The Program Support Unit (PSU) is a member of a team of professionals working under the supervision of the PSU Senior Director. The team is responsible for the coordination, monitoring, execution, and delivery of timely and effective services to awarded programs. The PSU ensures programs are consistently and effectively following Counterpartโs policies and procedures; highlights areas of risk to the PSU Sr. Director, program leadership and, if required, the Vice President of Programs; works with Counterpart departments to update and/or improve policies and procedures based on feedback from programs and observations working directly with projects; and helps reduce risk through consistent monitoring of key areas including: budgets, cost share, burn-rate, project procurement (goods, services and grants), sub-award management, and project HR issues.
The PSU Program Officer provides support to individual programs in Counterpartโs portfolio of closing spaces and conflict/ post-conflict areas; additional information is provided below in the responsibilities section.
The Program Officer reports to a PSU Program Manager and works in close collaboration with the Program Management Unit to support projects.
Responsibilities
- Support operational management of field program implementation, including but not limited to the following duties:
- Finance: monitor budgets; monitor award obligation level, VAT tracking, cost-share tracking, identify gaps in knowledge of field staff, and develop and deliver trainings to address chronic or ongoing issues.
- Award Management/Grants Contracts & Compliance: track and manage consultant and blanket purchase agreements; review procurement and grant packages; and track approvals for modifications or agreements; and identify and assist in developing tools and trackers to facilitate award and contract management.
- Human Resources: coordinate and track updates to human resources field handbook; monitor Expats/TCN allowances; assist in procuring and tracking HR legal services in the field; identify and assist in developing tools and trackers to facilitate HR management.
- IT and Security: conduct spot checks of files uploaded to SharePoint, track Field security training, follow-up on security issues.
- Identify and propose solutions to solve services delivery challenges and ensure project operational needs are met in a timely way.
- Take ownership of discrete issues and drive to resolution, sharing learnings with the PSU team.
- Monitor program execution and prepare routine program analyses.
- Monitor project documents and files for tracking, compliance, and auditing purposes.
- Respond to requests for audit calls.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with PSU, Programs, and project staff.
Qualifications
- Bachelorโs degree in business administration, international development or related field; or equivalent experience.
- Minimum 4 years of project management experience (operations, compliance, and budgeting), and familiarity with USAIDโs finance and grants process.
- Strong written, verbal, analytical and organizational skills.
- Strong customer service orientation and written and oral communication skills
- Self-starter โ ability to work independently/without close supervision, and as part of diverse teams
- Demonstrated ability to show initiative, solve problems, handle multiple tasks simultaneously
- Meticulous attention to detail, as well as critical thinking and problem-solving ability
- Strong time management skills, proven capacity to prioritize and initiate follow-through
- Alignment with Counterpartโs core values.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
Preferred Skills & Qualifications:
- Experience providing ongoing program management and/or operations support to complex large or mid-size programs in closing spaces and conflict/ post-conflict areas (for example in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, or similar environments), preferred.
Annual Salary Range: $50,502- $65,652