Senior Acquisition and Assistance (A&A) Advisor-A&A/Quality Assurance (QA) Team

Supporting the Most Exciting and Meaningful Missions in the World

Macfadden, an Amentum company, is seeking a Senior Acquisition and Assistance (A&A) Advisor to support USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA). BHA leads and coordinates the U.S. Government’s humanitarian assistance efforts overseas in response to natural disasters and protracted crises. The Bureau also supports early recovery efforts that restore and protect basic systems and services and invests in risk reduction programs that prevent or reduce risks associated with chronic and recurrent hazards.

The Senior Advisor reports to BHA’s Office of Humanitarian Business and Management Operations (HBMO) A&A Division/Quality Assurance (QA) Team Lead or designee, with formal supervisory and evaluation functions performed by a Macfadden contract supervisor.

The Senior A&A Advisor will perform the following responsibilities in direct support of the QA team:

• Mentor BHA A&A staff in the drafting of effective statements of work, program descriptions, evaluation criteria, applications instructions, and other supporting documents for notices of funding opportunities and requests for proposals/applications.
• Lead complex, highly specialized competitive acquisition and/or assistance solicitations throughout the entire procurement life cycle from pre-award through selection.
• Lead on resolving and responding to complex, highly-specialized program issues and questions relating to acquisition and/or assistance policies and procedures.
• Provide leadership in translating assistance and/or acquisition policy and guidance into business processes and ensure that information is captured in data management systems.

In support of the overall A&A Division:

• Provide expert guidance to BHA staff on federal and USAID award making and management issues, consulting regulations and policies such as the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Agency for International Development Acquisition Regulations (AIDAR), and USAID Automated Directive Series (ADS).
• Independently research, review, analyze, and/or interpret current and new acquisition and/or assistance statutes, regulations, policies, or procedures to ensure consistent adherence to USG and USAID requirements.
• Provide leadership in the identification, creation and execution of short- and/or long-term solutions to address acquisition and/or assistance challenges.
• Develop BHA-specific assistance and acquisition tools, policies, guidelines, and resources to manage procurements in collaboration with other key BHA stakeholders, including but not limited to the two A&A Division teams (QA and Policy, Guidance, and Training), as well as teams across USAID.
• Communicate complex BHA policy guidance, templates, memos and resources to BHA staff in a manner easily understood to ensure compliance.
• Capture best practices and lessons learned to strengthen internal office pre and post award processes/systems.
• Directly mentor A&A team members as appropriate and build overall BHA staff understanding of applicable USG regulations and policies through the development of information products, direct communications and/or support to training modules.
• Independently with minimal to no errors write, edit, design, and provide support in the creation, publishing, disseminating, and archiving of acquisition and/or assistance award management documents and information products such as but not limited to policies, procedures, briefings and presentations, guidelines, policy papers, thematic briefs, talking points, job aides, user manuals, newsletters, and other forms of documentation.
• Contribute to internal strategies and workplans and lead or participate in BHA and USAID working groups as needed to ensure that BHA assistance and/or acquisition needs are reflected in deliverables.
• With the Team Leader, identify ways to actively build and sustain an equitable and inclusive work environment where cultural diversity is celebrated and valued.
• Support the Team Leader in creating an environment oriented to trust, open communication, creative thinking, strong team cohesion and workplace collaboration, and promoting and cultivating high team morale.
• Advise, guide, and train staff on team processes, templates, and standard operating procedures.
• Conduct quality assurance on the team’s final work products. Ensure accurate and error free work products of the team. This includes information associated with data calls with short turnaround times and complex reports created and used to track the flow of work related to the team’s portfolio.
• Contribute to other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree and 15 years of experience or Master’s degree and 12 years of experience.
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in acquisition and assistance functions related to USG procurement planning and solicitation, acquisition or assistance award administration, and advising/managing staff on award making and management.

Required Skills

• Expert knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), USAID Automated Directives System (ADS), Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars, or other directives governing Acquisition Contracts or Assistance Awards.
• Understanding of current best practices and tools related to federal acquisition and assistance procedures.
• Experience leading teams and serving as a subject matter expert on federal award making processes and business systems.
• Experience in working with U.S. Government Agencies.
• Deep knowledge of award making or management processes, including use of information management systems.
• Knowledge of pre-solicitation documents, development of evaluation factors, and evaluation of applicants or offerors submissions.
• Knowledge of procurement lifecycle phases, various types of procurement mechanisms and methods, market research, and applicable contract laws and regulations; determines resource requirements, develops long and short-term strategies to procure equipment or services, and coordinates with customers and stakeholders; is able to identify sources.
• Ability to interpret, communicate and summarize acquisition and assistance findings and recommendations to non-technical professionals.
• Ability to lead consultative processes involving a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to prepare products independently with appropriate content and minimal errors in a timely manner.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and consistently meet deadlines.
• Ability to implement a range of management tools and collaboration techniques.
• Ability to contribute to a collaborative team environment, respectful of diversity and that promotes inclusion.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in writing complex reports and analyzing data.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

• Must be able to obtain and maintain a minimum of a Facility Access Clearance (FAC) or Secret Security Clearance issued by the US Government for the duration of your employment on this contract.

Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, national origin, age, United States military veteran’s status, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, family structure, medical condition including genetic characteristics or information, veteran status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law.

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