Border Security Advisor (Ecuador)

Border Security Advisor (BSA)

BACKGROUND

The U.S. Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy & the Secretary of State is the President's principal foreign policy advisor. The Department of State's mission is to advance U.S. national security interests, fight terrorism, protect U.S. interests abroad, & implement foreign policy initiatives that build a freer, prosperous, & secure world.

The Bureau of International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) keeps Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, & instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice & fairness by strengthening their police, courts, & corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime & illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores.

The INL Office at U.S. Embassy Quito, re-established in 2018, is charged with developing strategies & programs to achieve international narcotics control, law enforcement, & justice foreign policy objectives. To achieve the goals of improving Ecuador's capacity to detect & interdict drugs, secure Ecuador's waterways, & secure Ecuador's borders, INL will focus on building capacity & interagency cooperation.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

USGI is seeking a Border Security Advisor (BSA) to serve as a subject matter expert on land border & airport security for INL Quito. This position requires strategic-level program leadership & engagement with senior host-nation officials. The Border Security Advisor will provide leadership & project management expertise to the Ecuador National Police (ENP) National Directorate of Border Control (DINAFRON), National Customs Service (SENAE), Immigration Service, the Ecuador Armed Forces, & other agencies to increase capacity to secure Ecuador's borders to reduce the transit of drugs & other illicit goods & prevent human trafficking & irregular migration. The advisor will guide the stand-up & capacity enhancement of Ecuador's Border Task Forces; & develop, implement, & monitor other border security projects.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Engages with senior Government of Ecuador (GOE) officials, including unit commanders, directors, & ministerial-level leadership, to advance border security policies, ensure interagency alignment, & promote adoption of U.S.-supported program initiatives
• Provides strategic-level program oversight & integration, ensuring coordination across law enforcement, military, customs, & migration authorities, & aligning operational activities with broader national security objectives & INL program goals
• Implements a U.S.-sponsored Border Security program, which coordinates activities to support the Government of Ecuador (GOE), with a focus to developing the interagency relations
• Provides senior-level subject matter expertise in program planning, designing, technical assistance, & implementation
• Provides senior-level management expertise in specialized fields of expertise, as well as functional & technical expertise to lead complex, large projects to deliver client solutions &/or manage operations of multiple projects
• Provides high level expertise & ability to solve complex & unusual managerial issues while exercising independent judgment
• Assists senior-leadership in the development of program strategies & implementation
• Engages in working effectively under pressure within short time constraints, & during times of rapidly developing events
• Assists with working in international or peacekeeping missions &/or related international development activities
• Assists with preparing documentation for the procurement of systems & equipment, including drafting purchase requests, bid solicitations, statements of work (SOW), requests for source-origin waivers, & sole-source justifications
• Assists in end-use monitoring (EUM) of U.S. Government-supplied commodities & services, preparing an input for the annual EUM report to the U.S. Congress
• Liaises with INL/WHP, INL Bogota, & other INL sections in the Western Hemisphere on assistance programs with a cross-border nexus
• Provides briefings, program evaluations, & supports high-level visits as required
• Participates in visits by senior officials & serves as an escort or control officer, including the arrangement of itineraries & logistical support for official visitors

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• U.S. Citizen
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in international relations, law enforcement, public policy or related field (10 years professional law enforcement experience can be substituted)
• Demonstrated experience managing or overseeing complex, multi-agency programs or projects at the operational or strategic level, including planning, coordination, & performance monitoring
• Demonstrated experience briefing & engaging with senior-level leadership, including command-level officials or equivalent, on programmatic or operational matters
• A minimum of eighteen years of experience with U.S. law enforcement or military, experience briefing in English
• Three years of experience working overseas in an Embassy environment
• Three years specialized experience in border security operations
• Knowledge of, & skill in, correct usage of English grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, & style
• Demonstrated working knowledge of oral & written Spanish at a level (3/3)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A minimum of ten (10) years work experience related to border control, counternarcotics, airport security, or irregular immigration
• A minimum of five (5) years in a supervisory management position
• Demonstrated experience engaging with senior host-nation officials at the director, general officer, or ministerial level to advance program objectives & policy initiatives
• Demonstrated experience leading or supporting interagency coordination efforts involving law enforcement, military, customs, &/or migration authorities
• Demonstrated experience managing or advising on large-scale U.S. Government-funded programs, including budgeting, implementation oversight, & performance evaluation
• Demonstrated experience coordinating & working with U.S. government agencies (e.g., the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Defense) & United Nations &/or international community on security sector development programs
• Demonstrated experience working in Latin America or on Latin America issues
• Demonstrated experience drafting US government reports & documents, such as the INCSR, embassy cables, & other documents
• Demonstrated experience working with high-level host-nation counterparts, departments, & ministries to further program objectives
• Demonstrated experience working directly with the Department of State or INL as a Direct Hire or a Third Party Contractor

REPORTING AND RELATIONSHIPS

The contractor will report to his/her contracting company & will receive directions from the CO, Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), &/or Government Technical Monitor (GTM). The Border Security Advisor shall receive directions from the INL Quito on-site supervisor, & shall maintain open, timely, & effective communications, resulting in a relationship that proactively addresses potential problems with flexible, workable solutions.

LEVEL OF EFFORT

Hours for the position will be the core hours of the Department of State: Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week, 8 hours per day.

POSITION LOCATION

The primary work location is the INL office at U.S. Embassy Quito, Ecuador.

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT

DOS will provide office space, computers, phone, & other required equipment & supplies necessary to complete all job requirements. DOS will own & maintain all government furnished property.

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENT

A Moderate Risk Public Trust (MRPT) is required for this position; however, the contractor may begin work with an interim MRPT.

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation shall be for official business use only & is cost reimbursable as an other direct cost (ODC).

TRAVEL

Travel is authorized for this position in accordance with the award & shall not exceed the designated ceiling.

TRAINING

This BPA Call provides for mandatory training for DOS-specific equipment, systems, & processes (reference 13 FAM 300 Agency Mandated Training), which shall be completed promptly & in accordance with Department policy. This training does not require INL Contracting Officer (CO) approval.

Travel-related mandatory training (e.g., FACT CT420, FACT CT650 Training) may be required at the discretion of the on-site supervisor & Regional Security Officer (RSO) at the OCONUS location traveling to & needs INL Contracting Officer approval.

TPCs are strongly encouraged to take orientation training to best integrate with INL & effectively contribute to the mission. Depending on their role they should attend either INL SOAR (Staff Orientation & Readiness) or PREP (Pre-deployment program) training. SOAR is for TPCs whose position is primarily to work with INL staff in support of INL programs & projects. PREP is for TPCs whose position is primarily to work with host government or foreign counterparts to train or advise them, or to support other TPCs in that work. TPCs are encouraged to take other INL-delivered training courses, & State-specific training through FSI in coordination with the program office, & with CO approval.

USGI offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits including health, dental and vision benefits, life insurance, AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance, 401(k) plan with company match, plus generous PTO offerings to include vacation/sick days, bereavement leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays. USGI is an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.