Chemonics seeks a Sr. Program Manager for the West and Central Africa and Haiti (WCAFH) Regional Business Unit. 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.
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 CCIP is an activity under the CFDA umbrella.
The senior program manager is responsible for management, delegation, and execution of day-to-day project tasks, including staff management, as well as engagement in new business and technical practices. The role involves concurrently managing multiple projects of advanced complexity together with roles in new business. The senior program manager will collaborate with other Project Management Unit (PMU) and team members and support and monitor the completion of tasks related to aspects of project management, performance, and compliance. Ensures adherence with company policies, applicable law and regulations, and project requirements. The senior program manager brings increasing focus on proactive effort and supporting the director in mitigating risks; working toward a high level of technical, financial, and contractual performance of projects; and increasing attention to successful new business.
Responsibilities:
Project Management
- Manages day-to-day support to one or more project teams and client, including communicating and assisting with project-office requests and overseeing adherence to project requirements, government regulations, and Chemonics policies
- Oversees project office requests and ensure tasks are complete in areas compliance (including procurement and grants); finance and administration; personnel and HR; and administration and logistics
- Oversees financial aspects of the project’s contract or agreement by reviewing monthly invoices for accuracy and compliance; responsible for tracking expenditures against budget and total obligated funds, coordinating development and monitoring of annual corporate budget, and regular forecasting of expenditures for Chemonics and client. May support or manage a variety of contract mechanisms (e.g. Cost Plus Fixed Fee, Time & Material)
- Proactively identifies issues or potential risks, including project performance, financial, and legal, and other core business areas. Develops strategies and solutions to address those risks, communicating, when appropriate, with the director and/or senior vice president; strategically assesses and consults with support units on corporate-office and project-office matters to help make informed decisions and provides solutions
- Leads efforts in reviewing and determining causes of variances in expenditures against forecasts and budgets and ensuring client is informed as appropriate; works with director to identify solutions for shortfalls and train other PMU staff to do the same
- Takes initiative to identify business opportunities, efficiencies, and cost savings for the business unit (BU)
- Identifies opportunities for knowledge- and solution-sharing across company and takes initiative to build staff and company capacity
- Oversees and leads negotiations with project subaward partners/and or subcontractor; identifies and manages key subaward/subcontractor issues, budgets, and invoicing; and reviews deliverables in coordination with project team to ensure they meet technical, contractual, and quality standards
- Leads recruits of long- and short-term project personnel in accordance with Chemonics’ policy and delegates to or mentors others in project recruiting where possible and appropriate
- Conducts periodic project office visits to monitor and support project operations and implementation, including conducting training, conducting or responding to audits, providing input to work planning, conducting technical research, and performing other complex tasks
- Reviews and provides comments on project technical work and deliverables and project communications documents
- May contribute dedicated time to other workstreams and functions to achieve BU goals, including new business, operations, and technical practice contributions
Technical
- Proactively engages in technical practice of relevance to areas of interest or focus, sharing information and best practices learned with the company; this includes a strategic view to connect the practice and project in support of enhanced project performance and technical leadership goals of the practice
- Builds subject matter expertise and contributes to BU, technical practice, business line, and corporate priorities, including serving as a regional financial analyst or regional compliance specialist
- Promotes Chemonics by identifying opportunities for and attending external events, networking with clients and counterparts, articulating a solid understanding of Chemonics’ past and present portfolio; effectively representing the company’s history, values, and standards; and identifying and developing new business leads
New Business Development
- Takes initiative to support new business efforts, including growing personal network of industry contacts; assuming capture and live proposals roles; and building expertise to assume increasing levels of leadership roles on proposals, including as technical writer, cost preparer, or czar, in addition to other roles as needed
Management and Leadership
- Supervises, mentors, trains, develops, and evaluates assigned staff; provides regular performance feedback to supervisees and the time and opportunity to grow professionally
- Mentors and advises staff across the BU (e.g. associates, program managers, and others) as appropriate on a range of topics, including business development, technical work, and project management
- Ensures continual learning by participating in internal and external training events to build core competencies for project management in line with donor regulations and Chemonics corporate standards; disseminates knowledge across team to promote team learning and growth
- Demonstrates inclusive behaviors and leadership consistent with Chemonics’ values and leadership competencies
- Serves in the acting director capacity as required
- Performs other duties as required
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience; Master’s degree preferred
- Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience; staff supervisory and mentorship experience required
- Thorough understanding of donor/client regulatory and management requirements and demonstrated ability to apply and adhere to those requirements in project management
- Mastery of critical project management skills, including budget management, contractual and procurement compliance, client relations and knowledge of client, and personnel management
- Demonstrated experience working on one or more projects while simultaneously engaged in more progressively complexed proposal roles
- Demonstrated leadership providing regional financial and/or compliance support on a project management team
- Communicates clearly and concisely in both verbal and written communications; strong cross-culture communication and sensitivity skills
- Demonstrated experience following standard practices and procedures, providing input on design and revision of procedures where needed, receiving general instruction on work progress, and making significant contribution to end results individually and by leading teams
- Works independently and as part of a team
- Demonstrated resourcefulness in problem-solving and initiative to learn new skills
- Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and word processing abilities
- Previous experience working in international development and/or living or conducting work in developing countries preferred
- Willingness to travel up to 8 weeks per year
- French and Spanish language proficiency preferred
Apply by July 24, 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 continuously monitoring COVID-19 activity around the world. The health and wellbeing of our staff and potential candidates is of the utmost importance to us and we continue to offer virtual interviews for all on-going recruits. On-boarding for new staff is offered in hybrid format through our Washington, D.C. and London, UK offices to accommodate remote workers.
COVID-19 Vaccination Information
Chemonics requires all US employees to be fully vaccinated.