Senior Program Officer II, Mobilization, Closeout and Special Projects (NEW)

Who We Are

At IREX we strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world—where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people and communities thrive.

But around the globe, persistent poverty, repression, and injustice prevent too many people form achieving their full potential. To address these problems, we focus on people, not on vaccines, roads, or wells. We support individuals and institutions to create change in their own communities—and to create person to person bridges between nations.

IREX works 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.

The Senior Program Officer II (SPO II) for Mobilization, Closeout and Special Projects takes on management roles in a rotating portfolio of projects across the (1) Communities & Governance; (2) Information & Media; (3) Education and (4) Leadership Practices during critical project periods, such as start-ups, closeouts, staff turnover, and major project events. They also have a permanent management role on the Global Programs Mobilization, Closeout and Special Projects Team, managing the work of at least two other team members, responding to requests for support from projects, and collaborating with the team leader to analyze trends, allocate staff resources, and plan for future needs. The SPO II draws from a mastery of IREX polices and other best practices in project management to create and adapt project workplans, develop reports and other written deliverables, lead effective communications with internal and external stakeholders, create and analyze project budgets, lead procurement processes, and develop/manage subawards.

We are doers. Our decades of on-the-ground experience help us create greater impact, practical recommendations, and lasting partnerships.

Are you the next member of our team?

Your Background & Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree;
• 8+ years of progressive job experience;
• Project management experience in international development programming in a technical area(s) that is relevant to the work in one or more of the Global Programs Practices at IREX: (1) Communities & Governance; (2) Information & Media; (3) Education and (4) Leadership;
• At least two years of experience that includes mentoring and coaching of staff either in a formal manager relationship or informally, for example providing day-to-day direction on task prioritization for other staff in a project team;
• Experience managing projects funded by the U.S. Government (including USAID, U.S. Department of State, MCC, the Public Affairs Section of a U.S. Embassy), other bilateral donors, the World Bank, private foundations, and/or corporate donors;
• Demonstrated ability to plan strategically and creatively to meet specified objectives with strong ability to anticipate challenges and generate solutions;
• Proven organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail, including the ability to prioritize;
• Proven ability to effectively manage prime award compliance and budgeting;
• Proven ability to negotiate subawards and execute compliant subawards with local partners.
• Able to work independently and as a team member with consistent ability to take initiative, meet deadlines, and be flexible;
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills;
• Strong written communication skills and the ability to effectively tailor writing for different audiences;
• Ability to travel internationally at least 15% time;
• Desirable but not required experience and skills include:
  • Experience leading project mobilization and closeout;
  • Experience in international development programming based in a location outside of the U.S.;
  • Working professional language fluency in Spanish, Russian, French or Arabic.
• You must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States.

Your Daily Tasks

• Lead and/or oversee production of workplans, budgets, internal/external reports, and other deliverables for a rotating portfolio of projects across the (1) Communities & Governance; (2) Information & Media; (3) Education and (4) Leadership Practices during critical project periods, such as start-ups, closeouts, staff turnover, and major project events;
• Serves as the Mobilization and Closeout Lead for programs as needed. Coordinates mobilization and closeout activities with other units at IREX;
• Recruits and onboards program staff in HQ and the field;
• Make recommendations to the team leader of the Global Programs Mobilization, Closeout and Special Projects Team for the allocation of staff time to respond to support requests from project teams;
• Supports the team leader of the Global Programs Mobilization in identifying training needs and developing strategies to design and provide trainings to relevant team members;
• Serves as a primary point of contact for donors and partners as assigned on a rotating portfolio of projects;
• Communicates regularly with other IREX groups and units outside of Global Programs to maintain awareness of resources and policies and to tap and deploy them quickly in Global Programs;
• Regularly shares information about the Global Programs Mobilization, Closeout and Special Projects Team across IREX groups and units;
• Support practice leaders to plan start-up staffing in the project transition from New Business Development Unit to Global Programs leadership;
• Directly manages the Global Programs Mobilization, Closeout and Special Projects Team’s Program Officer and Program Coordinator;
• Provides supervision, mentoring and guidance to assigned staff in multiple countries;
• Promotes behaviors and practices that increase diversity, equity and inclusion.

IREX will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008.

We conduct background checks on all successful candidates.

This position is eligible for Remote work. The eligible employee is a regular, full-time staff who works from a worksite outside the DC metro area on a more permanent or ongoing basis.

This position is not eligible for Immigration Sponsorship.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

EOE – Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity.

All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply. AA/EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled