Program Associate, Education

Overview

Background:

Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, governance and post-crisis stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.

Position Summary:

Creative seeks a Program Associate for the Education for Development Division. The Program Associate (PA) works under regular supervision and performs a wide variety of responsible assignments within their project area by serving as a member of a Headquarters (HQ)-based team. The PA provides regular project backstopping support, travels internationally for field projects and business reconnaissance activities and helps to ensure the successful and compliant implementation of assigned projects. The Program Associate serves as the primary financial, contractual, and program backstop for a specific project field team. This position works with senior project management staff to solve potential problems through professional project management and backstopping skillsets. The Program Associate provides operational, research and logistical support to project staff and consultants, and contributes drafting of relevant programmatic documents and reports. As part of the HQ team, the Program Associate works closely with the field team, and, as needed, contributes to technical aspects of program design and implementation. The Program Associate also assists with business development and proposal activities, as opportunities arise.

Reporting & Supervision:

This position will report to a Senior Project Director (Yemen Gateway) and to a Project Manager (Morocco National Reading Project). The Yemen Project Director will be the primary supervisor.

NOTE: Different projects require different levels of project management skills based on their strategic importance, project profile and complexity, specificity, scope, and geographic location. Creative formally sanctions, and reserves the right to modify, the skill and position level(s) needed for each project.

Responsibilities

Expected Outcomes:

Project Management

PAs provide consistent and timely support to project teams during project start-ups, implementation and closedowns, contributing to meeting contractual obligations and fiscal targets and ensuring program compliance with client and Creative’s administrative, financial, procurement and operational procedures. Project staffing, project obligations, and reporting meet anticipated levels and high-quality standards and develop others’ knowledge and learning. PAs keep senior project leadership abreast of significant threats, project implementation deficiencies and opportunities.

Financial Management

PAs help meet project performance targets and revenue projections based on hands-on project and financial management skills, active management of vacancies, non-billables, and foregone revenue. Projects requiring important course corrections or corporate support are elevated to senior management.

Staff Management**

Program Associates are tangibly supported technically and professionally; their professional objectives and personal needs are well understood, as are those of key staff in the field. Contributions to meaningful, constructive and timely performance reviews is key. Projects honor all aspects of programmatic and fiscal compliance and PAs work diligently to identify opportunities to enhance HQ and field coordination and communication.

New Business Development

PAs make contributions to proposal development and business development efforts, as needed. Creative projects demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit and seize opportunities in the local marketplace and pave the way for the realization of new business opportunities. PAs help Creative’s visibility before stakeholders.

Learning & Adaptation

PAs assist in incorporating defined learning agendas as well as M&E plans into project strategy and program/project implementation from concept to closure. Project interventions and innovations are well documented and catalogued. Pause-and-Reflect events capture salient programmatic aspects with potential for replication or scale up. Salient activities are celebrated and promoted through Creative’s Communications Department.

Primary Responsibilities

A. Project Management:

• Backstops field projects within the Middle East – Asia team on technical, financial and administrative tasks for assigned projects and provides financial and administrative support to the project team in the field;
• Supports key personnel in the field, including mobilizing and demobilizing expatriate key personnel;
• Supports project consultants by developing and monitoring agreements, coordinating travel and logistics, and facilitating payment requests;
• Supports grant management by monitoring and facilitating payment for HQ-managed grants and subcontracts to international organizations;
• Reviews and processes project-related documentation including invoices, ensuring program files and transactions are compliant, properly documented, and organized;
• Assists in the preparation, tracking and realignment of the project budget and subcontractor budgets, and prepares quarterly financial reviews and projections;
• Supports the development/submission of contractual requests to the Contracting Officer for all travel;
• Contributes to weekly and monthly reports, project success stories and other deliverables as required;
• Acquires intimate familiarity with contract requirements, deliverables and budgets;
• Develops and maintains strong working relationships with partner and/or donor organizations; and,
• Works closely with support divisions in HQ including HR, Contracts, Procurement, Field Operations, Communications, and Finance, to support complex project needs as they arise, maintaining solid knowledge of all administrative, financial systems, and operating procedures.

B. New Business Development

• Supports business and competitive intelligence for the MENA/Asia regions, as appropriate;
• Contributes to capture planning and proposal development through support to the planning of reconnaissance and fact-finding trips in preparation for bids;
• Works directly with Proposal Managers and others in the Business Development Division, the Education Division; HR, Cost/Pricing, among others to contribute to the design of expected solicitations prior to their release, which may include setting up meetings, taking notes, ensuring appropriate archiving of pre-capture, capture and live proposal documents;
• Participates in bid staffing interviews, as appropriate;
• Supports the drafting of proposal sections and development of ROM budgets, assists with proposal recruitment process, supports development of marketing materials; and,
• Fulfills other duties as needed and appropriate**Qualifications**

Minimum Skills & Qualifications:

NOTE: Your job title is based on the role you perform and you must meet the minimum qualifications for that job title. Greater (higher) education and experience than minimum qualifications do not automatically classify you into a higher-level job title/position.

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field and four years of relevant experience working in the education sector, or a Master’s degree and two years of relevant experience in the education sector;
• Prior project backstopping experience for a USAID or Department of State project;
• Prior experience in international development in a donor funded setting;
• Prior experience in developing and monitoring proposal and project budgets;
• Experience working with consultants and vendors;
• Experience organizing and managing program/project knowledge/information;
• Experience supporting small grants programs;
• Strong knowledge of U.S. government donor regulations;
• Strong writing and editing skills; excellent communication, organizational, and analytical skills;
• Ability to work well in a team environment as well as independently;
• Ability to multi-task under tight deadlines; ability to travel internationally on short notice; and
• Comprehensive working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, MS Project, etc.).

Completion of Trainings

• Completion of all coursework and trainings required at the Program Associate level.

Desired Skills and Qualifications

• Proficiency in a second language (Arabic preferred);
• In country project implementation or management experience in the Middle East and Asia regions;
• One short term technical assignment and/or experience working in a developing country on education related projects; and
• Solid project backstopping experience for U.S. or other government funded international development projects focused on education.

PI146089613

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