Associate Director, Project Management - East & Southern Africa

Job Title/Grade:    Associate Director, Project Management- East & Southern Africa

Grade:                   P8

Department :          USG Programs

Reports to:            Senior Portfolio Director (P10), USG Programs

Function of the Position

This position provides corporate office management, financial, and contractual oversight to U.S. Government-funded international development projects. The position is responsible for enabling projects to achieve quality programming and development outcomes and is part of a core team of Project Managers (PMs) providing surge and capacity support to the portfolio with decision-making authority for multiple projects.

These values are approximate. Final allocation of portfolios will be made on a case-by-case basis and aligned with the individual’s professional experience and level of complexity of the portfolio.

Roles and Responsibilities:

This position is responsible for the following key functions:

Project Oversight

·       Manages home office functions for one or more projects and relationships with the field teams.

·       Manages resources across these teams and encourages collaboration within broader directorate and geography.

·       Makes timely decisions; escalates to appropriate decision-maker as needed; keeps Senior Portfolio Director (SPDs) informed of key management or technical issues on the projects. Participates in management or technical STTAs.

·       Executes authorities listed in SOA.

·       May serve as Acting COP or DCOP.

·       If necessary, provide short-term coverage for traveling Managers or Associates.

Review new policies and procedures and, where needed, proposes changes for existing policies and procedures.

Mobilizing Technical Expertise

·       Identifies home office technical experts (e.g., from Development Innovations) that will serve as resources to the COP and component leads on the project.

·       With the support of the Recruitment team and field human resources teams, engages in project level recruitment in support of STTA and LTTA vacancies.

·       Participates and provides support as necessary to the COP and field team during all strategic planning sessions.

·       Manages project extension or modification proposals. 

·       Reviews, supports, and edits (with COP) STTA deliverables as requested by field. 

·       Contributes to cross-portfolio knowledge sharing and is responsible for promoting project through success stories, DAI website updates, hosting project brown bags, etc. 

·       Contributes to cross-project learning with Development Innovations to deepen development solutions that are locally relevant, successful, and sustainable.

Quality Assurance

·       Leads Quarterly Project Review (QPR) process.

·       Responsible for following up on specific action items and/or taking measures for improvements as needed resulting from the Client Satisfaction Surveys (CSM) twice a year.

·       Deliver trainings and acts as a Quality Assurance reviewer.

Risk Management

Monitors day-to-day activity on the project and manages corporate office tasks, including:

·       Provides oversight of operational activities, such as mobilization and demobilization of staff, home office-based procurement, etc.

·       Troubleshoots complex, or cross-departmental problems.

·       Ensures compliance with DAI policies and procedures and, in consultation with support groups, providing recommendations for best practices (in areas such as inventory management, insurance, record management, export control, etc.)

·       Serves as the primary point of contact for the COP and corporate office staff on technical, management, operational, and financial issues.

·       Engages HR on field and Portfolio Director personnel issues as needed.

·       Participates in project start-up and closedown and may serve as Start-up or Close-down Manager or Team Leader, as appropriate.

·       Proactively identifies and analyzes areas of risk, advises project team on solutions and preventative measures.

·       Ensures compliance with internal and external audit findings.

Contractual Compliance  

·       Ensures overall contract compliance with client and DAI rules, regulations, and procedures. 

·       Resolves complex contractual issues with appropriate escalation and collaboration with Contracts and senior management.

·       Manages preparation of budget realignments, contract modifications, and subcontract modifications.

·       Ensures team drafts routine contractual documents using approved templates.

·       Writes Statements of Work for subcontracts and serves as primary point of contact for all US based subcontractors and partners.

Financial Management

·       Accountable for managing project financial performance targets (with COP); leads project financial reviews, analyzes and troubleshoots financial issues.

·       Monitors and approves project non-billable costs; responsible for minimizing non-billable costs.

·       Responsible for ensuring accuracy of project financial transactions and monthly project invoices.

·       Reviews and approves home office payments (e.g., expense reports, vendor invoices).

·       Monitors accuracy of project budget and provides analysis and solutions; understands financial structure of contract and advises COP and home office on profitability implications.

·       Assists home office team and field with quarterly ETC projections and provides final ETC review.

Staff Management 

·       Supervises, trains and coaches Project Associates and Specialists.

·       Ensures Project Associates complete the required training as per the Learning Plan, skills, and support to successfully carry out their SOWs. 

·       Encourages learning and knowledge sharing across USG Programs.

·       Conducts performance reviews and goal setting meetings with Associates.

·       If serving as a COP supervisor, ensures COP receives DAI orientation, appropriate training, and conducts performance reviews for COPs along with the Technical Director.

Leadership/Change Management  

·       Provides guidance and support on highly complex and/or sensitive matters to their teams.

·       Leads and manages to motivate, inspire, and persuade within and beyond their team and is expected to regularly interact with external clients and/or partners relevant to their portfolio.

·       Leads the implementation of corporate policy within their portfolio with a focus on change management and adaptability to shifting priorities and circumstances.

Additional responsibilities as deemed necessary.

Minimum Qualifications

·       At the P8 level minimum of 9 years of relevant professional experience and a college degree. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

·       At the P8 level at least 2 years of supervisory experience, preferably of both corporate office and field staff, including COPs.

·       Demonstrated experience in budgeting, management, operations, and financial management for USAID funded complex contracts with an overall value of at least $100 million.

·       Excellent knowledge of U.S. federal government regulations, policies, and procedures

·       Thorough understanding of the practices, theories, and policies involved in business and finance with demonstrated analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills, with strong attention to detail.

·       Excellent organizational skills, able to prioritize assignments and manage multiple deadlines.

·       Advanced MS Office skills, especially conducting quantitative analysis in Excel

·       Excellent oral and written communication skills

·       Able and willing to travel to any country where DAI currently operates or may wish to operate, barring times when DAI Global Security has deemed travel unsafe. Associate Directors/Directors are expected to take a minimum of one short-term assignment per year.

·     Authorized to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

·       Master’s degree in a relevant area.

·       Experience working in host countries.

Supervisory Requirements

May supervise one or more Project Associates or Specialists and the Chief of Party.

Compensation & Benefits:

Grade P8: For employees working the United States, the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to be between $115,660 to $144,575.

Salary for part-time employees will be prorated based on actual hours worked. Actual offers will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, qualifications, relevant education, experience, skills, seniority, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Eligible U.S. based employees, will be able to enroll in medical, dental and vision insurance, plus a 401(k)-retirement plan with a company match. Additionally, employees will be eligible for company-paid annual leave (vacation & holidays), sick leave, parental leave; as well as short- and long-term disability coverage. Detailed information will be provided at the time a formal offer is extended.

For employees working outside of the United States, compensation and benefits will vary based on location.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting discrimination in all forms, nurturing respect for our interpersonal relationships, and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work.  DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.