working in concert with Department of Defense, Agriculture, and State personnel. This interagency approach has been one of the most successful aspects of the PRTs.

Federal benefits include:

• 10 paid Federal Holidays per year
• 13 days of paid sick leave each year
• 13-26 days of vacation
• depending on years of employment
• Nationally recognized health insurance plans that offers choice and flexibility
• Group Term Life Insurance program
• Long-term Care Insurance and much more!

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Academic Background.
• Ability to work in teams to achieve results.
• Ability to write persuasively and effectively in English.
• Ability to communicate effectively other than in writing.
• Ability to work in a developing country with limited modern conveniences.
• Knowledge of accounting, auditing, internal control systems, financial analysis and budgeting.

MINIMUM FEDERAL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

A relevant Bachelor's degree plus eight (8) years of relevant experience of which four (4) years is relevant overseas experience; OR a Master's degree in a relevant major plus six (6) years of relevant experience of which four (4) years is relevant overseas experience; OR a Ph.D. in a relevant major plus five (5) years of relevant experience of which four (4) years is relevant overseas experience.

Relevant majors are economics, agriculture, agricultural economics, agricultural production, international economic development, business, finance, commercial or business law, international relations, natural resource management, anthropology, sociology, geography, community development, and/or urban/regional planning, political science, sociology, anthropology, international development, international affairs, law, history or comparative government, public administration, social/behavioral sciences, public administration or management.