Resident Program Director, Bangladesh – Bangladesh

Job overview

Every IRI employee is responsible for implementing IRI’s mission and demonstrating the Core Values ​​in their daily operations. The Core Values ​​that form the building blocks of IRI include:

Excellence– We believe in high quality results achieved by investing in people. Freedom– We believe in the need to be agile and responsive through exploration and experimentation. Respect- We believe in trust, empathy and empowering people. Teamwork- We believe in diversity, inclusion and the power of global collaboration. transparency– We believe in open communication and clear decision making. Accountability- We believe in personal responsibility as the basis for success.

IRI is seeking candidates to lead its Bangladesh program. The Resident Program Director (RPD) will be based in Dhaka, Bangladesh and will be responsible for the overall direction of IRI program, personnel, external relations, and finances in Bangladesh. The RPD will oversee a range of electoral and political participation training and support efforts aimed at improving voter participation, voter education, political leadership skills of Bangladeshi women and youth, and citizen participation in decisions affecting their communities. In consultation with IRI/Washington, the RPD will design and implement a long-term strategy for IRI programs in Bangladesh, manage budgets, and be responsible for compliance with local laws and regulations regarding current funding.

This is a long-term management position based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Position requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, international relations, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• At least eight years of relevant professional experience, including five to seven years of professional experience in democratic governance, elections and politics, preferably working directly with political parties, civil society organisations, NGOs and/or legislatures.
• Practical knowledge of the politics, economics, history and culture of Bangladesh and/or South Asia is desirable.
• Strong written and oral communication and presentation skills.
• Proven management experience, including the ability to motivate and lead employees.
• Proven experience working with USAID-funded projects and familiarity with USG regulations and processes.
• Proven financial management experience in developing and managing program budgets.
• Ability to prepare, present and negotiate complex and sensitive agreements and/or project proposals with bilateral/multilateral agencies and other donor communities.
• Ability to pass on skills and experience to others as a trainer, consultant or technical advisor; flair for working in an advisory capacity with local organizations.
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member to coordinate and direct the efforts of other professionals to effectively achieve program objectives.
• Willingness to travel extensively within Bangladesh throughout the year.
• Willingness to live and work in a challenging environment.

Main functions and responsibilities

• Monitors, analyses and reports on political and related developments in Bangladesh to provide regional and country-specific analysis.
• Serves as the official senior IRI representative in Bangladesh, developing credibility and maintaining good relationships with all relevant stakeholders, including U.S. and foreign diplomats and donor organizations, host country government officials, and program partners.
• Participates in the content design of new programs and contributes to the development of new program ideas.
• Monitors the implementation of all program activities and ensures compliance with the grant work plans and objectives.
• Establishes, maintains and develops productive working relationships with relevant stakeholders, consultants, and field and DC staff.
• Oversees all operations related to the IRI field office in Bangladesh and ensures that IRI complies with local laws regarding its legal status in the country and the employment of local staff.
• Supervises local field personnel and participates in the hiring, professional development, and evaluation of such personnel. Sets specific goals and provides ongoing performance feedback.
• Supports local staff in the areas of program development, finance, work plan development and presentation, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, business development and knowledge management in their country of operation.
• Maintains knowledge of funder and IRI policies and procedures related to grant compliance and monitoring.
• Understands the content, financial and compliance requirements of a grant.
• Monitors implementation of all program activities in country and ensures alignment with grant work plans and objectives. Reports weekly to DC.
• Monitor and approve field office budgets and expenditures in collaboration with DC program staff and the regional project accountant to ensure expenditures remain within budget allocations.
• Monitors, analyzes, and reports to DC staff on political and economic developments and media reactions.
• Ensures compliance with monitoring and evaluation plans, including monitoring of programs and evaluation/analysis of program results.
• Provides information and contributes to sections of quarterly, semi-annual, final and other relevant reports for funders.
• Anticipates potential problems, troubleshoots project issues, offers solutions, and actively participates in resolving them with creative and immediate solutions.
• Leads business development efforts, including identifying and seeking potential new or additional funding sources with real-time cost estimates for proposal budgets and/or developing new program ideas, in coordination with DC staff.
• Actively supports IRI’s communications strategy, including IRI’s branding and outreach plans for assigned projects, including creation and updating of program summaries and other outreach materials, draft web stories, tweets, etc.
• Performs other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

Training

Necessary

Bachelor’s degree or better in political science or a related subject.

Preferred

Master’s degree or better in political science or a related subject.

Experience

Necessary

8 years:

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, international relations or a related field. Advanced degree preferred. • At least eight years of relevant professional experience, including five to seven years of professional experience in democratic governance, elections and politics, preferably working directly with political parties, civil society organizations, NGOs and/or legislative bodies.

Equal Opportunity Employers/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The Contractor will not discharge or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants for inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing their own salary or the salary of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the salary information of other employees or applicants as part of their essential duties shall not disclose the salary of other employees or applicants to persons who do not otherwise have access to salary information unless the disclosure is made (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or proceeding, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the Contractor’s legal duty to disclose. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)