Portfolio Director

JOB SUMMARY:

The Portfolio Director (PD-HQ) is the representative and champion of the project at the Home Office. S/he brings a strategic view, application of best practices in project management, and client relationship skills throughout the project cycle. With the Project Director, the PD-HQ leads assigned projects to ensure that the project team achieves stated objectives within budget and in compliance with contractual regulations and MSH policies. In partnership with the PD and TSL s/he ensures technical excellence in line with MSH’s standards, values, and mission. The PD-HQ reinforces a culture of data analysis and data use for decision-making. The Portfolio Director supervises and supports the Project Director. The PD-HQ focuses strategically on new business development initiatives primarily within his/her countries and liaises with corporate business development and strategy leadership.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Oversight of Project Delivery (45%)

• Provides strategic leadership and management support to the Project Director to deliver high-quality results within budget and in accordance with MSH’s Standards of Technical Excellence.
• Remains informed and knowledgeable of the project environment, the network of stakeholders, constituents, and counterparts, and supports the Project Director in the management of these relationships.
• Facilitates internal coordination and linkages required to achieve technical and administrative management objectives.
• Establishes regular communication and relationships with clients to ensure MSH responsiveness to donor needs and requests.
• Ensures that project start-ups and closeouts are implemented efficiently, timely, and effectively
• Prioritizes data analysis and use of data for decision-making and adaptive project management. Guides the Project Director to lead a collaborative approach to develop, review, and monitor the annual work plan, budget, Performance Monitoring Plan, progress reports, Environmental Mitigation Plan, strategic communications plan, MSH Project Reviews, short term technical assistance plan, risk management plan and ad hoc reports.
• Ensures Project Director delivers timely and high-quality technical, financial, contractual, and other deliverables and sub-award monitoring and mitigation plans are developed and implemented. Provides guidance and oversight to Project Director for contractual compliance.
• Provides strategic support to the Project Director to develop cost-share plans and monitor cost-share contributions as part of routine project financial performance monitoring.
• Works closely with the Project Director to periodically review project staffing levels, internal relationships, and staff performance, advise on sensitive personnel issues and engage HR as warranted.
• Promotes the effective use of shared services among projects in the country and from corporate services to ensure operational efficiencies by actively engaging the Project Directors in finding solutions to challenges with shared and corporate services aspects of project success.
• Supports the Project Director to develop a comprehensive project risk management plan to ensure a strong control environment and that project risks are identified, assessed, prioritized, mitigated, and monitored.
• Works with the Project Director in the preparation and execution of internal audits and ensures timely resolution of issues identified.
• Provides guidance and support to the Project Director as s/he partners with client and donor for preparation and execution of external evaluations and audits.
• Oversees and ensures that compliant management and operations systems are in place to effectively support the project’s technical activities and safeguard MSH.
• Ensures the Project Director and the full project team are aware of and comply with all donor regulations, local laws, MSH policies, procedures, and personnel standards (technical, contractual, financial, business ethics, etc.).
• Conducts project management support and Project Director supervision visits, as needed, to observe and review project performance, systems, culture, and work environment.

Management of Project Director Performance (25%)

• Works with Project Director to develop clear Performance Objectives and Professional Development Goals (PDG) and actively monitor and discuss these objectives throughout the year and evaluate their attainment during the annual Performance Review.
• Orients Project Director to position responsibilities. Provide or organize any on-the-job or refresher training or orientation as needed.
• Coaches Project Director on issues pertaining to financial and risk management, donor relationship management, staff management, program design, and annual work planning and communications.
• Provides needed coaching/mentoring to assure continued high performance, leadership development, and succession planning based on PD’s PDGs and assessed performance.
• Supports the Project Director to create and foster a collaborative working environment within the project team including the home office support team.

Strategic Knowledge Exchange and Business Development (20%)

• Promotes knowledge exchange and lessons learned by working with the project team, Senior Manager, and TSL to identify and document challenges, solutions, innovations, best practices, and lessons learned.
• Provides strategic inputs to and liaises with a new business development organization, including identifying program opportunities, selecting strong program leadership and staff candidates, intelligence gathering, positioning, and contributing to proposals.

Contributions to Program Delivery and MSH (10%)

• Works closely with VP – Program Delivery as part of the Program Delivery leadership team.
• Actively participates in staff meetings, assigned working groups, information sessions, etc.
• Support the rollout and adherence to new policies and procedures
• Provide feedback to other managers on their supervisee’s performance in relation to their work on assigned projects (e.g. Senior Managers, TSLs, (S)PSOs, etc.).

LOCATION: US-MA-Medford, US-VA-Arlington, or Remote

REQUIRED MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• 12-15+ years of relevant and related work experience with international development project management and a Master’s degree or higher in a field of study relevant to job responsibility.
• At least 10 years of management experience managing health projects in developing countries.
• Demonstrated experience in the management of USAID and other donor-funded activities (e.g., CDC, World Bank, DFID, Gates Foundation, Global Fund, foreign governments, etc.) and new business development. Experience managing USAID contracts, familiar with contractual requirements and processes.
• Significant experience managing long-term projects and supervising professional staff and senior staff such as project directors and headquarters project management & support staff.
• Experience working in a developing country environment on a long-term assignment or multiple short-term assignments.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated capacity to lead a team and collaborate with colleagues and partner organizations to achieve results.
• Strong writing and oral presentation skills in English and a second language as appropriate for the portfolio of countries under supervision.
• Proven track record in the financial management of international projects.
• Understanding of USAID and field Missions; USG audiences, trends, and requirements.

COMPETENCIES: Functional and Technical Skills, Problem Solving & Decision Quality, Emotional Resilience, Integrity, Collaboration, Empowerment. Assessing, Managing, and Measuring Work.

How to apply

Portfolio Director (myworkdayjobs.com)