Project Management Specialist, Responsible Minerals and Trade
USAID/DRC Project Management Specialist, Responsible Minerals and Trade (Local National)
https://careers.ibtci.com/jobs/3427?lang=en-us
- Location: Congo, The Democratic Republic of the
- Job type: Funded Project
- Req ID : 3427
Job Description
We are International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI), a global consulting firm working some of the most complex and impactful development problems worldwide. We work on programs that help government agencies, private companies and donors improve the lives of others. At IBTCI you will be part of an inclusive team that provides expert solutions and advice to understand and address critical problems while giving you opportunities to succeed and grow.
Job Title: USAID/DRC Project Management Specialist, Responsible Minerals & Trade (Local National)
Department/Location: Institutional Support Program Implementation (ISPI)
Reports To: ISPI Project Manager
Type: Regular Full-Time
Classification: Exempt
Overview:
This position will be embedded within USAID/DRC and will have USAID.gov email address. Therefore, the candidates MUST be able to obtain USAID Facilities Access Clearance.
USAID/Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC’s) 2020-2025 Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) is: A More Peaceful and Prosperous DRC with Improved Opportunities for Communities and Individuals to Thrive. This high-level goal encapsulates USAID’s long-term vision of a DRC where all communities and people are empowered to move their country closer to self-reliance. Over the next five years, USAID will partner with individuals, communities, and institutions and increase their ability to generate and achieve locally-led solutions. However, significant obstacles, including pervasive corruption, weak and ineffective state institutions, extreme poverty, an extractives-dependent economy, and ongoing conflict and instability may affect the Mission’s ability to achieve this goal. These daunting challenges arise from a lack of capacity as well as weak government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (GDRC) commitment at both the national and sub-national levels.
USAID/DRC’s Office of Economic Growth and Integration (OEG) implements interventions that stimulate private sector-led growth (primarily agriculture-led growth) as the principal goal, while calibrating programming to ensure inclusive economic growth that reduces hunger and poverty; decreases conflict; increases resilience communities and systems; enables affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy; increases responsible minerals trade; and catalyzes finance, trade, investment, and innovation to bolster development.
On behalf of USAID/DRC Mission’s Office of Economic Growth, IBTCI seeks a Project Management Specialist to support the USAID Responsible Minerals Trade program. The Specialist’s primary function is to analyze, recommend and manage programs to promote legal products and trade of minerals and the development of the mining sector in the DRC, with an emphasis, but not limited to, the conflict zones for USAID/DRC. There are many aspects of the extractive industries portfolio including, establishing and monitoring programs that support legal and conflict-free artisanal mining initiatives, increasing transparency and accountability, exploiting opportunities for public private partnerships, and strengthening program coordination on aspects involving conflict and illicit mining activities.
The candidate will assist in the management of the Mission's high-profile Responsible Minerals Trade (RMT) portfolio, which currently consists of about $40 million across eight implementation instruments. In addition, the candidate will liaise with and support the Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade and monitor its funding from the private sector for RMT related projects. The candidate will serve as one of the USAID focal points for RMT issues and as such will participate in donor and partner meetings in the DRC, the Great Lakes region and internationally, under the guidance and direction of the Natural Resource Officer (NRO). The candidate will support oversight and management of contracts, grants and agreements including monitoring of ongoing project activities, and assisting in the design and procurement of new assistance and acquisition instruments. Furthermore, the Specialist will routinely consult with Congolese Creuseurs/artisanal miners and their associations, mining industry representatives, civil society organizations (CSOs), international bi-lateral and multilateral donors, associations representing traders and export houses, mining ministry officials, national and provincial chambers of commerce, and other actors in this sector to help address reform of the illicit minerals trade and how to support artisanal miners. In addition to management of assigned activities, the candidate will also serve as the primary focal point for monitoring and evaluation for the portfolio.
IBTCI is seeking a Project Management Specialist that can provide long-term, full time support to the USAID/DRC Office of Economic Growth. The Specialist will provide essential support related to:
- Activity Management regarding minerals programs;
- Private Sector Engagement
- Coordination with Government of DRC and Donor Partners
- Internal USAID and U.S. Government Coordination
The Specialist will work closely with the Deputy Director of the Economic Growth Office, and will work in close collaboration with program, budget, technical, and policy staff within the Mission and across the U.S. Government (USG) seeking responsible mineral trade.
Responsibilities
Essential Duties/Tasks and Responsibilities:
Activity Management – 50%
Activity management shall include: routine activity monitoring, results monitoring, maintaining close contact with grantees, providing guidance and direction to implementing partners within the confines of the incumbent’s authorities, resolve implementation problems in coordination with the team, prepare documentation for annual Portfolio Reviews, prepare quarterly accruals, and maintain files. Monitoring also includes conducting on-site visits and inspections, and ensuring Implementing Partners (IPs) receive needed information on USAID regulations and policies. The Specialist supports the evaluation of progress of IPs toward achievement of results through regular field trips, and meetings with senior IP management and project officials. The Specialist provides support in establishing performance monitoring systems and ensures appropriate accounting of resources by tracking quarterly accruals, maintaining project pipeline information, and providing leadership in meeting audit recommendations. The Specialist is accountable for enabling high performance in all program management functions, including planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring impact of programming, and managing for results.
Strategic Leadership and Private Sector Engagement – 20%
Supports the implementation of the Mission's market systems approach and private sector engagement. The Specialist supports the strategic analysis and research, provides inputs into reports and technical proposal reviews, and supports the preparation of substantive reports and briefing materials on issues related to technical and programmatic approaches in enhancing a market systems approach and private sector engagement within the minerals sector and beyond. The Specialist supports the EG Office Director, the Deputy Director, A/CORs, the Program Office, USAID Mission Management, and the USG interagency on the development of market systems approaches and private sector engagement related to the mining sector.
Government of DRC (GDRC) and Donor Coordination – 15%
The Specialist keeps abreast of trends and issues in the DRC and broader sub-Saharan African mining sectors; supports building and maintenance of relationships with key sector stakeholders including GDRC officials, private sector companies and investors, civil society, and donors; reviews and analyzes developments and supports team members, leadership, and, as required, other USG officials on highly specialized and complex issues relating to minerals in the Great Lakes region, particularly those bearing on USG interests. The Specialist also regularly meets with other donors, DRC government working-level colleagues, and non-USAID implementing partners to keep up-to-date on current activities and potential changes to implementation; attends various coordination mechanisms, including Thematic Group meetings, and partner and donor meetings (Partenaires Techniques and Financiers, PTF) and ensures that USAID collaborates with donors and seeks for further engagement in public private partnerships on RMT issues in the DRC and Great Lakes Region.
Internal USAID and USG Coordination - 15%
The Project Management Specialist provides policy and implementation level support in data collection, analysis and formulation of recommendations for the RMT portfolio of both artisanal and industrial governance, reform and growth. The incumbent will support the coordination with all USAID operating units and USG units, such as Economic, Political, and Public Diplomacy Sections of the US Embassy, the Eastern Congo Unit, the Office of Defense Cooperation, and the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) to assure optimal synergies for RMT implementation across the USG. Assist in the collaboration between USAID's RMT portfolio and all other USAID Offices. The Specialist will prepare quarterly bullets for internal audiences regarding responsible mineral issues relevant to the DRC and Great Lakes region; support monitoring and evaluation efforts of the RMT portfolio within and outside the DRC Mission; collaborate with implementing partners, and analyze and synthesize the RMT data and Operational Plan reports and information sharing in the DRC and with USAID/Washington. Finally, the Specialist will prepare and update materials related to assistance and programming in RMT for dissemination to other USG agencies and outside organizations.
Qualifications:
Education: The applicant must have a University degree (Master's Degree is not required, but preferred) in natural sciences, economics, international development, business administration, law, social sciences or a related field.
Work Experience: Minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional or program experience in mining/extractives and related community development, legal framework and policy in artisanal mining and industrial mining sectors, market systems approaches and/or private sector engagement, and monitoring and evaluation of development programs with international donors, non-government organizations (NGOs), and/or government. Prior experience with international development agencies procedures and operations (e.g., development approaches, procedures for programming funds, defining objectives, and monitoring results, and procedures for awarding grants and contracts) is highly desired.
Job Knowledge required: Significant knowledge of program management and monitoring and evaluation methods as well as a broad range of issues related to inclusive development is required. Expert knowledge of best practices in program design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning, including collaboration, learning and adapting strategy is necessary. Knowledge of strategies, programs, and working methodologies of other donor agencies in the mining sector is desired. Knowledge of the structure and workings of the USG broadly is desired.
Skills and abilities required: Strong analytical, management and organizational skills are required. The position requires demonstrated ability in strategic planning, technical and socio-economic analysis, and budget preparation and reporting skills. Considerable confidentiality, sensitivity, poise and maturity are mandatory as the applicant will participate in USAID meetings with mid- to senior-level Congolese government officials and with private sector and donor partners. The applicant should possess strong interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, the ability to work within a team setting and with minimal supervision. Strong leadership and negotiating skills are required. Demonstrated knowledge and proficiency in Microsoft Windows, Word, and Excel are required. Familiarity with Microsoft Access and PowerPoint is desired.
Leadership and diplomacy skills are required as the incumbent will work with new private sector partners, technical and senior GDRC officials, USAID Implementing Partners, donors, media, judiciary and civil society to resolve issues and to further progress towards improving food security in DRC and trade within the region.
Language proficiency: Excellent English writing and speaking ability is required. French writing and speaking ability is strongly desired. The candidate should have a demonstrated capacity to communicate complex policy, strategy, and program issues orally and in writing in a clear, concise, and well-organized manner.
Working Environment: Work is typically performed in an office environment within USAID/DRC Mission Offices.
COVID Vaccine status: As a condition of employment, IBTCI requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Candidates should be prepared to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon hire or request for an accommodation with HR that is consistent with our COVID-19 safety protocols and policies.
Physical Requirements: This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear, see, and lift small objects up to 20 lbs.
Supervisory Responsibility: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.
Travel: International travel may be required and may include travel to fragile and/or conflict-prone zones.
Work Authorization: Candidate must be authorized to work in the DRC.
About the Organization:
IBTCI has been in business since 1987. We specialize in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL), Institutional Support (IS), Financial & Risk Management (FRM), Supply Chain Management & Procurement (SCMP); Social & Behavior Change (SBC) and Capacity Building. We provide these services across many sectors including, but not limited to, agriculture, resilience & food security, conflict & crisis, democracy & governance, economic growth & trade, education, energy & Infrastructure, environment & climate change, global health & WASH and humanitarian and disaster assistance. At IBTCI, our colleagues are encouraged to collaborate and be part of the solution while getting the tools and guidance needed to grow and support our clients' missions.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
IBTCI is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identification, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran, or any other classification protected by applicable anti-discrimination laws. We prohibit and do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
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