Security Assistance Coordinators (Mid-Level and Junior-Level)

Position description

Social Impact, Inc. (SI) is a global development management consulting firm. We provide monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, and capacity building services to advance development effectiveness. We work across all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth. Since 1997 we have worked in over 100 countries for clients such as US government agencies, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and nonprofits.

Proposal Objective:

SI is pursuing a contract to support the DOS Bureau of Political-Military Affairs’ Office of Security Assistance’s capacity to provide effective program management, design, monitoring and oversight of security assistance. The PM Bureau’s need to provide consistent oversight of U.S. security assistance programs is vital. In a context of scarce resources, the need to demonstrate clear alignment with U.S. Foreign policy through effective program management is paramount. The Office is
composed of multiple regional teams and a dedicated Global Strategy and Oversight (team) that leads on policy, knowledge management and resource management. PM/SA staff includes Foreign Service Officers (FSOs), Civil Servants, third-party contractors, and military detailees.

Position Description:

SI is seeking full-time mid-level and junior-level Security Assistance Coordinators to support the Office’s program management of security assistance accounts. 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).The Coordinators are responsible for reviewing and coordinating funding case development documents, tracking security assistance expenditure data, providing data for congressional briefs and reports, coordinating within the DOS PM and other bureaus on security assistance programming.

These are full-time positions based in Washington, DC for duration of the contract, contingent upon contract award.These positions requires U.S. citizenship and a security clearance is required.

The overall anticipated period of performance of this contract is as follows:

• Base Period: March 17, 2026 – March 17, 2027
• Option Period 1: March 17, 2027 – March 16, 2028
• Optional Option Period 2: March 17, 2028 – March 16, 2029
• Option Period 3: March 17, 2029 – March 16, 2030

While the Contract will be awarded for the Base and Option Periods, the exercise of the option periods is at the sole discretion of DOS.

Responsibilities:

• Provide program analysis and develop and coordinate both functional subject matter and geographic area for security assistance accounts.
• Develop program options, negotiate, and integrate contributions from various Departmental offices as well as other USG agencies.
• Performs various analyses, including but not limited to strategic planning and forecasting, program design, and metrics and performance monitoring expected results (i.e., deliveries, training schedules), to support policy-making officials and ensure implementation of their decisions.
• Draft and coordinate, as necessary, a variety of documents such as analytical reports; briefing materials, decision, and information memoranda; emails; congressional letters; standard operating procedures; escalation justifications; and other communications on matters relating to the area(s) of assignment.
• Provide information on Foreign Military Sales (FMS), arms transfers, and security assistance, as well as administrative practices and/or other relevant policy areas.
• Maintain current knowledge in foreign policy, industrial and technological advances as related to his/her assigned responsibilities, and other commodities outside of his/her assigned responsibilities.
• Liaise with interagency counterparts, military service components, and program offices to coordinate on security assistance-funded programs.
• Provide administrative and logistics support for intradepartmental and interagency events (e.g., Joint Security Sector Assistance Review (JSSAR)), including recurring synchronization meetings to deconflict and align State and DoW budgets and programs in the area of responsibility.
• Support regular meetings with Military Groups (MilGrps) and others from DoW and State that support or have a role in managing the FMF and IMET programs.
• Support data management requirements, including tracking the status of all relevant FMF-funded FMS cases for the respective regional portfolio.
• Support to coordinate and deconflicting multi-billion-dollar security assistance accounts with DoW counterparts and DoW-managed security cooperation activities.
• Supports PM/SA program officers, as necessary, with data collection, analysis, and reporting of State and DoW country program activities for a variety of briefings and products using current data management systems and make recommendations to program officers to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of security sector assistance coordination measures, and implement improvements as directed.
• Maintain accurate budget data over multiple fiscal years on appropriations, obligations, and expenditures of foreign assistance accounts managed by PM/SA through working with key stakeholders within regional bureaus, PM, DoW and other entities, as necessary.
• Draft and coordinate clearance and approval of various budget documents related to the obligation, apportionment, reclassification, de-obligation and allotment of funds. Examples of documents include, but are not limited to Action Memos, Congressional Notifications (CN), Interagency Agreements (IAA), Financial Trackers, Allotment memos, Apportionment memos, Reclassification Memos, Memorandum of Requests (MORs), spend plans and other documents to ensure the timely obligation, management and execution of funding.
• Draft and coordinate clearance and approval for other documents related to the management of the respective account and programs such as procurement waivers and section 505 end use, security and retransfer assurance agreements that include relevant PM/SA programs.
• Assist in compiling and analyzing program budget data to assist PM/SA in tracking program execution, financial planning, analysis, and responding to Department and Congressional reports, questions regarding CNs, other inquiries and requirements.
• Compile, in coordination with PM/EX, PM/SA’s responses to program budget requests for information in the Department, as well as from OMB, Congress, the audit community and others.
• Support PM/SA program officers with technical requirements for procurement-related documentation (e.g., technical specifications, information, and level of detail for statements of work and funding sources).
• Assist PM/SA program officers to manage funds obligated to DoW and other interagency partners. This will include coordination with various elements of the Department of War and other interagency partners to include, but not limited to, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Navy, Air Force, Army, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, geographic combatant commands, the Offices of Security Cooperation (or equivalent) at Embassies, and other elements with State and DoW, as necessary.
• Work closely with PM/EX and regional bureau EX (as applicable) on financial reporting and assists the PM/SA team in responding to various oversight and auditing entities, including the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), Office of Inspector General (OIG), press, Congressional and other inquiries.
• Review/update for PM/SA approval funding standard operating procedure documents on PKO/NSEA management processes to confirm they are in alignment with U.S. Government, Department, and Bureau financial policies and legal requirements
• Provide support for program and financial management reviews within the Department of State and with DoW.
• Monitor and provide recurring reports on program obligation and expenditures and flag issues for PM/SA attention.
• Reconcile financial reports from DSCA, Combatant Commands and update PM records monthly.
• Develop account financial briefs for program planning conferences, as well as other security assistance/cooperation and related conferences.
• Draft and coordinate interdepartmental memoranda pertaining to Department of State concurrence with DoW security cooperation programs – including coordination, deconfliction, and oversight of legal, policy, and programmatic issues.
• Liaise with Department of State stakeholders to review and approve proposed DoD security cooperation activities and to deconflict those activities with Department of State-funded programs and activities.
• Liaise with Department of War stakeholders to facilitate resolution to regional and functional policy issues, and engaging on related legislative processes
• Additional responsibilities include conducting desk-based research and analysis, and coordinating and participating at meetings with senior leaders, developing and leveraging deep subject matter expertise on multiple security cooperation authorities, and ensuring all activities adhere to applicable authorities including the Foreign Assistance Act, the Arms Export Control Act, and White House directives.
• Engage with legislative processes including reviewing legislative proposals from DoW, tracking annual legislation, amendments, etc.
• Support annual planning and coordination for the Joint Security Sector Assistance Review, Financial Management Reviews, and Security Cooperation Education and Training Working Group (SCETWG).
• Coordinate daily management of Security Sector Assistance (SSA) program actions, tracking funding execution and program milestones across FMF, IMET, PKO/NSEA, and related accounts.

Qualifications

Minimum Education/Experience:

• BA/BS in international relations, political science, economics, or a related field.
• Two (2) years of experience managing budget and fiscal processes for foreign assistance programs.
• At least four years (4) 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.

Preferred Experience:

• Prior experience working with the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of War.
• Familiarity with Security Cooperation Information Portal (SCIP), the DoW Security Assistance Network (SanWeb), or DoW’s system of record for security cooperation SOCIUM.
• Familiarity with USG financial management systems such as State’s GFMS or DoW’s Defense Security Assistance Management System (DSAMS).
• Familiarity with Title 10 authorities and programs, such as Sections 333, 331, or 1263 and other U.S. security assistance processes and procedures.
• Experience with advanced analytic tools such as Alteryx, Tableau, and PowerBI.

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

Security Assistance Coordinator (Mid-Level) Requirements:

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 years (4) 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 years (2) of experience using the Security Cooperation Information Portal (SCIP), the DoW Security Assistance Network (SanWeb), or the DoW’s system of record for security cooperation 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 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 Title 10 authorities and programs, such as Section 333, 331, or 1263 and other U.S. security assistance processes and procedures.
• Experience with advanced analytic tools such as Alteryx, Tableau, and PowerBI.

Application instructions

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