Senior Program Officer, Information & Media Practice (Russian Fluency Required)

Who We Are

IREX is a global development and education organization. We strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world—where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people, and communities thrive. With a projected annual portfolio of more than $100 million and more than 600 staff worldwide, we work 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 will support the Supporting Eurasian media program and other programs as needed in managing relations with select partners as well as select project activities; contribute to annual work-planning and reporting for own areas of responsibility; lead Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning activities for the program; develop and lead trainings and other learning activities for project participants; and carry out other duties as assigned on the project.

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 in the area of Journalism.
• Master’s degree in Public Affairs, desired.
• 5+ years of relevant experiences in the Eurasian media and communications.
• Advanced fluency (writing, speaking, listening) in Russian a requirement.
• At least 2 years’ experience implementing programs funded by USAID in the area of media development.
• At least 2 years’ experience managing partner relations with Eurasian media outlets.
• Established networks in the Eurasian media sector a requirement.
• Experience developing and implementing systems for monitoring, evaluation, and learning in an international development context.
• Experience in video production and social media management strategies.
• Fluency (writing, speaking, listening) in English a requirement.
• In-depth knowledge of the media landscape in Eastern Europe and Eurasia a requirement.
• In depth knowledge of best practices in media development a requirement.
• Proven ability to work in an international context.
• Proven ability to manage projects in support of Eurasian media.
• Experience working in Eastern European countries on a permanent basis.
• Ability to work with multidisciplinary teams and institutions.
• Communicates clearly, politely, and effectively.
• Strong writing skills.
• Ability to take decisions independently based on judgment and knowledge, including when to escalate to senior staff.
• Knowledge of fundamental concepts in monitoring, evaluation, and learning in an International Development context.
• Knowledge of the requirements of federally funded programs, especially USAID-funded programs.
• Pays close attention to detail.
• Is proficient in the use of Microsoft programs such as Word, Excel, and Power Point.
• Familiarity with software for data visualization such as PowerBi or similar.
• Familiarity with communication and marketing strategies, including social media strategy.
• You must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States.

Your Daily Tasks

• Lead program monitoring, evaluation, and learning, including strategy development and implementation.
• Identify and document best practices, lesson learned and perform root-cause analysis and other problem- solving activities.
• Stay up to the date about the regional landscapes where relevant field offices and partners are based and conduct continuous risk assessment of the national and regional operational landscape.
• Stay up to date on the media and political landscape in the countries of operation.
• Manage relations with program partners, including contractual, relational and technical task management.
• Develop and implement training programs for program partners.
• Contribute to donor-facing reporting in areas of responsibility.
• Develop program material, including, for example, research and design of training workshops and curricula.
• Lead internal team meetings as well as plan and lead meetings with sub-awardees and vendors as applicable.
• Deliver internal and external program-related presentations as applicable.
• Support senior staff and development officers in researching and developing proposals and other tasks as deemed necessary for new business development, to advance the work of the Information & Media Practice.
• Lead specific proposal elements with minimal oversight.
• Build relationships with donors as relevant to the program area.
• Represent specific programs in external meetings and at external events.
• Track and analyze financial data including program expenditures, program budgets, forecasts and recasts, and grantee and vendor payments as assigned.
• Contribute to budget planning in areas of responsibility.
• Process and track grantee and vendor payments according to IREX procedures as assigned.
• Independently draft/create and maintain procurement and financial records for review by project managers.
• Review and approve payments, subaward actions, and procurement actions within own level of responsibility.
• Ensure compliance of activities and actions under assigned projects and activities.
• Collaborate effectively as a full member of one or more program teams.
• Develop effective relationships with other departments at IREX HQ such as Grants Compliance Office (GCO), Finance, HR, others.
• Develop effective relationships with field offices, consultants, vendors, and partners.
• Mentor junior team members through effective and respectful feedback and communication.
• Delegate work to junior team members in coordination with project leadership.

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 Telework. The eligible employee is a regular, full-time DC-based staff who works from a worksite outside the DC office for one or more days a week.

This position is not eligible for Immigration Sponsorship.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

EOE – Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.