Director of Program Quality

About Trickle Up:

Since 1979, Trickle Up has focused on the poorest and most vulnerable, working with participants who live in extreme poverty and face multiple levels of exclusion due to gender, ethnicity, religion, and disability. The organization has worked with over 450,000 participants and their families, helping to sustainably lift over two million people out of extreme poverty in India, Africa, and the Americas. Our mission is to partner with women in extreme poverty to build economic opportunity and drive inclusion. Trickle Up works through partner organizations, in order to build paths to savings, food security, and agency, resulting in sustainable poverty reduction at scale.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a Director of Program Quality to support the scale-up of Trickle Up’s programs, with a focus on leading and supporting the organization’s systems and processes for project design and development, project implementation, and learning and improvement. A key facet of this role will be to lead the organization in creating a scalable model for livelihoods and economic inclusion, supporting both Trickle Up staff and partner organizations to implement high-quality, high-impact programs.

The Director of Program Quality (PQ) will be a senior member of the Trickle Up Program Team and will be responsible for providing strategic leadership for the assurance of program quality across TU’s programming areas. S/he will provide a leadership role in strengthening the quality, impact, and alignment of Trickle Up’s programs in Asia, Latin America, and the global Refugee Affairs program. The Director of PQ will support regional and program teams on program quality assurance and adherence to global strategic priorities, with the aim of demonstrating impact at the individual/household level and systems change at the institutional/organizational level.

Key Responsibilities:

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Capacity Building and Technical Support
Act as the primary source for internal technical assistance to program teams in the field. Liaise directly with in-country program directors to provide technical support on graduation, livelihoods, and economic inclusion.
Project Design
Lead the development of innovative, effective programs that enable people to graduate out of ultra-poverty and contribute to the sector’s knowledge base and partnership capacities. While Trickle has historically focused on the graduation approach, this role will be responsible for also developing proposals and concept notes for the wider areas of livelihoods and economic inclusion.
Ensure that all project design incorporate cross-cutting themes, including climate change, the use of digital technology where appropriate, and scaling options.
Support with the VP of Programs the scale-up strategy implementation and adjustment.
Project Implementation Oversight
Work with in-country program directors to identify, prevent, and resolve issues related to project implementation.
Participate in monthly Budget vs Actuals meetings to ensure project implementation and budget expenses are aligned. Work with the VP of Programs to recommend changes to the budget and/or project implementation plan as appropriate and allowed.
Provide technical review of donor reports, ensuring that reports reflect project goals, critical analysis, and lessons learned.
Research and Learning
In coordination with the Director of M&E help develop and execute an organizational learning agenda.
Business Development
Write compelling and technically sound proposals and concept notes.
Cultivate donor relationships when appropriate.
Representation
Represent Trickle Up at national and international fora when relevant and appropriate.

Education:

Minimum of a master’s degree in a related field (social science, economics, sociology, environmental science, etc.).

Experience Required:

Minimum of 10 years working with a credible, reputable NGO(s) of a scale beyond one country or country-specific program area; management and oversight of development/humanitarian multi-funded programs.
At least 15 years of professional experience in the development/humanitarian sector.
Demonstrated experience leading and/or coordinating strategic planning processes, including overseeing the implementation of accompanying operational plans/roadmaps.
Demonstrated experience designing/implementing capacity-building plans and training programs.
Experience living and working in low-resource settings.
Experience in leading cross-cultural teams.
Professional-level Spanish writing and speaking skills are required.

Experience Desired:

Headquarters experience managing and/or providing technical assistance and oversight to program quality management of NGO programs in complex and diverse contexts.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research expertise particularly in managing programs for demonstrated impact.
Demonstrated experience providing capacity development support and training virtually, through Zoom and/or other platforms.
A high level of affinity for new technology and technology-supported poverty alleviation programs.
Experience supporting the scale-up of successful programs.

Required Skills and Competencies:

Demonstrated technical expertise in the graduation approach, livelihoods, and/or economic inclusion;
Strategic thinker with exceptional organizational and analytical skills.
Proven ability to manage complex program design, reviews, and evaluations;
Excellent ability to co-lead on priorities for the organization, ensuring key actions are taken, accountabilities are clear, and deadlines are kept;
Demonstrated understanding of humanitarian contexts and multi-dimensional aspects of poverty; desired understanding of working with people living with disabilities and inclusion of gender-sensitive approaches in programs;
Excellent ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds, promoting a culture of accommodating diversities in teams, maintaining professional ethics and dignity of team members;
Ability to facilitate learning and sharing among dynamic, multi-cultural, and remote teams – translating learning into action;
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; ability to translate what is going on in the programs succinctly to external audiences;
Fluency in English, additional fluency in another main language (Spanish, Hindi, and/or other ) desired.

Other requirements

Ability to travel approximately 30% of the time. Comfortable traveling alone and under occasionally demanding conditions (i.e., in rural areas with basic amenities).

Salary and Benefits:

We offer a salary between $100,000 and $115,000 commensurate with experience along with benefits for this full-time position. The successful applicant will join a dynamic, passionate, multicultural team deeply committed to the alleviation of extreme poverty. Trickle Up promotes a collegial, high-performing organizational culture in which staff communicate clearly and openly, and are reflective, innovative, and mutually accountable.

To Apply:

To be considered, please click the link and follow the instructions to upload your cover letter and resume by April 21, 2023. We are sorry we are unable to entertain phone calls related to this posting.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which include criminal records checks and other reference-check databases Trickle Up participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this initiative, as part of the referencing process, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment during employment. By submitting an application, you confirm your understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Trickle Up requires that employees be vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to visiting or working in an RLF office or conducting any travel or in-person meetings on behalf of our organization. If you are hired for this position, RLF will require proof that you have received the COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.