Security Assistance Coordinator (Mid-Level)

Integrated Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI), a U.S. based international development consulting company established in 1987, has worked in over 100 countries and implemented over 300 projects. IBTCI serves government agencies, private sector companies, and several donor agencies. IBTCI specializes in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) and institutional support across many areas and sectors including, but not limited to, conflict and crisis, democracy and governance, agriculture, economic growth, food security, education, environment, and global health.

Assignment Title: Security Assistance Coordinator (Mid-Level), NEA/EUR Team

Department/Location: PM/SA NEA/EUR Team, Washington, DC

Technical Point of Contact: Project Director

Type: Full-time

Required Security Clearance: U.S. Citizenship. Active Secret-level clearance. A Secret security clearance is required for this position; however, an individual may begin work with an interim Secret security clearance.

Overview: IBTCI is seeking a Security Assistance Coordinator (Mid-Level) to support a task order aimed at enhancing the capacity of the Office of Security Assistance (PM/SA) to provide effective program management, design, monitoring, and security assistance oversight. This position will be assigned to PM/SA’s Near Eastern Affairs (NEA) and European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR) team. PM/SA oversees U.S. foreign assistance programs aimed at building partner military capacity to advance U.S. foreign policy. The Office currently manages four security assistance accounts: Foreign Military Financing (FMF), International Military Education and Training (IMET), Peacekeeping Operations (PKO), and the National Security Engagement Account (NSEA). Additionally, the Office coordinates Department of State concurrence on U.S. Department of War (DoW) security cooperation programs under Title 10, U.S. Code (“Title 10 programs”). Consistent oversight of U.S. security assistance programs is vital to the PM Bureau. In a context of scarce resources, demonstrating clear alignment with U.S. foreign policy through effective program management is paramount.

General Duties and Responsibilities: Security Assistance Coordinators are responsible for security assistance programming. A distinction between the junior-level and mid-level Coordinators may include the size of the assigned portfolio or the extent of responsibility of that portfolio (exercising a lead role vice a supporting or assisting role). Coordinators shall be responsible for reviewing and coordinating program implementation documents (e.g., Letters of Request (LORs), Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs), and Interagency Agreements (IAAs)), tracking obligation and expenditure data, and providing data for congressional briefs and reports. They shall also coordinate within PM, with other State bureaus, and with the U.S. Department of War on the obligation, expenditure, and management of security assistance programs. This may include drafting funding memos (allocations, allotments, apportionments, reclassifications, congressional notifications, etc.) and other documents necessary to the effective management of the assigned accounts. Coordinators shall also liaise with counterparts at State (relevant regional bureaus, EX, BP, and L), OMB, and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) and shall support PM/SA participation in relevant Financial Management Reviews and other meetings. Tasks below are grouped as priority tasks, which form the core of the position, and secondary tasks, which the Coordinator performs as needed.

Priority tasks include:

• Draft and coordinate clearance of funding documents (allotment, apportionment, and reclassification memos; Congressional Notifications (CNs); Memoranda of Request (MORs); and Action Memos) to support timely obligation of FMF, IMET, PKO, and NSEA funds for the assigned portfolio.
• Draft and maintain spend plans for countries in the assigned portfolio, as required, and track execution against them, in support of PM/SA program officers.
• Maintain multi-year appropriation, obligation, and expenditure data for assigned accounts. Produce recurring execution reports and flag issues for PM/SA attention.
• Coordinate the documentation needed to implement programs through Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases, IAAs, or other implementing mechanisms (e.g., LORs, LOAs, statements of work, technical specifications) with DSCA, the Military Departments, and other implementing partners.
• Track program implementation and the status of obligated funds across implementing mechanisms, including FMS case status, uncommitted funds, and case closure.
• Compile data and narrative responses for briefings, congressional reports, CN questions, and OMB inquiries, in coordination with PM/EX.
• Draft briefing materials, information and decision memos, and talking points on the assigned portfolio.
• Engage regularly with Department of State regional bureaus and posts, Security Cooperation Offices (SCOs) and Military Groups (MILGPs), DSCA, geographic combatant commands, and other implementing partners on assigned programs in support of PM/SA program officers.
• Support planning and execution of program and resourcing conferences, the Joint Security Sector Assistance Review (JSSAR), and Financial Management Reviews, including financial briefs and summaries of conclusions.
• Draft and coordinate section 505 assurances and procurement and eligibility waivers.

Secondary tasks include:

• Coordinate regional team input to Title 10 reviews (e.g., Significant Security Cooperation Initiatives), working with PM/SA’s Title 10 coordinators.
• Track National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Department of State appropriations provisions affecting the assigned portfolio.
• Reconcile DSCA and combatant command financial reports with PM records.
• Support responses to Government Accountability Office (GAO), Office of Inspector General (OIG), and other audit and oversight inquiries.
• Develop or update standard operating procedures for assigned accounts and support office-wide data and process improvements.
• Maintain current knowledge of foreign policy developments affecting the NEA/EUR region.

Minimum Education/Experience:

• BA/BS in international relations, political science, economics, or a related field preferred, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Two (2) years of experience managing budget and fiscal processes for foreign assistance programs.
• Two (2) years of experience working/coordinating with the Department of State and/or U.S. Department of War.
• At least four (4) years of experience with, and in-depth knowledge of, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.
• Experience providing timely narrative and data-driven responses to requests for information or reporting requests.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple ongoing tasks and processes simultaneously.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with experience presenting complex information.
• At least two (2) years of experience coordinating, managing, and/or developing FMS programs, either at the Military Department, SCO, Combatant Command or its components, and/or program office level.

Preferred Experience:

• Prior experience working with the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of War.
• Master’s degree in international relations, political science, economics, or a related field.
• Two (2) years of experience using the Security Cooperation Information Portal (SCIP), the DoW Security Assistance Network (SanWeb), or the DoW’s security cooperation system of record (SOCIUM).
• Prior attendance at a security cooperation course at Defense Security Cooperation University or its predecessor, the Defense Institute for Security Assistance Management, or equivalent work experience. In this case, equivalent work experience is at least five years developing or managing FMS or other security assistance programs.
• Experience with USG financial management systems such as State’s Global Financial Management System (GFMS) or DoW’s Defense Security Assistance Management System (DSAMS).
• Familiarity with DoW security cooperation authorities under Title 10, U.S. Code.
• Experience with advanced analytic tools such as Alteryx, Tableau, and Power BI.

Required Security Clearance: U.S. Citizenship. Active Secret-level clearance. A Secret security clearance is required for this position; however, an individual may begin work with an interim Secret security clearance.

Work environment: This position will be based in Washington, DC. In some cases, remote work arrangements could be authorized.

Working Days and Hours: This position will be based in Washington, DC. Regular hours for the positions will be the regular hours for the Washington, DC metropolitan area, 8:15 am – 5:00 pm EST; however, positions may be permitted to work alternative work schedules (AWS) as needed and approved, while adhering to the PM Bureau’s core hours, currently 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, and in-person requirements for PM/SA. Working schedules must be approved and must comply with all applicable access and security requirements of the facility where the work is performed.

Physical Requirements: This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear, see, and lift small objects up to 20 lbs.

Supervisory Responsibility: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Travel: Occasional travel may be required.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

IBTCI is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. This means that IBTCI is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.