About the Project

Through the Private Sector Engagement Modernization Contract (PSEMC), Dexis supports the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID's) Private Sector Engagement (PSE) Hub to expand and deepen collaboration with the private sector to achieve greater development outcomes. The PSE Hub's mission is to create the institutional conditions, operating infrastructure, and capacity necessary to expand engagement with the private sector in the United States and partner countries. The PSE Hub works to transform and modernize how USAID does development by institutionalizing USAID's PSE policy and delivering capacity- and systems-building support for PSE across all sectors, operating units, and countries where USAID operates. PSEMC provides technical assistance and capacity building to USAID Missions, Bureaus, and Independent Offices in support of PSE.

About the Position

Dexis is seeking one or more Program Assistant(s) to support the independent Office of the Chief Economist (OCE). The Program Assistant position is fully integrated into the OCE team and works closely with OCE staff and other key stakeholders within USAID. The ideal candidate is focused on operational excellence, and thrives on establishing and maintaining effective processes for a small, growing, and ambitious 'start-up' in government.

OCE supports USAID in improving the effectiveness of its programming and broader global engagement by bringing strong economic theory and evidence to bear on USAID's work.  Toward this end, OCE:

1. Promotes the use of high-quality evidence of "cost-effectiveness" (i.e., how much impact does an intervention deliver per dollar spent) in Agency decision-making;
2. Promotes the generation of more cost-effectiveness evidence that the Agency is uniquely placed to catalyze;
3. Provides analysis and advice to Agency leadership on pressing macroeconomic issues.

This is a full-time position with a hybrid telework option. The selected candidate will be based out of the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., at least three (3) days per week.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a champion within OCE for effective knowledge, document, and operational data management, including maintaining OCE files, documents, and administrative and financial tracking systems, assisting in the design and maintenance of dynamic databases to support administrative and operational activities, supporting all teams to consistently and effectively used shared drives, creating user-friendly templates for documents that are created regularly, etc. 
• Support OCE's overall budget preparation and execution, including, for example, supporting preparation of annual budget requests, monitoring and recording budget execution against plans, ensuring pre-obligation requirements are met, tracking adherence to any Congressional directives or other requirements, and process receipting and transfer of funds
• Support processes related to OCE staffing, including, for example, preparation of paperwork related to recruitments of various hiring mechanisms and detailees from other Operating Units, posting and dissemination of vacancy announcements, etc. 
• Manage end-to-end "clearance" process for OCE, including requests for OCE inputs to and clearance on documents from offices outside of OCE as well as inputs from and clearance by offices outside of OCE on documents produced by OCE
• Support OCE internal and external communications, which may include tasks, such as facilitating processes for developing regular newsletters, developing and managing clearances of briefing documents for OCE leadership, organizing logistics of virtual or in-person events, etc. 
• Manage end-to-end process for OCE accepting in-kind and financial gifts, including preparation of gift acceptance paperwork, managing clearances on the paperwork, and monitoring receipt of funds
• Provide support to technical teams on larger intra-agency meetings (such as communities of practice and networks OCE facilitates), including, for example, preparing agendas, codifying key takeaways and action items, tracking meeting follow-ups, etc. 
• Maintain OCE listservs and manage and route messages received by OCE's inbox
• Help to proactively identify the need for and then codify and implement standard operating procedures to ensure the nimble, effective, and efficient functioning of OCE
• Develop and maintain working knowledge of USAID policies and guidelines
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Qualifications 

Required

• Bachelor's degree and two (2) years of relevant professional experience, including at least one (1) year in a highly operational role
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for operational excellence
• Exceptional proven attention to detail and organizational skills
• Excellent proven skills establishing and maintaining information in spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets, etc.) and using the data in those spreadsheets to inform ongoing scenario-planning and decision-making
• Understanding of the basics of budget formulation and management
• Highly solution-oriented, with demonstrated ability to be confronted with new, unfamiliar problems and proactively identify and assess possible solutions to them
• High degree of comfort with and skill in task-shifting and multitasking 
• Quick learner of new systems, processes, etc. 
• Solid writing and editing skills
• Ability to attain and maintain at least a Facilities Access Clearance (FAC)

Preferred

• Interest and/or experience in global development, evidence-based policymaking, or economics
• Active FAC or Secret-level Clearance

All applicants 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 and consultants are expected to value diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in performing everyday duties and responsibilities.