Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction – Program Officer

U.S. Department of State

Vacancy announcement will close at midnight on March 15, 2021. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and candidates are encouraged to apply at earliest convenience.

Please apply through Monster.com and submit the following as a single attachment:

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume
3. A list of at least three professional references

https://job-openings.monster.com/isn-ctr-program-officer-washington-dc-us-us-dept-of-state-isn-ctr/224328801

General Background: The Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR) is funded by the Non-proliferation, Anti-terrorism, De-mining and Related Programs (NADR) foreign assistance account. ISN/CTR programs, also known as Global Threat Reduction (GTR) program, are aimed at reducing the threat posed by terrorist organizations or proliferant states seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction (WMD) expertise, material, and equipment. The programs operate under rigorous policy oversight and are implemented using a wide range of tools, including international agreements, grants, contracts, funds transfers to other U.S. government programs through interagency agreements, and the engagement of non-government organizations (NGOs) and the private sector.

This position will assist GTR programs with a variety of tasks as defined by the ISN/CTR Director, Deputy Director, relevant Team Chief, and Deputy Team Chief. This position will support the Special Projects and Management Team Chief, and will perform a variety of duties critical to assisting the office in managing Global Threat Reduction’s (GTR) nearly $70M in foreign assistance funds.

Responsibilities:

• Assist ISN/CTR with critical management and budgetary functions, including strategic planning, budget justification and execution, program evaluation and reporting, and threat assessments.
• At the direction of the ISN/CTR, coordinate budget aspects of activities developed by ISN/CTR’s grantees, interagency partners, technical experts, and others to advance GTR’s mission in an assigned area or areas of responsibility.
• Assist ISN/CTR in administering contracts, grants, and interagency agreements, and facilitate the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the more than 50 implementing partners conducting work on behalf of ISN/CTR.
• Develop, refine, and implement office-wide processes to strengthen ISN/CTR’s program management techniques across all programs to ensure proper oversight of funding agreements.
• With direction from the office leadership, oversee the submission of Congressional Notifications, and other Departmental notification and reporting requirements.
• Serve as the coordinator for State Department data calls, and integrate input from ISN/CTR’s program teams to assure a comprehensive, accurate, and concise report for relevant officials.
• Prepare briefing materials, to include presentations and briefing memos for presentation to and by senior State Department Officials.
• Serve as the lead, with the direction of office leadership, on ISN/CTR’s metrics and evaluation studies. The incumbent will work closely with the chosen implementing partner to design, execute, monitor, and communicate to relevant officials the progress made on ISN/CTR’s evaluation studies.
• Work closely with the Department of State’s Director of Foreign Assistance, the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation’s Strategic Planner, the relevant regional offices, and the Office of Management and Budget to coordinate ISN/CTR’s foreign assistance funding. This position will also coordinate closely with State Department budget offices on day to day monitoring of ISN/CTR’s awards.
• Other activities as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Experience in the Department of State financial systems, or federal agency counterparts that manage and track financial transactions, systems to account for grants and contracts, systems that manage awardee payment requests.
• Expert knowledge of the federal government budget process, with an emphasis on foreign assistance accounts to include appropriations and the budget justification cycle and strategic planning.
• Knowledge and experience in the regulations on the development, design, execution, implementation, and monitoring of foreign assistance activities.
• Exceptional writing skills that include the ability to quickly and accurately draft persuasive and detail oriented official documents and correspondence with minimum oversight
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills – the ability to clearly and concisely deliver persuasive arguments with specific follow up with key individuals and to maintain positive and effective working relationships with key stakeholders in the budget justification process.
• Ability to learn new processes and keep up to date on situations where information and deadlines change quickly.
• Ability to provide leadership quick turn analyses on key stakeholder perspectives that will impact their communications (written, briefing, other)
• While not required, knowledge of the scope, purposes, and objectives of U.S. and international programs to engage relevant subject matter experts to reduce the threat of proliferation of WMDs is a plus.
• While not required, knowledge of biosecurity, chemical security, and nuclear security principals and best practices, to include both international and U.S. government foundational documents is a plus.
• Ability to work with challenging partners and stakeholders who hold different goals and objectives than you, in a professional and effective manner towards strategic office goals.
• The candidate must possess or be able to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance. Please indicate what level of clearance is currently held, if applicable.

Benefits

Annual & Sick Leave

The individual selected will earn annual and sick leave in accordance with OPM regulations, the employee will be paid for federal holidays that fall within their regularly scheduled tour of duty. Those entering on duty with prior military service and/or federal civilian service can credit their years of service for higher annual leave accrual rates.

Health & Life Insurance Reimbursement

Personal Services Contractor may be provided a maximum of up to seventy-two percent (72%) against actual costs of their annual health and life insurance premiums. Eligibility for reimbursement requires evidence of enrollment in a qualifying health insurance plan and proof of actual payment of the associated health premiums.

Relocation Assistance Available: None

How to Apply:

Please apply through Monster.com and submit the following as a single attachment:

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume
3. A list of at least three professional references

Failure to submit a complete package may disqualify the applicant from consideration.

You will be evaluated against the requirements outlined in this announcement, so your resume and cover letter should demonstrate that you meet the required qualifications above to undertake this position. Your references will only be contacted after your permission following an interview. You may also be asked to provide a writing sample.

ISN/CTR expects to screen and interview candidates within 45 days of close of announcement. ONLY APPLICANTS SELECTED FOR INTERVIEWS WILL BE CONTACTED. Offers of employment will be dependent on ability to obtain security clearance through the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security bureau.

There may be unanticipated vacancies that occur during the period of this job posting or soon after its close. Candidates that apply to this announcement will also be provided the same consideration for these vacancies.

The U.S. Department of State’s talented workforce reflects and champions all of our strengths and diversity – personal, professional, and educational. We offer a workplace that values and rewards leadership, collaboration and innovation, and personal and professional development.

Note: This is a Personal Services Contract. This is NOT a federal direct-hire position.

Salary: Commensurate with experience and qualifications.