Counterpart International is a global development organization that works in partnership to empower people, communities and institutions to drive and sustain their own development For nearly 50 years, Counterpart has been forging partnerships with communities in need to address complex problems related to economic development, food security and nutrition, and building effective governance and institutions. For more information visit www.Counterpart.org
JOB SUMMARY:
The Director is a key member of the Program Leadership Team, working in close collaboration with other Directors and Sr. Directors to build a cohesive and high-achieving program management team.
The Director is responsible for the quality and delivery of his/her portfolio against five metrics: (1) programmatic delivery against work plan and expected results, including technical delivery against project and institutional metrics; (2) financial delivery against budget; (3) client satisfaction; (4) compliance with USAID and other rules and regulations; and (5) sound, efficient, and compliant security operations.
JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Director is responsible for leading and directing all aspects of project operations under the leadership of the VP of Programs, in close cooperation and partnership with Chiefs of Party and field senior managers. Assigned program portfolio may include security sensitive geographies including but not limited to MENA and Asia. A successful Director will:
• Plan, organize, distribute, and coordinate flow of work for assigned projects.
• Establish a framework for trouble-shooting field-based HR, finance, compliance, or other issues on assigned projects.
• Identify and overcome hurdles that hinder program performance, in coordination with Vice President, Programs and other senior and executive staff as appropriate.
• Ensure projects use Counterpart’s standardized project, financial, and compliance management tools and templates to allow organization-wide financial and risk management, tracking, and reporting.
• Coordinate with Director of Global Security and ensure that all security protocols and policies are implemented across portfolio.
• Oversee project budgets and monitor operations to ensure adherence to budgetary controls, internal controls, and timely delivery of programs (as measured by burn rate).
• Liaise with other departments to ensure timely support to program implementation.
• Include HQ Financial Analysts (who report to the CFO) into the project team as full members responsible for creating budgets with annual and monthly forecasts, pipelines, financial and budget reports to donors, and other financial reports.
• Ensure that any internal or external audit findings are fully remedied within 90 days.
• Proactively solicit and direct Counterpart’s in-house technical expertise across projects on a billed basis to the maximum extent possible.
• Ensure projects meet or exceed all client and Counterpart M&E requirements, and that M&E data and information is safely stored in on-line repository.
As the supervisor of Chiefs of Party (COPs) and an HQ program management team, the Director will provide leadership and be held accountable for the selection, performance management, and development of their staff within the portfolio by:
• Supervising, training, coaching, and mentoring.
• Ensure that Counterpart’s Code of Conduct, Employee handbook, and other corporate and applicable policies, procedures, and schedules are followed and enforced.
• Provide a rich and supportive professional environment for supervised employees, including regular team meetings and communication, active professional development support, and regular and thorough performance feedback.
• Partner with the Office of Human Resources in planning and execution of all personnel actions including recruitment, performance management, professional development, and departures.
In addition, the Director is responsible for adding value to Counterpart in three ways:
(1) Champion and support business development by drawing on intelligence gathered by field and HQ staff, and share findings with the Vice President, Program Development, and ensure Program staff are available for support of new business development as requested by the Vice President, Programs and Vice President, Program Development.
(2) Beyond project M&E, maximize value of project learning to Counterpart by ensuring that project innovations, successes, failures, etc., are documented and delivered regularly (and on demand) to the Vice President, Programs.
(3) Maximize the value received by the projects from HQ-based technical staff, and ensure that HQ technical specialists are appropriately built into work planning and delivery.
The Director will be accountable for the following Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and will satisfactorily meet all performance expectations when they:
• Achieve 95% project burn rate against approved budget
• Achieve 95% “good” or “excellent” client satisfaction rating from client
• Achieve 95% “good” or “excellent” HQ Support rating from COP
• Achieve 95% “on-time completion” against audit remediation plan
• Achieve low (15% or below) annual turn-over among supervised staff RequirementsJOB
QUALIFICATIONS:
The following demonstrated competencies are critical to the successful performance in this position:
- Decision-making ability
- Customer orientation
- Comfort with ambiguity and change
- Cross-organizational leadership capacity (looking at taking leadership risks and initiatives at various levels–particularly among peers)
- Intellectual curiosity (seeks and promotes context-appropriate intellectual stimulation and learning)
- Managerial courage (provides current, direct, complete and “actionable” positive and corrective feedback; take action when needed)
Additionally -
• At least one year experience as Chief of Party or Country/Regional Director or equivalent on a USG-funded development program, with demonstrated track record in client management and program delivery
• A minimum of 10 years experience (inclusive of above) in international development, program delivery
• Extensive experience in commodity management programs, including humanitarian, food security, and/or similar experience
• Demonstrated experience in security-sensitive geographies at senior level management
• Demonstrated track record of responsible management, problem solving, and proactive management
• Demonstrated ability to manage relationships with clients and partners
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor entry- and mid-level staff
• Ability to create consensus and find common solutions in intercultural settings
• Ability to learn and implement new program management tools
• Ability to work collaboratively across business units, including with staff in Finance and Compliance, Human Resources, IT, and Communications
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 30% of time
• Experience working in conflict zones helpful
• Advanced degree in relevant field
• Thorough computer software skills, namely the MS Office Suite of programs
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Second language strongly preferred - We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
- Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCPhere.
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