Senior Project Director, Global Programs (NEW)

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.

Combining a depth of expertise in project management and implementing international development programs, the Senior Project Director will be a strategic and results-driven leader with demonstrated people management experience. They will combine their project management expertise with strong problem-solving skills to create internal project management standards and tools that will be used in more than 100 programs in over 20 countries to deliver excellence. The Senior Project Director will be accountable for creating, spearheading, guiding, expanding, and measuring the impact of the newly established Global Program Project Services Team(GPPST). They will apply their passion to create from the ground-up with their exceptional skills and knowledge of managing successful projects. This leader will create and oversee high performance standards; ensure excellence in project execution; guide and support program teams in implementation; and facilitate alignment across projects and geographies to drive efficiency.

They will design standardized processes and tools to support program teams, develop staff project management skills, and lead a team of staff with expertise in project start-up, management, donor reporting, grants and contract compliance, sub-award management and procurement and others that will provide project management wrap around services to teams.

This is a role that combines strategy, excellence in program execution, and relationship building to deliver sound programs, and to cultivate a spirit of learning and adaptation across Global Programs. The Senior Project Director will work with the Vice President of Global Programs to further strengthen systems for delivering high quality services and products, and to position IREX for increased impact and future growth.

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 international development, business administration, or related field.
• 12 + years of progressive experience working in a demanding, time-sensitive work environment, including 3+ years of people management.
• Professional qualifications (training, certification) in project and operations management preferred.
• Knowledge of international development field and understanding of working and leading teams in emerging countries.
• Excellent leadership, management, and organizational skills in a diverse global organization.
• Demonstrated deep understanding and experience working on issues of project management, including the development and execution of systems and processes.
• Demonstrated experience using data and technology to improve organizational systems, processes, and performance.
• Demonstrated experience in leading successful organizational change and implementing effective systems, processes, and policies.
• Demonstrated excellence in leading, managing, and supervising professional staff representing a wide range of nationalities and cultures.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating, planning, and/or managing organization-wide events, meetings, and initiatives.
• Ability to provide high-level strategic guidance to executive-level staff.
• Ability to oversee a large, complex, detail-oriented portfolio; oversee and manage budgets; and manage organizational capacity while positioning for future growth.
• Ability to interact effectively and inclusively with all levels of staff and management. Ability to drive action while working in a multi-party, consensus-driven environment. Ability to work effectively across teams and drive collaboratively towards solutions.
• Ability to assess existing policies and procedures, recommend changes, and implement best practices and procedures to achieve the organization’s strategic goals and achieve operational excellence.
• Superb oral and written communications and cross-cultural communications skills; diplomacy in communicating with broad and diverse audiences.
• High emotional intelligence and tonal awareness to maintain confidentiality and discretion in personal interactions and written communication.
• Perpetual curiosity, desire to be better, and ability to look over the horizon to identify potential problems and untried solutions.
• You must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States.

Your Daily Tasks

• Create and develop the GPPST based on best practices in project management, including developing policies, procedures, toolkits, and measure the success of this unit through agreed upon metrics.
• Train and build capacity of GPPST to support all aspects of projects (award management, reporting, financial processes, procurement etc.) and in all aspects of the project life cycle from start-up thru close-out.
• Support program teams in implementation and build capacity across teams in all areas of project management.
• Leverage technology to improve program and unit processes.
• Work collaboratively with Practice Directors and VP, Global Programs (and designates) on determining the most urgent project needs and manage deployment schedule of GPPST.
• Facilitate alignment and identify needs across projects and geographies to drive efficiency.
• Manage the performance of the GPPST including staff overseas and at the headquarters.
• Manage the financial budgeting and reporting of the GPPST.
• Effectively communicate IREX’s capabilities and strengths in project management.
• Develop capabilities within teams and support all aspects of project compliance.
• Work cross-functionally to resolve organizational challenges as they relate to project management.
• Recruit, coach and build capacity of GPPST and of others in project management.
• Creates synergies across global programs to improve coordination and communication both within the unit and with the rest of the organization.
• Other support duties as needed.

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, including disability/vets.