Hybrid – Director of Participatory Governance

The Director of Participatory Governance is a full-time position that will strengthen technical excellence of Counterpart’s programs and new business opportunities in the democratic governance sector and related growth opportunities. The Director of Participatory Governance will apply technical leadership in supporting program excellence in implementation, learning and reporting; partnership engagement efforts; and demonstrating thought leadership in democratic governance activities. The Director of Participatory Governance will also support the development of toolkits and external communications products that demonstrate Counterpart’s competitive offering in the democratic governance sector. Expertise in participatory democracy – including supporting communities press for greater transparency, accountability, deliberative and participatory processes – is a priority skillset. Applicants outside of the Washington, DC area but within the United States are welcome to apply.

Responsibilities

Technical Assistance and Capacity Building:

• Provide direct technical assistance, training, consultations, and other analytical services to ongoing projects to improve Governance (particularly participatory democracy) programming, learning, and results.
• Identify constraints in staff and other stakeholder know-how, and based on program requirements provide technical assistance (e.g., consultations, trainings, workshops, mentorship) to project/country teams and program clients, partners, and beneficiaries.
• Develop tools and guidelines that advance Counterpart’s Governance work; train staff in their use, carefully documenting successful methods.
• Ensure that democratic governance and thinking and working politically (TWP) dynamics are integrated in Counterpart’s methodologies, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) platforms and priorities, including review of quarterly reports, final reports, past performance reports, quarterly portfolio reviews, annual work plans and
• MEL plan revisions.

Strategy, Learning, and Innovation:

• Undertake annual analysis of portfolio performance to develop capabilities statements and other external products that include lessons learned.
• After the first year of implementation, collect information from projects on those strategies, tools, approaches that have been effective and those that were less effective and share the information to inform the design of new programs and bids.
• Refine and curate Counterpart’s Governance toolkits, ensuring that information and tools are readily accessible.
• Curate Governance learning communities for exchange of knowledge, tools, and innovations across Counterpart stakeholders (to include gender focal points, implementing partners, grantees, donors, and HQ staff, etc.) and to inform the design of new programs and business opportunities.

Partnership and New Business Development:

• Position Counterpart with external stakeholders (NGOs, contractors, donors, research organizations, etc.) as a preferred partner for Governance program implementation through participation in select working groups, events, conferences, and fora.
• Support Counterpart’s partner engagement efforts for Governance-related business development opportunities.
• Participate in growth development planning, including participation of pipeline review meetings, annual growth strategy discussions, etc.
• Provide technical leadership to proposals at the capture and live bid phase, including the development of a technical direction, approach, and activities.
• Develop new programming tools to position Counterpart as a leader and a learning partner to the USG in governance and civil society strengthening.
• Any other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a field or sub-field related to international development, social sciences, and/or other relevant field, to include field-based implementation, research, and program design.
• Minimum twelve (12) years’ experience working with international development programs, including experience designing programs aimed at democratic governance (preferably including local governance).
• Desired five (5) years of experience working with USAID or another bilateral international development agency.
• Ability to develop Governance strategies that are successful across a range of geographies and thematic areas.
• Approaches work with curiosity, innovative spirit, and hunger for evidence, and is familiar with approaches such as thinking and working politically (TWP), social behavior change, localization, transformative inclusion, and women’s empowerment.
• Brings a track record of programs delivering results in terms of knowledge, attitudes, and practices.
• Demonstrates understanding of and experience working with program teams in challenging and multi-cultural settings.
• Brings excellent training and facilitation skills, interpersonal communication, and appreciative inquiry skills.
• Has excellent research, writing, and presentation skills (written and oral).
• Has ability to multi-task, work independently, and meet deadlines.
• Is proficient in Excel, Word, and other software packages relevant to work (e.g., internet-based search engines and research tools, data analysis software).
• Secondary language highly preferred, particularly Arabic, French or Spanish.
• Willingness to travel internationally up to 25% of the time.

Annual Salary Range: $116,497 to $151,446