Program Director - Democracy and Technology

Program Director - Democracy and Technology

Position Summary

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) seeks a Program Director to join its Democracy and Technology team. This full-time role is responsible for managing team members, contributing to strategic planning, overseeing aspects of program implementation, and ensuring quality control of programs and written products on behalf of the Democracy and Technology team. As part of a fast growing team, the Program Director will serve as a member of the management team with primary responsibility for initiating and leading program development and implementation, on a wide range of democracy and technology programs throughout the institute. NDI's program activity in the areas of information integrity, cybersecurity, open internet and norm development issues continues to expand, and the Program Director will assist the institute in shaping the global activity in these issue areas.

Essential Accountabilities/Responsibilities:

• Conduct all aspects of program management, ensuring the effective and efficient execution of the established program work plans, including established actions, outcomes, and timelines. Monitor progress, identify problems and barriers and make recommendations to management for necessary adjustments to ensure successful, quality outcomes.
• Facilitate collaboration with team leadership, other team members, and as required across other teams to identify and coordinate regional programmatic activities and priorities, including the development of program concepts and content for proposals, ensuring alignment with broader institutional strategies and approaches. Leads and oversees team members in the planning, design and evaluation of NDI's projects in collaboration with local partners, in-house experts and external experts and advisors.
• Collaborates with the Functional Director, Deputy Director, and NDI's regional teams on fundraising initiatives.
• Leads and supervises staff in documenting program progress and achievements, ensuring quality control of written quarterly and semi-annual reports; provides final edits on generated documents.
• Manages subordinates including conducting yearly performance reviews, coaching on performance, recruiting and filling staff vacancies
• Serves as a senior-level NDI representative at local and international conferences and meetings and assists with NDI's public outreach.

Peripheral Accountabilities/Responsibilities (Non-essential)

• Manage, as well as support process for onboarding and training of Temporary Project Assistants, Program Associates, Program Officers and Program Managers, and participate in the recruitment process for those positions by reviewing resumes and conducting interviews with selected candidates.
• Act as a back-up for other team members as needed
• Participate in cross-functional initiatives as needed
• Actively seek and engage in professional development opportunities to enhance knowledge in project/program management
• Maintain a general working knowledge of relevant program trends and issues occurring external to NDI
• Perform other duties as required

Required Qualifications

Supervisory Responsibility

• This position manages direct reports in the Washington, DC office

Education

• Bachelor's Degree, preferably in International Relations or related subject; graduate degree desired.

Experience

• A minimum of 10 years relevant work experience in international development, community organizing, political campaigns, organizational development, or impressive experience at NDI. Additional years of relevant work experience may be substituted for educational requirements on a one-for-one basis.
• Prior relevant international field work experience performed in-country is highly desired.
• Extensive program design and strategic planning experience as it relates to executing program activities; this including managing staff, completing budget management activities with large grants or handling multiple programs or countries.
• Experience leading digital development initiatives, including experience developing digital strategies, digital and data governance activities and implementing digital solutions meeting the needs of various stakeholders at multiple levels (individuals, organizations, governments, etc.)
• Knowledge of and experience applying the Principles for Digital Development and adapting/implementing technology applications and products for diverse contexts and audiences.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into easy-to-understand considerations in order to support NDI regional and functional teams, and program partners in applying solutions that meet the specified requirements and are appropriate given the implementing environment
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity to effectively interact with all levels of staff, U.S. and foreign government personnel, members of donor organizations, funders, and policy makers
• Superior oral and written communications skills to effectively present information, respond to questions and negotiate details
• Fluency in English required; additional linguistic abilities preferred
• Exceptional skills for analyzing complex program and political issues and to think innovatively and introduce new concepts
• Superior writing skills, clear and persuasive and experienced in editing of written materials.
• Prior demonstrated management and leadership experience with the capability of leading, inspiring and motivating staff to carry out NDI's objectives
• Ability to lead team-wide capacity building sessions for junior staff
• Experience managing budget planning and overseeing budget related tasks
• Ability and willingness to travel to regional locations, which are often remote and difficult to reach

Technical knowledge

• Knowledge of Google Apps (Google Docs, Gmail, Calendar, and Google Drive)
• Experience in writing technical documentation
• Knowledge of basic networking
• Knowledge of project management applications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Job Knowledge
• Problem Solving/Decision Making
• Communication
• Collaborating with Others
• Financial Stewardship
• Management

Certification/Licenses (desired)

None Required

Work Environment

This position operates in an office setting in an open plan environment and may require sitting for long periods of time. The open plan environment consists of large open spaces with less walls, offices or rooms. There can be periods of activity and talking amongst other employees that can be seen or heard more frequently in an open environment.

Occasional evening and weekend work may be required, as well as attendance at external events.

Some international travel is required in this role, approximately 10% to NDI field locations. These locations often are in remote locations and may require significant time and varying modes of travel. Designated locations also may at times be considered less secure and with greater risk to NDI employees.

Physical Requirements

• Sitting/mobility—to work at a desk and move around work areas.
• Speaking/hearing—to engage orally in conversation with others and conduct presentations.
• Seeing—to effectively use a computer screen and for reading and interpreting printed materials, memos and other paperwork.
• Reaching/handling—to input information into computer systems and retrieve and work with appropriate paperwork, equipment and supplies.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Reasonable Accommodation

NDI welcomes and supports a diverse, inclusive work environment. As such, our commitment is to promote equal employment opportunities (EEO) for all applicants seeking employment and NDI employees. NDI makes employment decisions based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, personal appearance, military status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation, educational status, unemployment status, place of residence or business, source of income, or reproductive health decision making. Additionally, harassment or discrimination based on these characteristics will not be tolerated at NDI. To perform the essential functions of this position, reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities and qualified individuals who have limitations due to pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or medical-related conditions.

ADA Notation:

The physical demands and work environment that have been described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Comments:

Please submit a cover letter with your application

To comply with tax and legal obligations, all candidates for DC-based positions must reside in Maryland, DC or Virginia. While there may be flexibility for remote/hybrid work environments, candidates must be residents of MD, DC or VA or relocate prior to the start of employment at NDI.

Candidates must be legally eligible to work in the U.S. NDI does not provide sponsorship.

NDI is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). As such, NDI makes employment decisions and provides equal employment opportunity without regard to an applicant's or employee's race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state and local laws. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please notify NDI's Human Resources department.

Interested in learning more about our team and our work? Read more here.

Apply Here
PI188274336