Sr. Program Officer – Economic Growth provides new business, project management and technical leadership to unit, helping IRD expand its portfolio of donor- funded activities and professionally manage current projects.
Specific Job Functions:
Areas of focus include the economic growth sector and subsectors such as value chains, micro-enterprise and small business development, economic policy and governance, etc. Areas also include the ability to integrate economic growth within in overall DG program or framework to pursue local and regional economic development taking into account civil society strengthening, local governance, community development and civic participation – at times in conflict, post conflict or fragile state settings. Additional areas of focus for the IRD DG team are education, youth and gender.
Essential Job Functions:
• Serves as a technical lead for proposal efforts, particularly field assessment and technical writing;
• Assists unit in new business capture planning, proposal management, and conceptualizing teaming, technical approaches and cost strategies to maximize competitive advantage;
• Assists unit with representation, networking and marketing by attending and participating at donor meetings and events
• Provides technical leadership within the economic growth arena, at the new business and project management levels;
• Oversees and provides general management support to specific overseas programs and field staff to ensure provision of timely resources and technical direction to execute work plans and achieve project impact and results and ensuring prompt resolution of implementation problems;
• Supervises / monitors contract financial performance and budget management, project start-ups and closeouts and periodic and final report preparation;
• Prepares or reviews substantial reports on program implementation for the donor and HQ leadership;
• Develops effective working relationships with USAID and other IRD donors;
• Assists the sector to improve internal management systems, processes, procedures;
• Supervises, develops, mentor, coaches and evaluates assigned headquarters project management team(s). Tasks staff in a manner which supports project goals, timelines and budgets, ensuring staff receives regular performance feedback, and provides time and opportunity to grow and develop in key areas. Also supervises recruitment of project staff consistent with IRD policies, job descriptions, and position qualifications and selection of candidates;
• Enforces IRD policies and procedures and applies them consistently throughout programs; and
• Other duties as assigned
Required Skills
• Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Business, International Affairs or related field with 8+ years’ experience in technical or project management assignments on donor –funded economic growth projects, and 2+ years of this experience spent in a developing country.
• A minimum of two assignments as lead proposal technical writer for a donor such as USAID, the World Bank or European donors.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office software
• Fluency in written and spoken English
Success Factors:
• Exceptional writing skills and demonstrated ability to write winning and competitive range proposals.
• Proficiency and drive in new business development and expanding IRD’s project portfolio.
• Ability to solve complex technical, managerial or operational problems and evaluate options based on relevant information, resources, well-rounded experience, and knowledge.
• Ability to operate at advanced levels of authority and control significant activities, budgets and resources to produce and take responsibility for results.
• Responsive to changing demands with strong leadership and team-building skills, forward thinking, and a strong initiative.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure and successfully handle multiple tasks at once.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including patience, diplomacy, and willingness to listen to and respect colleagues.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of USAID rules and regulations for contracts, cooperative agreements and grants under contract.
• Strong project management skills including past experience with USAID contract deliverables
Travel Requirements:
• Up to 40%
Physical Requirements:
• Normal Office Conditions. (70%)
• Ability to wear up to 40 lbs. of body armor, and ability to work temporarily from US Military bases or Field Offices (30%).
Preferred Skills/Experience:
Masters Degree in Economics, Business, International Affairs or related field. Plus, fluency in a foreign language (Spanish, French)