United States of America (the): Program Officer
EPISCOPAL RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT
JOB DESCRIPTION
The position description is a guide to the critical duties and essential functions of the job, not an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands and work environment conditions. Position descriptions are reviewed and revised to meet the changing needs of Episcopal Relief & Development at the sole discretion of management.
TITLE: Program Officer
REPORTS TO: Senior Director, International Programs
DIVISION: Program
LOCATION: New York
PRIMARY FUNCTION/PURPOSE
Works with international partners to manage current portfolio of international partnerships, and identifies new opportunities to achieve Episcopal Relief & Development’s strategic plan. Manages partners to implement international social and economic development programs using community centered participatory approaches. Supports partners to respond to, learn from, and militate against the disasters impacting their communities. Oversees the integration and incorporation of best practices in development methodologies and disaster risk mitigation for partners, identifying and encouraging capacity growth opportunities.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Manages the day-to-day program relationships including, but not limited to field visits, partner visits to headquarters, regional meetings, etc. Strongly contributes to the strategic development of these programs in collaboration with partners.
Supports partners in establishing a rational and participatory monitoring and evaluation framework for their programs including, but not limited to, establishing baseline studies, effective benchmarks, outcomes and measurement tools.
Supports partners to identify and integrate best practices, successful methodologies, and lessons learned to be shared with the regional networks and internal program team.
Works closely with partners on proposal development, budget and reporting requirements including, but not limited to, training on proposal formats, soliciting and receiving partner reports, ensuring transparent recordkeeping and accountability.
Contracts external agencies and consultants for financial audit as stipulated in Episcopal Relief & Development’s program policies and procedures.
Identifies new opportunities for program engagement in collaboration with program team.
Creates and maintains program files within management database and ensures data integrity including, but not limited to, budget entry, regular country report entry, M&E entry, and payment schedules.
Coordinates with fundraising staff for funding including, but not limited to, supporting proposal writing teams, reviewing drafts, ensuring accuracy of information, and reporting to donors.
Creates edits and collates narrative reports, and “stories” from projects to be shared with the Communications & Marketing Department, web site administrators and other interested parties.
Performs other duties and special projects as required.
SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Communicates with internal and external international program officers, evaluation staff, international partners and other stake-holders to ensure that best practices are shared across geographies.
Assists with the development of a system of intelligence gathering from formal and informal sources to support strategic alliance building that is relevant to the program work of Episcopal Relief & Development.
Attends speaking engagements within the U.S. as requested by External Affairs staff.
PRINCIPAL RELATIONSHIPS
Regular contact with International program partners for program oversight and management, information exchange and intelligence gathering, program expansion and new initiatives, exchange of best practices and training.
Significant contact with funding partners and agencies such as USAID, and United Nations’ Agencies, local NGOs and Dignitaries for exchange of information, soliciting of funds and reporting on funds gained building rapport and collaboration possibilities.
Regular contact with NetsforLife® Monitoring and Evaluation Officers and Field Partner Managers and other staff to ensure that opportunities are clearly delineated and leveraged per program, monitoring and evaluation is effective across the country program and that duplication of effort avoided.
Significant contact with External Affairs team to ensure branding, messaging, marketing, media and public relations issues are coordinated and clear.
Regular contact with Research and Evaluation Officer to ensure data integrity.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience. Advanced degree such as MBA, MPH, MPA, International Policy or equivalent degree preferred.
Experience: Minimum of 3-5 years experience in program management in international context. Minimum of 5 years of partner based field implementation work. Developing country experience preferred. Experience in planning and management of government and foundation grants. Demonstrated track record in designing and managing integrated community development, with special emphasis on food security, water and sanitation or gender. .
Related Skills: Excellent communication skills, both written and oral; Ability to effectively influence key leaders and to represent the institution; Ability to manage difficult situations with tact and diplomacy while empowering and supporting, without alienation; Ability to collaborate and build consensus internally and externally; Ability to work well in teams as well as independently; Excellent skills in critical analysis and conflict resolution; Ability to pay attention to detail, to work well under pressure and to relate to people of different ethnic and economic backgrounds; Ability to establish and build relationships with a diverse array of professional and community groups; Fluency in English essential; Spanish, Portuguese or French also preferred.
Other Requirements (including Physical Demands):
Ability and willingness to travel up to 30-40% of the time, occasionally to globally remote areas.
May be required to work long hours and a varied schedule including evenings and weekends.
To Apply: Submit a cover letter with salary requirements and a resume to careers@episcopalrelief.org and indicate Program Officer in the subject line. Only qualified applicants will be contacted. For more information, please visit our website www.er-d.org .
