Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global development firm that specializes in education, economic growth, governance and post-crisis stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a field presence in more than 25 countries with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Agency for International Development and the State Department, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.
We value diversity — in backgrounds and in experiences. We are deliberate and self-reflective about the kind of team and culture that we are building, seeking staff that are not only strong in their own aptitudes but care deeply about supporting each other's growth. Our success depends on all our employees' points of view, and the principle that inclusion is everyone's responsibility.
Position Summary:
Creative seeks a Practice Area Director (PAD) for the Communities in Transition (CIT) Division to lead the Conflict Prevention and Stabilization Practice Area. The PAD is responsible for setting strategy for the Practice area and executing on it to meet the challenges of stabilization and conflict settings. The PAD manages project management teams and leads and directs project implementation. The PAD is responsible for the management of complex projects of all sizes in funding, management of large project teams, and ensuring project implementation success. The PAD is responsible for a comprehensive range of activities that include actively anticipating, diagnosing, and resolving project implementation matters of a technical, programmatic, business development, client relations, local relationships, subcontractor relationships, contracts, and compliance nature throughout the project life cycle in addition to working with division support regarding project finance, human resources, administrative, and operational matters. The PAD is proactive in cultivating and maintaining industry relationships and utilizing networks to expand learning and business development to strengthen Creative Associates as leader in the stabilization, conflict prevention, and transitions technical areas. The PAD also directs the knowledge management from the projects and overall practice area for learning and business development. The PAD travels internationally in executing many responsibilities of the role and brings extensive in-country experience on technical aspects of program design and implementation, and in the development of new business initiatives within the Practice Area.
Reporting & Supervision:
The PAD reports to the Vice President and Senior Director of CIT. The PAD supervises, including but not limited to, Project Directors, Senior Project Directors, Senior Technical Advisors, Senior Project Managers and COPs.
Expected Outcomes:
Leadership
Projects under Practice Area oversight receive outstanding leadership guidance, management and strategic vision. Project Directors, Senior Project Directors, Senior Project Managers and Senior Technical Advisors under Practice Area manage their portfolios and assigned business development and technical tasks purposely, cohesively, and efficiently. Project aims are clear on the strategic (outcome level—technical), tactical (output level—managerial and financial) and operational (milestone-level transactions) fronts. The client—in particular USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI)-- is being effectively served and is satisfied with Creative’s service and offerings. Senior Management is kept abreast of significant threats, implementation deficiencies and opportunities.
Project Management
Projects in the Practice Area are aligned with Practice Area strategy and perform well– meeting or exceeding contractual obligations, and performance and financial targets. Projects are well-planned so that inputs—such as human resource deployments, STTA, procurements—can be timely and effectively supported by HQ. Project staffing, project obligations, and reporting meet anticipated levels and high-quality standards. Challenges and potential implementation issues are preemptively identified and proactively addressed.
Financial Management
Projects in the Practice Area forecast appropriately and meet or exceed performance targets. Projects meet revenue projections and gross margin targets, and proactively manage vacancies, non-billables, and unallowables. To mitigate risk, projects requiring important course corrections or corporate support are expeditiously handled and receive the attention of senior management.
Staff Management
Project Directors, Senior Project Directors, Senior Project Managers, and Senior Technical Advisors in the Practice Area are tangibly supported technically, managerially and professionally; their professional objectives and personal needs are well understood, as are those of COPs in the field. Staff are encouraged to contribute to the goals and strategic vision of the Practice Area, division, and the company as a whole, undertaking technical, learning, and outreach efforts, as well as supporting continual operational improvement. Performance reviews are meaningful and constructive and are administered timely. Projects honor all aspects of programmatic and fiscal compliance.
Business Development (BD)
Practice Area has a clear understanding of the relevant forward market, and a strategy and plan to gain a percentage of that market in line with, or exceeding, company targets. Staff and projects in the Practice Area demonstrate an entrepreneurial and winning spirit; they are able to anticipate and seize opportunities in the local marketplace, within current conditions, and to position the company and pave the way for the realization of new business opportunities. Industry and network relationships are created and nurtured to anticipate, generate, and execute new business for Creative. The company is visibly represented before stakeholders. Specific new business pursuits are well planned and timely executed. Activity design is conducted with insight and intellectual curiosity. Staff serve regularly and effectively in line role on capture and live proposal efforts.
Learning & Adaptation
Staff and projects in the Practice Area have a heightened awareness of the value of learning and adaptation. Projects have explicitly defined learning agendas, action research, monitoring and evaluation and Knowledge Management (KM) plans that track progress towards learning, and course corrections that are informed by data. Project information, interventions and innovations are synthesized, shared, tracked, and managed within KM plans, are used to refine Practice Area and division strategy, and feed into BD efforts Learning events (i.e., Knowledge Share, pause and reflect sessions, etc.) capture salient programmatic aspects with potential for replication or scale up. Salient activities are celebrated and promoted through Creative’s Communications Department.
Responsibilities
Languages:
Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on Globaljobs.org