Subject Matter Expert

NEA-SCA/A Subject Matter Expert -Foreign and Political Affairs Roles and Responsibilities:

The personnel will monitor political, economic, social, military, and significant developments and trends in assigned area(s). They will confer with analysts and action officers in the various interested organizations (i.e., Departmental offices, U.S. embassies/ posts, other U.S. government agencies, international organizations, foreign governments, non-governmental organizations) to assist the management of the Political office develop information, obtain clarification of divergent viewpoints, and build consensus and recommend a course of action acceptable to the SCA Bureau. They will establish and maintain liaison with officials throughout the foreign affairs and intelligence communities. The personnel will also work within areas that have issues pertinent to the country or region (e.g. domestic politics including elections, counterterrorism, military cooperation, trafficking in people and narcotics, and human rights) stay abreast of the legislative and policy developments. Typical work assignments include: – Interprets the significance of political/economic events or developments in South and Central Asia to U.S. foreign and national security policy aims in Afghanistan, assessing them against a broad, but in-depth knowledge of the region.

• Presents policy proposals to senior leadership, explaining and modifying them to obtain approval.
• Writes briefing memos and position papers for management to be used in engagement with U.S. government officials, as well as representatives of other governments, addressing strategic-, optical-, and tactical-level foreign policy and national security issues.
• Drafts reporting cables, briefing memos, as well as speeches, press statements, op-eds, and Congressional testimony and correspondence for senior officials that explain U.S. policy positions and activities in South and Central Asia with a focus on Afghanistan.
• Provide input to Government management by assessing the program and its effectiveness as evidenced by improvement or deterioration in the political, economic, or social conditions within Afghanistan.
• Provides informational consultations and orientations to colleagues, management officials and the interagency arena. -Advises on country- or region-specific issues and problems; proposes resolutions of policy and procedural issues and coordinates implementation of policy decisions.
• Communicates policy interests in dealing with specific Foreign Assistance program proposals and other USG activities focused on or affecting assigned countries; advocates adjustments in program direction and program funding.

Specific Duties include: Political and Peace/Reconciliation Policy Analysis, Development, and Implementation;

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:
Required Qualifications:
Demonstrated educational experience of at least a Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field of study (Public Policy/Administration, Social Sciences, Economics, Monitoring and Evaluation, etc.)

Demonstrated skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders of different backgrounds

Strong attention to detail

Ability to manage multiple deadlines and prioritize deliverables in a timely manner to meet quick turnaround

Preferred Qualifications:
Previous experience in translating from Arabic to English both orally and written; has previous experience with monitoring and evaluation key terms and concepts

Fluent in English (strong writing skills necessary) and Arabic