Senior Technical Advisor II, Community and Governance Practice

Who We Are

IREX is a global development and education organization. We strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world—where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people, and communities thrive. With a projected annual portfolio of more than $150 million and more than 750 staff worldwide, we work with partners in more than 100 countries in four areas essential to progress: cultivating leaders, empowering youth, strengthening institutions, and increasing access to quality education and information.

The Senior Technical Advisor plays a key role in advancing IREX’s impact in the world by integrating local governance strengthening tools and approaches in IREX’s capabilities, thought leadership, programs and new business. The Senior Technical Advisor supports our Global Programs Group through capacity building and technical assistance, research and writing, product development and testing, learning and innovation, and external outreach.

The Senior Technical Advisor conceptualizes the design of programs, interventions and technical products, bringing a strong technical base of knowledge grounded in research and practice; oversees, develops and/or sources local governance strengthening resources and tools; and researches and evaluates the application of theories, methods and techniques to develop thought leadership products and support new business and strategic partnership development.

The Senior Technical Advisor also contributes significantly to new business development, leading, coordinating, writing and advising program proposal teams in Global Programs and the Strategy and Development Group. They also support strategic communications efforts and partnership development.

We are doers. Our decades of on-the-ground experience help us create greater impact, practical recommendations, and lasting partnerships.

Are you the next member of our team?

Your Background & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in international development, public policy, public financial management, participatory governance or related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• 12 + years of progressive experience and proven track record of working with or for local/subnational government, including experience in community development planning and using community-informed and inclusive approaches as a sustainable way to support communities to achieve development and humanitarian outcomes at scale.
• Experience working with NGOs, CSOs and development organizations.
• Experience integrating subnational governance solutions related to digital transformation.
• Proven track record of writing, leading or contributing substantively to successful proposals for project opportunities larger than $5 million.
• Excellent writing and drafting skills and experience co-creating subnational governance approaches and tools.
• Capacity to synthesize high volumes of information into key messages to various audiences.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, high level of reliability, and track record of follow-through.
• Excellent oral communication skills with the ability to present the results of efforts through high visibility public speaking engagements, etc.
• Outstanding interpersonal, intercultural and collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to plan strategically and creatively to meet specified objectives.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including governments, private sector, civil society, etc.
• Strong facilitation and capacity building skills.
• Ability to learn through feedback and collaboration with others across the organization.
• Ability to carry out evaluation and learning activities.
• Fluency in English required; proficiency in additional language(s) preferred.
• You must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States.

Your Daily Tasks

• Conceptualize technical design of local governance and related programming with a strong technical base of knowledge grounded in research and practice.
• Develop, review and provide quality control of division technical products (e.g. manuals, papers, toolkits).
• Conduct and/or source training and technical assistance related to local governance for programs and the division.
• Provide technical review and resource development for new and/or cross-cutting technical areas related to local governance.
• Provide updates to the division on new reports, studies and/or trends in international development related to local governance strengthening and support.
• Provide oversight/support for a portfolio of local governance and related programs (including travel to global program offices).
• Monitor and adjust programs to ensure high-quality program deliverables and results are being met.
• Co-lead and contribute to new business development efforts, including proposal management, assessments, technical design and proposal writing.
• Ensure that all fiscal and performance activities are in compliance with IREX policies and procedures and donor regulations.
• Provide supervision, mentoring and guidance to staff.
• Select and hire consultants as necessary;
• Maintain effective relations and coordination with program donors, partners and technical experts;
• Other programmatic and administrative duties as needed.
• Collaborate with other units of the organization on capacity building for non- specialists.
• Coordinate relationships with external and internal partners.
• Represent IREX externally to funders and the international development community; build and nurture those relationships.
• Develop and implement communications strategies for local governance strengthening programming; author articles, insight pieces, and social media content to contribute to IREX’s external presence related to youth development, education, workforce development, and wellbeing.
• Promote IREX’s participation and represent IREX in conferences and industry functions.
• Work with the Communities & Governance team to identify and select high priority (internal and external) local governance strengthening opportunities and develop and oversee appropriate plans to leverage them.
• Spearhead the development of local governance strengthening tools and approaches.
• Lead and/or contribute to program and proposal development, which can include strategic positioning, opportunity assessment, proposal writing or designing program implementation approaches.
• Bring creative and innovative approaches in the local governance and related fields to enhance IREX’s strategic initiatives, programs and impact.
• Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships for IREX in the local governance strengthening spaces, coordinate and communicate with potential and existing partners.
• Leverage strategic products and services to strengthen existing partnerships and/or create new partnerships.
• Design, write, or review proposals, concepts and expressions of interest.
• Ensure that all fiscal and performance activities are in compliance with IREX policies and procedures and donor regulations
• Develop methods and opportunities to build capacities of teams and individuals to implement local governance strengthening initiatives effectively.
• Proactively support Communities & Governance team to strengthen its overall performance.
• Leverage subject matter expertise of staff across IREX to enhance the quality of IREX’s work.
• Provide direct project oversight and/or support as assigned.
• Other support duties as needed.

You Will Get:

Committed, passionate, collaborative, and mission-driven colleagues who make IREX a good place to work. You will receive best-in-class learning, development, and growth opportunities, as well as a comprehensive benefits package designed to help you thrive. This includes a well-being and employee assistance program, health, dental, and vision coverage, a flexible work schedule, a generous PTO policy, a technology stipend, a diverse and inclusive work environment, and many more benefits.

This position offers an anticipated salary range of approximately $115,200 – $130,000.

IREX will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008.

We conduct background checks on all successful candidates.

This position is eligible for Remote work. The eligible employee is a regular, full-time staff who works from a worksite outside the DC metro area on a more permanent or ongoing basis.

This position is not eligible for Immigration Sponsorship.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

EOE – Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.