Senior Program Director - Central And Eastern Europe

Senior Program Director – Central and Eastern Europe

Position Summary

NDI’s Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) team is seeking a Sr. Program Director. This individual will serve as one of the senior leads on the team, overseeing several country and regional programs that are complex in size and scope and providing senior-level insight and analysis. This role manages a group of several team members and contributes to the larger strategic elements of the programmatic themes, planning and execution, as well as supports team-wide initiatives, along with the team leadership. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. The position is based in Washington, D.C., with some travel to the region and possibly other locations.

Essential Accountabilities

• Initiate and lead the development or enhancement of business processes designed to increase work effectiveness and efficiency;
• Serve as senior-level NDI representative at local and international conferences and meetings and assist with NDI’s public outreach.
• Establish and maintain collaborative external relationships with US and regional policymakers, as well as government, academic, political party, civil society, diplomatic and legislative contacts, and NDI’s network of volunteer trainers and experts.
• Together with the Regional Director and/or Deputy Regional Director engage in fundraising efforts to secure private and governmental funding for programs, including developing and nurturing donor contacts and relations, identifying sources of funding, and leading proposal processes.
• Undertake team-wide responsibilities/projects in collaboration with the Regional Director and Deputy Regional Director.
• Advise relevant country representatives, field teams, lower-level staff, and other team colleagues on NDI and donor policies.
• Lead and supervise staff in documenting program progress and achievements, ensuring quality control of written quarterly and semi-annual reports.
• Provide strategic direction and management monitoring of budgets, grants, and expenditures for assigned portfolios.
• Support or lead recruiting processes and onboarding and training for lower-level portfolio staff, and actively nurture and mentor staff in professional development.
• Analyze trends, leverage regional knowledge, relationships, and political insights to provide strategic advice and counsel to program staff across assigned portfolios, and identify areas of programmatic growth and expansion, as appropriate.
• Provide overall leadership and oversight on an assigned set of programs/regional portfolio, including managing workflows to support field offices, leading fundraising for programs, and providing technical and political insight to program staff on relevant programming;
• Travel to assigned countries to assess political development, new opportunities and evaluates current programs.
• Contribute to the overall team strategy, particularly in areas of communication and proposal development;

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in political science/international affairs or related subject required. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience

• Demonstrated ability to conduct and apply sophisticated political analysis to programmatic activities.
• Knowledge of the Central and Eastern Europe region, underlying political contexts and dynamics, policy frameworks and active political players.
• Strong oral and written communication skills; fluency in English required.
• At least 12 years of experience working in international development, including significant practical experience in at least one of the following areas: democratic governance, electoral processes, civic organizing, political party development, women’s political participation, youth engagement, political participation of marginalized communities, democracy and technology. Previous work at NDI and/or in the Central and Eastern Europe preferred.
• Experience in managing complex programs in fluid political environments.
• Knowledge of and ability to provide oversight and strategic direction for fulfilling US and other international donor requirements and regulations in financial management, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting.
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills; demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior political and civic leaders as well as members of the donor and diplomatic community.
• Experience managing a multicultural team in strategic planning, creative program design, and effective project implementation.
• Experience in developing and implementing effective outreach strategies for a variety of audiences.
• Experience with Google Apps (Gmail, Calendar, Google Drive, G+, etc.)
• Proven ability to effectively manage, mentor and motivate staff.

Certifications/Licenses (desired)

None required.

Work Environment

• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required, as well as attendance at external events.
• This position generally is performed in an office environment and may be suitable for partial telework.
• Some international travel is required in this role, primarily to NDI field locations. These locations are sometimes remote and may require significant time and varying modes of travel. Designated locations also may at times be considered less secure and with greater risk to NDI employees.

Physical Requirements

• Sitting/mobility—to work at a desk and move around work areas.
• Speaking/hearing—to engage orally in conversation with others and conduct presentations.
• Reaching/handling—to input information into computer systems and retrieve and work with appropriate paperwork, equipment and supplies.
• Seeing—to effectively use a computer screen and for reading and interpreting printed materials, memos and other paperwork.

ADA Notation

The physical demands and work environment that have been described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. NDI encourages applicants with disabilities to apply.

Comments

While there may be flexibility for remote/hybrid work environments and to comply with tax and legal obligations, successful candidates must be residents of MD, DC, or VA or relocate prior to the start of employment at NDI.

Candidates must be legally eligible to work in the U.S. NDI does not provide sponsorship.

NDI is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). As such, NDI makes employment decisions and provides equal employment opportunity without regard to an applicant’s or employee’s race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state and local laws. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please notify NDI’s Human Resources department.

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