Position TitleSenior Program Officer
Requisition Number 15-0173
Post Date 11/9/2015
City Washington DC
Description 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 Officer 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 provide supervision and oversight to one or more staff and/or interns, taking responsibility for ensuring quality work and coverage for a portfolio of projects. The SPO reports to the Regional Director.
Key Responsibilities:
• Providing management, operational and administrative support to projects as needed; coordinating timely and comprehensive responses to country teams’ requests and needs
• Helping Country Directors and in-country teams assess and mitigate risks associated with working in the country
• 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 and project operations
• Maintaining relationships and coordinating with counterparts in donor agencies
• 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
• Coordinating the 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 as required
• 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 program staff as required
• Providing mentoring and guidance to team members and country staff
• 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 8 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 4 years of project management experience in international development
• Experience living and working in a developing country, including in Africa or Latin America
• Fluency in at least one other relevant 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.
Pact is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.
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