ZemiTek, LLC is a Woman-Owned, SBA-certified 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) based in the Washington, DC metro area. We have a strong record delivering innovative and high-quality solutions. Since 2007, ZemiTek has provided technical assistance, project management, information technology (IT), knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation, training and learning development, and institutional support services.

The Bureau for Planning, Learning, and Resource Management (PLR) at USAID is responsible for aligning policies with budgets, planning, and program management. PLR's work focuses on using evidence to guide decisions, fostering collaboration, and encouraging innovation. Dedicated to leadership, teamwork, and inclusivity, PLR ensures that USAID's programs are effectively planned, managed, and adapted to create lasting positive outcomes worldwide.

ZemiTek, a trusted partner providing institutional support services to USAID's Bureau for Planning, Learning, and Resource Management (PLR), is seeking to engage a Democracy Delivers Senior Policy Analyst to join the Democracy Delivers Initiative team. This role supports the Director of Democracy Delivers and involves leading engagement on Africa, contributing to strategy development, and institutionalizing efforts. As the most senior technical expert on democracy, human rights, and governance (DRG), the analyst will build and maintain key internal and external relationships.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the Democracy Delivers Initiative by advancing reforms in democratic institutions across multiple countries. The current cohort includes Armenia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, Guatemala, Malawi, Maldives, Moldova, Nepal, Tanzania, and Zambia.

Location: Washington, DC
Position Type: Full-time (Hybrid - requires reporting to the office at least 3 days per week)

Salary Range: $154,000 - $167,000 a year with the starting salary determined based on candidate’s knowledge, skills, experience, and education.
Travel: 15% internationally
Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret level clearance

1. Leading Democracy Delivers Engagement on Africa (Approximately 50% LOE)

• The Senior Policy Analyst will lead the engagement on Democracy Delivers countries in Africa. Duties include:
• Serving as the Democracy Delivers Core Team's expert on the Initiative's countries in Africa, advocating for them within USAID's political and bureaucratic structure, and coordinating a network of allies across the Agency to surge support. 
• Tracking, analyzing, and synthesizing complex political, economic, and social dynamics and trends to inform diplomatic engagement, policy formation, and programming by:
• Preparing talking points, memos, and other materials and resources,
• Conducting political economy analyses
• Reporting on political developments.
• Backstopping trip planning for high-level U.S. Government travel to countries.
• Mobilizing the interagency, bilateral and multilateral donors, and civil society and participating in intra- and inter-agency meetings on country-specific issues as needed.
• Facilitating learning and adapting of the Democracy Delivers approach in participating countries in Africa and the Initiative more broadly, including potentially supporting countries outside of Africa.
• Engaging, advising, and directly supporting USAID field missions, including via TDYs, on a broad range of DRG issues or strategic planning needs, providing intensive backstopping in times of high need and high visibility, and connecting field staff with various sector experts and DRG mechanisms when needed.

2. Engagement, Strategic Direction, and Technical Guidance (Approximately 50% LOE)

The Senior Policy Analyst will support the Director of Democracy Delivers and Senior USAID leadership by:

• Strategic Planning: Provides analysis and advocacy to assist the Director in making strategic priorities to advance Democracy Delivers Priorities and goals in the intra- and inter agency.
• Relationship Building and Stakeholder Engagement: Represents the Democracy Delivers Initiative and builds and maintains strong relationships with persons and groups both inside and outside the Agency, including the inter-agency, donors, multi-lateral organizations and external partners.
• Strengthening Internal Processes: Leads and/or contributes to efforts to operationalize and institutionalize the Democracy Delivers Initiative to help ensure its sustainability and integration into broader USAID policies and processes.
• Driving Learning & Adaptation Agenda: Drives the Democracy Delivers learning and adaptation agenda in coordination with PLR's LER team and DRG's PLI team. Feeds into the DRG Bureau's attempts to develop a playbook for Democratic Openings and builds out a broader Agency-wide playbook for democratic openings.
• Providing DRG Expertise: Serves as a resource and provides DRG technical guidance to all participating DD countries by reviewing and/or developing programming options and recommendations as needed.
• Engaging DRG Bureau: Serves as the principal liaison from Democracy Delivers to the DRG Bureau, regularly convening and coordinating with the DRG Front Office, Office Directors, and relevant team leads within the Bureau to enhance DRG support for Democracy Delivers countries, including the new Democratic Openings Team.
• Engaging on Other USAID Priorities: Actively participates in other USAID priorities, like the implementation of the DRG Policy for instance, to foster collaboration and advance shared strategic priorities.
• Proactively Anticipates Needs: Anticipates and proactively responds to evolving priorities and needs with flexibility. 

The allocation of effort across responsibilities will depend upon the evolving list of Democracy Delivers countries across regions and their needs.

• Bachelor’s degree and twelve (12) years of experience or Master's degree and a minimum of ten (10) years of experience designing, managing, or implementing democracy, human rights, and governance (DRG) policies or programs
• Expertise in the Africa region, with at least five (5) years of experience working in Africa, and preferably additional experience in other regions.
• Proven ability to work with international development organizations.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a secret-level clearance; active secret-level clearance preferred.
• Deep expertise in political transitions, elections, and political economy analysis.
• Experience facilitating cross-sectoral teams, building coalitions, and problem-solving in diverse settings.
• Strong analytical skills for synthesizing political, economic, and social trends to inform diplomatic and policy decisions.
• Well-networked in U.S. Government and donor communities.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, apply sound judgment, and maintain productive relationships with government, civil society, private sector, and academic stakeholders.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with minimal need for editing or supervision.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in diverse teams and coordinate consensus across various stakeholders.
• Must be able to travel internationally up to 15% of the time.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly adapt to evolving priorities, changing environments, and new technologies, while maintaining high levels of productivity and effectively managing competing tasks in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment.
• Commitment to being a strong advocate for equity, inclusion, and uplifting marginalized voices. 

Our application process is quick and easy.  

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Compensation and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That’s why at ZemiTek we design our benefits packages to reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Our employment benefits include competitive compensation, health and wellness programs, income protection, paid personal, parental, and medical leave, retirement plans with employer match and immediate vesting, among many other perks.

ZemiTek is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant’s qualifications are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.

ZemiTek is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, ZemiTek will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to accommodations@zemitek.com.

ZemiTek embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to build and maintain a safe environment where we celebrate diverse backgrounds, treat everyone with respect, and value the unique lived experiences each person brings based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, military or veteran status, national origin, age, marital status or family status and related conditions.