Program Officer - Europe and Eurasia

Job Description

The Program Officer is an intermediate professional position at IFES providing tactical support to the program division. Specific duties will include development, technical, administrative and financial management support and oversight. This position will focus on the South Caucasus region. Job Responsibilities:

• Serve as primary interface with Country Directors and local staff to implement projects.
• Achieve project requirements within budget, established time frame, standards of quality, and funder satisfaction.
• Assist with preparing budgets, review and approve field wire requests, vendor and consultant payments etc.
• Track project activities in line with budget, forecasting and evaluation of burn rate.
• Establish, maintain, and develop productive working relationship with field staff, subordinates, consultants at large, other departments within IFES HQ, and IFES’ partners and other stakeholders.
• Assist with program design using knowledge of IFES systems and use these tools for project implementation and monitoring.
• Work with IFES’ Monitoring and Evaluation team to design/determine program indicators and assist with monitoring to ensure activities are meeting indicators.
• Contribute to knowledge management and thought leadership.
• Resolve project problems by identifying and implementing creative solutions.
• Monitor pending project in-coming and out-going grant/contract actions and coordinate timely action and response with IFES’ Contracts and Grants team. Work with Contracts and Grants to ensure timely acquisition and delivery of services.
• Travel to field office to assist with project activities as needed.
• Participate in proposal development/new initiative processes.
• Encourage professional developmental of junior program staff. Evaluate performance of supervisee(s), and provide constructive feedback and proactive management. Provide feedback on project team and project performance.
• Work with HR to source and recruit critical talent.
• Support the process of designing and implementing subawards and monitor progress including reviewing deliverables. Work with IFES’ Contracts and Grants team to ensure timely acquisition and delivery of commodities.
• Draft, coordinate and ensure the quality of monthly/quarterly reports.
• Lead/coordinate drafting and submission of annual workplans, PMPs, and other programmatic reports.
• Other duties as assigned.

POSITION SCOPE: Provide varied support functions and perform moderately complex job duties requiring knowledge of proposal development, program management, donor interface, and research and development initiatives. Contribute to program planning, development and management. Familiarity with IFES tools, methodology and best practices. Manage work activities with internal and external partners to assure achievement of assigned objectives.Performance and outcomes are subject to management oversight.

DECISION MAKING/PROBLEM SOLVING: Multi-factor decision-making requiring research and analysis, subject to supervisory guidance. Verify and analyze facts, consult with other departments as needed, then implement solutions based on knowledge of procedures, logic, and sound judgement.Initiate contact with staff in other departments to exchange detailed, substantive information and coordinate activities necessary to achieve work goals.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: Participate in project budget planning and perform processing, recording and reporting of financial transactions in compliance with IFES policies and procedures.Critical review and reporting of project financials in partnership with Finance.

RELATIONSHIPS: Develop and maintain collaborative relationships, which require highly-developed interpersonal skills, involving active listening, creativity and problem solving, to assure desired outcomes.Develop opportunities to improve working relationships and work outcomes with internal and external partners.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED:Supervise entry level positions. Participate in planning and implementing work activities with internal and external partners.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Education: Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s Degree in international relations, political science, international development preferred.

Experience: Minimum of 4 years of overall work experience in the international development sector with NGO experience preferred. USAID, Department of State, and other international development donor experience; demonstrated understanding of the Europe & Eurasia region; and grants and contracting experience are all highly desirable.

Related Skills or Knowledge: Experience with program design and project management. Knowledgeable on USAID and non-US-based grant and contract proposals, regulations, and procedures. Familiarity with USAID and non-US structure and personnel as well as other international donors. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Excel required. Strong written and verbal communication skills are required.

Language Skills: English is required. Proficiency in Armenian, Georgian, or Russian a plus.

TRAVEL: Travel up to 10% of time.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

For the immediate future the position would involve working from home, with standard office work environment expected as possible given the impact of COVID-19, 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”

About the Organization

Vision: Our vision is a world in which strong democratic institutions empower citizens to have a voice in the way they are governed.

Mission: The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) supports citizens’ rights to participate in free and fair elections. Our independent expertise strengthens electoral systems and builds local capacity to deliver sustainable solutions.

As the global leader in democracy promotion, we advance good governance and democratic rights by:

• Providing technical assistance to election officials
• Empowering the underrepresented to participate in the political process
• Applying field-based research to improve the electoral cycle

Since 1987, IFES has worked in over 145 countries – from developing democracies, to mature democracies.

“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”