Program Manager, Vitas Group

Overview

Global Communities works at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development and financial inclusion to save lives, advance equity and secure strong futures. We support communities at the forefront of their own development in more than 35 countries, partnering with local leaders, governments, civil society and the private sector to achieve a shared vision of a more just, prosperous and equitable global community.

Global Communities is seeking a Program Manager to join the Development Finance team at the headquarters in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland.

The Program Manager coordinates technical assistance activities within the Vitas Group and subsidiaries, manages projects and facilities with the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and works on new business opportunities with financial inclusion within Global Communities. S/he works in the department of Development Finance (DF) and supports related projects of Global Communities as well as the microfinance holding Vitas Group and Vitas subsidiaries. The PM will provide or identify technical advice to strengthen subsidiaries to better serve clients. The PM will be the primary technical and project management point of contact within Global Communities for all loan guaranty facilities managed or serviced by Global Communities. The PM will also coordinate new business activities and will be a lead negotiator in loans, guarantees and other funding mechanisms.

Responsibilities

Responsibility Area: Vitas Group Technical Assistance (40%)

• Identify technical assistance needs in Vitas Group and subsidiaries
• Seeks opportunities for grant or other funding for technical assistance.
• Coordinates and where needed leads application, negotiation, and contracting processes.
• Aid in preparing scopes of work for contracted support, assessing proposals and identifying resources needed
• Identify and manage consultants, including ensuring deliverables meet quality standards and deadlines, monitoring progress, reviewing and revising deliverables as needed to ensure quality, compliance, and timely submission.
• Liaise with main providers of technical assistance
• Ensure results of technical assistance work, within group or subsidiaries, are disseminated throughout Vitas Group to maximize their impact and efficiency.
• Work with HQ and Vitas subsidiary staff on initiatives such as digital transformation, Ventures, partnership, women’s access to finance, and social impact measurement.
• Embed social impact measurement into operations in Vitas Group ad subsidiaries, through guidance and target technical assistance.
• Participate in internal audit review committees for individual subsidiaries, making recommendations to auditors and senior management on risk reduction practices.

Responsibility Area: DFC Project Management (35%)

• Egypt LGF II 30%
  • Review project leadership performance and check in regularly regarding project needs
  • Assist in onboarding/contracting of all new staff, providing input to team structure and responsibilities
  • Aid in due diligence /documentation process for onboarding of new bank and MFI partners
  • Act as liaison between ELGF staff and HQ contracts/finance departments to ensure grant management and service agreement functions properly
  • Act as main day-to-day liaison between ELGF staff and DFC.
  • Work alongside PMT to manage budget against projected costs, including both TA grant and Servicing budgets
  • Identify sectors/initiatives to promote guarantee use, especially in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and agricultural value chains.
  • Act as primary communication link between GC and DFC in all project-related matters
  • Review periodic reports on LGF and TA performance and submit to DFC on the project’s behalf
  • Coordinate in-person meetings in DFC offices and/or trips between Egypt and US
• East Africa LGF 5%
  • Maintain contact and check in regularly with two remaining staff through September 2023, including timesheet approval, PTO requests, and periodic performance reviews. Ensure Kenya GC office meets HR/IT support needs
  • Review quarterly reports and presentations delivered to DFC
  • Review demands for payment submitted to DFC on remaining portfolio
  • Work alongside PMT to manage remaining budget against projected costs

Responsibility Area: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (25%)

• Identify new funding relationships for Vitas Group and Global Communities
• Work with GC’s broader business development units to identify DF/Financial Inclusion elements of tracked opportunities. Co-develop subject matter-specific activities to either include in proposals or incorporate into ongoing programming. Serve as a technical consultant on specific projects/proposals where DF expertise is identified.
• Participate in Global Communities business development discussions to improve connection among sustainable development, humanitarian assistance, and financial inclusion protocols.
• Support ongoing transactions and applications in pipeline with DFC on GC’s behalf by providing budget inputs, populating forms, and gathering information for GC/Vitas applications to DFC
• Identify new opportunities to work with DFC’s technical assistance and origination teams, aligned with GC’s and Vitas’ priorities
• Develop strategies for Global Communities to better negotiate with DFC and other funders/investors, ensuring close coordination with other departments, especially Legal and Finance.

POSITION SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Travel as necessary for the role (no more than 10% annually)
• Promote a culture of excellence, inclusion, learning, support, diversity and innovation

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Commitment to the mission of providing reliable financial services that respond to our clients’ needs and foster the long-term development of individuals, businesses, families and communities.
• Operational experience in financial inclusion-related business, i.e., microfinance institution, fintech, SME finance company or other models.
• Proven ability to analyze financial statements, credit portfolio reports, review financial projections and cash flows, and external audit reports from financial institutions.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Advanced computer skills in a Windows based environment including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Ability to work under pressure, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to travel internationally 10-15% of the time.
• Fluency in English, written and oral required. Abilities in a second language, such as Arabic, desired.
• Ability to read and interpret documents, sit at a computer and operate a keyboard and mouse for extended periods of time.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a related discipline and a minimum of four years of related work experience or a minimum of eight years of related work experience.
• Operational experience in financial inclusion / microfinance / small business lending outside of the United States. Experience in the Middle East is an advantage.
• Experience in developing proposals for US Government, USAID, and other donors related to financial inclusion
• Knowledge of US DFC operations, policies, and transactions an advantage.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A passion for the mission and values of Global Communities
• Must have U.S. work authorization.

The salary for this position is 74,838 – 112,257. Salary is based on several factors including qualifications, experience, and internal equity.

As an organization working to advance public health, Global Communities has an obligation to model best practices and to do all we can to protect each other, our partners and the communities where we work. To ensure the continuity and effectiveness of our business operations, Global Communities is adopting a policy to safeguard the health of our visitors, employees, families, and the larger global community from COVID-19. Effective January 3, 2022, all U.S.-based Global Communities employees are required to provide proof of having received full dosage of COVID-19 vaccine that is FDA approved, approved for emergency use authorization, or have an approved medical or religious exemption on file with Global Communities, as a condition of employment.

Global Communities holds strict safeguarding principles and has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. In the process of recruitment, selection, and appointment, Global Communities will conduct robust reference and background screening checks, including international vetting as a signature of the Global Misconduct Disclosure Scheme to ensure children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded, and abuse is prevented. The incumbent is required to carry out their duties in accordance with Global Communities Safeguarding policy and the Standards of Conduct.

Global Communities is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.