General call Consultants: Training & Facilitation, Instructional Design, Virtual Production, Instruction (SME)- PLR-TPOD - EnCompass LLC

Position Description

EnCompass LLC is seeking Consultants to support the Planning, Learning, and Resource Management Training, Professional, and Organizational Development (PLR/TPOD) task order, in the following areas:

• Subject Matter Expert (SME) (Instructor)
• Facilitation (Assists instructor)
• Virtual Production
• Instructional Design

The Planning, Learning, and Resource Management Training, Professional, and Organizational Development (PLR/TPOD) task order is part of the Worldwide Training Services (WTS) contract with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). PLR/TPOD provides professional development services including adult learning and training on core and non-core topics for the USAID workforce in Washington, DC headquarters and in about 85 Missions around the world.

Currently, EnCompass manages the following USAID courses under the PLR/TPOD contract, which are provided here to give a sense of the technical content areas addressed:

• Activity Design & Implementation (ADI)
• Introduction to the Program Cycle (IPC)
• Activity Management for CORs/AORs (AM for CORs/AORs)
• Applied Performance Monitoring & Evaluation (APM&E)
• Budget & Resource Management Training (BRMT)
• Managing Agreements with Public International Organizations (MAPIO)
• Program Officer Practical Skills (POPS) - PLR/BS-02
• Advanced Design: Using Systemic Design for Sustainable and Locally Driven Development (AD)

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Consultants should be able to provide at least one, or a combination of the following services: SME Instruction or Facilitation , Instructional Design, and/or Virtual Production with strong skills and experience in one or more listed areas of expertise (bullet points) for that area of service.

SME Instructor or Facilitator:

• Facilitate or co-facilitate virtual, in-person, and hybrid courses (one or more of these modes).
• Serve as the SME Instructor or Facilitator for courses requiring specialized USAID content knowledge and experience.
• Review Pre-Course Learning Needs Assessment (LNA) data (if applicable) and use the results to tailor the training content towards the needs of course participants.
• Be informed on relevant trends including Agency policies, procedures, and initiatives related to course content.
• Work collaboratively with a co-facilitator (and/or co-instructor) and production team to plan and execute each session, synergizing expertise and experience to achieve the learning goals of the training.
• Participate in all launch calls, rehearsals, and debrief sessions.
• Complete the Facilitator Feedback Form after each delivery.
• Participate in required training of trainer events and trainer meetings. (Please note both instructors and facilitators are considered trainers.)
• Undergo annual observation and evaluation to ensure quality and consistency in course deliveries.
• Adhere to all contractual period of performance and invoicing requirements. If travel is required, submit the Travel Expense Statement and all other necessary paperwork within the established deadline.

Instructional Design:

• Design and/or work with a team of designers to develop curricula and course materials for in-person, virtual, and blended learning using creative, innovative, and evidence-based approaches.
• Develop dynamic experiential learning session designs for adult learners including macro designs, micro designs, and training scripts using EnCompass templates and guidelines.
• Work with subject matter experts and senior advisors to plan, design and develop learning programs for a variety of audiences.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert regarding USAID policies, especially those specifically managed by PLR (ADS 200, ADS 201, ADS 308).
• Contribute to the development of course content for instructor-led and virtual instructor-led learning programs, and/or the creation of storyboards for e-tools, e-learning courses, and videos.
• Edit, update, and revise existing courses and curricula.
• Adhere to all contractual period of performance and invoicing requirements.

Virtual Production:

• Be highly competent and self-sufficient in all technical components of web conferencing software (eg. Adobe Connect, Zoom, Webex, GoogleMeet, etc.).
• Prepare for training delivery in advance by creating, reviewing, and updating materials, attending rehearsals, and confirming all necessary technical configurations.
• Manage technical support during training delivery by providing audio and visual support to participants, speakers, and training team.
• Utilize a variety of virtual applications, sometimes simultaneously, to engage participants (eg. breakout rooms, polls, google drives, Menti, Kahoot, Padlet).
• Capture session artifacts including session recordings, chat transcripts, poll results, participant group work, photos, etc. as needed.
• Contribute to training team feedback reports after each delivery, providing detailed account from technical perspective.
• Participate in required training for producers.
• Adhere to all contractual period of performance and invoicing requirements.

Position Requirements

Qualifications

For all Consultants:

• Experience in the field of international development a MUST, experience with USAID highly preferred
• Excellent communication skills and ability to communicate with various stakeholders and to express ideas and concepts concisely and clearly
• Ability to work in an appreciative, strengths-based environment, and to use strengths-based tools with clients
• Ability to bring a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility lens to all relevant activities
• Ability to bring a gender equality and social inclusion lens to all relevant activities
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills in English
• Fluency in language(s) other than English and experience working or living overseas preferred

Qualifications for each area:

SME Instructors and Facilitators:

• Bachelor’s Degree with at least five years of experience in the relevant technical area and two years training, facilitating, or instructing experience
• Experience working with USAID or other donor-funded projects strongly preferred and required for some courses
• Ability to travel domestically and/or internationally required for some courses; willingness to work in non-permissive environments a plus
• Ability to deliver virtual training in a variety of time zones, including EST, GMT, GMT+2, GMT+3, and GMT+7, preferred
• Based in or near DC metro area, Thailand, South Africa, Jordan, is a plus

In addition:

SME Instructors:

• Must have experience working with USAID
• Must have expertise and knowledge of USAID ADS 200, ADS 201, and/or ADS 308
• Technical expertise in adult learning and one or more of the following USAID subjects:
  • Understanding of USAID PLR and its responsibilities
  • Financial management at USAID including obligation and obligation management
  • Managing agreements with Public International Organizations
  • USAID budget and resource management
  • USAID program cycle
  • Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation
  • Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
  • Activity Design
• Experience as a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) or Agreement Officer Representative (AOR) or Controller preferred for some courses

Facilitators:

• Experience working with USAID desired
• Some knowledge of USAID ADS 200, ADS 201, and/or ADS 308 desired
• Some knowledge in adult learning and one or more of the following USAID subjects desired:

• Understanding of USAID PLR and its responsibilities
• Financial management at USAID including obligation and obligation management
• Managing agreements with Public International Organizations
• USAID budget and resource management
• USAID program cycle
• Collaboration, Learning, and Adaptation
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
• Activity Design

Virtual Producers:

• Bachelor’s Degree with minimum 3 years of experience providing complex technical support on virtual productions
• Ability to deliver virtual training in a variety of time zones, including EST, GMT, GMT+2, GMT+3, and GMT+7, preferred
• Based in or near DC metro area, Thailand, South Africa, or Jordan is a plus

Curriculum/Instructional Designers:

• Degree in Education, Curriculum Design, Organizational Development, Instructional Design, International Development, or related fields and minimum eight (8) years relevant experience in adult education curriculum design
• Experience in critical approaches in adult-centered learning, including blended learning, experiential learning, participatory methods, instructional design, virtual Instructor-Led Training (vILT), e-learning, and related topics
• Knowledge of the principles of adult learning, learning styles, participatory methods, and instructional design
• Ability to write detailed macro designs, micro designs, facilitator guides, participant handbooks, and scripts
• Familiarity with utilizing WebEx and/or Google Meet, as well as virtual applications such as Menti, Kahoot, and Padlet in vILT designs
• Experience working with USAID or other donor-funded projects preferred
• Expertise in USAID policies, especially those specifically managed by PLR (ADS 200, ADS 201, ADS 308) preferred

How to Apply

Please submit a CV and complete the online application. In the application, please ensure you indicate which of the service areas for which you would like to be considered (one or more):

• SME Instruction
• Facilitator
• Instructional Design
• Virtual Production

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs to write any of your application materials or to submit answers to screening questions will disqualify your application and/or candidacy.

Selection or shortlisting for these consultant roles does not guarantee future work. Qualified applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

This General Call will remain open indefinitely but will close no later than December 31, 2024. If there are questions about one of these opportunities, please send them to WTS_Procurement@encompassworld.com

EnCompass LLC is a progressive Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote, celebrate, and support a diverse and inclusive organizational culture and workforce. We are committed to providing all of our employees with an environment free from discrimination and harassment, where all are treated with dignity and respect. We do not tolerate, and explicitly prohibit, discrimination or harassment of any kind, at any time, in all aspects of employment. This includes recruitment, hiring, promotions, disciplinary measures, terminations, compensation, benefits, social and recreational programs, and training. EnCompass also does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who report discrimination or harassment. Our continuing commitment to the principle of Equal Opportunity Employment for all means all employment decisions are based only on the job requirements, the candidate’s qualifications, and the needs of EnCompass as a business—not on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, belief, sex (including pregnancy and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, HIV status, family/marital/parental status, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where we work.

For US based positions: The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.

The incumbent must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle and prioritize multiple, competing tasks and demands and to seek supervisory assistance as appropriate.

If you require accommodations in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act to complete your application, please call 301-287-8700, provide your contact information and a description of your accessibility issue. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case-basis, and we will call you back within approximately 3 business days.

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