Senior program director, west and central Africa and Haiti

Chemonics International is seeking a Senior Program Director for the West and Central Africa and Haiti (WCAFH) Business Unit (BU). The senior director leverages extensive program management experience and technical knowledge to inform program, BU, and corporate strategy; best-in-class program service delivery; and project management standards. WCAFH has active projects in the DRC, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso, as well as the global USAID-funded Climate Finance for Development Accelerator (CFDA), which has the objective to mobilize private finance and private sector actions that support the transition to an equitable and resilient net-zero economy. We seek candidates with experience on USAID's global and buy-in mechanisms, as well as significant grants and subcontracts management experience.

It is anticipated that this position will join the project management unit supporting the implementation of CFDA buy-in activities, including the new Caribbean Climate Investment Program (CCIP). CCIP aims to catalyze and increase private sector investments in social and environmentally sound renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) projects and Natural Climate Solutions in the Caribbean. CCIP will provide business development service facilitation and technical assistance to small and medium scale enterprises working with RE/EE technology, as well as provide technical and financial support to businesses, communities, partner governments, and other entities in developing, scaling, or improving climate-resilient adaptation practices and technology. Note that CIP is an activity under the CFDA umbrella, and this position will report to the managing program director overseeing CFDA.

Responsibilities:

Project Management

• Leads programmatic design and implementation for one or more programs of corporate priority and/or higher complexity, developing operational guidelines and technical solutions that can be applied across the company.

• In collaboration with the chief of party, develops work plans, ensures timely resources to execute the plan, leads and directs progress and reporting of implementation, ensures proper technical direction in fulfilling the project scope of work, and conceptualizes new strategies to improve performance; ensures project activities are aligned with achieving results in MEL plan and QASP (and deliverable schedules if applicable) elevating any deviations for resolution

• Supervises project financial performance, oversees project closeouts and final reports, and ensures resolution of implementation problems

• Oversees management of dynamic budget forecasting tools to determine potential scenarios for cost-recovery based on the base period and potential buy-ins in order to scale resources up or down as required

• Conducts periodic supervisory visits to assess the status of project activities or to participate in technical or evaluation work in the project office

• Confers regularly with the BU's SVP on project direction and strategy and makes decisive and timely decisions that positively impact project outcomes

• Establishes key elements of tactical and operational plans with measurable contribution toward the achievement of results of typically mid-sized to large projects; makes significant decisions on what their team of responsibility focuses on

• Develops new processes, standards, or operational short- to mid-term strategies and operational plans (1 to 3 years) to achieve strategic goals

• In collaboration with chief of party, develops and supervises implementation of strategies to optimize profitability and reduce cost overruns; approves overhead expenses per policy

• Facilitates effective working relationships with clients, counterparts, and stakeholders and continually promotes outstanding client service with corporate office staff and project teams; leads discussions as part of quarterly client consultations; leads response on CPAR in consultation with the chief of party and submits the final version in the system

• Leads planning efforts and directs corporate office and project technical activities for project startup, briefing the project team on the business development proposal and award process, with special emphasis on the technical approach strategy and resulting initial work plan

• Supervises the recruitment of project staff, including developing guidelines consistent with corporate policies, scopes of work, position qualifications, and selection of candidates

• Serves as negotiator or leads negotiation team for amendments and other substantive changes to assigned contracts or agreements

• May contribute dedicated time to other workstreams and functions to achieve BU goals, including new business, operations, and technical practice contributions; may be appointed as supervisory director over a PMU as required and for a certain period of time

Technical

• Applies in-depth technical expertise to projects’ technical goals and objectives, new business efforts, and Chemonics knowledge base; leads technical assignments

• Advances body of knowledge and quality standards in primary discipline and practice networks; formulates approaches to guide project work, new business efforts, and technical assignments, and advises clients on technical trends and programming priorities

• Takes leadership role in practice network development and professional societies, represents company at technical conferences, and prepares or improves technical and development practitioner publications

• Participates in activities to build a strong knowledge culture by sharing best practices and important innovations through practice networks and knowledge management systems.

• Ensures quality of project reports and deliverables through supporting the chief of party/ project teams to thoughtfully integrate components Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) adhering to program objectives, best practices, and theories of change; ensures project technical objectives are met in partnership with the chief of party and trouble-shoots when deviations are needed

• Serves as one of Chemonics’ leading industry expert within selected practice area; makes visible contributions to the industry, formulates and contributes to thought leadership, creates technical tools, conducts industry trainings, and presents at technical conferences

• In coordination with supervisor, sets billability targets to contribute to a billable project work or technical area

New Business Development

• Analyzes development funding trends and priorities; formulates strategies, new directions, and techniques to grow the company and improve market share; and networks with clients, consultants, and counterparts regarding new business opportunities

• Leads proposal development, analyzing and recommending bid decisions, and conceptualizing team, technical approaches, and cost strategies to gain competitive advantage; generally, assumes role of proposal lead, technical writer, or management section writer, providing leadership to proposal teams and mentoring and managing the application of best practices

• Collaborates with new business by analyzing funding trends/priorities and building strategies

• Travels periodically to explore new business opportunities, represent Chemonics, or gather information for a technical proposal; interacts with key client and staff to influence new programming decisions; develops and negotiates strategic partnerships with local firms

• Cultivates partnerships with international firms for the purposes of strategic new business proposal efforts as well as local, in-country partners

• Serves as a strategic lead on new business efforts across multiple bids or sector to independently track, implement, and perform BU new business efforts, including organizing and leading strategy sessions, strategic recruitment of key personnel, and teaming arrangements

• Leads BU capture strategy in a technical area or sector across multiple bids

  
  

Management and Leadership

• Supervises, mentors, and evaluates multiple direct reports, communicating clear performance goals and standards and offering regular performance feedback and prompt resolution of problems; promotes staff development through coaching, mentoring, and facilitating professional growth

• Leads and significantly contributes to corporate initiatives that leverage new revenue streams, realizing efficiencies and cost savings

• Manages and mitigates corporate risks, including those that required company-wide policy and practice shifts

• Implements corporate initiatives to share knowledge and solutions; builds staff and company capacity

• Leads documentation and open sharing of best practices and important innovations company-wide, including in the project office; delivers effective oral and written presentations that advance development assistance knowledge and understanding; and communicates in a way that persuades and promotes openness and innovation

• Leverages technical networks to identify and recommend candidates for strategic staff recruitment; manages, mentors, and evaluates manager and associate staff, communicating clear performance goals and standards, offering regular performance feedback, ensuring well-run meetings, and having an open-door policy

• Promotes and exemplifies Chemonics’ values and ethical standards and manages staff to achieve team and development objectives

• Creates a productive and motivating work environment for staff by promoting cooperation and teamwork across departments, staying abreast of management, leadership, and team building strategies and advocating for them within Chemonics

• Demonstrates inclusive behaviors and leadership consistent with Chemonics’ values and leadership competencies

• Serves as technical mentor in developing the technical capacity of employees.

• Ensures chief of party and project adherence with corporate policy implementation, risk management, and change management, as required

• Supervises the chief of party and program managers, including providing timely and constructive feedback through frequent as well as quarterly and annual reviews

• Performs other duties as assigned by the SVP

• Serves in the acting SVP capacity, as required; may be delegated specific approvals from the SVP

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience; Master’s degree preferred

• Minimum 10 years of relevant project management experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience advising, managing, and supervising teams assigned to a department or several project teams

• Previous long-term project leadership experience managing program activities and leading a team

• Demonstrated experience solving complex technical, managerial, or operational problems and evaluating options based on relevant information, resources, well-rounded experience, and knowledge

• Demonstrated experience leading USAID-funded programs with subawards (subcontracts and grants under contract)

• Operates at advanced levels of authority and controls significant activities, budgets, and resources to produce and take responsibility for results

• Thorough knowledge of company’s main clients and their operations and experience cultivating client and partner relationships

• Requires broad management knowledge to lead project teams in one department

• Advanced knowledge and skills within a relevant technical discipline and/or geographic region for the BU, providing technical guidance to staff and in-depth disciplinary knowledge and ability to leverage their project acumen and subject matter expertise

• Fluency in and demonstrated application of financial and project management systems

• Conceptualizes, outlines, performs, and directs the research and writing of technical documents (reports, proposals, professional articles)

• Leads effective meetings and demonstrated presentation skills

• Recognized by others as an experienced international development practitioner in a specific technical area; contributes consistently to mentoring staff

• Demonstrated leadership, management, organizational, and decision-making skills

• Demonstrated experience managing and supervising staff assigned to a department or several project teams and new business efforts; demonstrates leadership, versatility, and integrity

• Previous experience working in international development and/or living or conducting work in developing countries preferred

• Previous experience supporting USAID programs with buy-in mechanism preferred

• Willingness to travel and work abroad up to 3 months per year

• Works effectively both independently and as part of a team

• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office applications

• Language proficiency for assigned geographic area preferred

Please apply by Friday, June 9, 2023. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

Chemonics is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Chemonics is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics. Military veterans, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision
Chemonics will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by Chemonics, or (c) consistent with Chemonics legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

COVID-19 Recruitment Information
Chemonics International is monitoring COVID-19 activity around the world. The health and wellbeing of our staff is of the utmost importance to us, and we continue to hire for all open roles with interviewing and on-boarding done virtually. Our new hires and current staff working from our Washington, DC, Arlington, VA, and London offices will temporarily work from home until it is safe to return to our offices.

COVID-19 Vaccination Information
Chemonics requires all US employees to be fully vaccinated.