Program Support Unit (PSU) Manager

Overview

Counterpart International helps people build better lives and more durable futures, community by community. We equip individuals, organizations, and communities-our counterparts- to become solution creators in their own families, communities, regions, and countries. We work with them in some of the world’s most challenging places to tackle social, economic, environmental, health and governance issues that threaten their lives and undermine their futures.

For more information on Counterpart, please visit our website at www.Counterpart.org

Scope of work:

Counterpart seeks a Manager for the Programs Support Unit [PSU]. The PSU Manager is a member of a team of professionals working under the supervision of the PSU Director. The team is responsible for the coordination, monitoring, execution, and delivery of timely and effective services to Programs in support of awarded programming. The PSU ensures that programs are consistently and effectively following Counterpart’s policies and procedures; to highlight areas of risk to the PSU Director, program leadership and, if required, the Vice President of Programs; to work with Counterpart departments to update and/or improve policies and procedures based on feedback from Programs and observations working directly with projects; and to reduce risk through consistent monitoring of key areas including: budgets, cost share, burn-rate, project procurement (goods, services and grants), sub-award management, and project HR issues.

The Manager provides support to individual programs in Counterpart’s portfolio of closing spaces and conflict/ post-conflict areas; additional information is provided below in the responsibilities section. The Manager reports to the PSU Director and works in close collaboration with the Programs Unit to support programs.

Responsibilities

• Support operational management of field program implementation, including but not limited to the following duties:
  • Finance: monitor budgets; monitor award obligation level, VAT tracking, cost-share tracking, identify gaps in knowledge of field staff, and develop and deliver trainings to address chronic or ongoing issues.
  • Award Management/GCC: track and manage consultant and blanket purchase agreements; review and/or clear procurement and grant packages; and track approvals for modifications or agreements; and identify and assist in developing tools and trackers to facilitate award and contract management.
  • Human Resources: coordinate and track updates to human resources field handbook; monitor Expats/TCN allowances; assist in procuring and tracking HR legal services in the field; identify and assist in developing tools and trackers to facilitate HR management.
  • IT and Security: conduct spot checks of files uploaded to SharePoint, track Field security training, follow-up on security issues.
• Identify and propose solutions to solve services delivery challenges and ensure project operational needs are met in a timely way.
• Take ownership of discrete issues and drive to resolution, sharing learnings with the PSU team.
• Lead start-up team planning as the PSU representative for individual projects to ensure essential/high risk start-up tasks are completed within deadlines.
• Monitor program execution and prepare routine program analyses.
• Monitor project documents and files for tracking, compliance, and auditing purposes.
• Respond to requests for audit calls.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with PSU, Programs, and Field staff.

Annual Salary Range: $95,000-$117,000

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, international development, or related field; or equivalent experience.
• Masters in international studies, business, finance or a related field
• Minimum 8 years of project management or project/program coordination experience.
• Experience in closing spaces and conflict/ post-conflict areas (for example in Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, or similar environments) providing ongoing management support to large or mid-size programs.
• Deep familiarity with USAID’s finance and grants process.
• Strong customer service orientation and written and oral communication skills.
• Self-starter – ability to work independently and without close supervision, and as part of diverse teams.
• Demonstrated ability to show initiative, solve problems, handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Meticulous attention to detail, as well as outstanding critical thinking and problem-solving ability.
• Strong time management skills, proven capacity to prioritize and initiate follow-through.
• Alignment with Counterpart’s core values.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.