Foreign Service Limited Position Opportunity: Green Cities Environment Officer – FL-0028-02

Agency:  U.S. Agency for International Development
Organization:  Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI), Center for Environment, Energy, and Infrastructure (EEI), Green Cities Division 
Location of Position:  Washington, DC
Open Period:  07/28/2021 – 08/17/2021
Appointment Type:  This is an excepted service, time-limited appointment that is not-to-exceed five years
Salary:  (USD) $116,786 – $171,504 (annually)  
Number of Vacancies:  One 

Description of Organization:  DDI integrates technical expertise with values-driven, cross-cutting priorities and modern approaches to the way USAID performs its work.  It provides client-centered technical services to USAID’s missions worldwide, supports programming to innovate, learn and address emerging issues, and provides technical leadership within the Agency and externally to enhance development impact.  EEI provides technical leadership for USAID’s environment, infrastructure and energy sector programs.
 
The Green Cities Division supports the design, implementation, and evaluation of the Agency’s sustainable urban development programs, spanning multiple sectors including energy, waste management, air quality, water, and governance.  These programs promote clean, green, resilient, and equitable urban development that respects planetary boundaries.  The Division’s annual budget averages around $12 million and is used to support program funded staff, global flagship programs in emerging areas, such as ocean plastic pollution and air pollution, and technical leadership efforts.  This position will directly support Administration climate, environment, and energy sector objectives.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:  All DDI employees are measured on how they foster a climate of respect in interactions with others, value differing perspectives, and treat others in a fair, equitable, and culturally sensitive manner.  All employees are expected to adhere to equal employment opportunity (EEO) policies and value diversity and inclusion in performing everyday duties and responsibilities.

Description of Position:  The Environment Officer serves as a sustainable urban development advisor managing USAID green cities programs and providing technical and management leadership and systems support to USAID’s green cities agenda.
  
Specific duties of this position include:

  • Serve as a technical expert and advisor on sustainable urban development for the Agency, with an emphasis on reducing ocean plastic pollution through the promotion of a circular economy and improved solid waste management;
  • Support technical leadership from DDI/EEI to the Agency on other key urban priorities including improving air quality, increasing urban resilience, accelerating the transition to net zero cities, supporting urban ecology and ecosystem-based urban adaptation, and municipal finance;
  • Advise USAID/Washington (DDI and Pillar/Regional Bureaus) and Missions in the design, implementation, and analysis of sustainable urban development programs and the application of sector best practices.  Ensure coordination with other USAID Operating Units (e.g., the Bureau for Global Health) on health and pollution linkages;
  • Manage and provide technical oversight of centrally administered activities that support DDI/EEI’s technical leadership role and Mission programs, including dissemination of findings and best practices to USAID-assisted countries and the development community;
  • Direct or participate in geographic and central Bureau review of proposed development assistance projects and programs, policy, and technical input related to Green Cities technical priority areas, as previously mentioned;
  • Identifies and builds relationships with donor and private sector partners for leveraging resources and expertise;
  • Direct field Missions and grantee organizations in the application of Bureau and Agency priorities and strategies such as Private Sector Engagement, New Partners Initiative, and the new Climate Strategy (once finalized) in the development of urban programs;
  • Advances Agency priorities through Washington-based and in-country support of strategic planning, design, analysis and evaluation of country, regional and global urban programs, involving other U.S. Government departments and agencies, other divisions within USAID, and the U.S. and developing country private and NGO sectors; and
  • Attends and leads meetings, workshops, trainings, and events for the purpose of professional knowledge sharing; establishes and maintains effective working relationships with professional colleagues and institutions; and as required, undertakes short-term assignments in USAID countries with urban development portfolios.

The advisor reports to the Division Lead.

Qualifications:

  • Must be a U.S. citizen.
  • You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service.  One year of experience refers to full-time work; we consider part-time work on a prorated basis.
  • Examples of qualifying specialized experience at the next lower level for this position include:  (a) leading teams and/or working groups that furthered agency and/or organizational goals related to sustainable urban development; (b) managing sustainable urban development projects and/or programs; (c) serving as an advisor to management and developing long- and short-range objectives that met the goals of an organization.  Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social).  Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.  You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, relevant to the duties of the position to be filled, including volunteer experience.
  • Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.

Interested candidates should submit:

  • A cover letter expressing interest and clearly addressing the stated requirements for the position;
  • Resume/CV & Transcripts (as necessary for positions with a positive education requirement);
  • Three References;
  • Stated Security clearance level, if applicable;
  • Stated U.S. citizenship (if citizenship is not stated, application will not be considered); and
  • DD214 and other veteran status, if applicable.

Please submit your application package to DDIFSLJobs@usaid.gov.  Please use the subject line:  “FSL APPLICATION PACKAGE:  Announcement Number:  40821, DDI_176; Green Cities Environment Officer – FL-0028-02, DDI/EEI.”  Application submissions are required by August 17, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EST.  Packages not submitted by the deadline with the specified subject line—or incomplete packages—will not receive consideration.

This notice may be used to fill additional vacancies, as the workforce needs of the Bureau may change. 
EEO Policy Statement
Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Any questions concerning this notice may be directed to:

— Monica Bansal, DDI/EEI, (917) 519-6433, mbansal@usaid.gov