Senior Program Manager – Transatlantic Strategy

Job Summary:

Every employee of IRI is responsible for carrying out the Mission of IRI and demonstrating the Core Values in their day to day operations. The Core Values, which are IRI’s foundational building blocks include:

Excellence– We believe in quality results delivered by investing in people. Freedom– We believe in exploration and experimentation to be agile and responsive. Respect- We believe in trust, empathy and empowering people. Teamwork- We believe in diversity, inclusion and the power of global collaboration. Transparency– We believe in open communication and clear decision-making. Accountability- We believe in personal responsibility as the foundation of success.

The Senior Program Manager will manage various projects and will assist with the development and adjustments of project’s strategies to achieve projects goals. S/he will ensure that staff, consultants and partners are kept on track as to project deliverables and objectives. The Senior Program Manager (SPM) supports the Regional Director and Regional Deputy Director in division-wide or highly specialized tasks, according to changing conditions, unexpected opportunities or new information.

Position Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree in political science, international relations or related field.
• Seven years in project management or project design and monitoring.
• Demonstrated ability to interact productively with senior officials such as US Ambassador, Deputy Assistant Secretary level, or above.
• Proven experience in report writing and project planning.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in dealing with businesses.
• Must have excellent computer skills (Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, and Internet) and comfort working with database programs.
• Must be able to work independently, multi-task, be persistent, and work under tight deadlines.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability and desire to travel.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

• Works with the Regional Director/Deputy Director with input from Division staff to develop and manage short- and long-term strategies in alignment with IRI strategic goals for the Division and regional/country strategies.
• Serves as a resource for program staff, including addressing implementation challenges and developing innovative program ideas for program development, and leading business development efforts for their assigned portfolio.
• Assists the Regional Director/Deputy Director in maintaining division-wide quality control in administrative areas, including procurement, finance, grant compliance, travel, hiring & personnel issues, business development, partner management, and other areas as needed.
• With the Regional Director/Deputy Director, streamlines procedures for efficient and effective operations within the division and ensures IRI policies and procedures are followed within the division.
• Represents the Regional Director/Deputy Director at internal meetings as needed.
• Independently analyzes and reports on political and related developments in specific countries to provide regional and country analysis.
• Contributes to the identification and analysis of new funding opportunities.
• Assists the Regional Director/Deputy Director with external relations, including with government representatives, political party leaders, civic leaders, etc.
• Actively supports IRI’s communication strategy, including IRI’s branding and outreach plans on projects assigned, including drafts and updates program summaries and other outreach materials, contributing to publications, tweets, etc.
• Supports the Regional Director/Deputy Director on division-wide activities requiring specialized expertise, such as public opinion research, making effective use of technology to achieve results while ensuring the integrity of the process.
• Travels as needed for program oversight and implementation; if an immediate need arises, may deploy on TDY or identify and oversee deployment of another staff member to maintain continuity of the program.
• Monitors various project objectives and ensures that staff, consultants, and partners are kept on track to achieve results.
• Reviews and provides initial clearance for quarterly and semi-annual reports to funders.
• Oversees implementation of specific grants or projects, as designated by the Regional Director/Deputy Director.
• Maintains an understanding of donor and IRI policies and procedures related to grant compliance and oversight.
• Understands a grant’s substantive, financial, and compliance requirements.
• Understands fiduciary responsibilities, approves payments as designated by Regional Director/Deputy Director related to program costs following IRI protocols, and is held accountable for maintaining appropriate documentation.
• Supervises assigned program staff, including participating in the hiring, professional development, and evaluation process for these staff.
• Anticipates potential problems, troubleshoots project problems, offers solutions, and actively leads to resolution of them with creative and immediate solutions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.