Position Title: Senior Program Officer
Location: Arlington, VA
Department: Forestry & Natural Resource Management Unit
Reports to: Director, Forestry & Natural Resource Management
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Senior Program Officer will serve as a key member of the Forestry and Natural Resource Management Unit management team and will support program implementation and management, as well as new business development focusing on international forestry, biodiversity conservation, and climate change projects. Winrock International’s Forestry & Natural Resource Management Unit’s portfolio is comprised of large, complex, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)- and other donor-funded projects conducting a wide range of activities, including climate change mitigation and adaptation at the national-, provincial- and community-level, REDD+ avoided deforestation, sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, coastal and watershed management, community-based land use management, market-driven resource-based enterprise development, and payment for environmental services.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIEs:
Project Implementation and Management
- Manage program/project implementation on donor-funded projects, ensuring ongoing programmatic excellence;
- Conduct ongoing programmatic and budgetary analysis of projects;
- Liaise with Winrock’s Operations and Program teams (Technical Units, HR, Contracts, Procurement, etc.) to provide guidance to field teams and support project implementation;
- Provide technical inputs to ensure cutting-edge, appropriate project deliverables;
- Work with field teams to write and edit reports and other deliverables, ensuring quality of deliverables;
- Identify, mobilize and monitor short term consultants;
- Liaise with project partners and donors;
- Provide guidance and mentoring to junior staff on project implementation and management activities.
Donor Relations and New Business Development
- Identify, track, and develop new business opportunities within Forestry & Natural Resource Management Unit’s portfolio;
- Conduct new business capture, intelligence gathering and support donor and partner relationship building;
- Work closely with the Forestry & Natural Resource Management team and other technical and operational units to develop and prepare new business proposals;
- Serve as the capture and proposal lead on select Winrock Forestry and Natural Resource Management unit proposals, including assisting with technical program design, staffing, budget development, writing, editing, and other proposal requirements to produce high quality, targeted, winning proposals;
- Utilize professional network to identify, augment and develop partner relationships.
Other
- Identify opportunities and contribute to technical reports and studies, communications materials, and other thought leadership pieces.
- Identify new/expanded programmatic areas that would augment the Forestry and Natural Resource Management unit’s portfolio.
- Track Congressional appropriations and international development funding lines; stay abreast of and advise on other donor funding sources and programmatic priorities.
QUALIFICATIONS AND BACKGROUND:
Education:
- Master’s degree in Forestry, Natural Resource Management, International Development, Public Administration, or related field preferred.
Experience:
- At least ten years’ experience in international development and at least five years’ experience in forestry, environment, natural resource management and economic development, in progressively more responsible roles.
- International project management experience including all aspects of implementation, e.g. procurement, budget, staff management, and strategic planning, is required.
- Must have experience with international donor agencies, preferably USAID.
- International experience, including experience working and living in a developing country, is strongly preferred.
- Experience managing/leading proposal teams and a winning track record required.
- Demonstrated ability to train and mentor staff and cooperate effectively with a range of partners.
Skills:
- Strong project management skills coordinating complex, multifaceted projects resulting in measurable successes and program growth.
- Skilled at securing new business, especially with USAID, but including other funders; leading outreach to existing and new business clients; establishing new business leads; and, seeking and securing new business opportunities. Evidence of success in developing new work areas or topics, and presenting them in successful proposals, especially to USAID.
- Strong project monitoring and evaluation skills and experience required.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; a persuasive communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills.
- Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people. Demonstrated management, motivational and teamwork skills.
- Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed.
- Fluency in spoken and written English is mandatory. Fluency in one or more additional languages, especially Spanish or French, is preferred.
Other:
- Demonstrated, established networks with organizations and clients involved in Forestry, Biodiversity Conservation, and other Natural Resource Management initiatives.
- Must be willing and able to travel internationally for short-term assignments.
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