Practice Area Director

DRS is looking for a Practice Area Director, to work for a non-profit organization that helps communities around the world drive sustainable and transformative change through proven participatory media, technology, and outreach model, creating platforms that elevate marginalized voices, and build locally-led movements that shift power, inspire normative change and promote creative, positive, and innovative solutions to social issues.

Title: Practice Area Director

Location: Washington D.C., USA (Hybrid position)

Start date: As soon as possible

Contract duration: Indefinite

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Practice Area Director will provide leadership to field programming, ensuring strong technical excellence in program implementation and meeting annual business development targets. The ideal candidate will have experience working on social behavior change communications, governance and/or civic engagement projects focused on cross-cutting approaches: championing gender equality & empowering women, participatory media & technology, and social cohesion. The candidate should have experience with media and communications for development programs, particularly using local media (radio and TV), new media, and ICT4D.

He/she will identify new funding opportunities, conduct capture, and write winning proposals and develop competitive costing strategies; travel regularly to the field; represent the organization with existing and potential clients, partners, and funders and at workshops, conferences, and other public fora; as well as support research and thought leadership within the Practice Area. The Practice Area Director will ensure high-quality program delivery and lead local and headquarters staff in expansion and innovation around existing, planned, and new activities. This position reports to the Senior Director of Programs.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Development (BD)

• Identify, track, and prioritize funding opportunities; work with the Business Development Unit to win competitive procurements, focusing on proposal design, strategy, partnering, recruitment, and other facets of the proposal process;
• Regularly write winning proposals and bring in new business, particularly with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of State, other U.S. government agencies and departments, and non-US government donors (UN, DFID, the EU, SIDA, and others).

Practice Area Leadership

• Strategically manage the growth of select practice areas, focusing on strategy, staffing, programming, M&E, and organizational methodologies;
• Produce and support high-quality research and deliverables that demonstrate impact and advance the program evidence base;
• Empower a culture of learning and innovation at all levels, including identifying cross-program and cross-region synergies and opportunities for learning and collaboration;
• Represent the Practice Area internally, updating senior leadership as appropriate on significant developments.

Project Implementation

• Ensure effective and efficient program implementation and actively identify and direct the necessary technical resources (i.e., staff, consultants, training, etc.) required for consistent high-quality implementation;
• Serve as a senior point of contact for donors and other stakeholders;
• Ensure all select projects and staff operate in full compliance with all organizational and donor rules and regulations.

Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)

• Ensure the development of strong data collection, M&E processes – including work plans, GANTT charts, and other tools; and analysis of program data on select programs;
• Oversee program assessments (internal and external), ensuring technical input from appropriate personnel is received and suggested improvements are implemented.

Personnel Management

• Supervise field-based Country Directors and Practice Area teams;
• Identify staff capacity strengths and gaps, and design various forms of capacity building and training activities;
• Mentor and develop HQ and field staff to career and professional advancement within the organization;
• Identify potential staff and consultants for projects and new business opportunities.

Thought Leadership and Public Outreach

• Represent the organization externally by attending and presenting at conferences, panels, workshops, and other international fora; by writing in various technical publications; and through social media;
• Organize and convene panels and/or working groups related to governance and civic engagement.

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will be hardworking and highly motivated with significant experience leading international development programs and departments focused on governance and civic engagement. This person is comfortable working in a variety of settings, possesses a curiosity for innovation and new creative program design, and has a proven record in leading successful business development. The ability to establish rapport and achieve goals with a range of internal and external parties is vital.

Required:

• At least 10 years’ experience in international development, including at least 2 years in a field-based position working on projects funded by the State Department, USAID, and/or other bilateral or multilateral organizations or major foundations;
• Fluency in English (oral and written);
• Master’s degree in relevant technical competency area or equivalent additional work experience;
• Significant experience writing winning proposals and bringing in new business, particularly with the USAID, the Department of State, other U.S. government agencies and departments, and non-US government donors (UN, DFID, the EU, SIDA, and others);
• Demonstrated experience with strategy development and execution, technical leadership, M&E, and research.
• Experience in managing multiple types of donor agreements including, but not limited to, contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements;
• Strong financial, administrative, and budget management experience;
• Proven leadership skills and ability to lead teams in diverse geographies, often remotely;
• Ability to create and implement clear, ambitious strategic plans;
• Problem-solving and critical thinking skills; ability to break down complex problems.
• Strong communicator, both written and oral. Strong organizational and multi-tasking skills;
• Excellent intercultural communication skills – experience in interfacing with major strategic partners, government ministries, key multilateral agencies, and local staff;
• Ability to work flexibly, outside of normal office hours, and in difficult conditions;
• Strong attention to detail, highly motivated, and ability to meet deadlines and prioritize tasks;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Applications (Word/Excel/PowerPoint) and email.

Preferred

• Strong current networks within the global NGO and international development community, particularly in Washington, DC;
• Experience participating on panels, committee’s working groups, and other forums in governance, civic engagement, and/or anti-corruption;
• Knowledge of French, Arabic, or Portuguese;
• Experience designing and managing social and behavior change communication projects;
• Experience building and managing global practice areas or program departments in an international NGO;
• Experience working in conflict regions and ability to lead the organization into new countries where the candidate has previously worked and has strong networks.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This hybrid position is based in Washington, DC office, with up to 25% travel, sometimes in demanding physical and/or security situations. This job operates in an office setting in an open-plan environment and may require sitting for long periods of time. The open-plan environment consists of larger open spaces with less walls, offices, or rooms. There can be periods of activity and talking amongst other employees that can be seen or heard more frequently in an open-plan environment.

This role has traveled internationally via air travel. Flights are a minimum of 8 hours long or go longer depending on the field location. There will be additional time in transit to and require additional modes of transportation to areas that are remote and difficult to get to. The availability of adequate medical resources available are limited in these areas.