Senior Program Director or Program Director

The Chemonics Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Business Unit is conducting an external recruit for a Senior Program Director or Program Director. The MENA RBU covers a wide variety of technical sectors including education, economic growth, water and energy, and democracy and governance. The senior director manages the day-to-day work of project management units (PMU; operates in leadership roles; and provides advanced technical assistance for multiple projects, new business development, and/or technical assignments. Supervises chiefs of party and facilitates technical and operational coordination between Chemonics’ projects. Supports other corporate needs in the in the MENA region as needed. We are looking for individuals based in the West Bank, who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

NON-BILLABLE RESPONSIBILITIES: Approximately 50-75%

Project Management

• Provides strategic direction of programmatic design across implementation of programs in the defined region, identifying synergies, areas of collaboration and technical and/or operational solutions to ensure the portfolio is optimizing development impact and

• In collaboration with the chief of party, develops work plans, ensures timely resources to execute the plan, leads and directs progress and reporting of implementation, ensures proper technical direction in fulfilling the project scope of work, and conceptualizes new strategies to improve performance; ensures project activities are aligned with achieving results in MEL plan and QASP (and deliverable schedules if applicable) elevating any deviations for resolution

• Supervises project financial performance across the portfolio, oversees project closeouts and final reports, and ensures resolution of implementation problems

• Conducts periodic supervisory visits to assess the status of project activities or to participate in technical or evaluation work in the project office

• Confers regularly with the BUs SVP on project direction and strategy and makes decisive and timely decisions that positively impact project outcomes

• Establishes key elements of tactical and operational plans with measurable contribution toward the achievement of results of typically mid-sized to large projects; makes significant decisions on what their team of responsibility focuses on

• Develops new processes, standards, or operational short- to mid-term strategies and operational plans (1 to 3 years) to achieve strategic goals

• In collaboration with chief of party, develops and supervises implementation of strategies to optimize profitability and reduce cost overruns; approves overhead expenses per policy

• Facilitates effective working relationships with clients, counterparts, and stakeholders and continually promotes outstanding client service with corporate office staff and project teams; leads discussions as part of quarterly client consultations; leads response on CPAR in consultation with the chief of party and submits the final version in the system

• Leads planning efforts and directs corporate office and project technical activities for project startup, briefing the project team on the business development proposal and award process, with special emphasis on the technical approach strategy and resulting initial work plan

• Supervises the recruitment of project staff, including developing guidelines consistent with corporate policies, scopes of work, position qualifications, and selection of candidates

• Serves as negotiator or leads negotiation team for amendments and other substantive changes to assigned contracts or agreements

• May contribute dedicated time to other workstreams and functions to achieve BU goals, including new business, operations, and technical practice contributions; may be appointed as supervisory director over a PMU as required and for a certain period of time

• Fields questions and requests for corporately requested information about WB/G

• Coordinates operations and in-country logistics for HQ and non-WB/G projects visitors, liaising with the responsible project’s Finance and Operations team to book

• Responsible for periodic reporting to the Director of Country Platforms in the COO

Technical

• Applies in-depth technical expertise to projects’ technical goals and objectives, new business efforts, and Chemonics knowledge base; leads technical assignments

• Advances body of knowledge and quality standards in primary discipline and practice networks; formulates approaches to guide project work, new business efforts, and technical assignments, and advises clients on technical trends and programming priorities

• Takes leadership role in practice network development and professional societies, represents company at technical conferences, and prepares or improves technical and development practitioner publications

• Participates in activities to build a strong knowledge culture by sharing best practices and important innovations through practice networks and knowledge management

• Ensures quality of project reports and deliverables through supporting the chief of party/ project teams to thoughtfully integrate components of Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) adhering to program objectives, best practices, and theories of change; ensures project technical objectives are met in partnership with the chief of party and trouble-shoots when deviations are needed

• Serves as one of Chemonics’ leading industry experts within selected practice area; makes visible contributions to the industry, formulates and contributes to thought leadership, creates technical tools, conducts industry trainings, and presents at technical conferences

• In coordination with supervisor, sets billability targets to contribute to a billable project work or technical area

New Business Development

• Analyzes development funding trends and priorities; formulates strategies, new directions, and techniques to grow the company and improve market share; and networks with clients, consultants, and counterparts regarding new business opportunities

• Leads proposal development, analyzing and recommending bid decisions, and conceptualizing team, technical approaches, and cost strategies to gain competitive advantage; generally, assumes role of proposal lead, technical writer, or management section writer, providing leadership to proposal teams and mentoring and managing the application of best practices

• Collaborates with new business by analyzing funding trends/priorities and building strategies

• Travels periodically to explore new business opportunities, represent Chemonics, or gather information for a technical proposal; interacts with key client and staff to influence new programming decisions; develops and negotiates strategic partnerships with local firms

• Cultivates partnerships with international firms for the purposes of strategic new business proposal efforts as well as local, in-country partners

• Serves as a strategic lead on new business efforts across multiple bids or sector to independently track, implement, and perform BU new business efforts, including organizing and leading strategy sessions, strategic recruitment of key personnel, and teaming arrangements

• Leads BU capture strategy in a technical area or sector across multiple bids

Management and Leadership

• Supervises, mentors, and evaluates multiple direct reports, communicating clear performance goals and standards and offering regular performance feedback and prompt resolution of problems; promotes staff development through coaching, mentoring, and facilitating professional growth

• Leads and significantly contributes to corporate initiatives that leverage new revenue streams, realizing efficiencies and cost savings

• Manages and mitigates corporate risks, including those that required company-wide policy and practice shifts

• Implements corporate initiatives to share knowledge and solutions; builds staff and company capacity

• Leads documentation and open sharing of best practices and important innovations company-wide, including in the project office; delivers effective oral and written presentations that advance development assistance knowledge and understanding; and communicates in a way that persuades and promotes openness and innovation

• Leverages technical networks to identify and recommend candidates for strategic staff recruitment; manages, mentors, and evaluates manager and associate staff, communicating clear performance goals and standards, offering regular performance feedback, ensuring well-run meetings, and having an open-door policy

• Promotes and exemplifies Chemonics’ values and ethical standards and manages staff to achieve team and development objectives

• Creates a productive and motivating work environment for staff by promoting cooperation and teamwork across departments, staying abreast of management, leadership, and team building strategies and advocating for them within Chemonics

• Demonstrates inclusive behaviors and leadership consistent with Chemonics’ values and leadership competencies

• Serves as technical mentor in developing the technical capacity of

• Ensures chief of party and project adherence with corporate policy for implementation, risk management, and change management, as required

• Supervises WB/G chiefs of party and potentially others in the MENA region and US- based program managers/PMU members, including providing timely and constructive feedback through frequent as well as quarterly and annual reviews

• Performs other duties as assigned by the SVP

BILLABLE RESPONSIBILITIES: Approximately 25%-50%; higher during start-up, closeout and when supporting projects’ special initiatives and conducting short-term billable project roles for Chemonics outside WB/G.

Program Implementation Coordination

• Collaborates with in-country representatives and Chemonics corporate office, acting as a focal point for WB/G project stakeholders (i.e. PMU members, COPs, Operations/Finance/Compliance Directors and other team leaders) and ensuring compliance with company policies and client rules and regulations

• Contributes to work planning discussions with each individual project team. Leads quarterly joint workplan coordination meetings convening WB/G project

• Provides technical leadership on integrated/complementary activities among projects and supports delineating roles and responsibilities of each project where strategies/activities intersect on a programmatic and/or geographic basis

• Participates and contributes to project pause and reflect sessions; transfers lessons learned and best practices between projects; coordinates with chiefs of party on program adaptations in response to shifting operating context and lessons learned

• Facilitates cross-project sharing of project management tools and procedures which enhance coordination and information-sharing across projects, including but not limited to the Customer Relations Management (CRM) system, the Business Consulting Services (BCS) technical assistance delivery mechanism, and a database with up-to- date cost and past performance data on vendors and consultants.

• Responsible for convening meetings with relevant WB/G project stakeholders on issues of shared interest. This will also include periodic knowledge-sharing meetings among cross-project grants, MEL, communications, operations (including procurement, HR and finance) teams to share and learn about best practices from project implementation and from the corporate Coordination and knowledge sharing meetings will also review efficacy of shared tools to optimize their use

• Where necessary, channels relevant updates and communications of general interest/concern for relevant WB/G project stakeholders

• Serves as the focal point for feedback across projects in the WB/G

• Identifies and implements initiatives to obtain cost efficiencies across Oversees the allocation of shared costs, if any, and prepares division of responsibilities related to shared costs amongst projects

• Supports project start up and closeout and other special initiatives in coordination with the chief of party(s)

• Serves as acting chief of party, as needed

Registration, Legal, Taxation, Audit & Human Resources

• Coordinates with chiefs of party to assign focal points from each project to co-manage the following areas to ensure coordination, consistency and efficiencies across WB/G projects:

  • Issues related to legal operation in WB/G including registration and tax exemption

  • Relationship with host country Legal Services providers, including annual re- compete of legal services agreements as needed and annual legal checklist review Ensures proper recording of legal guidance obtained throughout project implementation and shares as appropriate with each projects’ leadership

  • Relationship with tax, audit and accounting firms to ensure complete and proper tax filings as needed, and compliance with host country fiscal requirements

  • Audit preparation and response in cooperation with the corporate office

  • Health insurance coverage for all WB/G projects

  • Accurate, updated and aligned field office policy manuals, personnel manuals, employment and consultant agreements and compensation scale for WB/G hires

  • Development of standardized policies and procedures as necessary in alignment with Chemonics policy and local legal requirements

• Obtains regular updates from project focal points and provides recommendations for improvements as needed

• Leads or supports delivery of training for project staff including on standards of business conduct, performance management, and other key areas of professional development as requested by project chiefs of party.

Security

• Participates in WB/G-wide security discussions and planning

• Reviews and provides input into safety and security procedures and deliverables, as appropriate

LOCATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT: Ramallah, West Bank

SUPERVISION AND REPORTING: Reports to MENA SVP or designated managing director. Will supervise the chief of party of each WB/G project and PMU members.

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Previous experience working in WB/G highly preferred, familiarity working with international donors and teams
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience; Master’s degree preferred
• Minimum 10 years of relevant project management experience
• Minimum 5 years of experience advising, managing, and supervising teams assigned to a department or several project teams
• Previous long-term project leadership experience managing program activities and leading a team
• Demonstrated experience solving complex technical, managerial, or operational problems and evaluating options based on relevant information, resources, well-rounded experience, and knowledge
• Operates at advanced levels of authority and controls significant activities, budgets, and resources to produce and take responsibility for results
• Thorough knowledge of company’s main clients and their operations and experience cultivating client and partner relationships
• Fluency in and demonstrated application of financial and project management systems
• Conceptualizes, outlines, performs, and directs the research and writing of technical documents (reports, proposals, professional articles)
• Leads effective meetings and demonstrated presentation skills
• Recognized by others as an experienced international development practitioner in a specific technical area; contributes consistently to mentoring staff
• Demonstrated leadership, management, organizational, and decision-making skills
• Demonstrated experience managing and supervising staff assigned to a department or several project teams and new business efforts; demonstrates leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Works effectively both independently and as part of a team
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office applications

Instructions 

To apply, please complete the form linked below no later by June 15, 2024. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only finalists will be contacted. 

MENA Application Form

Chemonics is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.  

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