Project Director – USAID/West Africa’s Strengthening Regional Peace And Stability Program

Dexis is a professional services firm that solves the most pressing social challenges in complex environments, paving the way for a more secure and prosperous world.

Dexis embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to build and maintain a safe environment where we celebrate diverse backgrounds, treat everyone with respect, and value the unique lived experiences each person brings based on their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, military or veteran status, national origin, age, marital status or family status and related conditions.

At Dexis, you will experience a corporate culture of inclusiveness, fairness, and trust. You will be given the means and mentorship needed to succeed, and your creativity will be rewarded.

About the Position

In anticipation of USAID/West Africa’s Strengthening Regional Peace and Stability Program, Dexis is looking for Project Director candidates. Based on current programs, the forthcoming programs may mirror those which” support regional and national capacity and commitment to open, accountable, and democratic governance through: (1) strengthening participatory, representative, and inclusive political processes and government institutions; (2) promoting greater accountability of institutional leaders to citizens and to the law; and (3) supporting partner countries’ pathways toward stability and peace. USAID also addresses the risks of instability from violent conflict, and prioritizes targeted conflict and violence prevention, peace building, and preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) interventions across the region.”

The Project Director will serve as Dexis’ primary point of contact with the client and will be responsible for the day-to-day contract performance, coordination, and communications with both the client and Dexis’ personnel in the field. The position involves supporting client and partner relationships; high quality project management, financial management, procurement management, and contract compliance; provision of technical assistance; and supervising staff and supporting corporate business development. The Project Director will work collaboratively with partners, colleagues and client teams, consultants, field staff, and support units throughout Dexis.

Responsibilities

The percentage to which these responsibilities make up the job will fluctuate with the needs of the company and the direct experience a candidate brings to the role.

Project Management:

• Conducts duties and responsibilities with full understanding of clients’ requirements and the relevant policies and regulations.
• Leads compliant program administration, to include communications, administration, logistics, procurement, staffing/recruitment, budgeting and financial management, contractual reporting requirements, and inventory management.
• Ensures that all program activities are managed and implemented according to the approved budget, USAID regulations, Dexis policies and procedures, and contractual specifications.
• Manages reviews of program documentation and contractual agreements to ensure compliance with Dexis policy and USAID rules and regulations.
• Ensures that the project(s) and its personnel maintain the proper direction in fulfillment of the contract scope of work. Manages and provides final reviews and input to all progress reports, work plans and other documents to ensure compliance with company standards and contract requirements. Works collaboratively with project team and clients, conducting periodic visits to assess the status of project activities and to contribute to administrative or technical work in the field.
• Leads rapid recruitment, hiring, and onboarding processes for project and PMU staff, including compliance with Dexis, client, and local policies and procedures.
• Take any necessary actions to correct performance problems to assure quality control and serve as primary liaison to the USAID COR responsible for USAID management of the contract.
• Manages and oversees appropriate division of labor on project management teams according to complexity of projects and competencies of assigned staff.
• As required, supports project startups, including team members’ employment processing, orientation on contract provisions, allowances, and benefits, installation of administrative, logistical, and accounting systems in the field, hiring and training of local staff, mobilizing local subcontracts, and managing office and housing arrangements.
• Elevates contractual or client concerns as appropriate.

Technical

• Oversee the development and review process and provide relevant, substantive comments on reports, proposals, and other project technical work.
• Provides technical backstopping for projects as required.
• Routinely apply knowledge of stabilization and development assistance to problem solving, new business development, strategy, and programming decisions.
• Facilitate the expansion of the company’s knowledge management system.

New Business Development

• Actively seek out and participate in external events and networking with clients and counterparts.
• As requested, serve in a leadership role on new business opportunities including technical leadership, bid management, technical writing, section writing, etc.
• Broaden professional network of development practitioners, recruitment sources, partners, competitors, counterparts, and client representatives.

Supervisory and Leadership

• Attract, recruit, and recommend hiring of new staff members. Train and mentor manager and associate-level staff on the company’s management tools and systems.
• Supervise, develop, and evaluate assigned staff. Ensure staff receive regular constructive performance feedback, prompt resolution of problems, and time and opportunity to grow and develop in key competency areas.
• Supervise recruitment and hiring; oversee staff training and development to ensure professionalism and skill enhancement.

General

• Demonstrate responsive customer service and maintain close working relationships with a variety of internal and external stakeholders or customers.
• International travel may be required (up to 25%)
• Undertake any other duties which may from time to time be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree – preferably in a relevant field, including but not limited to political science, international development, or international relations, Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of twelve years of progressively responsible relevant experience, including:
• At least one year of overseas field experience in a developing country (experience in West Africa preferred)
• At least one year of supervisory experience, and
• A minimum of three years working on donor-funded or government-funded projects in a related role.
• Fluency in USAID contracts required, experience in contract and grants management highly preferred.
• High proficiency with MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint required. Ability and desire to learn corporate financial management software
• Experience with project management, administration, reporting, monitoring, procurement and financial operations on USAID contracts.
• Experience in West Africa highly desired.
• Experience in inclusive political processes and building accountability of institutional leaders, and/or peacebuilding and P/CVE highly preferred.
• Fluency in English required, French proficiency highly preferred.

Dexis is on a mission to help solve today’s most pressing global political, social, and economic challenges and create a world where all people are safe and prosperous. As a Dexis employee, you will be challenged, empowered, and mentored. Our motto is “find a way or make a way” — that’s how Dexis goes “all in.” How will you?

If you are passionate about this opportunity, apply now!

Only those applicants who meet the above criteria will be contacted for interview.

Dexis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, pregnancy, disability, age, genetic information, military service, veteran status, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, childbirth and related medical conditions, including lactation, or any other protected class under applicable law.

If you are hired for a position that is paid from the Dexis home office, you will be required to submit proof that you have received the COVID-19 vaccine unless you qualify for a legally recognized medical or religious exception to the vaccine requirement. This does not apply to AL, AZ, FL, KS, MT, NH, ND, or TX residents.