Resident Program Manager - Burma

Job Description

Every employee of IRI is responsible for carrying out the Mission of IRI and demonstrating the Core Values in their day to day operations. The Core Values, which are IRI’s foundational building blocks include:

Excellence. We believe in quality results delivered by investing in people.

Freedom. We believe in exploration and experimentation to be agile and responsive.

Respect. We believe in trust, empathy and empowering people.

Teamwork. We believe in diversity, inclusion and the power of global collaboration.

Transparency. We believe in open communication and clear decision-making.

Accountability. We believe in personal responsibility as the foundation of success.

Based in Yangon, Burma, the Resident Program Manager (RPM) works with the Resident Program Director (RPD) in the design and implementation of programming in Burma. The RPM supports implementation of IRI’s inclusion in political parties and social media projects, including designing and delivering trainings and monitoring the program budget. S/he will work on a range of inclusion and information integrity themes, including programs that build the capacity of civil society and political actors to promote and implement inclusion initiatives; monitor, expose, and counter disinformation, misinformation and hate speech; and increase media literacy. The RPM interacts with IRI Washington headquarters staff, U.S. and host country government officials, and program grantees.

Position Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree and a minimum of six years professional experience in democratic governance and politics.
• Seven years in project management or project design and monitoring, preferably working directly with political parties and parliamentarians on inclusive participation and overseeing subawards to a range of local partners.
• Technical experience developing innovative programming with an inclusion focus.
• Knowledge of information integrity, digital forensics, and social media platform approaches to disinformation.
• Strong oral and written communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively direct or participate in complex negotiations with bilateral and/or multilateral government agencies, other donors or relevant audiences.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team to coordinate and lead the efforts of other professionals to effectively meet program needs.
• Extensive experience working with USG funded projects and familiarity with USG regulations and processes, specifically with USAID and the Department of State.
• Willingness to live and work in a potentially challenging political environment and ability to travel frequently throughout the country.
• Experience identifying and analyzing complex problems and developing creative solutions.
• Experience with financial management, including basic accounting experience necessary to draft and oversee a budget.
• Regional or country-specific experience (Southeast Asia and/or Burma).

Primary Functions and Responsibilities:

• Monitors, analyzes and reports on political and related developments in Burma to provide regional and country analysis.
• Serves as an IRI representative in Burma, developing credibility with and maintaining good relationships with relevant stakeholders, including U.S. and foreign diplomats and donor agencies, host-country government representatives, and program partners in the field and Washington, D.C.
• Participates in the substantive design of new programs and contributes to the development of new program ideas, while taking the lead on youth and gender programming.
• Supports the implementation of program activities, ensuring consistency with grant work plans and objectives.
• Oversees operations related to the IRI field presence and ensures IRI is in compliance with local laws regarding IRI’s legal status in the country and employment of local staff.
• Supervises local field staff, including participating in the hiring, professional development and evaluation process for these staff. Sets specific goals and provides ongoing performance feedback.
• Maintains an understanding of donor and IRI policies and procedures related to grant compliance and oversight, as well as a grant’s substantive, financial and compliance requirements.
• Ensures adherence to program monitoring and evaluation plans.
• Provides information and contributes to sections of quarterly, semi-annual, final and other relevant reports for donors.
• Anticipates potential problems, troubleshoots project problems and actively develops creative and time-sensitive solutions.
• Leads business development efforts, including identifying and seeking out potential new or additional sources of funding with real-time cost estimates for proposal budgets, and/or the development of new program ideas, in coordination with other program staff.
• Actively supports IRI’s communication strategy including IRI’s branding and outreach plans, and drafting program summaries and other outreach materials, such as web stories, tweets, etc.
• Contributes to Weekly Reports to send to Washington, D.C.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

About the Organization

IRI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to advancing freedom and democracy worldwide by helping political parties to become more issue-based and responsive, assisting citizens to participate in government planning, and working to increase the role of marginalized groups in the political process – including women and youth.