Program Director, Impact Evaluation, Social Impact, Arlington, VA
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.
Social Impact is a trusted provider of independent, rigorous impact evaluations, working closely with clients such as USAID, MCC, and DFID to ensure evaluations inform their critical policy questions. SI’s Impact Evaluation (IE) practice emphasizes methodological rigor, while realizing that each evaluation occurs in a unique operating environment. We customize every impact evaluation to meet client needs and to align with programmatic realities. SI frequently employs mixed-methods approaches, building on the strength of both quantitative and qualitative techniques, rather than relying on a narrow set of design options. Utilizing the range of impact evaluation methodologies, including randomized control trials (RCTs) and a suite of quasi-experimental designs (QEDs), we draw from deep expertise with up to date, effective, and innovative methodologies.SI IE staff possess in-depth knowledge of emerging and innovative evaluation trends.
Our fast-growing, dynamic team has experience using up-to-date methodologies including a full suite of experimental and quasi-experimental methods, electronic and mobile data collection, randomized response strategies, geospatial data collection and analysis, and unobtrusive direct observation. The team is offering a unique opportunity for a highly motivated technical expert with senior level management experience to help shape the future direction of our IE work. SI offers competitive salaries based on the candidate’s experience and skills and generous benefits.
JOB SUMMARY:
SI is seeking a Program Director who will oversee a sub-portfolio of active projects within the Impact Evaluation Service Area. 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. The Program Director will also oversee some aspects of critical Service Area management and will carry a billability rate of 50 percent. He/she will report to the VP, Impact Evaluation.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Service Area Management
The Program Director is expected to work closely with and support the Vice President (VP) of Evaluation in developing the annual Impact Evaluation Service Area strategy. S/he will be accountable for implementing the strategy established by the VP, SD, 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. The Program Director will advise on the development of experimental and quasi-experimental designs; s/he will also have responsibility for overseeing and advising staff that are directly managing field data collection, developing surveys and other data collection tools, conducting statistical analysis, writing technical reports, and planning and conducting dissemination of IE findings. S/he 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 Program Director 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 Program 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. The Program Director 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. This is expected to include both serving as a Technical Director responsible for technical and contractual guidance and quality assurance as well as serving as a senior technical specialist or Principal Investigator on a limited number of IEs providing leadership on IE design, analysis, and reporting.
Personnel Management
The Program Director will be responsible for managing staff (typically no more than five direct reports). 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 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.
Working 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.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
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.
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.
Ability to speak a foreign language a plus, French or Spanish preferred.
EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE
Master’s or PhD in relevant field; degree in economics, public policy, statistics, or other relevant field preferred. Candidates must demonstrate formal training and/or hands-on experience with a range of impact evaluation designs and methodologies.
Illustrative relevant working experience of 10 to 15 years, at least 7 years in the field of impact evaluation, including demonstrated familiarity with: sample size calculations, sampling techniques, statistical analyses related to IE, field-based data collection, survey development.
Experience working with Stata.
Demonstrated experience 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, MCC, and State Department required. Additional experience with international donor agencies, non-profits and/or foundations a plus.
Experience across multiple geographies on strategic and organizational issues.
Knowledgeable in current practices, trends and information affecting the business and organization;
Commitment to developing and staying up-to-date on 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
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 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.
Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview to further discuss their candidacy. Please, no phone calls
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