The American Bar Association (ABA) was founded on a commitment to advance the rule of law in the United States and beyond by providing practical resources for legal professionals, conducting law school accreditation, developing model ethics codes and more. Today, the ABA remains a member-based organization that works to ensure access to justice for all, a fair legal process, and respect for the rule of law at home and across the globe.
The ABA is committed to service and refining the standards that guide the legal profession. ABA staff are provided multiple types of continuing education and career development opportunities. Your work will help eliminate bias, enhance diversity, and advance the rule of law throughout the US and around the world.
The ABA recognizes the value staff contribute to our success through a generous benefits package that protects their health and their financial security. The ABA’s wide array of benefit offerings include 401(k), medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, health spending accounts, supplemental life and disability insurance, prepaid legal programs, and a complimentary membership to the American Bar Association, which offers additional benefits.
Flexible/hybrid work arrangements may be available for residents of CA, DC, IL, IN, IA, MD, MI, MN, TX, VA, and WI. Residency requirements may apply. ABA employees are eligible to apply for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).
The Program Manager is responsible for an understanding and application of principles, concepts, practices and standards of program management for one portfolio of ABA programs in the Center for Global Programs. The Program Manager is responsible for full-cycle program management including technical approach, work planning, start-up and close-out processes, country registration, budgeting, and partner development, and is responsible for managing a team based in Washington, DC and the field.
Principal Duties/Job Responsibilities Job Functions and Responsibilities
Project Management
• Contributes to work plan development, activity budgeting, and monthly and annual oversight of all programs within a program management unit, while ensuring adherence to programmatic and financial award requirements, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 2 CFR 200, and other regulatory procedures
•Oversees project reporting and the development of M&E plans internally and with the donor, ensuring effective implementation of M&E systems based on quality data. Assesses MEL performance vs workplan progress and makes adjustments to program implementation based on that assessment.
• Creates and manages budgetary tracking tools to review actual to planned budget expenditures, modifying program approach to optimize budget utilization within the scope of the award.
• Ensures compliance with U.S. Government and ABA regulations, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the 2 CFR 200, and other regulatory procedures, designing and implementing systems to ensure programmatic compliance.
Business Development
• Leads the development of proposals in collaboration with field staff and under the supervision of senior program staff, including leading technical writing and budget development for proposals involving one country/organization, or for amounts less than $1,000,000.
•Coordinates donor and key partner relationships in DC on programmatic activities, liaising with, e.g., the State Department program officers, grant officers/representatives, or agreement officer/representatives on a given program or region.
•Understands and contributes to coordination efforts with stakeholders, both internal and external. Experience in the creation, fostering, nurturing, and expansion of working relationships with host governments, regional legal leaders, other NGOs, and similarly situated entities.
•Contributes to current and future programming, through technical and operational approaches. Independently lead smaller-scale (<$1,000,000 in total or single-country program development.)
Other Tasks
•Manages program staff. Understands and can manage HR matters in the field and DC and works in tandem with the HR department on all staff matters. Follows established recruitment processes and ensures adequate oversight.
•Understands and customizes, when needed, do no harm principles in the program or country of operations. Possesses a general awareness of economic, political, and social trends in the operating environment, and develops and implements of risk mitigation strategies.
•Coordinates with communications and outreach departments to provide input through a variety of products such as blogs, briefers, website updates, and others.
•Performs other related duties as required.
Required Education, Qualifications, Experience
•Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study.
•At least six (6) years’ experience in program management capacity
•At least two years of supervisory experience.
Preferred Education, Qualifications, Experience
•Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school or master’s degree in international development or any other discipline relevant to the work of American Bar Association – Rule of Law Initiative. NOTE: If the law degree is from a non-U.S. law school, the degree may not be required to be from an ABA-accredited law school.
•Previous work experience in international development and/or human rights programming.
•Knowledge of relevant region/country.
•Experience of managing programs in relevant region/country.
•Interest in and commitment to rule of law, democracy and governance, human rights, gender equality and social inclusion.
•Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with diverse groups of stakeholders.
•Strong research, writing, analytical, knowledge management, and communication skills.
•Effective time management and a strong ability to multi-task, adapt and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
•Advanced Microsoft Office Suite skills and familiarity with social media.
•Ability and willingness to be an effective team player.
•Fluency in written and spoken English.
•Language proficiency, if not fluency, in one or more other languages.
How to apply
Apply Here