Program Development Officer

Job Description

Chemonics seeks a program development officer. The program development officer plays a central role in developing grants, short-term technical assistance, and Direct Delivery of Goods and Services activities with carefully selected organizations that further the program’s strategic objectives in full compliance with donor and Chemonics regulations and policies. The program development officer is the primary party responsible for the development of grant activities, working in coordination with many other team members. In the Berlin office, the officer works closely with the team leader, other grants management unit (GMU) staff, and USAID/Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) to oversee implementation. The officer will report directly to and receive significant guidance from the team leader and the country representative and his/her deputy with respect to regional engagement strategy and activity development. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities Include:

• Identify potential partners through networking and outreach and work with them to develop grant concepts and activities under the overall strategic guidance of the team leader
• Identify and conceptualize potential activities that respond appropriately to the current political situation and established program goals and objectives
• Prepare, present, analyze, and evaluate grant concepts, applications, and grant agreement/award documents to ensure consistency with program priorities, goals, and objectives
• Develop and finalize multiple grants and other activities on an ongoing basis in a fast-paced and highly changeable environment
• Provide technical assistance to grantees and potential grantees during the grants preparation stage and in the implementation phase, working closely with grants managers and other staff
• Closely monitor political, military, and other developments within area of responsibility on a daily basis; share updates with the rest of the program team in a timely fashion and document significant, activity-relevant developments in activity notes in the OTI Activity Database
• Assist in developing technical presentations and other content, rolling assessments, and other planning exercises under the overall guidance of the team leader
• Use the OTI Activity Database to document and monitor activity updates in close coordination with other GMU team members
• Update team members on the status of activities during weekly implementation meetings and coordinate with grantees on a regular basis to ensure implementation is proceeding smoothly and challenges are proactively addressed
• Review grantee deliverables to ensure technical integrity and to ensure complete information has been provided in accordance with the terms of the grant agreement
• Serve as the primary point of contact with the grantee during implementation for the technical review of deliverables
• Closely monitor monitoring and evaluation site-visit reports and work with the monitoring and evaluation specialist to review independent verification of activity progress and status
• Work closely with the GMU and grantee to problem solve implementation challenges
• As needs dictate, complete special tasks the team leader or OTI field team assign to ensure the overall efficient implementation of program activities

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required
• Minimum of one to three years of relevant experience required
• Strong organizational, management, and administrative skills, preferably with respect to report writing and monitoring and evaluation
• Demonstrated analytical ability and understanding of local and regional political context and the ability to creatively conceptualize relevant grant activities
• Proven knowledge of local and international NGOs and community-based organizations implementing relevant activities and programs in country as well as knowledge of key governmental actors and stakeholders
• Current understanding and knowledge of the political environment and social conditions in country and the surrounding region
• Experience working with local organizations on project design and assessing technical and programmatic capacities
• Experience with or good understanding of donor organizations
• Field experience with NGOs in the area, preferably in Syria
• Experience monitoring and evaluating field projects
• At least three years of relevant work experience with project design, development, and management of relevant donor-funded community development projects in the region
• Ability to effectively use computer software, including the OTI Activity Database (using Microsoft Access) and word processing and Excel spreadsheet applications
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Fluency in English and Arabic required; proficiency in Kurdish preferred

Application Instructions:

Please send an electronic version of your CV and cover letter to berlinpdo@chemonics.com by February 2, 2018, with “Program Development Officer” in the subject line. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

About the Organization

Owned entirely by employees, Chemonics is an ISO-9001 certified international development company. For more than 40 years, we have partnered with local and international organizations to promote social and economic change around the world.