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 Strategy, Performance, and Capacity Building pillar (SPCB) provides SI’s management consulting services, including workforce and organizational capacity assessments, business process analysis, operations and program strategic planning, project design, organizational re-design, change management; the full range of performance management services, from indicator development and setting baselines and targets, to data quality assessments and helping clients develop data quality assurance systems; and strengthening organizational learning through innovative approaches to Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA). We provide training, technical assistance, coaching, and Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessments and workshops, as well as organization re-design, management assessments, structured and Open Space Technology retreats, and a full range of customized support to clients seeking to improve organizational performance.
The team is offering a unique opportunity for a highly motivated Program Director to help shape the future direction of our SPCB work across a broad client portfolio. SI offers competitive salaries based on the candidate’s experience and skills and generous benefits.
Position Description:
The Program Director is expected to work closely with and support the SPCB Vice President in setting the pillar Strategy. He/she will then be accountable for implementing the strategy established by the VP and pillar team, including monitoring implementation of 1-2 strategic objectives in the Strategy and participating in planning and budgeting activities for SPCB. 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.
Reporting to the Vice President, the Program Director will oversee a sub-portfolio of one to eight active projects. The Program Director 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. 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 SPCB management and will carry a billability rate of 50 percent.
Responsibilities:
Supports VP in setting the pillar 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 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
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
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 and across the organization
Provides senior-level technical service delivery on SI projects in a variety of roles. 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
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 long-term HQ or Field-based projects) or by the Project Manager (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 for multiple U.S. Government, multi-lateral development bank, foundations, and clients among non-governmental organizations. 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 Senior Technical Advisors (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 PDF level 6. This may also include the supervision of Chiefs of Party 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 firm’s professional development policy
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 pillar staff
QUALIFICATIONS:
Master’s degree in international development or other related social sciences
Minimum of 12 years of relevant experience, including 7 years working in one of SPCB’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
Demonstrated expertise in multiple SPCB service areas (management consulting, strategy, organizational development, HICD, performance management, training) a strong plus.
Technical expertise in one or more sectors (e.g., environment, climate change, gender, food security, democracy and governance, conflict management, peacebuilding, natural resources, education, youth, health) a strong plus.
Substantial experience working with domestic and international donor agencies such as DFID, SIDA, World Bank, the regional development banks, MCC, USAID, USDA,Department of State, and other USG agencies. Additional experience with international non-profits and/or foundations a plus.
Thorough knowledge of government and/or donor contracting practices
Expert client-facing delivery and negotiation; able to guide clients through Socratic prompting and co-creation of new technical approaches and solutions
Can maneuver through complex political situations effectively and quietly; is sensitive to how people and organizations function and models good listening and relationship building
Relishes leading; takes unpopular stands if necessary; engages colleagues and encourages direct 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 incurrent policies, practices, trends and information affecting SI’s business and organization; showscommitment 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
Come join our energetic and innovative team! We offer you the opportunity to work as part of a creative and committed team, while playing a role in the growth of our company, and contributing toward advancing development effectiveness.
To learn more about Social Impact, please visit our website: http://www.socialimpact.com
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.
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