IREX Project Director, USAID/Sustainable Inclusive Development for Equity LWA

ABOUT IREX

IREX is a global development and education organization. We strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world—where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people, and communities thrive. With a projected annual portfolio of more than $100 million and 600 staff worldwide, we work with partners in more than 100 countries in four areas essential to progress: cultivating leaders, empowering youth, strengthening institutions, and increasing access to quality education and information.

POSITION SUMMARY

IREX seeks qualified Project Director candidates for an anticipated USAID-funded inclusive development Leader with Associate Award (LWA) mechanism to bolster USAID Missions and DC-based operating units’ ability to represent and address the needs of marginalized, under-represented populations and/or people in vulnerable situations (MUGPVs). Associate Awards (AAs) released under this LWA mechanism will address programmatic gaps USAID Missions have in assessing the needs of, engaging with, and supporting the priorities of marginalized and underrepresented groups around the world. AA program descriptions will likely include accompanying local organizations in their ongoing efforts to transform their societies to be more inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the needs of marginalized communities across diverse geographic regions and areas of programming. As well, the Project Director will be expected to support other C&G practice programs with high-level management and technical support.

The C&G Project Director will report to the Director of C&G Practice, will work very closely with the Leader and AA technical teams overseas as well as at IREX HQ in Washington, D.C., and will regularly communicate and collaborate with relevant operations, grants and contracts and finance colleagues at IREX HQ in D.C. The Project Director will provide oversight to select program operations and coordinate the deployment of technical support to country office-based AA programs and to Washington D.C.-led initiatives intended to strengthen practice learning, materials/product development, and to improve outreach to the international development community. The Project Director will also contribute to new business development and support the professional development of program staff.

This position is contingent on funding and is only open to citizens of, or permanent residents with work authorization in, countries where IREX is currently registered.** Applicants from marginalized or underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. This position has the potential of being remotely based.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide management, backstopping support and oversight of a portfolio of C&G programs;
• Manage and monitor and adjust programs to ensure high quality program deliverables and results are being met;
• Ensure that all fiscal and performance activities are compliant with IREX policies and procedures and donor regulations;
• Make decisions and provide solutions to implementation obstacles both in country offices and in headquarters;
• Provide supervision, mentoring, and guidance to staff on program teams, both in country offices and in headquarters;
• Contribute with technical inputs to the creation of program deliverables such as annual workplans, implementation plans and MEL plans, as needed;
• Draft complex documents, including periodic program progress reports and evaluation designs/statements of work;
• Negotiate, manage, and monitor subgrants with international and national partners;
• Maintain effective relations and coordination with program donors, partners and technical experts;
• Provide updates to the practice on new reports, studies and/or trends in international development that are in line with C&G interests/activities;
• Conceptualize technical design of programs with a solid tactical and strategic understanding of programs;
• Develop, review and provide quality control of practice technical products (e.g. manuals, papers, toolkits);
• Conduct and/or source training and technical assistance for programs and for the practice;
• Provide technical review and resource development for new and/or cross-cutting technical areas, including political-economic analysis, gender equality and social inclusion, and conflict sensitivity;
• Identify and deploy technical support for effective program implementation, including recruitment of consultants, as necessary
• Contribute to new business development efforts, including assessments, technical design and proposal writing
• Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Must be a citizen of, or permanent resident with work authorization in, either the United States or a country where IREX is currently registered.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressive experience, with specific experience supporting programming with and for marginalized and underrepresented populations; USAID experience preferred.
• Successful track record of at least three (3) years supervising, managing, and/or implementing programmatic efforts to achieve more equitable access and outcomes in education, employment, civic and political engagement, gender, health, and/or agriculture/food security within the development, social enterprise, and/or business sectors. USAID experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in operationalizing donor localization strategies and inclusive development approaches that shift power and promote the rights and inclusion of marginalized and underrepresented populations in the development process.
• Proven leadership qualities including a leadership style that empowers team members and follows principles of participatory management.
• Demonstrated empathy and cultural competence to facilitate inclusive collaboration with diverse team members.
• Demonstrated ability to track and manage budgets and plan both strategically and creatively to meet project objectives.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required, master’s degree highly preferred.
• Professional fluency in English; professional proficiency in a second language preferred.

IREX is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff and will honor your unique experiences, perspectives, and identity. IREX strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are just, inclusive, and welcoming, because we believe every member on our team enriches our collective effort by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and to discover, design and deliver solutions. Our goal is not only to advance diversity, equity and inclusion at IREX, but also to increase equity and justice on a global scale.