Regional Program Officer (RPO) Job Vacancy in Uganda

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Regional Program Officer (RPO) Job Vacancy in Uganda

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT No. 2017-003

Regional Program Officer (RPO)                                           

Announcement Date:            Monday March 20, 2017

Closing Date:                        Monday April 3, 2017, 4:45 pm

Position Title:                       Regional Program Officer (RPO)

Supervisor:                           Director of Programming and Training (DPT)

Duty Station:                        Peace Corps regional offices, Gulu

Position classification: Personal Services Contract, full time, 40 hours/week


About Peace Corps in Uganda

Peace Corps is an international autonomous agency of the US Government with operations in over 65 countries. It operates in Uganda by the invitation of the Government of Uganda. Peace Corps Uganda has memorandum of understanding with government ministries that outline broad areas of agreement of cooperation regarding the work of Peace Corps Volunteers in Uganda. Volunteers are assigned to government and non-government agencies and organizations, community based organizations, universities, colleges and schools who partner to enable Volunteers to provide capacity building in Education, Health and Community Agribusiness. Peace Corps also aims to build cultural understanding between Americans and Ugandans.

Position Description

The U.S Peace Corps is an agency that promotes international peace, friendship and sustainable development by providing trained men and women, Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs), to serve in countries that have requested assistance.  In PC-Uganda, the RPO works as part of an interdisciplinary Programming and Training Team and provides support to ensure that PC – Uganda’s Training, Health, Agriculture and Education Programs are performing optimally.  The RPO also provides assistance to project coordinators on an as needed basis.  The RPO is assigned to a specific region of operation where they perform the majority of their duties.  The RPO supports the U.S. Peace Corps mission in Uganda in the following main areas:

  1. Programmatic Support and Volunteer Safety 70%
  2. Training 20%
  3. General Services 10%

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Programmatic Support and Volunteer Safety:  70%
  • Coordinates with PMs, PCVLs and the DPT in order to effectively:
    • Motivate and support Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs);
    • Conduct thorough site identification, development, and visits in coordination with PMs and Champions following the standard process and correctly completing required documentation;
    • Oversee the preparation of PCV housing to ensure that housing is ready for PCTs when they arrive in country,
    • Provide weekly updates to the DPT on travel plans and major tasks to address,
    • Communicate regularly with all PCVs in their region and provide updates to the appropriate PM and / or Champion for noting in PCVs communication records in VIDA;
    • Contribute programmatic input to IPBS and Ops Plan development; and
    • Support PMs and Champions in collecting, compiling, and reporting program data.
  • Provides program support and ensures that PCVs are safe, engaged in meaningful work, and living safely in their communities;
  • Assists PC staff  in planning travel schedules;
  • Builds and maintains healthy relationships with local political and law enforcement authorities
  • Builds and maintains healthy relationships PCVs, Peace Corps staff, and partners;
  • Assists in compiling Project Status Reports (PSRs), writing periodic and annual reports, and participates in project plan reviews;
  • Promotes Peace Corps’ programs within the context of the Government of Uganda’s development priorities;
  • Responds to PCV field reports and issues concerning their sites and housing in their region;
  • Assists PCVs in project implementation and development, including development of secondary activities;
  • Promotes to PCVs and their counterparts to monitor and complete reporting documentation to Peace Corps on their activities.
  • Counsels PCVs on technical and cross-cultural issues;
  • Maintains liaisons with the local police and other authorities to ensure Volunteers’ safety and security and that of staff and property at main office, regional sub offices and Volunteers’ sites,
  • Participates in the implementation of the Emergency Action Plan.
  • Responds timely to additional assignments from the Country Director.

Training:  20%

  • Develops effective working relationships with the training team;
  • Supports the training team to design, organize, facilitate, and plan logistics for training events (PST, IST, COS conference, other Volunteer trainings)  especially within the geographical region, for PCVs and/or counterparts;
  • Identifies training sites, especially within the geographical region;

General Services:  10%

  • Coordinates with the General Services Manager (GSM). Peace Corps Medical Officer (PCMO) and Deputy Director of Management Operations (DDMO) as necessary;
  • Deliver mail to PCVs in particular regions;
  • Develops relationships with vendors to facilitate purchasing of necessary supplies and services, and
  • Other duties as assigned by the CD or DPT.

Serves as sub-cashier or Occasional Money Handler

The PSC may be required to courier cash and/or purchase orders to various vendors who furnish supplies and /or services to PST/IST training site, or other locations as directed by the Contracting Officer. The PSC may also be required to courier cash to PC trainees or volunteers. The PSC will not function as a procurement or disbursing official but will only be acting as an intermediary between the Contracting or Disbursing Officer and the recipient. In the case of dealing with vendors, the PSC will not exercise any procurement discretion concerning the supplies or services to be purchased or the cost limits of these purchases; these will be determined by the Contracting Officer.

Addresses Volunteer safety and security by adhering to Peace Corps site development policies and procedures.  Identifies and immediately communicates Volunteer safety and security concerns and issues to the Safety and Security Manager (SSM) and the Country Director (CD).  Assists Program Managers/APCDs to ensure that prospective sites meet established programmatic and safety/security criteria (e.g., safe housing, a clearly defined assignment with an organization that shows real interest in working with a Volunteer, etc.). Reviews and references site history files when evaluating potential sites, and incorporates appropriate safety and security-related information into site history files.  Monitors Volunteer compliance with Peace Corps policies, especially related to safety and security. Participates in the design and implementation of the Emergency Action Plan (EAP).  Acts as duty officer, as needed.  Knowledgeable and supportive of Peace Corps safety and security policies and procedures, including the timely reporting of suspicious incidents, persons or articles.

The Contractor is subject to worldwide availability and may be requested by the Peace  Corps to be reassigned or transferred permanently to another Peace Corps Post/Headquarters  or  perform temporary duties (TDY) as required and to travel to other assignments within Peace Corps’ as assigned.  Any such reassignment or transfer shall be subject to agreement of the Contractor.  The Statement of Work as defined will remain the same; however the duties may be subject to change as determined by the Contracting Officer.

Qualifications

Requirements:

  • University degrees – Bachelors and Master’s degree or Bachelor’s and some post-Bachelor’s degree studies.
  • At least 5 years management and supervision with increasing responsibilities.
  • Experience working in development with NGOs, community organizations, international USAID-implementing agencies, government in one or more of the following fields: health, community/public health, agribusiness, entrepreneurship, education and training.
  • Demonstrates high professional standards in the ability to:
    • Serve on a team;
    • Be analytical, well organized and creative;
    • Compile and write reports;
    • Communicate effectively with Americans, staff, and NGOs, schools, government agencies;
    • Use computer systems;
  • Understand PC Uganda policies and procedures, especially those relevant to area of specialization;
  • Respect different cultures and divergent viewpoints
  • Excellent command of English, both spoken and written; native ability in spoken and written at least one Ugandan language.
  • Ability to work on a regular Monday through Friday schedule with occasional evening and weekend hours when necessary.
  • Ability to travel extensively at least 40% of the time
  • Ability and willingness to live and work in the Gulu area.

Must be legally able to work in Uganda.

POSITION ELEMENTS

  • Supervision Received

Under direct supervision of the DPT. Incumbent must be able to perform assigned tasks independently within established rules and procedures and capable of carrying out routine assignments with minimum supervision.

  • Supervision Exercised:

None.  Day-to-day coordination of 3 staff and a PCVL.

  • Available Guidelines

Peace Corps manuals and established practices.

  • Exercise of Judgement

Considerable independence and exercise of judgment is required

  • Authority to Make Commitments

None

  • Nature, Level and Purpose of Contacts

Contact with Peace Corps Volunteers, staff, contractors, vendors, Law enforcement institutions.

  • Time Required to Perform Full Range of Duties after Entry into the Position

52 weeks.

HOW TO APPLY

Only Electronic Submissions will be accepted.

Please submit a Word formatted letter of interest, resume, names and contact information for three references to applications@ug.peacecorps.gov

Clearly indicate your name and the position applied for on the subject line of the cover email as well as on all the attachments: For example “Katungu Bonita_RPO” for the Regional Program Officer Position. Do not write any other words in the subject line of your mail. Submitted documents become the property of the Peace Corps and will not be returned.

You will be contacted ONLY if you are deemed qualified. If called for an interview, you will be expected to bring a reference letter from your area Local Council (LC1) as well as your academic credentials

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