JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

PEACE CORPS - ACCRA

February 5, 2020
Number: PC 20 007

Position: Information Technology Specialist,

Office: U. S. Peace Corps

Open to: All Interested Candidates

Work hours: 40+ a week

Closing Date: March 06, 2020 – 5:00 p.m.

Salary: ¢105, 062.00 – 157,598.00 PA plus benefits

PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACTOR (PSC)

The Peace Corps is a United States federal agency that promotes international peace, friendship and
sustainable development by providing trained men and women to serve in local communities in the areas of
health, education and agriculture. The agency in Ghana is seeking to hire the services of a highly motivated
Information Technology Specialist (ITS) to provide information technology and systems support services to
our main office in Accra and three sub regional offices in Kukurantumi, Kumasi and Tamale. Candidate must
be very organized, have good interpersonal skills, and must be able to work under pressure.

Competitive candidates will have the following credentials and expertise:

• At least seven years of progressive work experience in designing, administering, and supporting a
Microsoft Windows Server Network and Directory Services Infrastructure in an organizational context.
• Demonstrated experience providing technical training and user support to computer users of varying
levels of computer skills within an organization.
• Must have a thorough knowledge of Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows XP and
Microsoft Windows 10 Operating Systems.
• Demonstrated advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite 2007 and 2010.

Desired Qualifications and Statement of Work:

• Please see the attached Desired and Required Qualifications, and the Statement of Work.

Interested applicants must submit the following or the application will not be considered:

1) A detailed resumé or C.V. that includes:

o 3 Professional references.

2) A cover letter

3) Any other documentation (e.g., essays, certificates, awards, copies of degrees earned) that
addresses the qualification requirements of the position as listed above.

Write the job number as email subject and send application packet to [email protected]
U. S. Peace Corps – Ghana
Information Technology Specialist
Duty Station: Accra, Ghana

GENERAL REQUIREMENT
• Must have full proficiency in oral and written English
• Excellent speaking, presentation skills.
• Very strong networking, negotiation and collaboration skills
• Demonstrated organizational and project management skills.
• Must have a vast knowledge and demonstrated experience in computer hardware installation and
repair.
• Experience working in cross-cultural environments

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS/ REQUIREMENT

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, Information and
Communications Technology or any related discipline.
• At least seven years of progressive work experience in designing, administering, and supporting a
Microsoft Windows Server Network and Directory Services Infrastructure in an organizational
context.
• Must have a thorough knowledge of Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows XP and
Microsoft Windows 10 Operating Systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Active Directory Services Infrastructure,
Microsoft/ CISCO Networking Infrastructure, Database Administration and User Training.
• Demonstrated experience with Local Area Networks/Wide Area Networks and VPNs including
experience installing, configuring and troubleshooting Internet connectivity
• Demonstrated advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite 2007 and 2010.
• Must have a vast knowledge and demonstrated experience in computer hardware installation
• Demonstrated ability to understand and interpret technical manuals, and written and verbal
instructions.
• Must be a very resourceful and creative individual who can design different flexible options to
respond to organizational needs in a scenario of scarce resources.
• Must have excellent English language skills

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS/ REQUIREMENT

• Completion of training resulting in Industry Standard Certifications such as MCSE, MCITP,
CCNA.
• Project development with SQL, Webpage design/development and database administration.
• Experience working in a multi-cultural environment
Peace Corps – Ghana
Statement of Work (SOW)

Position: Information Technology Specialist (ITS)

Supervisor: Country Director (CD)
Duty Station: Accra, Ghana

POSITION DESCRIPTION
STATEMENT OF WORK:
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST (ITS)

POSITION SUMMARY

The services to be performed shall be subject to the ultimate responsibility and authority of the Peace Corps
Country Director who is responsible for all Peace Corps activities in the host country. The Country Director
may designate another member, or members, of the Peace Corps staff to monitor and provide technical or
administrative guidance regarding the services called for herein.

In the event the Peace Corps requires a security clearance/certification for performance of this contract and the
contractor fails to receive the appropriate clearance/certification this contract will terminate upon notification
to the contractor that the clearance/certification has been denied.

The Information Technology (IT) Specialist reports directly to the Peace Corps Country Director with
technical guidance provided by the International Technical Support (ITS) group in Washington, DC.

The Information Technology (IT) Specialist is the primary contact for first-tier technical support at an
overseas post: administering the local IT systems, maintaining ITS mandated configurations, and ensuring that
all IT systems adhere to Peace Corps and US Government policy.

Duties and Responsibilities

User Training
Provides formal or informal IT training to overseas staff who have varying degrees of technical proficiency.
Training will be conducted on software applications, Internet-based research, hardware and software
troubleshooting and the appropriate use of IT in the workplace.
• Attends workshops and conferences to develop IT and training skills. Attends periodic Sub-Regional IT
conferences coordinated by ITS to insure current knowledge of Peace Corps Information Systems and
policy. Assistance in planning conferences/workshops may also be required.
• As a major duty, the ITS in consultation with the user’s supervisor or department head, assesses their IT
strengths and weaknesses and provides a baseline and benchmark for a formal/informal training plan that
focuses on delivering improvements to identified weaknesses of the user in order to ultimately improve on
his/her productivity at Post.
• The ITS keeps record of such assessments and associated training improvement plans on file for each
member of staff at Post.
• Periodically, the ITS provides formal computer training to all members of staff with varying degrees of
technical proficiency, in order to refresh stale memories of appropriate use of IT at the work place.

Customer Technical Support

• Provides first-tier computer and network support for the Peace Corps office.
• Ensures that all IT related needs are met while adhering to ITS/Peace Corps guidelines and policies.
• Solicits assistance from ITS group when encountering issues beyond his expertise.
• Identifies recurring problems, systemic problems or other factors impacting computer issues at post and
reports them to the ITS group.
• Serves as the primary contact should ITS be needed for second-tier support.
• Independently installs hardware and software; identifies and solves technical problems including but not
limited to hardware, software, and Internet connectivity issues. All of the above will be conducted under
ITS guidelines/policies.
• Re-images and reassigns computer equipment as staff come on or leave positions.
• The ITS is expected to exercise high judgment in an on-the-fly prioritization of help desk requests from a
network of about 58 staff unevenly spread among four geographic locations and from about 160 Peace
Corps volunteers spread nationwide.
• The incumbent provides prompt helpdesk support to users in order to minimize the challenges faced in
executing day-to-day activities. In the event this helpdesk request is beyond the competency or authority
of the ITS, he/she is expected to immediately communicate such helpdesk requests to the OCIO’s
Customer Support Services via the Track-IT helpdesk system or elicit support from regional IT support
services.
• The ITS is responsible for monitoring such helpdesk tickets and providing timely updates to the user who
generated the helpdesk request. It is imperative that the ITS documents such requests for his/her annual
report to the Country Director and the OCIO.

Network and Systems Administration

• Maintains and updates the Microsoft Exchange server as directed by the ITS group.
• Responsible for troubleshooting server problems and minimizing downtime for the users.
• Serves as the point of contact for issues concerning Post’s Internet Service Provider.
• Maintains ITS standard back-up system for mission-critical data. Will be responsible for performing
routine back-ups of Post data and properly storing backup media according to ITS standards. Responsible
for the restoration of data as necessary.
• Performs the daily server checklist to ensure proper operation of the server and network.
• Identifies and secures local IT resources to meet Post’s needs. Responsible for locating IT resources
within country which may improve the support and management systems at Post. Resources may include
upgraded ISPs, hardware/software vendors, technical support, and training services.
• Maintains a continuing dialogue with ITS and other Regional IT Specialists, monitoring systems and
policies to ensure efficient and effective systems; helps determine means of increasing IT program
effectiveness.
• Frequently reassesses the IT configurations and settings on staff and volunteer workstations to ensure that
they meet ITS standards.
• Post’s IT infrastructure is a complex design that embraces the advantages of Microsoft’s rendition of the
virtualization technology – Hyper-V. The ITS is expected to provide day-to-day management to a number
of servers that include File and Print, Application, Monitoring, Internet, Active Directory, and Mail
servers. There are currently 18 of such servers at Post’s main and training office that provide services,
from client software provisioning, to network monitoring.
• The ITS is also required to deploy and manage remote network infrastructure with 3 servers including a
two standalone, two fully connected active directory network environment. He/she is simultaneously
tasked to provide the requisite technical oversight to these offices and their users in a way that adheres to
enterprise security policy and guidance from the OCIO.

Information Management
Maintains an up to date IT inventory and software license database and assists ITS in procurement decisions.
Will also keep ITS current with Post’s IT needs.
• Maintain Post’s PCV/personnel databases. Will be responsible for administration of the
Volunteer/Personnel Information System at Post.
• Responsible for updating all staff information changes on local server and workstations as necessary. Will
collaborate with CD, AO and Country Desk Unit on making necessary staff changes for HQ directory.
• The ITS maintains comprehensive data repositories including an extensive network folder share and a
database management system that houses Peace Corps volunteer information and a periodic record of the
activities of volunteers for their entire stay at Post.
• With the approval of the CD and guidance from the OCIO, the ITS provides access to file and folder
resources on the network share based on predetermined access control list that ensures that information is
accessed on a need-to-know basis.
• In order to promote the use of a centralized database management system, database applications –
Volunteer Information Database Application (VIDA) and Volunteer Reporting Tool (VRT) - have
purposely been designed by the OCIO to house significant amount of volunteers’ data and are the primary
repository and source of volunteer information at Post.
• The ITS exhibits his/her knowledge in database management by querying the database for data, and using
such data to design reports that provide useful information pertinent to the smooth operations of Post.
• Regularly, the incumbent cleans up the database system by performing integrity checks and database
maintenance on VIDA and the Financial Operations Room for Post (FORPOST).
• The ITS also provides staff and volunteers with the needed training to gain a firm technical knowledge on
the use of VRT and the Volunteer Reporting Form (VRF) respectively.

Security Coordination
Act as IT security coordinator under guidance of Agency IT Security Program Coordinator.
• The ITS ensures the overall safety and security of Post’s communications systems and maintains an
infrastructure that protects security issues of Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (CIA).
• The ITS maintains a comprehensive physical and logical security design on the communications
infrastructure as is mandated by the agency’s enterprise security policy.
• The ITS ensures that Post’s users have been sensitized on IT security and have signed the mandatory
security guidelines of MS-542 and MS-543 for staff and volunteers respectively.
• Periodically, the ITS ensures that Post’s users are constantly reminded of information security and the
need to be aware of the possibility of malicious attacks anytime information security is compromised.
• With the help of the OCIO’s Customer Support Services, the ITS conducts mandatory IT security training
for all Post’s staff after which, they are required by the agency’s enterprise security policy to take and pass
annual IT security tests. This will ensure that Post’s network users are sensitized on the daily IT security
threats and the actions needed to safeguard Post’s volunteer and network information. The end result is
that Post will practice safe computing, ultimately aiming at the safety and security of Peace Corps
volunteers in the field.
• The ITS also draws up a comprehensive disaster recovery strategy pertaining to his/her Post within the
limits of the IT department’s approved budget and guidance from OCIO’s Customer Support Services.
• The ITS will subject this disaster recovery strategy to annual review to ensure that the strategy is up-to-
date and reflects a true and concise recovery plan in the event of a disaster.

Strategic Management, Budgeting and IT Resource Planning

 The ITS is responsible for Post’s communications infrastructure and therefore required to provide
leadership and strategic management of the IT department in a way that is effective and poised
towards the attainment of Post’s goals in providing quality volunteer support and ultimately ensuring
their safety and security.

 Taking control of and responsibility for the overall communications strategy of Post, the ITS is
expected to periodically assess the direction of the department, monitor and evaluate the red flags that
negatively show the state of the department with the use of the Administrative Management Control
Survey (AMCS).

 The ITS designs and maintains a comprehensive financial budget which defines planned
communications and IT resource spending for the fiscal year, and seeks approval of the Country
Director in executing such budget.
  The ITS constantly works with the Director of Management and Operations (DMO) in the execution of
such budget.

Telecommunications Design and Management

 GFE devices under Airwatch and BYOD are now managed and troubleshooted by the ITS at Post
through the Airwatch console
 The telecommunication infrastructure is the sole responsibility of the ITS. It is a requirement that Post
maintains a digital phone system that takes advantage of the highly secured, complex, modern
telephony trends. The ITS is required to help provision and manage this infrastructure in order to
effectively communicate at Post. The OCIO’s Support Services currently do not support this
infrastructure, but are available to provide guidance on an implementation which Post can migrate to.

 Since Post’s Telecommunication Infrastructure is non-standard, it is imperative that it does not in

anyway, connect to Post’s IT infrastructure. The telephony network must be located on its own
physical and logical network.

 The ITS is responsible for making sure that this telephony infrastructure is highly operational, as is
always used to communicate with Peace Corps Volunteers.

Website and SharePoint Administration

 Post maintains a website template that allows for both basic and sophisticated website design and
administration expertise, thereby enabling and enhancing Post’s presence on the internet. The website
target audience includes host country nationals and local partners, potential Peace Corps Volunteers
and invitees, and the rest of the world who need education on the Post’s Peace Corps programs.

 The ITS as the webmaster for Post is responsible for ensuring that Post has presence on the internet.
This presence affords Post a platform to showcase the marvelous work done by its volunteers in such a
way that sensitizes and creates awareness of the impact of the Peace Corps program at Post.

 As sophisticated as the ITS can get, he/she is allowed to exhibit skills in the design and management of
Post’s SharePoint page in such a way that it is useful in providing assistance in managing Post’s
operations.

 The ITS can use the SharePoint page in its basic form, to manage the enterprise calendar or get
sophisticated with the design, management and administration of work-flows to minimize the use of
traditional methods of paper pushing, and promote the effective use of technology that enhances
productivity.

IT Procurement and Maintenance, and Inventory Management

 The ITS is required to maintain constant relationship with both local and international vendors so as to
provide a fertile ground for IT procurement. He/she and will advise the DMO on the state of Post’s IT
infrastructure and the need for IT procurement with guidance from the OCIO’s Customer Support
Services.

 The ITS is mandated to ensure that Post receives value for money on every physical investment. For
this reason, ITS ensures that service/maintenance contracts include clauses that are clearly spelt out to
compel contractor vendors to periodically maintain and service Post’s assets so that Post’s hardware
investments are protected from malfunctioning, rapid wear and tear, or abrupt and total failures.

 With the assistance of the DMO, the General Services Manager (GSM), and the General Services
Assistant (GSA), the ITS administers Post’s inventory management system (inventory).
  The incumbent maintains the inventory system and provides technical guidance, training and bug fixes
on the inventory system. Annually the DMO, GSM, GSA and ITS work together to maintain internal
controls and report on the state of Post’s assets to the agency’s Inventory Management Specialist in
Washington, DC.

OCIO Africa Region Coordinator

• May act as GRID 4.0 IT Specialist Advisor for Africa region.
• May provide System testing for OCIO on behalf of Africa region
• May support OITS professional development
• May ensure that OCIO IT Training is addressing current and anticipated technology learning needs
• May create a feedback loop with Overseas IT Specialists and HQ

Volunteer Support and coordination

• Provide VRF technical support to volunteers
• May supervise and lead Volunteer ICT projects
• Manage and monitor Media equipment, YouTube and Instagram account
• Manage and monitor official social media account - Facebook

This position may act as an Occasional Money Handler, as assigned, to perform work within the scope of
duties. The PSC may be required to courier cash and/or purchase orders to various vendors who furnish
supplies and/or services to PST/IST training sites, or other locations as directed by the Contracting Officer.
The PSC may also be required to courier cash to PC trainees or volunteers. The PSC will not be functioning as
a procurement or disbursing official but will only be acting as an intermediary between the Contracting or
Disbursing Officer and the recipient. In the case of dealing with vendors, the PSC will not exercise any
procurement discretion concerning the supplies or services to be purchased or the cost limits of these
purchases; these will be determined by the Contracting Officer; of the Peace Corps Act.

Safety and Security

Immediately communicates Volunteer safety and security concerns and issues to the Safety and Security
Manager (SSM) and CD. Knowledgeable and supportive of Peace Corps safety and security policies and
procedures, including the timely reporting of suspicious incidents, persons or articles.

Miscellaneous:
To the extent Contractor operates a US government owned, leased, or rented vehicle (GOV) to perform his or
her job duties, Contractor must operate that vehicle safely at all times and only operate it for official business
purposes as defined in 31 USC 1334 and Peace Corps MS 522.
Contractor must refrain from texting or from engaging in any behavior that distracts attention from driving
safely at any time. Except in an emergency situation, Contractor must not text message (i) when driving a
GOV; (ii) when driving a privately-owned vehicle (POV) while on official government business; or (iii) while
using electronic equipment supplied by the government while driving any vehicle (even during off-duty
hours).

Authorization must be given by the Country Director for any staff to drive a Peace Corps Vehicle.

PSC is expected to adhere to Peace Corps code of conducts as mentioned in the PSC contract with reference to
PC Manual Sections and the Ghana Staff Handbook.

Temporary Duties (TDY):

The contractor is subject to worldwide availability and may be requested by the Peace Corps to be reassigned
or transferred permanently to another Peace Corps Post/Headquarters or perform temporary duties (TDY) as
required and to travel to other assignments within Peace Corps’ as assigned.
Any such reassignment or transfer shall be subject to agreement of the Contractor. The Statement of Work as
defined will remain the same: however the duties may be subject to change as determined by the Contracting
Officer.