Program Manager, Global

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

This position supports management of World Council of Credit Union’s (World Council) multi-year international development donor-funded projects, including USAID-funded projects. The Program Manager is responsible for providing home office technical, financial, contractual, and management oversight. This position will have decision-making authority and will strive to ensure that the assigned projects achieve quality programming and development outcomes.

The Program Manager will join a small but growing technical and project management team passionate about expanding access to financial services worldwide. Our international development projects assist credit unions and local partners to promote economic development, providing access to financial services to improve health outcomes, foster micro, small and medium-sized enterprise growth, increase food security, advance educational achievement, support communities at risk and encourage legislative reform and regulatory systems development. World Council represents more than 404 million members of 82,758 + credit unions in 98 countries across the globe.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Management and Technical

• Serves as the primary point of contact for the Chief of Party (COP) and home office staff on technical, management, operational, and financial issues.
• Proactively identifies and analyzes areas of risk, advises project team on solutions and preventative measures.
• Provides guidance and monitoring for staff, ensuring clarity over project plans and priorities, and encouraging effective teamwork.
• Oversees the preparation of project work plans and budgets and track achievement of performance goals.
• Conducts technical review of US-based and field-based consultant scopes of work to ensure technical alignment and relevance, clarity, and compliance.
• Participates in management of technical STTAs. May be required to act as project director in the absence of COP and Head of International Projects
• Provides oversight of operational activities, such as mobilization and demobilization of staff, home office-based procurement, etc.
• Ensures understanding and appropriate implementation of World Council’s policies and procedures with home office and field-based staff.
• Responsible for start-up and closedown of projects and may serve as start-up or close-down Manager as appropriate.
• Monitors and tracks contract deliverables, milestones and administrative requirements. Maintains program files and ensures all files are current and include required back-up documentation as needed for the donor.
• Coordinates the writing, editing, reviewing, translation, and submission of quality deliverables including quarterly and annual reports, annual work plans, and final reports.
• Monitors compliance of subrecipients and grantees in accordance with donor requirements.
• Provides oversight and quality review of MEL process, in coordination with the field and home office MEL staff.
• Works with the communications team and program management to promote the program internally and externally, including updating program websites and drafting text for promotional materials.
• Troubleshoots complex, or cross-departmental problems.
• As a part of the program implementation team, and in coordination with the Head of Compliance & Operations, makes recommendations for improving administrative systems, procedures and processes to increase efficiency and quality.

Financial and Contract Management

• Accountable for managing project financial performance targets (with COP and Head of International Projects).
• Leads project financial reviews, analyzes and troubleshoots financial issues.
• Monitors project spending and minimizes 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.
• Ensures compliance with procurement and financial reporting procedures by field-based programs and ensures coordination and communication with field finance and administrative staff on procurement and payment procedures.

Project Development

• Participates in research, pre-positioning, proposal management, and/or writing as needed. Actively assesses strategy for current program expansion.
• Participates in proposal reviews as needed.

Management and Staff Development

• Manages resources across the team and encourages collaboration within International Projects.
• Makes timely decisions; escalates to appropriate decision-maker as needed; keeps the Head of International Projects informed of key management or technical issues on the projects.
• Supervises, trains and coaches Program Specialists and Officers, and ensures that staff are receiving required training and skills.

Experience and Skills:

COMPETENCIES:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Initiative - Volunteers readily; undertakes self-development activities; seeks increased responsibilities; takes independent actions and calculated risks; looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; asks for and offers help when needed.

Project Management - develops project plans; communicates with donor and program field staff; coordinates projects; communicates changes and progress; completes projects on time and budget; manages project team activities.

Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans resource allocation and needs; sets goals and objectives; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; develops realistic action plans.

Interpersonal - Focuses on resolving conflict, not blaming; maintains confidentiality; listens to others without interrupting; keeps emotions under control; remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.

Quality/Detail-oriented - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure quality. Serves as the final reviewer for reports and project deliverables.

Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone's efforts to succeed.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience and a bachelor’s degree or 3 years of relevant professional experience and a master’s degree.
• Two years of demonstrated contractual, project management, or related experience working with internationally donor-funded projects; USAID experience highly preferred. Previous experience working in international development and/or working in developing countries is required.
• Recruitment and/or budgeting experience required.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly in both verbal and written communications; strong cross-culture communication and sensitivity skills.
• Ability to multitask with strong attention to detail, organization, and time management with minimum oversight.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Strong management skills are required.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness in problem solving and initiative to learn new skills

Language Skills: Fluency in English and Spanish required. Excellent writing and editing skills, including the ability to communicate concepts and ideas effectively and proficient grammar and punctuation.

Computer Skills: Superior skills in Microsoft Suite: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of the job, the employee may occasionally be exposed to outdoor weather conditions, extreme heat and/or cold and working in unusual places. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit (occasionally for extended periods of time). The employee is frequently required to talk, hear, reach and stand; rarely required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Vision requirements include close, distance and ability to adjust focus. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Certificates and Licenses: None.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position will supervise up to two project specialists/officers, and field-based staff as applicable.

Travel: Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and can be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities that management deems necessary.

This position is based in Washington, DC; World Council does not provide employment sponsorship so applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.

From: World Council of Credit Unions