Senior Radio Communications Advisor
U.S. Embassy, Monrovia, Liberia
Requires: A Moderate Risk Public Trust (MRPT) certification is required for this position; however, the Contractor may begin work with an interim MRPT certification.
ATSG Corporation is seeking a qualified candidate to fill a position as a
Senior Radio Communications Advisor to support the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs’ (INL) Office of Africa and Middle East Programs (INL/AME).
The U.S. Department of State is the lead institution for the conduct of American diplomacy and 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, and implement foreign policy initiatives that build a freer, prosperous and secure world.
INL keeps Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice and fairness by strengthening their police, courts, and corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores.
INL’s Office of Africa and the Middle East Programs (INL/AME) provides policy guidance and develops, executes, and monitors programs to address the full range of criminal justice issues as they relate to rule of law and police reform activities in Liberia. The INL’s goal for Liberia is that it becomes a stable and secure country that facilitates U.S. foreign policy and security goals in the region. INL provides foreign assistance to Liberian criminal justice institutions so that Law Enforcement deters crime and maintains citizen security and public order; Liberian citizens have improved access to justice and the judicial sector, and the corrections system is more effectively and humanely managed.
Assigned with the INL Section at the U.S. Embassy Monrovia, the INL Senior Radio Communications Advisor (SRCA), -- as his/her primary responsibility -- shall support, assist, and advise the INL Section and the INL/AME Liberia team with the INL Liberia Radio Communications Project, an effort to modernize and expand the Government of Liberia (GOL) communications network to enable civilian law enforcement and other security agencies to provide de-centralized public safety services. The SRCA will support INL with professional analyses and advice regarding modern public safety communications systems, designs, planning documents, professional standards, and other related needs. The SRCA shall also assist the INL Section and the INL/AME Liberia team by advising, monitoring, and managing training associated with the Radio Communications project, and with the design and implementation of supplemental project efforts to the institutional capacity and professionalization of Liberian civilian law enforcement and other security agencies in using and maintaining the upgraded communications network.
The position will require close coordination with the Liberian National Security Council, the Liberian agency with the primary lead for this project. The incumbent will also coordinate closely with the Liberia National Police (LNP), Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation (BCR), Liberia Executive Protective Service (EPS), National Security Agency (NSA) (NSA), and Liberia National Security Council (NSC) at the executive and mid-level leadership levels and mentoring of radio communications officers in civilian law enforcement agencies. The position also requires close coordination with and mentoring of the Technical Center of Excellence, the Liberian inter-agency law enforcement communications team that is responsible for maintaining the communications network. The position also requires coordination and collaboration with INL project implementers (e.g. American Bar Association – Rule of Law Initiative [ABA-ROLI], UN Office of Drugs and Crime [UNODC], Security Capacity Group [SCG]) when needed and when relevancy dictates to enable amplification of INL projects.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Assess/Advise:
- Participates in the continual analysis and evaluation of INL Liberia’s Radio Communications project, including assessments of the organizational and operational capacities of the law enforcement services using the network, assessments, advice, and recommendations for the LNSC and other Liberian security Radio Communications officers. Provide expert analysis, advice, and recommendations on radio communications technology, operations, and security issues related to radio communications network being upgraded to the INL Section and the INL/AME Liberia team. Analysis and evaluation will cover all security agencies at the national and county level, as well as other security agencies with access to the upgraded network to provide public safety services. Assessments and recommendation shall include operational effectiveness, management, training, technical skills, sustainability, mobility, technical requirements and capabilities of radio communications equipment.
- Provides expert advice and recommendations on the installation of INL’s radio communications network.
- Provides expert advice on a range of technical issues including, but not limited to, the definition of technical requirements for the deployment of an augmented radio communications system for the Liberian security sector.
- Provides expert advice and recommendations to troubleshoot potential issues relating to the installation, maintenance, and training needs and gaps of the of key host government officials.
Maintain Political Liaison:
- Liaises and supports liaison efforts with the participating security agencies, the National Security Advisor, the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, and other donors on issues related to the radio communications project.
- Under the direction of the INL Director (or her/his designee) and in coordination with the INL/AME Liberia team and other INL implementers, coordinate activities and avoid repetition in order to ensure a coherent approach to criminal justice sector assistance in international law enforcement programs.
- Identifies the needs and priorities of key host government officials, and the political and technical obstacles to radio communications program implementation and advises on suggestions on how to address them.
Program Planning, Development, and Execution:
- Develops and prepares a set of training initiatives and follow-on activities, in accordance with U.S. Embassy and U.S. Department of State goals and objectives, that prepares the host government to take full responsibility for the radio network. Final approval of deliverables will be completed by a USG direct hire.
- Develops and assists in the implementation of activities that develops SOPs and other guidelines for maintenance of the radio network and sustainability. Final approval of deliverables will be completed by the INL Director (or designee) and the INL Program Officer, who are USG direct hires.
- Works with implementers to improve implementation, while monitoring and reporting on significant activities and developments; evaluate project results and deliverables against the project work plan and timeline; determine obstacles and challenges and, as necessary advises on mid-course implementation adjustments, and when complete, assists with project close out. Final approval of deliverables will be completed by INL Director (or designee) and the INL Program Officer, who are USG direct hires.
- Visits, reviews, and analyzes the capabilities of the various designated sites and facilities selected to host equipment supporting the communications network.
- Performs monitoring and evaluation on the installation of the radio network, and the subsequent training activities developed to prepare the host government for support and readiness to take over the radio network, the maintenance and physical conditions of the radio network, and assess levels of host government capabilities for operation and maintenance of the network.
- Advises and recommends to the INL Section and INL/AME Liberia team on activities and procedures that would substantially increase efficiency and productivity of the radio communications network.
- Ensures that the installation and training meet the needs and balances Liberian priorities and U.S. government (USG) goals and strategic objectives for Liberia.
- Responds to tasks in a timely manner that avoids late submissions or delayed work.
Program Development and Implementation:
- Advises and communicate with INL’s Government Technical Monitor (GTM), Contracting Officer Representative (COR), and other INL representatives regarding contract implementation, technical requirements, necessary training and maintenance needed, and other elements related to the installation and test period for the Radio Communications network.
- Identifies logistical support requirements; provides advice and assistance to the host government and INL in fulfilling those logistical support requirements.
Integration of Complementary Programs:
- Works with INL implementers, U.S. and international agencies, NGOs, and Liberian institutions as necessary to ensure full integration of parallel and/or complementary foreign assistance efforts with the radio communications network.
End Use Monitoring:
- Assists INL in ensuring that radio communications equipment purchased with INL/U.S. Government funds are effectively utilized and actively prevent fraud, corruption, waste, or mismanagement of the equipment at all radio network sites.
- Conducts site visits for end use monitoring as needed.
- Assists INL with reviewing inventory lists, documentation, and equipment for end use monitoring and site visits.
Briefing and Reporting:
- When requested, provides information, details, and updates that assists INL officers in their preparation of periodic reports, cables, memoranda, assessments, statements of work, monitoring and evaluation and assessment reports, and other project documents related to the Radio Communications project as required. Other than the reports, assessments, and other documents detailed in this SOW, the SRCA is not expected to provide drafts of the aforementioned INL or Department of State documents.
- Tracks progress of installation and training related to the Radio Communications project.
- Assists in escorting and arranging appropriate itineraries for official travelers.
- Briefs Department, Congressional, Staff Delegations and other selected international dignitaries on INL’s Radio Communications project as necessary. Attends relevant Embassy meetings as requested and security sector reform related meetings, brief the INL/AME Program Officer and appropriate Embassy members, and report on major issues related to INL’s Radio Communications project.
Minimum Qualifications:
- U.S. Citizen, Third Country National (TCN) or Local National (LN)
- A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- A minimum of ten years’ experience in relevant field.
- Demonstrated knowledge of Federal regulations regarding area of specific need.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Demonstrated experience facilitating organizational change.
Preferred Qualifications:
- A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited institution in communications technologies or equivalent area.
- A minimum of ten (10) years of professional level work experience in the area of radio communications and other technologies used for law enforcement and industrial operations and services, management, and/or training. Career path will have included jobs with increasing scope and responsibilities at the executive or managerial level.
- A minimum of five (05) years’ experience in the following areas:
- Architecture experience in conceptualization, definition, and development of IT, telecom, radio, WIMAX based products and service.
- Repeater and radio Base stations configuration and management.
- Conventional and trunking radio systems (Kenwood Nexedge) servicing. Data and IP services (ATM, Frame Relay, VoIP, PIP, VPN, IP PBX) management.
- Network services (LAN, WAN, Content Delivery, Managed IP PBX) management.
- Security solutions management.
- Data center outsourcing including application hosting and managed storage.
- IT applications management including web services.
- Network, communications and mobility protocol implementation.
- Working knowledge of switching, routing, server, video, UC&C and mobility equipment.
- Working knowledge of solar power systems.
- Building and configuring complex end-to-end data and telephony networks. Troubleshooting and resolving VoIP-related problems and ensuring quality of service through an in-depth understanding of the underlying Layer 2 and 3 network infrastructures
- Understanding quality of service (QoS) and Call Admission Control (CAC), voice gateways, gatekeepers, IP phones, voice applications, and utilities on routers and switches (VLANs, IPT, Service Modules)
- A minimum of two (02) years’ experience in deploying and upgrading radio communications in an international setting, particularly in a developing country context:
- A minimum of three (03) years’ experience in the following areas:
- Kenwood Nexedge Repeater and radio Base stations
- E1-T1 circuits configuration
- WiMAX technologies implementation
- Working knowledge of switching, routing, server, video, UC&C and mobility equipment
- Working knowledge of solar power systems
- VoIP technologies including server and network infrastructure, codecs/signaling protocols, routing protocols, PSTN management and SIP integration
- IP telephony and PBX phone technologies and solutions utilizing multiple manufacturers’ product sets.
- Asterisks-based solutions and working knowledge of Linux/Unix; and
- Administration of dial plans and/or IP PBX systems
- Administration and troubleshooting of voicemail, unified messaging, and supporting infrastructure, including integration to switching platforms, global dial plan support, and local directory lookup
- Maintaining and supporting Asterisks, Switchvox Adtran and Mitel IP telephony and the related network and Gateway infrastructure
- Project-based deployment for Asterisks and Adtran IP telephony
- WiMAX Link Budget
- Determining LOS /NLOS maximum allowable Path Loss (MAPL) based on system parameters
- Determining power settings for a balanced path and performing link budget based on manufacturers equipment parameters and system requirements
- Calculating expected Point to Point performance using an analytical path loss model
- Experience in writing training plans, statements of work, standard operating procedures, and detailed instructions. Shall be comfortable speaking publicly and preparing and providing briefings in English.
- Current industry certifications such as Microsoft Certified Design Associate and Redline WiMAX certification.
- Experience working with international and foreign assistance entities, assistance missions, programs, and implementers.
- Fluent in the English language (spoken and written). Proficient in word processing skills and ability to use Microsoft Office products.
- Experience working with an Embassy.
- Experience working with INL.
Travel:
- Travel is authorized and anticipated for this position.
Level of Effort:
- Hours for the position will be the core hours of U.S. Embassy Monrovia, Monday through Friday, 40.00 hours per week, 8.0 hours per day.
*Candidates are encouraged to submit a .doc or .docx resume that explicitly addresses each of the requirements listed above.
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Equal access to programs, services and employment is available to all persons. Those applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application and/or interview process should notify a representative of the Recruiting Team.
This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of protected veteran status or disability and require affirmative action by covered prime contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. To comply with Federal law, ATSG Corporation participates in E-Verify. Successful candidates must pass the E-Verify process after hire.
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