Tetra Tech International Development (International Development Jobs - Tetra Tech), is currently accepting expressions of interest from qualified candidates for a potential Decision Support Advisor position for the FEWS NET 8 (Famine Early Warning Systems Network) Decision Support Contract. This position will be based in Arlington, Virginia. Hybrid and remote options are available.
Position Description/Summary: FEWS NET is dedicated to delivering early warning of hazards, food insecurity, vulnerability, and famine to the US Government, USAID, national governments, and various regional, international, and non-governmental organizations. FEWS NET 8 will continue the critical work that FEWS NET has delivered for over 30 years, emphasizing global coverage and innovation in food security monitoring and assessment. Managed from a headquarters office in Washington D.C., FEWS NET 8 will extend its reach beyond traditional geographical limitations, providing decision support services for over 30 presence countries and global early warning of food security and humanitarian crises.
The Decision Support Advisor will be responsible for leading the team of Food Security Analysts, ensuring comprehensive analysis and reporting on food security trends at local, regional, and global levels as appropriate. The Advisor will oversee the synthesis of complex data sets, including agroclimatology, market dynamics, and geopolitical factors, to produce accurate forecasts and inform decision-making processes. This role involves coordinating with various stakeholders, including government agencies and international organizations, to facilitate a unified response to food security challenges. The Advisor will regularly evaluate the global food security landscape, adapting strategies and approaches as needed to address emerging risks and ensure the effectiveness of the project's interventions.
Responsibilities:
* Lead production and delivery of targeted, regular and ad hoc decision support products, such as Food Security Outlooks (FSOs), Outlook updates, alerts, and briefings, for more than 30 countries;
* Inform and support response and contingency planning processes; ensure that FEWS NET decision support identifies potential food insecurity and/or emerging crises as early as possible to support strategic decision-making and resource-allocation processes, especially within USAID;
* Inform and provide technical assistance in contingency and response planning for USAID and for food security networks in FEWS NET countries;
* Oversee FEWS NET’s regular and ad-hoc decision support to USAID, particularly in Washington, as well as to other food security stakeholders;
* Provide guidance on and build capacity related to decision support including, developing decision support and communications strategies and providing remote or in-person sessions for staff on how FEWS NET produces its decision support and what FEWS NET decision support includes; and
* Manage and supervise Decision Support Group staff, including mentoring staff and ensuring their professional development.
Minimum Qualification Requirements:
* Minimum graduate degree in agriculture, agricultural economics or security, or an emergency or crisis management-related area or a related field;
* At least 5 years of relevant experience in food security, humanitarian and/or development assistance, contingency and response planning, and decision support required; overseas and management experience strongly desired, with at least 2 years in a developing country context preferred;
* Significant experience with early warning analysis required;
* Detailed knowledge of, and experience with, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) required;
* Experience with USAID Washington and field operations, programs, policies, and procedures required;
* Outstanding intercultural communication and interpersonal skills;
* Excellent computer skills, data management and statistical analysis skills, including geographic information system (GIS);
* Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity;
* Experience working in a multicultural and diverse environment.
* Fluency in English; proficiency in additional languages such as French or Spanish is advantageous.
* Current U.S. work authorization is required at the time of application.