Senior program associate, East and Southern Africa (ESAF)

Time Type:
Full time

Worker Type:
Regular

Chemonics seeks a Senior program associate for the East and Southern Africa Regional Business Unit (ESAF). The Senior program associate provides advanced support with project administration and completes professional and administrative tasks related to supporting global project(s) implementation. Supports proposal and new business development efforts within ESAF and company-wide. The East and Southern Africa region’s current portfolio and forward market includes projects spanning a wide range of technical sectors, including education, rule of law, natural resource management, democracy & governance, and agriculture & food security. We are looking for individuals who have a passion for making a difference in the lives of people around the world!

Responsibilities:
Project Management

Responds to and answers questions from corporate and project offices regarding client policies and regulations

Liaises directly with relevant support departments, such as human resources and compliance, to ensure project compliance with rules, regulations, and corporate policy, in consultation with program manager or director as appropriate

Tracks, and when appropriate, reviews project and financial deliverables and reports for completeness and readiness for submission; may provide copy-editing support as needed

Drafts and tracks administrative and financial project requests and changes to clients and partners, including approvals for staffing, financial reporting and tracking, activity modifications, and budget adjustments; may liaise with corporate office and project staff and partners staff to obtain information and submit approvals

Leads recruitment efforts for expatriate and local staff under supervision of a manager / director, including sourcing candidates, conducting interviews, checking references, collecting employment verification documentation, and providing finalist feedback

Supports monthly reforecasting for project budget; drafts monthly budget and staffing memos; participates in corporate budgeting process as requested

Provides review of local expenses, supporting documentation, and draft invoices to manager for review and approval

Analyzes and submits subaward invoices and backup documentation; drafts subawards and modifications; liaises closely with subaward partners on contractual issues

Completes data entry of monthly project invoicing, subaward partner and consultant information, expense reports, and other types of data as requested

Provides travel support for employees and consultants by gathering relevant travel information, reserving tickets, and seeking necessary travel authorizations and approvals; liaises with traveler to collect expense reports and required backup documentation

Processes monthly wire transfer requests and provides initial reviews to ensure completeness and accuracy; submits final wire transfer request package for approval

Drafts and submits employment agreements and collects necessary backup documentation to complete administrative procedures for onboarding

Facilitates fielding and repatriation of employees and consultants by submitting separation paperwork, updating allowances, coordinating travel and household effects repatriation

Facilitates securing residency permits, tax documentation, and housing for expatriate staff; oversees the administration of expatriate staff allowances

Leads Project Management Unit (PMU) efforts for complete and comprehensive project documentation by saving relevant project documents and approvals to project SharePoint files and facilitating document reviews and file audits as appropriate

Schedules and leads meetings, prepares agenda, and capture notes as appropriate

Participates in internal and external training events to strengthen core competencies for project management in line with donor regulations and Chemonics corporate standards

May contribute dedicated time to other workstreams and functions to achieve BU goals, including new business, operations, and technical practice contributions

New Business and Technical Development

Participates on proposal teams in specific line roles of increasing complexity, including, but not limited to, past performance writer, corporate capabilities writer, expatriate and/or local recruiter, section writer, cost preparer, coordinator, and subcontractor/subaward partner liaison; provides mentorship

Travels when appropriate to conduct information-gathering regarding new business efforts, including meeting with potential subaward partners

Contributes to technical practice(s) as required by BU and corporate needs and performs other duties as required

Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

Minimum 2 years of relevant administrative or professional work experience, including one year of procurement, contractual, project management, or related experience

Experience with data entry, filing, cataloguing, retrieving, and preserving records preferred

Communicates clearly and concisely in both verbal and written communications; strong cross-culture communication and sensitivity skills

Demonstrated experience multitasking with attention to detail, organization, and time management skills

Demonstrated experience following standard practices and procedures, receiving general instruction and supervision, and contributing to projects and initiatives

Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills

Works independently and as part of a team

Demonstrated resourcefulness in problem-solving and initiative to learn new skills

Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office applications

Professional working proficiency in French, Arabic, and/or Portuguese is preferred

Previous experience working in international development and/or living or conducting volunteer work in developing countries a plus

Willingness to travel up to 8 weeks per year

Demonstrated leadership, versatility and integrity

Application Instructions:
Please apply by Monday, May 24, 2021. No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted.

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.

COVID-19 Recruitment Information

Chemonics International is monitoring COVID-19 activity around the world. The health and wellbeing of our staff is of the utmost importance to us, and we continue to hire for all open roles with interviewing and on-boarding done virtually. Our new hires and current staff working from our Washington, DC, Arlington, VA, and London offices will temporarily work from home until it is safe to return to our offices.