Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.
POSITION SUMMARY – This position is open to CI offices in the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Africa. For a complete list of our offices, please view here
The Senior Program Director/Chief of Party provides leadership and oversight of a multimillion-dollar global restoration program portfolio. This includes funding some of the most critical reforestation (nursery-grown seedlings transplanted to the field, direct seeding, and assisted natural regeneration) projects in different parts of the world including the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia Pacific. The Senior Program Director/Chief of Party ensures an integrated vision among different grant agreements, components, and stakeholders, and ensures a dedicated focus on achieving the results.
The Senior Program Director identifies issues and risks related to program management, implementation, governance, and financing in a timely manner and works with CI field teams, other CI programs, and external partners to ensure that appropriate adjustments are made. They provide robust and comprehensive oversight for a large portfolio of projects with a global remit. The Senior Program Director ensures appropriate project oversight, monitoring and evaluation methodologies, and provides appropriate support to ensure excellent execution of the global program and project (site) level. They ensure that funding and granting timelines align among all partners for optimal delivery, and that selection criteria and processes are applied across all projects in the portfolio, including review and modification as necessary to ensure excellent delivery. This position manages the preparation and presentation of all implementation plans and reports, as well as any other duties required that may arise during the project.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Leads and manages the team and portfolio – provides strategic direction, vision, coordination, resource management, and supervision required to accomplish strategic goals and objectives and to deliver superior quality products.
- Identifies issues and risks related to program implementation in a timely manner and ensures rapid implementation of appropriate program adjustments.
- Ensures effective and transparent communication and alignment among partners.
- Oversees, connects, and/or mentors project staff and builds local and institutional capacity, engaging a wide network of experts internal and external to CI.
- Oversees the completion of all technical requirements to support disbursement and management for subgrants, including reviewing expected project descriptions, results, deliverables, and budgets, developing solutions to keep granting processes and deliverables on track, and motivating staff and partners.
- Builds annual global work plans and budgets with the team and partners reviews annual work plans and budgets for individual projects/sub-grants, and ensures submission of timely, accurate, and professional reports that meet donor requirements.
- Directs and oversees grant implementation across a global portfolio of projects, ensuring that all strategic objectives are met through aligned timing of contracting and budgeting, proper design, staffing, implementation, and quality assurance of each project.
- Maintains, implements, and improves effective program reporting, evaluation, and communication systems.
- Guarantees the efficient and effective use of the resources to reach the desired results of the program, monitoring work plans, staffing, budgets, and finances.
People and Resource Management Responsibilities
- This position, directly and indirectly, supervises project staff and consultants.
- This position manages a significant program and budget.
- This position must ensure strict compliance with the donor and award regulations of the funding source, managing all donor agreements, reporting and communications.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Frequent travel to the project site and other office locations globally.
- Comfortable working out of doors for extended periods.
- Ability to work extended work hours to meet project deadlines.
- Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in discipline related to program management, logistics, or a similar field.
- At least ten (10) years or more of progressively responsible international work experience implementing multi-sector programs with demonstrated strong management skills.
- At least five (5) years of global management experience, including direct supervision of professional and support staff and assembling teams working on multi-faceted international development programs.
- Previous Senior Project Director, Program Manager, Chief of Party experience.
- Proven leadership in the administration of similar activities with skills in strategic planning, management, supervision, contracting, and budgeting.
- Coordination skills including working in a matrix organization, broad general and technical knowledge, and experience in developing countries.
- Experience and knowledge of relevant donor regulations, policies, and procedures with demonstrated success managing international projects and programs of similar scope and scale.
- Proven ability to engage and collaborate effectively and establish strong working relationships with senior representatives of government, the private sector, and civil society organizations.
- Demonstrated ability to implement projects with rigorous timelines and deliverables and to track program quality through donor-approved monitoring and evaluation systems.
- Ability to convene and lead advisory and governance groups that include partners and thematic experts to produce results.
- Superior interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Fluency in oral and written English; proficiency in Spanish or Portuguese required. Proficiency in both languages is a plus.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Preferred
- Master’s degree
- Experience working in conservation areas of focus, or more specifically, global forest restoration projects.
To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.
See all Conservation International Career Opportunities HERE
Conservation International is an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Vets/Disabled
