Operations Center Specialist
In the coming weeks/months, the USFS intends to post the following position. Interested parties should contact mmcclintock@usaid.gov for further information.
This position is located in the Office of International Programs' Disaster Assistance Support Program (DASP), USDA Forest Service. The DASP is a cooperative program between the USDA Forest Service and the Agency for International Development, Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID/BHA). The DASP provides international disaster preparedness and mitigation systems, planning, training, and response support to USAID headquarters and overseas Missions as well as to US Embassies, United Nations agencies, affected countries and cooperating partners. The position serves as a Response Operations Center Managers for USAID/BHA. As a member of the Response Operations Center Team (ROCT) the Response Operations Center Specialist (OCS) will coordinate the preparation, scheduling, use, and maintenance of USAID/BHA's operations centers utilized during disaster responses of varying complexity. These operations centers are capable of sustaining USAID/BHA's Response Management Teams (RMTs) of various sizes and complexities, and include items such as video-teleconferencing systems, audio-video systems, classified information (ClassNet) systems, and other office supplies and equipment.
The duties and responsibilities include:
- Provide daily administrative and operational support for the ROCT.
- Assist senior staff as needed on operational systems and processes, including developing and maintaining standard operating procedures for administrative support for the ROCT.
- Provide information for recurring bureau and agency reports as well as assist in responding to time sensitive/urgent requests for information, including from senior agency leadership.
- Assist in maintaining ROCT resources, standard operating procedures, and source documents.
- Assist with the orientation of new ROCT personnel and keep informed of changes to the administrative, financial, technical, operational, and training requirements of BHA.
- Attend team, office, and other meetings as assigned by the Team Leader and, when necessary, prepare summaries of these meetings.
- Serve as On-Call Operations Center Manager
- Serve as alternate Unit Security Officer performing as a technical expert on handling classified information, storage, and destruction.
- Facilitate scheduled and impromptu tours of facilities with the ability to explain USAID/BHA's Response Management System to various audiences.
- Resolve minor facility and information technology issues and elevate issues to appropriate contacts when necessary.
- Brief Response Management Team members on Operation Center facilities, equipment, and emergency procedures.
- As needed, serve as a member of the Washington-based Response Management Teams (RMTs) which provide services and support to Disaster Assistance Response Teams (DARTs) deployed in response to disasters. The duties on RMTs will be varied. RMT service is not a core requirement or expectation, but occasional RMT activations are possible.
- As needed, serve on DARTs which would involve deployment overseas for an extended period. DART service is not a core requirement, but occasional deployments are possible.
- Manage BHAs uniform and equipment portfolio. Receiving, stocking, shipping, and distributing supplies as needed. Resolving customer service issues. Complete international shipments including customs forms.
- Serve as Acting Response Operations Center Team Lead in absence of Team Lead, supervising the work assignments of the team.
- Demonstrate a commitment to bureau and office goals of diversity and inclusion.
- Attend and participate in trainings related to harassment, discrimination, sexual abuse/ exploitation, and keep abreast of updates to policies, processes and guidelines.
- Strive for a culture of civility and mutual respect within the ROCT and response teams staffed in the Operation Centers. Assist staff in understanding the value of differing perspectives, cultural norms and individual differences in the work environment.
Requirements:
- Knowledge of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the Incident Command System (ICS), Multi-Agency Coordination Systems (MACS) and/or other relevant aspects of NIMS, as well as an understanding of the U.S. Government's NIMS-compliant analogues to these systems within the international sphere, such as the Response Management Team (RMT) and Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) systems used by USAID/BHA in order to communicate with a variety of interagency and intergovernmental personnel to explain U.S. Government systems and procedures for international humanitarian response.
- Expert ability to tailor or devise logistical support, incident management, and resource allocation and mobilization to address unique disaster situations.
- Knowledge of administrative principles, policies, concepts and objectives as they affect foreign affairs related to international humanitarian assistance and the U.S. Government's systems.
- Knowledge of procedures for international disaster response in order to effectively execute and facilitate resource mobilization in response to disaster situations worldwide.
- Knowledge and skill to plan, develop and implement substantive program and policy changes to achieve the goals of the USAID/BHA's Response Operations Centers and programs.
- Ability to prepare written material that effectively transmits information about complex programs, activities and functions.
- Ability to represent the U.S. Forest Service and USAID/BHA at conferences, inter- and intra- agency meetings, and events with international program officials and host government emergency managers.
- Interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures in a highly visible and complex working environment, across organizational boundaries, and in settings of cultural diversity.