The Organization
Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and in Brussels, SFCG’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict – away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. SFCG seeks to help conflicting parties understand their differences and act on their commonalities. With a total of approximately 600 staff worldwide, SFCG implements projects from 56 offices in 35 countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. The organization is an exciting and rewarding place in which to work, with dedicated and enthusiastic staff who love their work. You will be joining a highly motivated staff with a good team spirit and there will be opportunities to grow in the role.
SFCG currently has offices in 7 countries across Asia, including Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Timor-Leste with a range of dynamic and multi-pronged peacebuilding initiatives underway. The Asia Regional Support Team consists of the Regional Director, Program Manager, Regional Program Officer, Regional Program Associate, DM&E Specialist, and Regional Finance and Compliance Manager (based both in Washington, D.C. and field offices).
Summary of Position
The Regional Program Manager will play a key leadership role in SFCG’s Asia programs. He/she will work closely with the Regional Director and Country Directors to manage fundraising efforts, grants management and project reporting. Responsibilities will include managing the business development processes, drafting of key proposals, technical support on program design, and assistance in donor relations management. He/she will oversee donor reporting and will provide technical support to country offices in strengthening program quality. The Regional Program Manager will report to the Regional Director and will be based in Washington, D.C. or Kathmandu, Nepal. He/she will directly manage the Asia Regional Program Officer based in Indonesia. The position will require extensive travel in Asia, up to 40% of time.
Work Environment
Search for Common Ground has a great work environment with a mission of peacebuilding around the world, hard-working and friendly co-workers, team-building opportunities, and involvement in staff events (i.e. monthly staff meetings, peace-building films, and brown bag sessions, such as informational seminars by employees). The organization has won numerous awards.
Responsibilities
The Program Manager will have the following responsibilities:Business Development
- Supervise all business process related to proposal development;
- Track donor trends and opportunities for funding;
- Provide support to country programs in their technical designs for projects, writing, editing and preparation of proposals for submission;
- Supervise and coordinate with Asia Regional Support Team in their support to program design, budget preparation, and proposal writing;
- Track SFCG|Asia proposal submissions, factors of success and failure.
Networking and Relationships
- Develop and implement a strategy to strengthen SFCG’s presence in foreign policy circles working on Asia;
- Develop and cultivate relationships with key actors within government, potential partner organizations, multi-laterals, corporations, and others who are working in Asia; and
- Coordinate with country programs to facilitate opportunities for funding, specifically unsolicited, in the region.
Grants Management and Reporting
- Support grants management oversight by the regional team, tracking key milestones including work planning, project start up, and project close down;
- Supervise project reporting process, ensuring high quality donor reports which communicate results; and
- Ensure that donor reports are well written, on time and in line with reporting requirements.
Program Support
- Provide capacity building in program design, proposal writing, strategy development, and reporting to colleagues in country programs;
- Serve as a key resource for sharing of best practices and innovation among the country programs;
- Conduct assessments and review of programs under implementation; and
- Support start-up of new country programs or major new projects.
As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key duties.
Minimum Qualifications
- At least five to seven years of experience in the peacebuilding/conflict resolution field or related international development field including humanitarian response, democracy and governance, etc.
- At least 3 years of experience in business development for international development organizations. Specific experience with a range of donors, including for USG (USAID and Department of State), European Commission, United Nations, and various European Member States is necessary;
- Demonstrated knowledge of various funding mechanisms and of donor rules and requirements;
- Substantial experience designing projects which include the essentials of Monitoring & Evaluation;
- Demonstrated process management skills, highly organized, detail oriented and with an ability to execute multiple and complex projects simultaneously;
- Experience in management of staff; and
- Superior writing/editing skills in English.
Other Important Qualifications:
- Bachelor degree in international relations or related field. Post-graduate degree in related field a plus;
- Proven ability to deliver results in a short time;
- Dynamic leader with creative problem-solving skills, particularly in challenging situations;
- Knowledge of major donor rules and regulation;
- Excellent interpersonal and networking skills, as well as the ability to build and conduct effective; professional working relationships at all levels, both internally and externally;
- Field experience in conflict-affected countries and in Asia a plus;
- Spoken and written fluency in English;
- Strong oral and written communications skills;
- Cultural sensitivity and adaptability;
- Experience with creative conflict resolution practice; and
- Experience having lived and worked in extremely fragile environments.
Salary: Commensurate with education and experience, with excellent benefits.
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