United States of America: Policy Specialist

Macfadden, now part of PAE, seeks a Policy Specialist to support USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP). USAID/FFP is a U.S. Government office that provides life-saving food assistance and supports longer-term development activities that mitigate chronic food insecurity. The Policy Specialist will provide dedicated support to USAID/FFP’s U.S. Policy and Partnerships Team, in coordination with USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) InterAgency Team, through a variety of tasks that facilitate the team’s engagement with Congress, interagency and intra agency stakeholders, and humanitarian partner organizations.

Responsibilities of theU.S. Policy Specialist include but are not limited to the following:**

• Draft talking points, briefing memos, and other documents that clearly convey USAID/FFP’s policy priorities and programs for a variety of audiences.
• Track and analyze relevant legislation and monitor Congressional hearings and mark-up sessions.
• Prepare senior USAID officials for high-level interagency and Congressional engagements, including formal testimony, by drafting remarks, compiling background material, and supporting in-person preparatory sessions.
• Coordinate USAID/FFP’s written response to congressional queries.
• Coordinate closely with USAID representatives in other offices, including USAID/OFDA and USAID’s Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs (USAID/LPA), to message policy priorities.
• Participate in and take notes for meetings with interagency, intra agency, and international organization representatives. Support USAID/FFP’s engagement with the Government Accountability Office. Other duties as assigned.

Education/Experience:

• Master’s degree in International Affairs or a related field.
• Minimum six years of professional experience, including internships.
• Demonstrated experience with Congress and/or U.S. legislative processes, with familiarity of U.S. legislation and/or policy regarding humanitarian assistance or food assistance preferred.
• Familiarity with humanitarian issues preferred.

SKILLS:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills and exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to manage large and multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to consistently meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently but also function effectively as part of a team.

U.S. Citizenship is required; selected candidate must be able to qualify for a government sponsored clearance.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

To be considered for this position, you must submit a resume, writing sample, and cover letter. The writing sample must be an original piece, of no more than 350 words (include word count at the end of the sample) on a topic relevant to this position. Please submit these items as attachments to preserve formatting.

Only applications with a resume, writing sample and cover letter will be considered; only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds.

This position description reflects Macfadden’s assignment of essential functions; nothing in this job description restricts the Company’s latitude to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at anytime.

PAE 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.

Policy Specialist