As a prime contractor under USAID’s EVAL-ME II Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, Panagora Group seeks an experienced Research Director for the anticipated USAID-funded Peace through Evaluation, Learning and Adaptation II (PELA II) Activity. This activity is designed to enhance USAID’s effectiveness in preventing and countering violent extremism, peacebuilding, and strengthening democracy, human rights, and good governance by strengthening the Mission’s implementation of programs; coordination of its activities; learning from its experiences; and serving as an information, communication, and thought leader regarding peace promotion and countering violent extremism in the West Africa region.
Panagora Group is a small business providing novel and integrated solutions in global health and international development. Our goal is to provide innovative solutions that build national capacity and promote sustainability through robust local participation and capacity building, utilizing highly integrated and private sector solutions. Throughout our work, we embrace a virtuous circle of knowledge stewardship, collaborative learning, and application of evidence to heighten and accelerate positive health and development outcomes.
Job Description
The Research Director will provide overall vision, leadership, and guidance of the activity with the status of Chief of Party. The Research Director will have principal responsibility activity management and technical operations to ensure that the Activity’s tasks are completed, and the objectives of the Activity are successfully met. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with expert capabilities in research and design of evaluative tools and methods, as well as strong team oversight and management.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Lead the team and serve as the primary point of contact with USAID regarding day-to-day activity implementation and management matters relating to the contract
- Ensure that all assistance provided under the contract, whether by international or local experts/personnel, is technically sound and appropriate for the needs to be addressed
- Manage and supervise the work of all experts/personnel provided under the contract
- Serve as the primary point of contact for information on the progress and status of all activities under the Contract and establish appropriate mechanisms to ensure that Activity progress and specific implementation concerns are regularly and promptly reported
- Provide overall technical direction of the activity, ensuring quality and timeliness of all deliverables
- Ensure technical capacity of staff; provide technical assistance and backstopping when required
- Oversee and support the design of evaluation instruments and performance and impact evaluations
- Manage the preparation and presentation of work plans, evaluation plans, and all reports
- Present documentation and ensure dissemination of impact, innovations, and lessons learned
Requirements
- Master’s degree (PhD preferred) in monitoring and evaluation, public administration, political science, international relations, conflict resolution and peacebuilding or related field
- Minimum 6 years of experience successfully managing monitoring and evaluation, CLA, analytical research, and/or program support mechanisms
- Demonstrated and progressive experience managing contracts of similar nature, size and complexity, preferably for USAID or other donors, preferably in chief of party or deputy chief of party or equivalent positions
- Ability to perform internal control functions to manage day-to-day operations of the Activity
- Experience in Countering Violent Extremism or Peace Promotion preferred
- Demonstrated experience successfully managing and mentoring staff, preferably in a multi-country and multi-cultural setting
- Experience building and managing complex relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including host country governments at different levels, international and national consultants, and staff
- Experience with USAID/West Africa regional mission preferred
- Fluency speaking, reading, and writing in English; minimum professional proficiency in French
Level of Effort: This is a long-term position based in Accra, Ghana
To Apply: Please fill out the online application. Please include a cover letter and resume. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
No telephone inquiries, please. Finalists will be contacted. Only applicants who include the required application components will be considered.
Panagora Group is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
*Note: Panagora does not offer visa sponsorship at this time.
