Agricultural Development Officer, Afghanistan
Project/Proposal Summary: During the last year, USAID has undertaken a nearly unprecedented staffing increase as they added hundreds of new positions to the mission in Afghanistan and around the world. MSI is proud to partner with USAID on this effort, and has been working closely with AID since 2009 to support this massive recruiting effort.
USAID and MSI are looking for strong development and technical professionals for positions based in Kabul as well as throughout the regions of Afghanistan.
This exciting staffing increase will directly support USAID’s mission to promote the rapid transition of Afghanistan to a more stable and productive state, and to promote democracy, rule of law, and sustainable economic and social development that is responsive to the Afghan citizens’ needs.
These Foreign Service Limited positions offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including substantial uplifts for post differential and danger pay. All positions are unaccompanied and require US Citizenship.
Position Summary: The Agricultural Development Officer will support agriculture and rural development assistance programs in various locations in Afghanistan by developing strategies, analytical models, and methodologies; analyzing data; and providing assistance and advice on agriculture and rural development issues. Contracts are one year to start, renewable up to five years. Salary: $65,413.00-118,552.00 USD/year. Grade and Series: FS-0301-02/03.
Responsibilities: • For country, regional, or agency-wide programming, performs strategic analysis to strategic planning documents, country assistance strategies, sector strategies, and similar planning exercises. • Employs analytical tools and insight to provide guidance to senior managers for decisions about allocation of resources to agriculture and rural development programs, and as input to cross-cutting issues such as environment or gender. • Serves as a technical resource and advisor, providing analyses of agriculture and rural development sector trends relating to country of assignment to inform senior management and program managers of relevant factors that may affect the U.S. assistance program. • Analyzes agriculture policies present in country of assignment and briefs and advises senior USAID and Embassy management regarding the agriculture policy and issues relevant to successful achievement of USG assistance objectives. • Sets the vision and leads the design of agriculture and rural development programs and projects. • Serve as supervisor and mentor to junior agriculture staff and to culturally development programs. Ensures that junior staff receive adequate training in the design, implementation, monitoring evaluation and reporting of agriculture programs and projects.
Qualifications: • U.S. citizenship required. Candidates with dual citizenship would need to renounce secondary citizenship. • FS-02: Bachelor’s + 8 years relevant experience, of which 6 years are relevant experience in developing countries; OR Master’s + 6 years relevant experience, of which 4 years are relevant experience in developing countries; OR Ph.D. + 5 years relevant experience, of which 3 years are relevant experience in developing countries. • FS-03: Bachelor’s + 6 years relevant experience, of which 4 years are relevant experience in developing countries; OR Master’s + 4 years relevant experience, of which 3 years are relevant experience in developing countries; OR Ph.D. + 3 years relevant experience, of which 3 years are relevant experience in developing countries. • Knowledge of agriculture development theories, principles, methods, or techniques. • Candidates must be able to obtain security and medical clearances.
Physical Qualifications: Due to the rugged nature of these positions, all candidates will need to meet minimal physical requirements in order to perform daily responsibilities in Kabul, and most especially in the field.
• Civilians working in communities are required to wear 30-40 pounds of body armor/helmet on a daily basis, as well as carry their daypack and water, usually in a backpack weighing an additional 8-10pounds. • All personnel working in the field are required to walk over uneven and rocky terrain over long distances. This includes field patrols of 5 miles or more to meet with local community members; these field patrols typically occur 2-3 times per week. Generally, personnel will be on their feet 5-6 hours per day. • Transportation by armored vehicles will be used. Personnel working in the field are required to embark and disembark from such vehicles, which have high clearances and limited individual space to sit and maneuver. Clearances may be up to four feet off the ground, there will be high step rails and/or ladder-type steps, and doorways may be smaller than those of commercial vehicles • Living conditions are austere. At many field posts, bedding consists of canvas cots with mosquito netting. • Field environment is challenging. Desert temperatures often reach 100-105 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Personnel will be exposed to intense sunlight for several hours at a time. Also, temperatures at night and can become very cold; field personnel must take precautions against frostbite.
• At times, field personnel may be required to evacuate quickly from an area under their own power due to security concerns.
*Additional Afghanistan and Pakistan openings are expected soon. If you would like to be automatically notified of these openings, please sign up for our weekly jobs listserv here
For full position descriptions and to apply to these openings, please visit our website: www.msiworldwide.com.
Only candidates who have been selected as finalists will be contacted. No phone calls, please.
Post a Comment