Program Manager

Who We Are

IREX is a global development and education organization. We strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world, where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people, and communities thrive. We work in four areas essential to progress: cultivating leaders, empowering youth, strengthening institutions, and increasing access to quality education and information.

The Program Manager is an integral part of a team that designs and manages projects to support education system strengthening, They are responsible for managing home office operations and technical support to two large programs focused on early grade and higher education in Jordan, which engage actors across the system – including in government, schools, universities, community organizations and the private sector: the Early Grade Education Activity (“Asas”) and the Higher Education for Innovation and Growth (HEIG) activity. Beyond their program portfolio, the post-holder will support cross-Practice technical work in education system strengthening and support new business and strategic partnership development.

 We are doers. Our decades of on-the-ground experience help us create greater impact, practical recommendations, and lasting partnerships.

We're looking for our next team member, could it be you?

 Knowledge & Skills:

• Ability to deliver results on challenging assignments
• Proven technical skills in education delivery, management or policy e.g. instructional design, curriculum development, online and hybrid learning, socio-emotional learning, teacher professional development, employability skills, private sector engagement
• Proven organizational skills, including ability to manage multiple tasks with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail, and to prioritize workload in fast paced and complex environments
• Ability to plan strategically and creatively, monitor performance, and anticipate challenges and generate solutions to meet program objectives 
• Proven communication skills, including ability to manage upwards, communicate progress, and escalate management questions or challenges appropriately
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and manage successful, collaborative cross-cultural collaborative working relationships with a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including education sector, private sector, government, and local organizations
• Ability to lead meetings, communicate with staff, and build teams across time zones
• Ability to work independently and as a team member with consistent ability to take initiative, meet deadlines, and be flexible
• Demonstrated ability to navigate and comply with complex regulations, to manage implementation of compliant systems, and to build culture of compliance across teams
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and financial processes
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft applications, understanding of teleconference and collaboration technology, and data management platforms. 
• Excellent writing, editing, and oral presentation skills in English
• Ability to travel to and within the Middle East
• Ability to design and support monitoring and evaluation activities to improve program performance and support institutional learning. Demonstrated research skills, preferred 
• Verbal and written Arabic communication skills are strongly preferred. 

 Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 10 years of progressive job experience
• Demonstrated program management experience, including creating, managing and monitoring budgets and designing and implementing workplans
• Demonstrated technical experience in education delivery, management or policy in early grade, basic or higher education
• Demonstrated technical experience with program design, grant writing, and new business development in education in a fast-paced environment.
• Team management experience or experience directly supervising staff
• Experience working with USG-funded projects, including experience managing compliance with USG regulations
• Experience working with counterparts in other countries and providing backstopping support to country offices, preferred.
• Experience working in the Middle East, strongly preferred.
• You must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States.

 Your Daily Tasks

• Manage annual work planning processes, ensuring that country office teams are on track and on schedule
• Support the development of technical work products
• Manage program monitoring, evaluation, and learning, analyze results to inform project implementation.
• Manage budget development/budget realignment processes
• Manage internal and external program reporting and communications including contractual reporting requirements
• Manage exchange activities, including visa processing, logistics, host communication and participant support if applicable
• Manage home office recruitment for assigned programs and support country office recruitment where required
• Manage stakeholder relationships with strategic guidance of project and practice leadership.
• Develop communication and outreach materials and activities to position IREX as a thought leader in education system strengthening (e.g. insights pieces, factsheets, conference sessions)
• Represent IREX and the Asas and HEIG activities internally and externally
• Manage routine communications with activity donors and respond to information and briefing requests
• Manage communication plans to ensure compliance with donor regulations, appropriate levels of visibility and alignment with strategic messaging
• Serve as a primary point of contact for current and prospective participants, host universities and core partners for exchange activities, if applicable
• Develop and maintain materials (handbooks, webinars, pre-departure orientation) to support participants, if applicable.
• Lead recruitment of partner institutions and consultants, as required
• Leverage the Asas and HEIG networks to pursue new partnership and new business opportunities, as required
• Build relationships with new donors and partners, as required
• Lead or support new business development and strategic partnership activities, as required.
• Ensure compliance of assigned program activities with all donor and USG regulations
• Manage and/or support country-office teams to manage program subawards and subcontracts, ensuring compliance during contracting, implementation and close-out
• Develop and monitor program budgets, and conduct pipelining on a quarterly basis
• Manage review of transactions, Country Office Expense Reports and Country Office Wire Requests
• Manage invoices and payments to ensure compliance, including participant expenses as applicable.
• Management, supervision, mentoring and guidance to at least two assigned staff
• Supervise the work of sub-awardees and individuals engaged under the activity, as assigned
• Onboard new home and country office staff as required
• Develop resources to provide clear and measurable guidance to teams
• Demonstrate and promote IREX’s values, management principles and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, in management and mentoring of teams.
• Other support duties as needed.

Additional Perks:

At IREX, you’ll work alongside committed, passionate, and collaborative colleagues who are united by a shared mission—making it a truly rewarding place to work. We offer top-tier learning, development, and growth opportunities, along with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your overall well-being. Benefits include health, dental, and vision coverage; a flexible work schedule; a generous PTO policy; a technology stipend; an employee assistance and wellness program; and much more.  The salary range for this role is $98,000 - $103,000 (midpoint range) annually, depending on experience and qualifications. Final compensation will be based on the candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and alignment with the role’s requirements.

Please note: While we aim to offer competitive compensation, not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range.

Disability Specifications

IREX will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008.

Equal Opportunity Employer

IREX seeks to attract the best-qualified candidates who support IREX’s mission and who respect and promote excellence through diversity. IREX is committed to equal opportunity and follows recruitment and selection practices that comply with all applicable employment laws. To this end, IREX recruits, hires, trains, and promotes individuals based on merit and experience.

****This position is eligible for hybrid work within the DC Metro area. Eligible employees are regular, full-time staff based in the DC region who split their time between working remotely and onsite at the DC office.

This position is not eligible for fully remote work outside the DC Metro area.

 We conduct background checks on all successful candidates.

This position is not eligible for Immigration Sponsorship.

 NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

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Salary : $98,000 - $103,000