PRIMARY FUNCTION/PURPOSE:**
The Program Manager is the first level management position at IFES providing management and electoral technical support to the local team. Specific duties will include building and maintaining relationships with relevant electoral actors, liaising with program donors, managing the drafting of donor deliverables, and providing political analysis. General duties include development, technical, administrative and financial management support including briefings, covering when Country Director is on travel and mentoring staff. This position will be based in Tegucigalpa.
Job Responsibilities:
- Assist with strategic development and implementation of IFES El Salvador electoral programming within the allocated budget and in adherence to the approved annual work plan while ensuring effectiveness, quality and timeliness of project activities.
- Participate in development of country’s strategic plan with a focus on strengthening El Salvador’s electoral institutions. Seek out business development opportunities for the division and manage development process, including proposal writing.
- Oversee specific project activities to improve electoral integrity as directed by the Country Director and provide technical expertise as needed.
- Monitor and evaluate project progress and performance including reviewing deliverables and make recommendations where project activities may need to be adjusted based on M&E results.
- Oversee bi-weekly activity reports, including context analysis, activity updates, and progress analysis, to be submitted to headquarters
- Provide guidance in design, implementation, evaluation and overall management of project(s) including adherence to approved annual work plans and effectiveness of program activities.
- Provide substantive contribution to knowledge management and thought leadership.
- Alert Country Director and IFES HQ team of programmatic concerns, challenges and difficulties.
- Ensure contractual compliance for department managed projects, including quality and timeliness of project deliverables.
- Establish, maintain and develop relationship with peers, subordinates, key stakeholders, donors, partners, and consultants at large for the purpose of business development and information dissemination.
- Supervise in-country support staff and consultants, providing feedback on performance.
- Organize the planning, administration and logistics of special events and key procurements in accordance with IFES and USAID policies and procedures.
- Provide political context and updates to IFES Country Director and HQ staff.
- Serve as a back-up of senior management in the absence of the Country Director. This may include representing the Country Director and the project at offsite meetings, if necessary.
- Lead the drafting of USAID deliverables including reports, proposals, and workplans
- Prepare budgets for annual activity funding
- Provide high level analysis of project’s progress and results
- Monitor pending grant/contract actions and coordinate timely action and response.
- Other duties as assigned.
POSITION SCOPE: Manage and/or perform technical electoral or complex work, requiring ingenuity and capacity to evaluate and respond to new and changing issues. Contribute to program planning, development and fiscal management. Provide supervision to junior staff on IFES systems and procedures, quality of work, and skill building. Performance and outcomes are subject to senior management oversight.
DECISION MAKING/PROBLEM SOLVING:** Complex decision-making requiring in-depth analysis and consensus-building, subject to management review. Consult with stakeholders within and outside the organization; identify, propose and build consensus around best solutions. Provide substantive contribution to IFES tools, methodology and best practices. Authority to make decisions on issues of program design, delegations to junior staff and financial oversight for assigned projects.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: **Develop budget projections in collaboration with C&G and field based colleagues and independently manage allocated resources. Authority to investigate, negotiate and recommend purchases of materials, equipment and logistical arrangements. Strong knowledge of financial systems to ensure compliance.
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RELATIONSHIPS:** Maintain collaborative working relationship with local team members and coordinate closely with HQ staff. Partnerships require a high degree of diplomacy and judgment, with ability to address conflicts or difficulties in a constructive manner. Represent IFES with external contacts at professional and government levels.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED:** Supervise, monitor and coordinate the work of local entry level and professional staff to ensure the achievement of program goals.
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PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Standard office work environment, with occasional field travel. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
P**OSITION REQUIREMENTS**:**
Education: Bachelor’s degree required in relevant field; Master’s degree in international relations, political science, international development preferred.
Experience: At least 8 years’ relevant experience in international development with experience in projects related to electoral management, support, and operations. Experience with budget management and oversight of single or multiple projects. Experience with managing teams.
Related Skills or Knowledge: Strong understanding of Honduras’ political and electoral system. Thorough familiarity with USAID and other international donor regulations and reporting requirements strongly preferred. Experienced with Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint required. Experience in proposal development required, with experience in program management and supervisory roles. Detail-oriented and organized. Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines. Strong communicator, both verbally and in writing. Collaborative, team oriented individual.
LANGUAGE SKILLS: Professional proficiency in Spanish and English required.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Standard office work environment, with occasional field travel. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
“All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment/promotions and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, race, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.
IFES takes affirmative action with respect to the employment and promotion of women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and covered veterans. IFES will also take affirmative action on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
IFES is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor”