Managing Program Director, MENA

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Business Unit is conducting an internal recruit and external recruit for a Managing Director, Programs (M5). The MENA RBU portfolio includes current projects in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, West Bank/Gaza, Syria and Libya; new business in Egypt, Yemen, and Morocco; and covers a wide variety of technical sectors including education, economic growth, water and energy, democracy and governance, and peace, stability, and transition. The Managing Director (MD) is responsible for overall technical implementation and management of a portfolio of projects, overseeing multiple program directors and teams and project-office leads (i.e., chiefs of party, country directors, etc.). Expertise and/or implementation expertise in a technical sector in MENA's existing portfolio and forward market is preferred. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world.

Responsibilities:

Project Management

• Leads programmatic design and implementation for a portfolio of projects, developing operational guidelines and technical solutions that can be applied across the company
• Serves as the main point of contact in Chemonics home office for the assigned portfolio, including with USAID/Washington and overseas Missions
• Reviews and approves annual workplans in collaboration with the chief of party, ensuring timely resources to execute the plan
• Leads and directs progress and reporting of implementation, ensuring proper technical direction in fulfilling the project scope of work, and conceptualizing new strategies to improve performance; ensures project activities are aligned with achieving results in monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) plan and quality assurance surveillance plan (QASP), elevating any deviations for resolution
• Supervises project financial performance, oversees project closeouts and final reports, and ensures resolution of implementation problems
• Ensures that positive and productive working relations and regular communication are maintained within the project offices and between the project and Chemonics Washington offices
• Identifies and develops regional strategic alliances and opportunities to scale up and improve efficiencies
• Conducts periodic supervisory visits to assess the status of project activities or to participate in technical or evaluation work in the project office
• Confers regularly with SVP on project direction and strategy and makes decisive and timely decisions that positively impact project outcomes
• Establishes key elements of tactical and operational plans with measurable contribution toward the achievement of results of typically mid-sized to large projects; makes significant decisions on what their team of responsibility focuses on
• Develops new processes, standards, mid-term strategies and operational plans (1 to 3 years) to achieve strategic goals
• In collaboration with chief of party, develops and supervises implementation of strategies to optimize profitability and reduce cost overruns; approves overhead expenses per policy
• Facilitates effective working relationships with clients, counterparts, and stakeholders and continually promotes outstanding client service with corporate office staff and project teams; leads discussions as part of quarterly client consultations; leads response on CPAR in consultation with the chief of party and submits the final version in the system
• Leads planning efforts and directs corporate office and project technical activities for project startup, briefing the project team on the business development proposal and award process, with special emphasis on the technical approach strategy and resulting initial work plan
• Conducts periodic supervisory visits to assess the status of project activities or to participate in technical or evaluation work in the field
  Supervises the recruitment of project staff, including developing guidelines consistent with corporate policies, scopes of work, position qualifications, and selection of candidates
• Leads negotiation team for amendments and other substantive changes to assigned contracts or agreements
• Contributes dedicated time to other workstreams and functions to achieve BU goals, including new business, operations, and technical practice contributions
  Technical
• Applies in-depth technical expertise to projects' technical goals and objectives, new business efforts, and Chemonics knowledge base; leads technical assignments
• Advances body of knowledge and quality standards in primary discipline and practice networks; formulates approaches to guide project work, new business efforts, and technical assignments, and advises clients on technical trends and programming priorities
• Takes leadership role in practice network development and professional societies, represents company at technical conferences, and prepares or improves technical and development practitioner publications
• Participates in activities to build a strong knowledge culture by sharing best practices and important innovations through practice networks and knowledge management systems
• Ensures quality of project reports and deliverables through supporting the chief of party/ project teams to thoughtfully integrate components Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) adhering to program objectives, best practices, and theories of change; ensures project technical objectives are met in partnership with the chief of party and trouble-shoots when deviations are needed
• Serves as one of Chemonics' leading industry experts within selected practice area; makes visible contributions to the industry, formulates and contributes to thought leadership, creates technical tools, conducts industry trainings, and presents at technical conferences
• In coordination with supervisor, sets billability targets to contribute to a billable project work or technical area

New Business Development

• Analyzes development funding trends and priorities; formulates strategies, new directions, and techniques to grow the company and improve market share; and networks with clients, consultants, and counterparts regarding new business opportunities
• Leads proposal development, analyzing and recommending bid decisions, and conceptualizing team, technical approaches, and cost strategies to gain competitive advantage; generally, assumes role of proposal lead, technical writer, or management section writer, providing leadership to proposal teams and mentoring and managing the application of best practices
• Serves as a New Business advisor providing strategic guidance on overall RFP responsiveness of proposal development
• Collaborates with new business by analyzing funding trends/priorities and building strategies
• Travels periodically to explore new business opportunities, represent Chemonics, or gather information for a technical proposal; interacts with key client and staff to influence new programming decisions; develops and negotiates strategic partnerships with local firms
• Cultivates partnerships with international firms for the purposes of strategic new business proposal efforts as well as local, in-country partners
• Serves as a strategic lead on new business efforts across multiple bids to independently track, implement, and perform BU new business efforts, including organizing and leading strategy sessions, strategic recruitment of key personnel, and teaming arrangements
• Leads BU capture strategy in a technical area or sector across multiple bids

Management and Leadership

• Promotes and exemplifies Chemonics' values and ethical standards and manages staff to achieve team and development objectives. Fosters and demonstrates a workplace inclusive of creating opportunity, serving others, building trust, fostering innovation and exceeding expectations
• Supervises chiefs of parties for projects within her/his assigned portfolio (this responsibility can be delegated as needed to the project management director)
  Supervises and mentors project management directors on project and corporate-related responsibilities and activities
• Communicates clear performance goals and standards to project management directors, offering regular performance feedback and prompt resolution of problems, and time and opportunity to grow and develop in key competency areas, including new business. As the primary supervisor, completes project management director's biannual performance assessments with input from others, and recommends merit salary increases, as appropriate
• Promotes staff development through coaching and facilitating professional growth opportunities for the teams within their portfolio
• Supervises, mentors, and evaluates multiple direct reports, communicating clear performance goals and standards and offering regular performance feedback and prompt resolution of problems; promotes staff development through coaching, mentoring, and facilitating professional growth
• Leads and significantly contributes to corporate initiatives that leverage new revenue streams, realizing efficiencies and cost savings
• Manages and mitigates corporate risks, including those that required company-wide policy and practice shifts
• Implements corporate initiatives to share knowledge and solutions; builds staff and company capacity
• Leads documentation and open sharing of best practices and important innovations company-wide, including in the project office; delivers effective oral and written presentations that advance development assistance knowledge and understanding; and communicates in a way that persuades and promotes openness and innovation
• Leverages technical networks to identify and recommend candidates for strategic staff recruitment; manages, mentors, and evaluates manager and associate staff, communicating clear performance goals and standards, offering regular performance feedback, ensuring well-run meetings, and having an open-door policy
• Promotes and exemplifies Chemonics' values and ethical standards and manages staff to achieve team and development objectives
• Creates a productive and motivating work environment for staff by promoting cooperation and teamwork across departments, staying abreast of management, leadership, and team building strategies and advocating for them within Chemonics
• Demonstrates inclusive behaviors and leadership consistent with Chemonics' values and leadership competencies
• Serves as technical mentor in developing the technical capacity of employees
• Ensures chief of party and project adherence with corporate policy implementation, risk management, and change management, as required. Supervises the chief of party and program managers, including providing timely and constructive feedback through frequent as well as quarterly and annual reviews
• Performs other duties as assigned by the SVP
• Serves in the acting SVP capacity, as required; may be delegated specific approvals from the SVP
  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience; Master's degree preferred
• Minimum 12 years of relevant project management and new business experience
• Minimum 5 years of experience advising, managing, and supervising teams assigned to a department or several project teams
• Previous long-term project leadership experience managing program activities and leading a team
• Advanced knowledge and skills in the technical disciplines of migration and economic integration in Latin America preferred
• Demonstrated experience solving complex technical, managerial, or operational problems and evaluating options based on relevant information, resources, well-rounded experience, and knowledge
• Operates at advanced levels of authority and controls significant activities, budgets, and resources to produce and take responsibility for results
• Ability to create efficiencies and lead programmatic transformation in large, complex, global public health programs
• Thorough knowledge of company's main clients and their operations and experience cultivating client and partner relationships
• Requires broad management knowledge to lead project teams in one department
• Demonstrated leadership, versatility and integrity
• Conceptualizes, outlines, performs, and directs the research and writing of technical documents (reports, proposals, professional articles) and new business proposals
• Leads effective meetings and demonstrated presentation skills
• Recognized by others as an experienced international development practitioner in a specific technical area; contributes consistently to mentoring staff
• Demonstrated leadership, management, organizational, and decision-making skills
• Demonstrated experience managing and supervising staff assigned to a department or several project teams and new business efforts; demonstrates leadership, versatility, and integrity
• Previous experience working in international development and/or living or conducting work in developing countries required
• Willingness to travel and work abroad up to 3 months per year
• Works effectively both independently and as part of a team
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
• Language proficiency for assigned geographic area preferred

Apply by January 30th, 2025. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

Chemonics is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Chemonics is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics. Military veterans, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision
Chemonics will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by Chemonics, or (c) consistent with Chemonics legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)