Program Development Manager

Position: Program Development Manager (PDM)

Project: Strengthening Regional Peace and Stability (SRPS)

Location: Benin, Cote D’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Guinea

Period of Performance: March 2024 – August 2028

Reports to: Chief of Party

Project Description

The Strengthening Regional Peace and Stability (SRPS) in West Africa Program is a five-year, USAID-funded program implemented by DAI. The program supports the efforts of West Africans to address the risks of instability from democratic backsliding and from conflict, and prioritizes targeted governance, conflict and violence prevention, peacebuilding, and preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) interventions across the region. The program will engage with regional partners and with governments that demonstrate commitment to power-sharing and resource redistribution, both of which are crucial for reducing exclusion, violence, and conflict. Program interventions will address causes of fragility, and focus on good governance approaches, conflict prevention and response, and P/CVE interventions across select target countries in the Sahel and coastal West Africa.

Position Description

The Program Development Manager (PDM) is a senior level role, with technical expertise in conflict prevention and governance programming. S/he will lead country-level programming, liaise directly local partners, and counterparts across the West Africa region. The PDM will implement project interventions in the assigned country, tailoring implementation to local needs, priorities, and timelines. S/he will represent SRPS in the country, build and maintain collaborative relationships with key stakeholders and civil society organizations, and ensure work plan alignment with local needs and priorities. The PDM will be supervised by the Chief of Party (COP).

Tasks & Responsibilities

The following comprise main responsibilities of the Program Development Manager:

• Advise the Chief of Party and the Senior Management Team (SMT) on the evolution of the local political, legal, and economic situation in the target programming areas of the country.
• Critically assess the evolving country situation to identify programming opportunities and creatively design activities to respond to urgent needs.
• Work with the SMT and partners to fully design selected grant ideas.
• Work with the Grants Director, Procurement Officer, and grantees to develop grant budgets and activity timelines.
• Work in coordination with the DCOPs, Grants Manager and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) team to oversee the implementation process of each grant activity.
• Review and approve grant documentation prior to the close out of grant activities.
• Support the development of a monitoring and evaluation process for each grant.
• Collect and analyze data and information on the programmatic implementation of each grant.
• Oversee and conduct final evaluations of grants.
• Travel to remote areas and work independently to monitor activities.
• Other duties as assigned by the Chief of Party as consistent with the overall focus of the assignment.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and/or good governance programming.
• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree and nine years of overall professional experience; or seven years of experience and a master’s degree.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the socio-political and cultural context of the post location.
• Experience with USAID-funded programs that include small grants, preferred but not required.
• Prior experience working with civil society organizations and community development activities.
• Prior experience in project design and/or management.
• Demonstrated experience and/or familiarity with managing grants.
• Commitment to teamwork.
• French fluency is required; English proficiency required, fluency preferred.

About DAI:

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability.

DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into action—action into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.