Program Officer, Africa

At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better tomorrow. A nonprofit international development organization founded in 1971, Pact works on the ground in nearly 40 countries to improve the lives of those who are challenged by poverty and marginalization. We serve these communities because we envision a world where everyone owns their future. To do this, we build systemic solutions in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and governments that create sustainable and resilient communities where those we serve are heard, capable, and vibrant. Pact is a recognized global leader in international development. Our staff have a range of expertise in areas including public health, capacity development, governance and civil society, natural resource management, poverty, fragile states, monitoring and evaluation, small-scale and artisanal mining, microfinance and more. This expertise is combined in Pact’s unique integrated approach, which focuses on systemic changes needed to improve people’s lives.

Program Delivery (PDEL) - Pact exists to help create a world where those who are poor and marginalized exercise their voice, build their own solutions, and take ownership of their future. The Program Delivery Team, contributes to realizing this purpose by: Forging smart partnerships and treating all people with dignity and respect; Applying organizational policies and regulatory compliance appropriately and consistently; Facilitating team spirit among colleagues and promoting the organization through communications; Influencing decision makers through focused, relevant communications; Continually striving to learn and share knowledge and find small ways to make the workplace more enjoyable for all; Cultivating and harvesting innovation; Contributing to the organization’s ability to think and act strategically at all times; Inspiring and spreading our desired organizational culture across the global enterprise.

Pact is recruiting for two Program Officers, one for the East & West Africa portfolio and one for the Southern & Francophone Africa portfolio. The Program Officer plays a significant role in directly contributing to his or her region’s success in keeping Pact’s promise of improving the lives of those who are poor and marginalized by coordinating, and delivering technical, management, financial, and administrative assistance to a country and project portfolio, and by guiding program delivery teams comprised of program delivery specialists and officers, in supporting their country portfolios.

• Identify and analyze country office- and program-level quantitative and qualitative performance indicators and deliver a range management, technical, administrative, and operational support services to empower and enable country offices and programs in achieving +85% time and scope objectives on a quarterly and annual basis
• Make a substantive, measurable contribution to portfolio-level annual new business targets by providing support across a range of opportunity development roles and responsibilities, including but not limited to, strategic prepositioning, proposal management, technical research and writing, thought leadership, recruitment, and pricing
• Productively partner and collaborate with other Pact departments, including program advancement teams, opportunity development, financial planning and analysis, accounting, and human resources to ensure that portfolio-wide support is given when and where necessary, and build strong internal professional relationships with members of these support units
• Manage, mentor, and support a team of program specialists and interns in successfully meeting team and individual performance objectives and professional development goals
• Promote a culture of inclusion, learning, support, diversity, innovation, and risk-taking within their team and across their portfolio
• Demonstrate engagement, creativity, and a drive to solve issues at a corporate level to create future and lasting efficiencies and quality improvements
• Engage, cultivate, and build an extensive professional network related to portfolio-level programmatic and geographic areas with clients, donors, partners, and technical experts
• Develop functional technical experience and subject matter expertise in at least one core Pact program advancement area as appropriate in supporting their portfolio

• Frequent, and sometimes extended, travel to countries within the regional portfolio is necessary for program officers to perform successfully. 

• Bachelor’s degree in a field related to Pact’s mission, such as in international development, international relations, regional studies, economics, business, environmental studies, or public health
• At least six years of work experience in international development or a related field (or four years with a 2-year Master’s degree)
• Ability and willingness to travel to low- and middle-income countries for three or more months per year
• Fluency in English

• Competency in the French language preferred
• Prior experience managing or supporting programs funded by major international development organizations, especially USAID
• Master’s degree in a field related to Pact’s mission, such as in international development, international relations, regional studies, economics, business, environmental studies, or public health
• At least 2 years of experience living and working in a developing country in a related field