Organization: Pact
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 14 Sep 2015
Position Title Senior Program Specialist
Requisition Number 15-0127
City Washington D.C.
Description Pact Overview
At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better tomorrow. The promise of a healthy life. Of a decent livelihood. Of sustainable natural resources that benefit communities. Now more than ever in its 42-year history, Pact is helping millions of people who are poor and marginalized discover and build their own solutions and take ownership over their future.
Pact enables systemic solutions that allow those who are poor and marginalized to earn a dignified living, be healthy, and take part in the benefits that nature provides. Pact accomplishes this by strengthening local capacity, forging effective governance systems, and transforming markets into a force for development.
Department Overview
Pact exists to help create a world where those who are poor and marginalized exercise their voice, build their own solutions, and take ownership of their future. The Program Delivery team contributes to realizing this purpose by:
Project and program management
•We monitor projects by reviewing programmatic and financial reports and communicating frequently with the country teams. We frequently contribute directly to implementation, particularly while working in-country. We’re often most active in a project at startup and closeout, and during major transitions, like a shift in the scope or size.
Country office operations
•We are responsible for opening and closing out country offices and on-going monitoring and support to office operations, including analysis of country budgets, human resources, work flows, and infrastructure. We can step into management roles in country when needed.
Portfolio coordination
•We play a leadership role in the regional portfolio teams in DC, and organize monthly calls for the portfolio team with each country office. We analyze and present country and regional data to the global organization.
Country office strategy
•We help country teams develop, refine and pursue their strategies by leveraging technical knowledge (our own and others), researching, and analyzing potential partners and opportunities. We contribute to scoping, pre-positioning and proposal development together with OppDev.
Knowledge sharing and learning
•We enhance communication between country offices and DC, helping country office to better understand the global organization and DC staff to better understand our diverse operating environments and program approaches. We share successes and challenges across country offices to enhance problem-solving and program excellence, and we document and preserve Pact’s programmatic history for learning and external promotion.
External relations
•We participate in the development conversation in DC by attending events, hosting meetings, and reaching out to potential partners and donors. We liaise with current donors and organize external meetings for visiting country staff.
Position Purpose
The position will perform the responsibilities of a Senior Program Specialist in support of the Latin America, East and West Africa, and Global portfolio. S/he will learn Pact’s program and knowledge management systems and will interact daily with colleagues in country offices and DC-based departments. S/he will work closely with the Program Manager in a team approach and will be asked to perform discrete tasks, in addition to taking on progressive responsibility over direct support to a portfolio of projects. The SPS reports to a Program Manager.
Key Responsibilities
•Providing operational and administrative support to projects as needed; coordinating timely and comprehensive responses to country teams’ requests and needs
•Assisting country office staff in the development of project reports, work plans, and other project contractual obligations, and ensure timely submission and quality of content
•Maintaining full knowledge of the project status, operations and working environment in order to proactively facilitate country project operations
•Tracking monthly financial reports and project spending pace in cooperation with country offices
•Coordinating preparation of project-related consultant agreements and tracking related payments
•Working with and supporting country offices to ensure project compliance with donor and Pact’s operational policies and regulations
•Helping to coordinating startup process for new country offices and close-outs for countries were operations are ending
•Coordinating regular project calls and ensuring timely follow up on action items
•Assisting in regular Program Review meetings as requested
•Tracking business development opportunities and contributing to proposal development efforts in cooperation with Opportunity Development
•Cooperating with the Program Advancement team
•Ensuring project intellectual capital is properly captured, filed and disseminated;
•Participating in the recruitment of staff as required
•Participating in Program Delivery team-wide meetings and initiatives
•Traveling to country offices to provide support as needed
•For Global Projects, provide support and guidance to Program Advancement technical leads on budgeting and budget management, operations, administration, award management, subgrants, and other elements of implementation.
•Other related tasks.
Basic Requirements
•BA and minimum of 4 years of relevant experience (or equivalent), including in international development, project management, public health, livelihoods, natural resource management, governance, and/or capacity development
•Ability to travel regularly and at short-notice
•Excellent communication (written and verbal) and cross cultural skills. Fluency in written and spoken English
Preferred Qualifications
•MA in a related field
•At least 2 years of project management experience in international development
•Experience working in a developing country, including in Africa or Latin America
•Fluency in at least one other language, preferably Spanish or French.
•Experience supporting international donor-funded programs, particularly USAID-funded agreements
•Strong skills in management and coordination of multiple activities and teams. Able to multi-task.
•Highly self-motivated with strong attention to detail.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here
How to apply:
To apply for this position, please visit our website at www.pactworld.org
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