The Bureau for Conflict Prevention and Stabilization’s (CPS) Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) is seeking highly motivated, highly qualified individuals who desire the opportunity to support rapid international transition programs for priority conflict-prone countries.  The majority of OTI employees are hired as U.S. Personal Services Contractors (USPSCs) through jobs listed on OTIJobs.net, as well as Institutional Support Contractors (ISCs) hired through Macfadden, a PAE company. OTI also employs Civil Service and USAID Foreign Service Officer (FS) positions, both advertised on USA Jobs.  USAID Foreign Service Officers may bid on open OTI FS positions once they are hired by the Agency.  

OTI also participates in various internship programs via USAID, Macfadden, and the Virtual Student Federal Service. Please check these links regularly for application deadlines.

OTI’s commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

As an office, we are intentionally and proactively striving to create a work culture that values diversity and fosters inclusion by:

• Being representative of our society,

• Condemning racism,

• Valuing staff for their unique identities and perspectives,

• Fostering a working environment where all staff feel respected and engaged, 

• Including broader perspectives to make us stronger.

OTI is comprised of three divisions (listed below), as well as a Director’s Office. All three divisions are integral to operationalizing and maintaining OTI’s agile field programs:

The Field Programs Division (FPD) provides guidance on the identification and development of projects that meet OTI funding criteria, further OTI programmatic objectives, and complement other projects and programs implemented by other OTI offices, U.S. government agencies, and donor organizations. In doing so, FPD staff monitor and assess political conditions, implement partner operational platforms, develop activity ideas on the ground, and meet with potential grantees, host-country governments, and other program counterparts while providing expertise and technical support to both OTI Washington and all country programs in the field. Such work requires strong analytical skills, teamwork, the exercise of discretion, judgment, and personal responsibility. As a member of a highly operational office, FPD professionals are willing and able to perform a wide range of  functions to help ensure programmatic success in locations of political transition around the world. They are responsible for spearheading OTI’s strategic engagement in intra/inter-agency sector-specific dialog and debate, and in doing so, enhance OTI’s ability to actively engage in discussions on matters critical to OTI programs and objectives. They have a high level of integrity, are uniquely flexible and willing to work under conditions of ongoing change, and pay close attention to detail to maintain effective and efficient management of tax-payer dollars. The Field Programs Division consists of regional teams, a management team of Deputy Chiefs, support staff, and OTI’s global surge capacity, the “Bullpen” who are focused on maintaining close, positive relationships with their respective teams both in the field and in Washington, and with key stakeholders within and outside of USAID.

The Operations and Management Division (OMD) is responsible for a variety of support functions that further OTI programmatic objectives in Washington and in the field, such as workforce planning and analysis, human resources, organizational development and training, logistics, security, travel, general administrative services, and contracting officer functions. OMD professionals serve as subject matter experts on a wide variety of administrative functions, and develop and update existing resources and guidance documents, working closely with colleagues to maintain up-to-date policies and procedures. OMD looks for experienced administrative operations professionals who keenly understand headquarter support requirements for international assistance programs managing complex crises. OMD professionals thrive in a fast-paced environment and work collaboratively with colleagues to deliver outstanding results. Ultimately, OMD professionals are integral to OTI programs’ effectiveness.  

The Program, Learning, and Innovation Division (PLI) focuses on interpreting and remedying problems and relationships of a procedural nature in support of OTI and agency missions or programs. They accomplish this through the work of six teams reporting to two Deputy Division Chiefs:  the Program Office (PO), the Finance Team, Global Knowledge Management (GKM), Training, Information Technology (IT) and Communications (Comms). PLI professionals work to establish criteria; formulate projects; assess office and program effectiveness; and analyze a variety of unusual conditions, problems, or questions, the results of which affect a wide range of OTI and agency activities or the operation of other agencies. PLI professionals make decisions on interpretation of data, operational planning, and/or refinement of the techniques or methods currently in use in the office or field setting. They are additionally responsible for responding to requests for information regarding OTI programs, facilitating knowledge transmission, and documenting and preserving workforce knowledge for posterity.