Program Manager, Timor-Leste - International Republican Institute (IRI)

 

Position Title: Program Manager, Timor-Leste
Reports To: Resident Program Director, Timor-Leste

Job Summary:
Every employee of the International Republican Institute (IRI) is responsible for carrying out the Mission of IRI and demonstrating the Core Values in their day-to-day operations. The Core Values, which are IRI’s foundational building blocks include:

Excellence – We believe in quality results delivered by investing in people. Freedom – We believe in exploration and experimentation to be agile and responsive. 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 foundation of success.

 

Position Requirements:

The Dili, Timor-Leste-based Program Manager (PM) is responsible for designing, planning and implementing IRI’s in-country programs. S/he monitors program progress and ensures the achievement of key benchmarks, including but not limited to funder-required indicators. S/he closely monitors and analyzes political and economic developments in-country and, when requested, presents this information clearly in verbal and written English, develops program concepts and proposals, and maintains relationships with in-country partners and host country government officials in coordination with the Resident Program Director (RPD) and Washington DC-based staff. S/he also manages the procurement process (e.g., subawards) with partners and consultants as needed and develops and maintains close relationships with them.

• Undergraduate degree in political science, international relations or related field.
• A minimum of seven to eight years in project management, design, monitoring and evaluation.
• A minimum of ten to twelve years of professional experience in international development, politics, democratic governance or a related field, preferably working directly with political parties, local governments, parliamentarians, civil society organizations/NGOs or legislative bodies on inclusive participation and representation, or equivalent combination.
• Demonstrated experience working with U.S. Government (USG)-funded projects and familiarity with USG regulations and processes.
• Demonstrated financial management experience in developing and administering program budgets.
• Extensive network with the Government of Timor-Leste, the National Parliament, political parties and women and youth leaders.
• Working knowledge of the politics, economy and power dynamics in Timor-Leste and the broader Southeast Asian region.
• Excellent written and oral communication, research, and presentation skills in Tetum and English, including sufficient professional experience with Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Ability to build productive relationships among the government, the National Parliament, civil society and the public.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team to coordinate and lead the efforts of other professionals to effectively set and achieve short-, mid- and long-term program goals.
• Ability to travel to new and challenging environments.

Local Nationals are strongly encouraged to apply.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities:

Political Updates and Analysis

• Provide regular updates and analysis of the political environment by engaging networks in the government, National Parliament, and political parties and tracking news articles and political developments. Proactively provide regular verbal briefings and submit two to four (2-4) brief news summaries and analyses on Timor-Leste to the RPD by Wednesday of each week.
• Provide analysis of law, government decrees, and official statements by including updates and analyses in weekly reports to the RPD or in person as needed.
• Support the RPD at stakeholder and donor meetings.
• Draft occasional blog posts with the RPD on various topics such as the country’s democratic development, China’s influence, and digital transformation and resilience.

Program Operations

• Monitor the democracy/governance and digital democracy/human rights contextual environment and closely track the work of other development actors, such as donors and implementers.
• Advise on program development and design program interventions that are gender-responsive.
• Develop advanced monitoring and evaluation skills and provide reflective, incisive reporting on program activities.
• Work closely with the RPD on the development and implementation of IRI programs and inform other program staff of program activities regularly so logistical arrangements can be made.
• Maintain regular contact with the government, National Parliament, political party leaders, civil society organizations, and youth and women leaders to gather policy and grassroot developments.
• Travel within Timor-Leste as needed to conduct outreach, implement programs, monitor and evaluate all program activities.

Strategic Outreach

• Represent IRI at meetings, events and workshops with funders, potential funders and domestic stakeholders when needed and provide complete lists of meetings held to the RPD via the weekly report.
• Support IRI’s communication strategy, including IRI’s branding and outreach plans on projects assigned, including program summaries, marketing collaterals, web stories, and tweets.

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:
Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work is performed primarily indoors with occasional exposure to outdoor conditions when required. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Employee’s Responsibility in an Emergency:

The employee is expected to respond to emergency situations involving the safety of fellow employees including evacuation of the building.
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This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive nor is it intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, or skills required of an incumbent. An employee will perform other reasonably- related job responsibilities as assigned by management when required.

How to Apply:
Interested individuals should email their CV with Subject: Program Manager (PM) to Dianna James (djames@iri.org) and CC Kyle Green (kgreen@iri.org) and Bryant Martin Fiesta (bmfiesta@iri.org) by  July 13, 2021.

Only short-listed candidates will be notified.