The Ugandan Jobline

• United States Agency for International
  Development (USAID)
• Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
• Peace Corps 

• The Specialist (Trainee) is responsible for providing basic project
  acquisition and assistance support to USAID/Uganda Technical Offices, DO
  and AO Teams, and any designated Regional clients. USAID programs are
  diverse and multi-sectoral. The Specialist (Trainee) is required to
  provide basic and limited acquisition assistance to designated Technical
  Offices, DO, and/or AO Teams, and to support a variety of
  programs/projects/activities. These programs/projects/activities are
  implemented through complex Government contracting and grant mechanisms,
  including but not limited to purchase orders, competitively negotiated
  technical assistance agreements, contracts, cooperative agreements,
  Participating Agency Service Agreements (PASA), and sole source contracts,
  requiring the Specialist (Trainee) to become familiar with the full range
  of USAID procurement instruments.
• The Specialist (Trainee) is assigned work in such a manner as to
  provide training and the basis for independent selection of appropriate
  procurement instrument types for the situation at hand, and to accurately
  apply USG procurement laws, regulations, policies, and procedures
  governing each type of instrument. The developmental nature of the
  assignment provides exposure to the acquisition of goods and various types
  of services. The Specialist (Trainee) will become equally familiar with
  the procedures for acquisition of goods, and for managing personal service
  and non-personal service contracting actions.
• The Specialist (Trainee) is expected to work with higher-level
  Specialists/Officers, and with technical specialists/activity managers in
  DO and AO Teams throughout Mission and/or the Region, assisting in the
  preparation of annual procurement plans, clear and concise statements of
  work, and supporting documentation. The Specialist (Trainee) will develop
  the ability to provide authoritative technical guidance to technical
  specialists/activity managers pertaining to their procurement-related
  responsibilities and procedures. Specific developmental duties include:
  Pre-Award Duties – the Specialist (Trainee) participates in meetings on
  procurement planning; collates data, and prepares and updates tracking
  tools in order to monitor pending procurements; works with clients to
  assist in the preparation of justifications, waivers, and other necessary
  approvals, as needed; and, reviews GLAAS Requisitions (REQs) for
  completeness and clarity before endorsing them to higher- level
  Specialists/Officers. Prepares solicitation documents in GLAAS, and the
  electronically posts Simplified Acquisitions and Personal Services
  Contracts; and, works with higher-level Specialists/Officers to ensure
  compliance with FAR and AIDAR advertisement requirements, including
  publication of synopses and solicitations, as prescribed. The Specialist
  (Trainee) works with higher-level Specialists/Officers to prepare Requests
  for Proposal and Requests for Application. The Specialist (Trainee)
  assists higher-level Specialists/Officers in pre-award activities for
  competitive solicitations, and with pre-award assessment surveys of
  potential contractors or recipients, in order to ensure eligibility prior
  to an award being made.
• Post-Award Duties – the Specialist (Trainee) assists higher-level
  Specialists/Officers in monitoring performance as required by the terms
  and conditions of the award, through reviews of performance and reviews of
  financial reports. The Specialist (Trainee) manages the assigned
  developmental portfolio, assuring that funding is available when required;
  and, under the guidance of higher-level Specialists/Officers works with AO
  Teams/CORs/AORs to assure targets/milestones are set and being met (or
  that remedial action is taken), and that the overall goals of the
  program/project/activity are met. As assigned, the Specialist (Trainee)
  conducts site visits and attends meetings. The Specialist (Trainee)
  provides guidance to technical personnel, and assists in programmatic
  duties as required to avoid contractual/legal improprieties, seeking
  guidance from higher-level Specialists/Officers as required. The
  Specialist (Trainee) assists in researching and resolving issues that may
  arise during contract performance, including changes, work stoppages,
  disputes, implementation problems, defaults, cost overruns, unacceptable
  performance, and payment problems.
• The Specialist (Trainee) assists in the conduct of closeouts of
  contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements after completion. These
  include ensuring contract audits are conducted in a timely manner,
  preparing performance documentation, and resolving outstanding issues
  noted in audits.

• The applicants for the US Embassy Acquisition and Assistance
  Specialist job opportunity should hold a Baccalaureate Degree or the equivalent
  of a four-year US college/university (or equivalency accreditation if a
  non-US institution) degree in accounting, law, business, finance,
  contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing,
  quantitative methods, and/or organization and management is required. NB:
  Additional education may NOT be substituted for Experience.
• Three or more years of progressively responsible experience in
  acquisition and assistance, development assistance, or a closely related
  field is required. One year of this experience must have been gained
  working in a position equivalent to no less than the next lower level of
  FSN responsibility in this or a related occupation, within a USG
  organization the Host Government, the private sector, or within an international
  or donor organization, in an English-language work environment. NB:
  Additional experience may NOT be substituted for Education.
• Knowledge of public and/or private-sector business processes, or the
  ability to quickly gain such knowledge, is required. An understanding of
  US Federal and USAID Acquisition
• Regulations, and/or knowledge and understanding of how to execute
  and administer a complex acquisition portfolio, and/or the ability to
  quickly gain such understanding, is required, particularly as it relates
  to acquisition through methods of negotiation, sealed bidding, small
  purchase procedures, and that result in standard and established contract
  types.
• A basic understanding of markets pertaining to
  program/project/activity requirements for services and commodities, and a
  good knowledge and understanding of US market and pricing methods is
  desirable.
• The potential to acquire the ability to plan and administer
  acquisition activities, and provide acquisition assistance and support for
  Agency programs and projects in a timely manner, is required. The
  potential to gain the ability to apply contracting regulations,
  procedures, and policies to individual acquisition and assistance programs
  is required. And, an ability to deal effectively with high- level representatives
  of the US and Regional business community, and with colleagues in USAID
  Missions and/or host governments throughout the Region is required. Skill
  in the use of most elements of the Microsoft Business suite is desired.
• Good analytical, negotiating, and time management skills, along with
  strong proofreading skills and attention to detail, are required. The
  ability to work calmly, tactfully, and effectively under pressure is
  essential, as well as the ability to maintain strict CONFIDENTIALITY, and meet
  all STANDARDS OF CONDUCT/ETHICS STANDARDS in accordance with US law
  throughout all phases of acquisition and assistance procurement processes.
• This position requires solid computer skills to utilize public,
  high-visibility, externally monitored electronic resources via the web,
  especially those pertaining to procurement related topics and those used
  to generate awards. Examples of these web-based systems that require
  proficiency include the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOps),
  Grants.gov, Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS), Federal Assistance
  Award Data System (FAADS), Central Contractor Registration (CCR),
  Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS), Agency Secure
  Image and Storage Tracking system (ASIST) and Online Representations and
  Certifications Application (ORCA). The position requires the incumbent to
  have the ability to become a subject matter expert with the Global
  Acquisition and Assistance System (GLAAS) system for all user roles in
  USAID Uganda. The incumbent must be competent with the use of word
  processing, spreadsheets, and other standard business system software.
• Language Proficiency: Level IV (Fluent) in both written and spoken English. Knowledge of
  additional languages common in Uganda is desired.

• Education: Possession of a Baccalaureate Degree or the equivalent of
  a four-year US college/university (or equivalency accreditation if a
  non-US institution) degree in accounting, law, business, finance, contracts,
  purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative
  methods, and/or organization and management is required. NB: Additional
  education may NOT be substituted for Experience.
• At least four or more years of progressively responsible experience
  in acquisition and assistance, development assistance, or a closely
  related field is required. As this position is part of a recognized and
  established career ladder, a minimum of one year of this experience must
  have been gained working in a USAID Contracting/A&A Office at no less
  than the next lower grade level. NB: Additional experience may NOT be
  substituted for Education.
• Knowledge of public and/or private-sector business processes is
  required. At this level, knowledge of US Federal and USAID Acquisition
  Regulations, or knowledge and understanding of how
• to execute and administer an acquisition and portfolio, is required,
  particularly as it relates to acquisition through methods of negotiation,
  sealed bidding, small purchase procedures, and that result in standard and
  established contract types. A good knowledge of Regional markets
  pertaining to program and project requirements for services and
  commodities, and a good knowledge and understanding of US market and
  pricing methods is desirable.
• The ability to plan and administer acquisition activities, and
  provide adequate acquisition assistance and support for agency programs
  and projects in a timely manner is required. The ability to apply
  governing contracting regulations, procedures, and policies to assigned
  acquisition and assistance programs is required. An ability to deal
  effectively with high-level representatives of the US and Regional
  business community, and with colleagues in USAID Missions and/or host
  governments throughout the Region is required. Skill in the use of most
  elements of the Microsoft Business suite is required.
• Good analytical, negotiating, and time management skills, along with
  strong proofreading skills and attention to detail, are required. The
  ability to work calmly, tactfully, and effectively under pressure is
  essential, as well as the ability to maintain strict CONFIDENTIALITY, and
  meet all STANDARDS OF CONDUCT/ETHICS STANDARDS in accordance with US law
  throughout all phases of acquisition and assistance procurement processes.
  An ability to deal effectively with high-level representatives of the US
  and local business community, with senior managers in the USAID Mission
  and with senior level host government representatives is required.
• This position requires solid computer skills to utilize public,
  high-visibility, externally monitored electronic resources via the web,
  especially those pertaining to procurement related topics and those used
  to generate awards. Examples of these web-based systems that require
  proficiency include the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOps),
  Grants.gov, Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS), Federal Assistance
  Award Data System (FAADS), Central Contractor Registration (CCR),
  Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS), ASIST and
  Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). The position
  requires the incumbent to be a subject matter expert with the GLAAS system
  for all user roles in USAID Uganda. The incumbent must be competent with
  the use of word processing, spreadsheets, and other standard business
  system software.
• Language Proficiency: Level IV (Fluent) in both written and spoken English. Knowledge of
  additional languages common in Uganda is desired.

• Education: Possession of a Baccalaureate Degree or the equivalent of
  a four-year US college/university (or equivalency accreditation if a
  non-US institution) degree in accounting, law, business, finance,
  contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing,
  quantitative methods, and/or organization and management is required. NB:
  Additional education may NOT be substituted for Experience.
• Five or more or progressively responsible work in acquisition and
  assistance is required. As this position is part of a recognized and
  established career ladder, a minimum of two years of this experience must
  have been gained working in a USAID Contracting/A&A Office, with at
  least one year at the next lower, FSN-10, grade level. NB: Additional
  experience may NOT be substituted for Education.
• Knowledge of US Federal and USAID Acquisition Regulations, and
  knowledge and understanding of how to execute and administer a complex
  acquisition and assistance portfolio is required, particularly as it
  relates to acquisition through methods of negotiation, sealed bidding,
  small purchase procedures, and that result in standard and established
  contract types. A good knowledge of host-country and regional markets
  pertaining to program/project/activity requirements for services and
  commodities, and a good knowledge and understanding of US market and
  pricing methods is required. Knowledge of business processes in public or
  private sectors is required.
• The ability to plan and administer large acquisition activities, and
  provide adequate acquisition assistance and support for agency
  programs/projects/activities in a timely manner is required. The ability
  to apply governing contracting regulations, procedures, and policies to
  individual complex acquisition and assistance programs is required. An
  ability to deal effectively with high-level representatives of the US and
  Regional business community, and with colleagues in USAID Missions and/or
  host governments throughout the Region is required. Skill in the use of
  most elements of the Microsoft Business suite is required.
• Good analytical, negotiating, and time management skills, along with
  strong proofreading skills and attention to detail, are required. The
  ability to work calmly, tactfully, and effectively under pressure is
  essential, as well as the ability to maintain strict CONFIDENTIALITY, and
  meet all STANDARDS OF CONDUCT/ETHICS STANDARDS in accordance with US law
  throughout all phases of acquisition and assistance procurement processes.
• This position requires solid computer skills to utilize public,
  high-visibility, externally monitored electronic resources via the web,
  especially those pertaining to procurement related topics and those used
  to generate awards. Examples of these web-based systems that require
  proficiency include the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOps),
  Grants.gov, Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS), Federal Assistance
  Award Data System (FAADS), Central Contractor Registration (CCR),
  Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS), ASIST and Online
  Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). The position
  requires the incumbent to be a subject matter expert with GLAAS for all
  user roles in USAID Uganda. The incumbent must be competent with the use
  of word processing, spreadsheets, and other standard business system
  software.
• Language Proficiency: Level IV (Fluent) in both written and spoken English. Knowledge of
  additional languages common in Uganda is desired.

• A signed DS-174 Employment Application
  for Locally Employed Staff or Family Member, Click Here
• Cover letter clearly indicating the
  position for which you are applying and describing how you meet the
  minimum requirements
• A Curriculum Vitae/Resume
• Copies of Academic Transcripts
• Names, contact numbers, and e-mail
  addresses of three (3) professional references. At least one of the references
  must be a prior or current direct supervisor.

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