Organization: Social Impact
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 28 Aug 2015
Social Impact (SI) is a Washington, DC-area international development management consulting firm. SI’s mission is to improve the effectiveness of international development programs in improving people’s lives. We provide a full range of management consulting, technical assistance, and training services to strengthen international development programs, organizations, and policies. We provide services globally in the areas of monitoring and evaluation, strategic planning, project and program design, organizational capacity building, and gender and social analysis. SI services cross-cut all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth. SI’s clients include US government agencies such as USAID, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the US Department of State, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and non-profits.
Position Description:
SI is seeking a Program Director to oversee a sub-portfolio of one to eight active projects. The Program Director will report to the Vice Presidents and will be accountable for the financial performance, technical quality, client satisfaction and contractual compliance of the sub-portfolio. He/she will also oversee business development, portfolio management, personnel management and service delivery functions for the sub-portfolio within his/her Service Area, which includes Performance Evaluation, Impact Evaluation and Strategy, Performance and Capacity Building. This will include final say in areas including bid/no bid decisions, budget-setting for proposals and team and project staffing. Finally, the Program Director will also oversee some aspects of critical Service Area management and will carry a billability rate of 50 percent.
Responsibilities:
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Service Area Management
- Supports VP in setting the Service Area strategy
- Implements strategy established by VP, including directly managing the tracking of one-to-two intermediate results
- Works with the VP on annual planning and budgeting for the service area and sets targets in this regard for his/her sub-portfolio.
- Represents SI at key marketing and outreach events and seeks out new opportunities to market the company
- Represents SI with key clients and also provides regular check-ins with all clients in his/her portfolio
- Portfolio Management
- Directly oversees a sub-portfolio of projects (typically no more than 8 active projects)
- Accountable for the technical quality, financial performance, client satisfaction and contractual compliance of the sub-portfolio
- Business Development/Revenue Generation
- Champions major bids and takes significant role in technical writing or quality assurance of bids
- Makes bid/no bid, staffing and pricing decisions on assigned bids in consultation with the VP
- Collaborates across the organization in making these decisions
- Service Delivery
- Provides senior-level technical service delivery on SI projects in a variety of roles in one or more of the Service Areas, which includes Performance Evaluation, Impact Evaluation and Strategy, Performance and Capacity Building . This includes serving as Project Director on one or more large, high-visibility SI projects and/or in technical roles such as senior evaluation specialist.
- 50% billable
- Personnel Management
- Supervises up to five staff, typically at PDF level 6, as assigned or hired by the Program Director him/herself to support his/her sub-portfolio
- Makes decisions in collaboration with the VP and other SI Executives on the hiring of new staff for sub-portfolio as needed
- Makes decisions about staff performance improvement plans or other corrective action, as needed
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:
Service Area Management
The Program Director is expected to work closely with and support the Service Area VP in setting the Service Area strategy. He/she will then be accountable for implementing the strategy established by the VP and service area team, including monitoring implementation of 1-2 strategic objectives in the Strategy and participating in planning and budgeting activities for the service area. He/she will also market and represent the company in a variety of fora and engage in client relationship management activities particularly for projects in his/her portfolio.
Portfolio Management
The Program Director will directly oversee a sub-portfolio of projects typically encompassing no more than eight active projects. He/she may work across the organization in collaboration with other Program Directors to coordinate the best use of management, technical and support resources. Financial performance, technical quality, client satisfaction and contractual compliance will also be the responsibilities of the Program Director. The PD will provide advice and support on general project management and contracts, customer relationship management, personnel, financial and risk management issues when such issues are escalated by the Project Director (for LT HQ or Field-based projects) or by the PM (for short term projects)
Business Development/Revenue Generation
The Program Director is expected to spend a substantial portion of his/her time supporting revenue generation activities. This includes championing and overseeing marketing, business and proposal development related to new bids. The PD will also be accountable for identifying new opportunities, championing new bids, serving as the lead technical writer for some of those bids, reviewing draft proposals, identifying staff to be included in proposals, and working with the Finance and Pricing Departments to review and approve final proposal budgets.
Service Delivery
The Program Director is expected to be billable for approximately 50 percent of his/her time. Billable services include technical work on an SI project in a senior role or in a project director role. For projects currently in the SI portfolio, assigned STAs will continue to provide quality assurance support and technical advice unless a transition to the new project structure is feasible.
Personnel Management
The Program Director will be responsible for managing staff (typically no more than five direct reports) at Deputy Director, Senior Program Manager, and Senior Specialist levels. This may also include the supervision of COPs if the Program Director’s assigned portfolio includes field-based projects. Additional responsibilities will include:
- Serving as a coach and mentor to assigned staff, providing career advice, facilitating professional development and advocating for staff interests
- Approval of professional development time, conference attendance and/or funds within the institutional dollar limits
- Carrying out ongoing and end-of-year performance appraisals for assigned staff, seeking input from other managers and staff who have worked with the staff member
- Recommending staff for promotion based on their performance during the end- of-year appraisal process
- Aligning staff interests and expertise with projects and organizational needs
The Program Director will also work with peer Program Directors, Deputy Directors and senior management on personnel management issues, including:
- Assessing workloads, identifying personnel resource needs through forecasting and approving resource leveling or hiring decisions.
- Making final decisions in collaboration with the VP and other SI executives on the hiring of new sub-portfolio Service Area staff.
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in international development or other related social sciences
- Illustrative working experience of 10 to 15 years will include:
- Minimum 7 years working in one of Social Impact’s core service areas, including providing technical support, writing/editing proposals, managing contracts and producing deliverables
- Demonstrated experience managing large and/or complex donor contracts
- Substantial experience working with domestic donor agencies such as USAID and State Department required. Additional experience with international donor agencies, non-profits and/or foundations a plus.
- Technical expertise in one or more sectors (e.g. health, environment, education, economic growth, democracy and governance) a strong plus
- Thorough knowledge of government and/or donor contracting practices
- Demonstrated expertise in one of Social Impact’s core service areas (performance evaluation, impact evaluation and/or performance management and capacity building)
- Steps up to conflicts; reads situations quickly; can hammer out tough agreements and settle disputes equitably
- Can maneuver through complex political situations effectively and quietly; is sensitive to how people and organizations function
- Relishes leading; takes unpopular stands if necessary; encourages direct and tough debate but isn’t afraid to end and move on; is looked to for direction in a crisis; faces adversity head on
- Experience across multiple geographies on strategic and organizational issues; understands SI’s business model, solutions and how SI delivers value to clients; knows how businesses work; knowledgeable in current policies, practices, trends and information affecting the business and organization; shows commitment to both developing and staying up-to-date on future company policies, practices, and trends; knows the competition; is aware of how strategies and tactics work in the marketplace
- Strong leadership, interpersonal, entrepreneurial, management and writing skills required
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, growing business environment
- Willingness to travel on assignment approximately 15 percent of the time
How to apply:
Come join our energetic and innovative team! We offer you the opportunity to play a leading role in the growth of our company, work as part of a creative and committed team, and make a difference in the well-being of our world.
To apply, please visit our website: http://chc.tbe.taleo.net/chc02/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=SOCIIMPA2&cws=1&rid=362
SI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please, no phone calls.
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