Program Officer, Advancement of Human Rights and fundamental freedoms, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) Global Programs (GP) Near East Affairs (NEA), Dept. of State

Contracting Resources Group, Inc. (CRG) is a Woman-Owned Small Business, specializing in several core markets within the Federal Government. Our professional services depth includes program management and evaluation, strategic communications, acquisitions management, and IT solutions. CRG is a leading management consulting firm, in part because of our ability to attract the highest quality team members through our emphasis on culture, competitive compensation, and benefits packages. Since 2002, CRG has consistently received top performance ratings from customers and teaming partners and industry awards, including Inc. Magazine’s 5000 list of the Fastest Growing Companies in America, the Department of Labor HireVets Platinum Medallion award, and the Washington Business Journal, Inc. 5000, and Baltimore Sun’s Best Places to Work awards.

Description:

CRG is seeking a full-time Program Officer III to provide support to the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor’s Office of Global Programs (DRL/GP) at the U.S. Department of State. The Program Officer will be responsible for ensuring effective execution of program requirements; establishing systematic methods of program execution, evaluation, and advocacy; determining whether funding is warranted and available and assessing activities to determine funding requirements; analyzing program and budget proposals and presenting them to the State Department and interagency panels; preparing justification or recommendation memoranda for review and approval by appropriate officials; and providing follow-up problem-solving assistance, guideline interpretations, and technical consultations as required to applicants. The Program Officer will provide DRL leadership technical assistance throughout the federal assistance life cycle that includes pre-award, award, and post-award phases in grants and cooperative agreements. The Program Officer will also assist with Departmental briefings to congressional staffers on these programs.

Preference will be given to applicants who have experience with programs that advance human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Middle East and North Africa, and applicants must demonstrate knowledge of civil society working in the region. Experience working with projects in closed and closing spaces as well as work involving Syria will be considered highly competitive.

Program Officer Duties:

• In coordination with the team lead, develop strategies, and work with the Applied Learning and Evaluation team to develop portfolio specific evaluation indicators as needed.
• Work closely with Subject Matter Expert I and II to ensure that program deadlines are being met in a timely and efficient matter.
• Coordinate with the Grants Officer Representative (GOR) in the administration and coordination of programs.
• Work directly with Team Lead and Deputy Directors to oversee program funding for assigned portfolio.
• Develop goals, objectives, and programs for utilization of the foreign assistance funding.
• Collect grant documentation for review by decision-making panels who will select grant recipients within available funding levels.
• Skillfully communicate verbally and in writing to provide briefings, status reviews, and advice upon request to the other DRL program staff and senior personnel on grant issues.
• Work on designated portfolio to ensure pre-award, award, and ongoing management and monitoring of programs globally. Monitor grantee budget execution and drawdowns to ensure program objectives are met and are in accordance with 2 CFR 200.
• Negotiate program solicitation language with regional bureaus, Post leadership, and within DRL.
• Advise senior Bureau officials on development of goals, objectives and programs for utilization of foreign assistance funding.
• Remain informed on the changing political environment in the designated portfolio as well as global issues impacting the region by regularly meeting with grantees, human rights defenders, researchers, and other funders.
• Communicate DRL's program objectives to other State Department and U.S. Government offices involved in programming Democracy Fund and Human Rights and Democracy Funds (HRDF) and other transfer funding to include, but not be limited to, regional bureaus, Office of Acquisitions Management, Office of the Legal Advisor, Congressional Liaison office, Office of Management and Budget and USAID offices.
• Coordinate with policy colleagues to prepare papers and brief DRL Bureau leadership for meetings on issues related to a specific region or thematic area.
• Prepare budget and programmatic reports that track grant obligation data and program successes for active grants.
• Review and provide analysis of program proposals to decision-making panels who will select grant recipients within available funding levels.
• Prepare responses to auditor inquiries on programs.
• Assist with responding to Congressional requests for information regarding programs and DRL program objectives.
• Attend stakeholder workshops and conferences on topics related to their duties and responsibilities, provide program monitoring and technical assistance to grantees, while supporting the FTE.
• Assist in the coordination of foreign assistance funding throughout the federal assistance life cycle that include pre-award, award and post-award phases in grants and cooperative agreements.
• Coordinate and assist the DRL/GP Leadership in the administration and coordination of international human rights and democracy foreign assistance programs.

Qualifications:

• Experience working with projects in closed or closing democratic spaces will be considered highly competitive.
• Strong knowledge of 2 CFR 200.
• Must be able to obtain/hold a Secret security clearance (U.S. Citizenship required).
• Experience working in professional, fast paced, and demanding environments.
• Ability to manage competing priorities with minimal supervision.
• Experience leading teams and ability to handle diverse work styles.
• Must have knowledge of and experience in managing international programming in addition to relevant education and training, ideally with a strong understanding of domestic and foreign NGO administration.
• Understanding of the legal requirements of different types of foreign assistance funds.
• Bachelor’s degree with 10-12 years of experience or a master’s degree with 8-10 years of experience or a PhD with 5-7 years of experience.

Location: U.S. Department of State Offices at 2201 C St NW, Washington DC (Harry S. Truman Building), or 2401 E Street NW, Washington DC (State Department Annex 1).

CRG is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against otherwise qualified applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, status as a protected veteran, or any other classification protected by Federal, State, or local law.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.