Senior Program Cycle Specialist - Washington, D.C., United States - Social Solutions

Description

Social Solutions International, Inc. (Social Solutions) is a Hispanic and woman-owned business emphasizing quality research and evaluation, training and technical assistance, and institutional support services. We are a mission-driven organization that believes that superior science can improve the world. Social Solutions is dedicated to the creation of social and health solutions to improve the welfare of underserved populations worldwide.

Social Solutions is a large, thriving business with a fun atmosphere that encourages creativity, new ideas, and employee health and well-being. We put our employees first and use empathetic leadership, taking a genuine interest in our employees' lives and the challenges they face in and out of the workplace. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) are integral to our company culture, and we are continuously striving to enhance our DEIA efforts across our company. You will feel like a contributing member of a growing team and company that has flexibility to enhance processes and procedures quickly to improve performance and growth. We help our employees carve out a professional pathway that has mutual benefits for them and Social Solutions. Social Solutions also offers exceptional compensation and benefits, detailed below.

Program Cycle Specialists (PCM Specialists) are members of a network providing technical support and advisory services to USAID. They work across design, strategy development, monitoring, evaluation, and the set of USAID organizational learning practices (collaborating, learning, and adapting or CLA) to ensure cohesive connections among evidence generation processes and decision-making processes.

The PCM Specialists serve in an advisory and capacity-building role for Program Cycle-related functions (e.g., strategic planning, design, monitoring, evaluation, and CLA) within USAID Missions, Offices, Bureaus, and Operating Units. They are meant to supplement rather than substitute for existing Agency capacity. PCM Specialists fill critical gaps by working collaboratively with USAID teams to develop high quality products and processes that will serve as solid examples, models and guidance for future staff, as well as build the capacity of the staff involved in the process so that they are prepared to take the lead. All PCM Specialists build capacity and provide technical assistance to USAID staff on cohesive implementation of the USAID programming operational guidance as reflected in the USAID Program Cycle.

Specific Opportunity: Conflict and Fragility Strategic Planning Advisor

Social Solutions International, Inc. is currently seeking a candidate to serve as a Conflict and Fragility Advisor to the Office of Strategic and Program Planning (SPP) in the Bureau for Planning, Learning and Resource Management (PLR). The Global Fragility Act (GFA) and accompanying U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability outline a new vision for the USG Interagency to promote peacebuilding and stabilization efforts in conflict affected and fragile regions. The GFA and SPCPS are connected to the 2023 USAID Policy Framework and highly linked to interagency policy initiatives on Women, Peace and Security, Atrocity Prevention, Democracy and Anti-corruption as well as Countering Violent Extremism.

The Conflict and Fragility Strategic Planning Advisor will provide guidance on strategic planning processes and USAID operational policy to the Interagency SPCPS team, while providing direct support to USAID Regional Bureaus and Missions and amplifying conflict-related learning to contribute to new USAID approaches to doing business. Their primary duty will be to coordinate with GFA Focal Regional Bureaus and Missions and with the USAID Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Stabilization. In addition, they will participate in Interagency lines of effort with stakeholders at the Department of State Conflict and Stabilization Operations, the Department of Defense Office of the Secretary of Defense, and on occasion the National Security Council. In particular, the Conflict and Fragility Strategic Planning Advisor contributes to the Interagency Strategic Global MEL Team for SPCPS with a focus on learning. The Conflict and Fragility Strategic Planning Advisor will work closely with the GFA Policy Advisor within PLR and the GFA Secretariat Deputy Coordinator within CPS to streamline efforts to elevate approaches to peacebuilding.

The Conflict and Fragility Strategic Planning Advisor will support strategic planning at USAID through development and dissemination of tools and approaches fit for working in complex, non-permissive, and conflict-affected environments while providing direct support to SPCPS focal Missions and Regional Bureaus on key program cycle requirements. The Conflict and Fragility Strategic Planning Advisor will participate in SPCPS interagency coordination and contribute to strategic and global SPCPS MEL initiatives.

This role is US-based, remote eligible, with possibility of short-term international travel. Candidates must be eligible to work in the US and obtain a USG security clearance.

Provide expert advice to USAID staff and implementing partners (IPs) on Program Cycle implementation including MEL planning and methodology and connecting staff and IPS to available monitoring, evaluation and CLA resources and guidance.

Guide operating units in Program Cycle implementation, including developing performance management plans (PMPs) and project and/or activity MEL plans.

Provide advice on developing and selecting indicators and assuring data quality.

Help design monitoring tools and resources.

Help facilitate operating units in planning, designing and/or managing specific CLA strategies and activities.

Provide TA and other support to learning advisors and champions to facilitate strengthened Program cycle practices in USAID programs.

Develop and deliver written materials and briefings to familiarize staff with evaluation study designs, methods, tools, and approaches, potentially in collaboration with partners.

Work closely with sector specialists to identify key program evaluation questions, design appropriate evaluations, and develop relevant CLA activities.

Support and/or lead internal/hybrid evaluation teams to bolster the technical evaluation skills of USAID staff and IPs, as well as to inform learning agendas through MEL activities and research.

Track, synthesize and disseminate monitoring and evaluation findings and create communication products in various formats to inform decision makers and non-evaluation specialist audiences.

Provide support in organizational systems for MEL that include strengthened Program Cycle practices.

Develop and conduct trainings, workshops, facilitated learning conversations and other capacity-building opportunities around M&E and CLA that clarify roles, responsibilities and agency requirements.

Support incorporation of recommendations from evaluations into design and portfolio reviews.

Convene a MEL community of practice or working group to share and encourage good and promising practices.

Contribute to regular data capture, knowledge products and learning across PCM.

Participate in PCM communities of practice.

Other duties as assigned.

Master's degree and 9+ years' relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Field experience in a GFA-participating country or region (Haiti, Libya, Mozambique, and Papua New, Coastal West Africa) or other non-permissive conflict affected environment.

At least a master's degree that includes coursework in rigorous qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation approaches and methods or other technical training in M&E methods

At least nine years of experience with foreign assistance monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management, organizational learning and/or strategic learning, preferably in an international development context.

Experience with catalyzing programmatic learning and adaptive management in USAID or other foreign assistance agencies (including large NGOs, contractors or international organizations).

Experience designing and implementing international development programs with USAID and/or other large development assistance agencies (including large NGOs, contractors, or international organizations).

Experience providing advice to international development managers in the field; including working in the field or supporting field projects to achieve an operational mission or to implement a project or activity.

Experience facilitating groups, meetings, or events.

Ability to manage multiple clients.

Demonstrated flexibility and capacity to adapt to and operate in environments of uncertainty.

Background in capacity-building, adult learning and/or learning facilitation or related experience.

Experience convening people in large organizations (in a work environment or as a volunteer) to build consensus and achieve a particular outcome.

Unique Job Requirements

Fluent English required and additional languages desired, preferably French.

Candidates must be eligible to obtain and maintain a USG security clearance.

International travel may be requested.

Social Solutions offers competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits. Please submit your resume online at

Social Solutions is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.