Job Summary: The USAID/Uganda Principle Liaison Specialist serves as a key advisor and principal operations manager to the USAID/Uganda Mission Director. He/she assists the Office of the Mission Director in:
· Information Gathering, Analysis and Reporting on matters of strategic importance to USAID’s development program;
· Providing strategic advice and managing partnerships with Government of Uganda (GOU) officials;
· Develop contacts to build linkages, partnerships and networks with civil society organizations, private sector actors and development partners;
· Support Mission-wide intra-office coordination and collaboration to implement the Country Development Cooperation Strategy;
· Liaise with USAID implementing partners on development policy issues;
· Work with the Mission Director and Deputy Mission Director to manage Mission priorities and scheduling;
· Perform other duties as assigned to assist the USAID/Uganda Front Office.
Organisation: United States Embassy, US Mission in Uganda
Duty Station: USAID DIR Office, Uganda
Vacancy No: 094-2013
Reports to: Mission Director
Salary Grade: UShs. 72,127,325 – 104,083,095 p.a. inclusive of allowances
The incumbent serves as the principle assistant to the Mission Director on matters pertaining to liaising with Mission Senior Management across all US Government (USG) agencies on matters related to host country contacts, communication, and working meetings with GOU officials. The incumbent is responsible for providing substantive advice on host country political dynamics, background information on issues of relevance or requiring management action from the Mission Director, structuring briefings and meetings for interaction with Mission stakeholders, and drafting guidance on responses relevant to partner meetings in which the Mission Director is involved. The Principle Liaison Specialist works closely with the Front Office support staff to align the Mission Director’s agenda, strategy, and direction with Mission priorities. The incumbent enables the Mission Director to concentrate time, effort, and priorities on strategic activities. The incumbent demonstrates the highest standards of integrity. He/she will manage complex situations and multiple responsibilities simultaneously, mixing long-term projects with the urgency of immediate demands. The incumbent must also have the demonstrated ability to deal with highly confidential information and act as a liaison between the Mission Director and other partner or Mission entities, both internal and external. The incumbent must also show the willingness and ability to manage large amounts of detail with great care and accuracy. He/she will interface with Mission Office Directors to ensure adequate preparations for Mission Director engagements organized by various offices.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Relationship Management (35%)
· Gather information, analyze it and generate concise reports and reporting cables on matters of strategic importance to USAID’s development program;
· Build networks with national leaders to serve as a platform to promote USAID development programs and build strategic linkages to enhance the effectiveness of those programs;
· Develop and manage a relationship management system that facilitates effective communications both inside and outside of USAID;
· Provide strategic advice on how to structure and manage strategic relations with high-ranking GOU officials;
· Develop contacts to build linkages, partnerships, and networks with civil society organizations, private sector actors, and development partners;
· Support the Mission Director’s internal and external communications, both written and oral.
2. Age Strategy Management (25%)
· Support alignment of Front Office focus and time management to priorities in the new Country Development Cooperation Strategy;
· Support Mission-wide intra-office coordination and collaboration to implement the Country Development Cooperation Strategy;
· Assist in fostering inter-program collaboration at the district level through structuring appropriate district-GOU relationships, when needed;
· Liaise with key GOU officials and institutions to build understanding about USAID development priorities and ensure uniformity of messaging to these entities.
3. Operations Management (25%)
· Liaise with USAID implementing partners on development policy issues as requested by the Front Office;
· Work with the Mission Director and Deputy Mission Director to manage Mission priorities;
· Ensures that the Mission Director is prepared for meetings and events.
· Works closely with Office Directors and support staff to ensure the appropriate management of the Mission Director’s calendar so that all priorities are met.
· Coordinates activities, sets agendas, and summarizes deliverables for Senior Team, Leadership Team;
4. Perform any other duties as assigned.
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
NOTE: All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.
- The candidate should possess a Master’s degree in liberal arts, business, management, or related field is required.
- At least five years of general experience in development or diplomatic work.
- Additional training in relevant USAID administrative procedures and regulations; Programming Foreign Assistance (PFA) course; Project Design; Foreign Diplomacy; Leadership training.
- Significant knowledge of the national political, economic, security, and cultural environment of Uganda as the incumbent will have to interact with orange of partners including national and county government, international development organizations, civil society organizations who implement USAID/Uganda programs, and the business community.
- Computer literacy skills with excellent knowledge in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power point and Access) as well as Google Mail and good documentation systems
- Ability to prioritize and complete tasks quickly and efficiently;
- Be highly motivated, dedicated, a self-starter, and able to work in challenging and stressful environments,
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work in a team setting;
- Ability to easily interact with tact and diplomacy when interacting with high level officials and USAID partner organizations
- The ability to gather and analyze information and develop a plausible interpretation of implications for USAID programs is critical.
- He/she most demonstrate understanding the contextual complexities of Uganda and how development programs should assimilate these.
- Communication skills to articulate the information to provide strategic advice and manage USAID-GOU institutional relationships must be sophisticated and nuanced.
- The incumbent should have proven ability to develop new linkages, partnerships and networks with civil society organizations, private sector actors, and development partners that will enhance USAID development results.
- He/she must be able to support coordination with other sections within the US Embassy, with USAID/ Uganda’s Implementing Partner teams, with donors and the GOU, as directed by Front Office requirements
- The incumbent must exhibit skill to collaborate with, and achieve results through, others, the ability to build strong and sustainable relationships, and the capability to interact within all levels of the Agency.
- The incumbent must have high-level collaboration skills, with outstanding diplomacy, analytical and organizational skills, finely honed oral and written communication skills, laterally to others on the executive team, downward through the system, and upward to the Mission Director and senior management.
- He/she must demonstrate keen judgment and emotional intelligence, in addition to a successful track record of achieving results through persuasion and collaboration rather than explicit reporting relationship.
- The incumbent must also possess critical thinking skills, using logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses, and have the ability to seek alternative solutions, conclusions, and approaches to problems.
- He/she must have the ability to flawlessly manage significant amounts of detail and a successful track record managing multiple complex projects simultaneously.
How to Apply:
All those interested in working with the US mission in Kampala should send their applications and strictly adhere to the following:
Universal Application for Employment as a Locally Employed Staff or Family Member (DS-174)
Download it Here. - A current resume or curriculum vitae.
- Candidates who claim US Veterans preference must provide a copy of their Form DD-214 with their application. Candidates who claim conditional US Veterans preference must submit documentation confirming eligibility for a conditional preference in hiring with their application.
- Any other documentation (e.g. essays, transcripts/certificates, awards) that addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.
Submit Application To:
Human Resources Office
By email at KampalaHR@state.gov
NB: Only electronic submissions will be accepted and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Please clearly indicate the position applied for in the subject area of the email submission.
Please use standard file types such as Microsoft Word (.doc) and Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) and please send all documents in one file attachment.
Telephone: 0414-306001/259-791/5
Deadline: 25th November 2013
The US Mission in Kampala provides equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all people without regard to race, color religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, or sexual orientation. The Department of State also strives to achieve equal employment opportunity in all personnel operations through continuing diversity enhancement programs.
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