Vice President, Project Delivery and Monitoring

Job Description

The VP, Project Delivery and Monitoring (PDM), will utilize deep knowledge of CI field projects, program operations, and CI’s strategic plan to guide CI’s commitment to quality programs and excellence in organizational and project design and delivery. This includes the identification, creation, and implementation of project management and knowledge management systems and processes designed to secure and manage large, complex projects funded by public bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as through blended finance. Reporting to the Executive Vice President for Field Programs, the VP works with leaders and staff to develop systems, frameworks, and policies that support excellence in project design and delivery including safeguards, sound performance monitoring of results, and financial sustainability of CI. The VP will ensure that social safeguards, including but not limited to CI’s policies and processes related to indigenous people and gender, are mainstreamed across all CI’s programs and projects.

The VP will serve as a thought partner to senior leadership to oversee and contribute to developing and designing strategic concept papers, proposals, business processes, and reports. They will build a robust internal project management function and develop capacity for project design, delivery, monitoring, and reporting. Leveraging superior strategic and communication capabilities, the VP is an entrepreneurial self-starter, highly skilled in planning and managing programs and projects with many moving parts, and adept at conducting analyses and facilitating group discussions across business units that foster efficient and collaborative decision-making.

RESPONSIBILITIES

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND DELIVERY:

• Oversee CI’s project management function to ensure all aspects of our mission are moving forward successfully on the ground and in coordination across divisions. Serve as a conduit between PDM, CI Leadership, and the institution more broadly.
• Serve as a technical advisor to create, measure, and communicate institutional and project-level plans, milestones, metrics, and budgets.
• Provide on the ground project performance assessments, identifying risks, concerns, and courses of action for mitigation and resolution of any project delays.
• Ensure that key project outcomes are evaluated and leveraged for maximum organizational impact and donor compliance, including mitigating risk and tracking issues through to completion.
• Conduct and leverage rigorous quantitative and qualitative analysis to guide decision-making and make recommendations.
• Ensure CI’s safeguard policies and practices are mainstreamed across all CI divisions through training, technical assistance, and program-level support.
• Ensure CI’s safeguard policies and practices are reflected in project proposals, work plans, and implementation.
• Direct a strong team of technical staff, program/project managers, and development professionals, motivating and mentoring them.
• Direct start-up teams designed to move quickly from RFP to successful submission of high-quality concepts and project plans.
• Develop and oversee the creation of high-impact materials and products that reflect strong analysis and a deep understanding of the interests of various stakeholder groups (e.g. board members, senior executives, staff, donors, project leads, and partner organizations).
• Manage and oversee PDM quarterly reporting to divisional SVPs and other key stakeholders.
• Direct and manage a team of 10+ program/project managers and development professionals.

PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT:

• Lead and contribute to fundraising efforts that support CI programs and PDM functions. Work with senior leaders, grant development, and revenue-generating teams in identifying opportunities, coordinating, and communicating on foundation/government grant cycle milestones, and forecasting revenue.
• Support the creation and management of proposal budgets, workforce needs, team resources, safeguard assessments, timeline, and project risk factors in consultation with the country or field division leadership team and other critical internal and external stakeholders
• Develop and support systems to ensure consistent, high-quality project management end to end from RFP to close-out, identifying opportunities for standardization and quality control of programs and processes.
• Develop the necessary systems, processes, and tools to better support the facilitation, collection, and sharing of knowledge that is generated by CI field projects to draft high-quality proposals and sustain high delivery projects.

PEOPLE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee divisions of approximately 10 staff
• Responsible for budget averaging $1-2 Million annually

WORKING CONDITIONS

• This position is based in the CI office in Arlington. Our staff is currently 100% remote due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• International travel may be required for high-level meetings and field site visits.
• Ability to work extended hours to meet deadlines.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Master’s degree and 15 or more years of experience in progressive leadership positions; some experience in nonprofits.
• Proven experience in project design and management; including large, complex donor-funded projects (e.g., European donor agencies, Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund, USAID). Experience in conservation and/or environmental sector is highly desired.
• 5 or more years of experience in the ability to lead cross-functional teams with team management experience.
• Experience in cross-cutting issues of social inclusion and programming targeting marginalized populations on projects.
• Performance monitoring experience, including data collection, quantitative and qualitative analysis required.
• Proven ability to process data analysis into lessons learned and adjust program implementation. Track record of effectively leading a performance-based and outcome-based program and staff.
• Experience in grant proposal development, including writing and budgeting required.
• Proven ability to formulate and execute results utilizing strong analytical, critical decision-making, and strategic planning skills.
• Clear and concise verbal and written communications skills, including effective presentation and negotiation skills with experience synthesizing complex scientific or technical topics for non-technical audiences.
• Entrepreneurial spirit with demonstrated ability to lead change.

Preferred

• Language skills in Spanish, Portuguese, French, or Bahasa Indonesia.
• PMD Pro certification.

About the Organization

Conservation International (CI) has been protecting nature for the benefit of all for over 30 years. Through science, policy, and partnerships, CI is helping build a healthier, more prosperous, and more productive planet.