Program Officer, Papua New Guinea

The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) strengthens democracy around the world through private enterprise and market-oriented reform. CIPE is one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy, and is the international affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Since 1983, CIPE has worked with business leaders, policymakers, and civil society to build the institutions vital to a democratic society. CIPE's key program areas include Enterprise Ecosystems, Democratic Governance, Business Advocacy, Women's Economic Empowerment, Anti-Corruption & Ethics, and Trade.

Position: Program Officer Level I, Asia and the Pacific (Papua New Guinea)

Reports to: Senior Program Officer, Asia and the Pacific

Scope: CIPE is seeking a full-time, exempt position based in Washington, D.C. for a Program Officer for Asia and the Pacific. The Program Officer will manage programs on women’s economic empowerment, business advocacy, and entrepreneurship in Papua New Guinea. This position is responsible for the development and implementation of CIPE's strategic focus on enterprise ecosystems as a means of inclusive economic growth and democratic governance through private sector collective action initiatives to improve business participation, economic freedom and opportunity across the country by developing country strategies, communications strategies, project implementation, and support grants to local business organizations, think tanks, and chambers of commerce. This position will also support the management of a field office in Papua New Guinea and will involve travel to the region.

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of strategy under supervision of SPO to accomplish CIPE's objectives on improving democratic governance and advancing market reforms in the Pacific.
• Design, implement and manage a portfolio of projects and grants for Papua New Guinea, supportive of CIPE's overall goals and strategies for the Pacific region. Project responsibilities have the following dimensions:
  • Develop project concept papers, proposals, reports and correspondence.
  • Serve as CIPE's representative to promote democratic market-oriented institutional reforms in Papua New Guinea including developing and implementing training programs, public speaking at events, and facilitating meetings with partners, potential partners, and other stakeholders.
  • Analyze, research, and be familiar with the region's political and economic landscape, identifying opportunities for CIPE programs and partners.
  • Identify potential partner organizations and beneficiaries in country and collaborate to design effective democratic and economic-reform programs.
  • Analyze both solicited and unsolicited project proposals in the context of the regional socio-political context, CIPE strategy, grant guidelines, and criteria.
  • Work with colleagues and partners to refine proposals, monitoring and evaluation plans, and project budgets.
  • Manage, monitor and implement all project activities, in collaboration with local partner organizations and CIPE team members.
  • Establish and maintain regular communication with project partners and other stakeholders.
  • Maintain correspondence and operational records regarding CIPE-funded programs in the assigned portfolio.
  • Monitor grantees, contractors and consultants' performance to ensure full compliance with objectives, financial and reporting requirements, and evaluation plans.
  • Evaluate projects through on-site visits, file reviews, and coordination with independent evaluators where appropriate.
  • Develop project reports, summaries and assessments.
• Provide support to CIPE country representative across the assigned portfolio, providing support and added oversight for all project activities, budgets and expenditures.
• Establish and maintain relationships with other donor organizations to identify linkages with CIPE strategies, monitor trends, and assess new funding opportunities. Work with the U.S. State Department, USAID, Australian DFAT and other assistance programs to develop joint projects, grants and/or contracts to further democratic and economic reform initiatives.
• Collaborate with multiple CIPE departments to achieve programmatic goals, including Center for Women’s Economic Empowerment, Communications, Grants and Finance, Policy and Program Learning, and other regional teams.
• Monitor current events, including political and economic changes and US relations in the Pacific, and assess the impact on ongoing and planned CIPE projects.
• Adhere to appropriate CIPE, NED and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce policies and procedures.
• Supervise, develop and manage junior program staff, such as Program Associates and Associate Program Officers.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree, or the equivalent experience in International Relations, International Business, Economic Development, or Public Policy is preferred.
• Professional experience with international assistance programs, non-profit organizations, chambers of commerce, and/or associations in Asia Pacific, preferably in the Pacific Islands.
• At least four years of experience with program management and program implementation at the strategic level, preferred.
• Experience with international development and topics consistent with CIPE's mission, including women’s economic empowerment, trade facilitation, anti-corruption and business ethics, democratic governance, business association advocacy, entrepreneurship, supply chains, labor migration, and others.
• Strong project management skills and ability to manage portfolio of projects from multiple donors
• Excellent communication skills, including strong public speaking, proposal and reporting writing skills with attention to detail.
• Experience with budgets and understanding of financial and contractual compliance
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation for implemented projects activities, as well as for assessment of partner activities.  
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team environment, as well as independently with minimum supervision; ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks.
• Demonstrated strong critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, establish, and maintain good relationships with international partners, donors, and colleagues.
• Prior experience with operations and ability to manage junior staff.
• Experience in Asia Pacific, as well as an understanding and strong interest in the wider Pacific region.
• Fluency (written and spoken) in English required; knowledge of another language a plus.
• Prior experience with U.S. DoS and Australian DFAT run programs is preferred.
• Proficiency in MS-Office, specifically Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and other digital platforms required for implementation and evaluation of projects, such as Salesforce, Wix, Google Analytics
• Must be able and willing to travel for extended and multiple periods.

Benefits and Perks

Competitive Benefits including medical, dental, vision, short & long-term disability, flexible spending, paid family leave, life insurance, 401(k), commuter benefits, telework, and more! Employee events including Company Picnic, Health & Wellness Fair, Holiday Party and lots of fun in between!

CIPE offers a salary competitive with other international non-governmental organizations and an excellent benefits package. Applicants must be legally able to work in the United States; CIPE is unable to sponsor employees for work visas.

Applications will be accepted and interviews will be conducted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls or emails, please.

Americans with Disability Specifications

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.