Program Director, West And Central Africa And Haiti

Chemonics International is seeking a Program Director for the West and Central Africa and Haiti (WCAFH) Business Unit (BU). The program 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

• With managing director, 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
• Supervises the recruitment of project staff and develops guidelines consistent with corporate policies, scopes of work, position qualifications, and selection of candidates
• Directs program implementation for one or more programs within the BU
• Anticipates corporate risk, implements strategies, and takes steps, including those that require cross-departmental and corporate-level collaboration, to lessen impact or mitigate those risks; leads documentation and open sharing of best practices and important innovations company-wide, including in the project office
• In collaboration with chief of party, develops and supervises implementation of strategies to optimize profitability and reduce cost overruns; approves overhead expenses per policy
• Plans 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
• Develops 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
• Adheres to program strategy and protocols and manages based on precedent or by seeking out guidance from more senior leaders
• Conducts periodic supervisory visits to assess the status of project activities or to participate in technical or evaluation work in the project office
• Serves as negotiator or leads negotiation team for amendments and other changes to assigned contracts or agreements; serves as acting chief of party as necessary
• Recommends and/or leads strategic staff recruitment
• Supervises project financial performance leads project closeouts and final reports and resolves problems related to project implementation
• 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
• Develops processes and procedures to implement established strategies within a project or function
• May contribute dedicated time to other workstreams and functions to achieve BU goals, including new business, operations, and technical practice contributions
• Establishes and implements tactical and operational plans by leading mid-sized projects, with significant impact on the achievement of project results
• Develops short-term strategies (less than 1 year) to achieve business results, which may require substantial development of new processes, standards, or operational plans to achieve strategic goals
• Takes initiative to promote business opportunities, implement efficiencies, and realize cost savings for the BU
• Collaborates closely with the chief of party in developing work plans, ensuring timely resources to execute plans, supervising progress, and reporting of implementation, ensuring proper technical direction in fulfilling the project scope of work, and conceptualizing new strategies to improve performance

Technical

• Ensures quality of project reports and deliverables; ensures project technical objectives are met in partnership with the chief of party and troubleshoots when deviations are needed
• Advances body of knowledge (e.g., innovations, best practices, lessons learned) 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
• Assumes a leadership role(s) in practice network development and professional societies, represents company at technical conferences, and prepares or improves technical and development practitioner publications
• Applies in-depth technical expertise to projects’ technical goals and objectives, new business efforts, and Chemonics knowledge base. Leads technical assignments
• Identifies opportunities to conduct billable assignments in coordination with supervisor; sets billability targets to contribute to a billable project work or technical area

New Business Development

• Undertakes leadership role in proposal development, analyzing and recommending bid decisions, and conceptualizing team, technical approaches, and cost strategies to gain competitive advantage; leads new business efforts, including leveraging network of industry contacts and assuming leadership roles on proposals, including, but not limited to, lead capture, proposal lead, technical writer, section writer and cost preparer. Mentors staff on proposal roles
• Cultivates partnerships with international firms for the purposes of strategic new business proposal efforts as well as local, in-country partners
• Travels periodically to explore new business opportunities, represent Chemonics, or gather information to write a technical proposal. Interacts with key client and counterpart staff to strategically influence new programming decisions and develops and negotiates strategic partnerships with local firms
• 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

Management and Leadership

• Serves in acting SVP capacity, as required
• 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; promotes the building of a strong partnership between project and corporate offices based on open exchange
• Promotes and exemplifies Chemonics’ values and ethical standards and manages staff to achieve team and development objectives
• Demonstrates inclusive behaviors and leadership consistent with Chemonics’ values and leadership competencies
• Supervises the chief of party and program managers and provides timely and constructive feedback through frequent as well as quarterly and annual reviews; performs other duties as assigned by the SVP
• Supervises, mentors, and evaluates multiple direct reports, communicating clear performance goals and standards, offering regular performance feedback and prompt resolution of problems, and time and opportunity to grow and develop in key competency areas; promotes staff development through coaching, mentoring, and facilitating professional growth

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience leading USAID-funded programs with subawards (subcontracts and grants under contract)
• Works effectively both independently and as part of a team
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience; Master’s degree preferred
• Fluency in and demonstrated application of financial and project management systems
• Advanced knowledge and skills within a relevant technical or professional discipline with broad understanding of other areas within the job area
• Minimum 2 years of supervisory experience and leading teams
• Previous experience working in international development and/or living or conducting work in developing countries preferred
• Recognized by others as an experienced international development practitioner in a specific technical area; contributes consistently to mentoring staff
• Willingness to travel and work abroad up to 3 months per year
• Demonstrated leadership, management, organizational, and decision-making skills
• Minimum 8 years of relevant project management
• Demonstrated experience managing and supervising staff assigned to a department or several project teams and new business efforts; demonstrates leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Demonstrated experience solving complex technical, managerial, or operational problems and evaluating options based on relevant information, resources, well-rounded experience, and knowledge
• Operates at advanced levels of authority and controls significant activities, budgets, and resources to produce and take responsibility for results
• Language proficiency for assigned geographic area preferred
• Previous experience supporting USAID programs with buy-in mechanism preferred
• Conceptualizes, outlines, performs, and directs the research and writing of technical documents (reports, proposals, professional articles)
• Leads effective meetings and demonstrated presentation skills

Please apply by Monday, June 5, 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.