Project Director

Position description

ICF (www.icf.com) is seeking an experienced Project Director to lead a complex, multi-country initiative focused on international labor, trade, responsible business practices, and institutional capacity strengthening in Asia. The Project Director will provide strategic leadership, technical oversight, team management, stakeholder engagement, and operational direction for a regional project involving collaboration with government institutions, private-sector stakeholders, civil society organizations, worker and employer representatives, and international partners.

The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring high-quality project implementation, achieving program objectives, providing effective team leadership, and managing relationships with diverse stakeholders across multiple countries.

This position is contingent upon funding.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Project Management

• Provide overall leadership and direction for a multi-country program operating across Asia.
• Lead project planning, implementation, monitoring, and adaptive management to ensure achievement of objectives, outcomes, and deliverables.
• Oversee the development and execution of annual work plans, performance targets, and implementation strategies.
• Supervise multidisciplinary teams, consultants, and partner organizations.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous learning.

Technical Leadership

• Guide the design and implementation of activities related to labor rights, responsible business practices, institutional capacity strengthening, stakeholder engagement, and improved labor outcomes.
• Provide technical oversight of policy, capacity-building, partnership, research, training, and knowledge-sharing activities.
• Ensure technical quality of project deliverables, reports, training materials, and knowledge products.
• Support the development of evidence-based strategies that strengthen labor market institutions and improve labor outcomes.

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships

• Build and maintain strong relationships with government agencies, employer organizations, worker organizations, civil society groups, international organizations, and private-sector stakeholders.
• Represent the project in meetings, conferences, workshops, and other external engagements.
• Facilitate collaboration among country teams, local partners, and regional stakeholders.
• Promote effective communication and coordination among project partners.

Financial and Operational Management

• Oversee project budgets, financial performance, procurement activities, contracting mechanisms, and resource allocation.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies and applicable project requirements.
• Monitor partner performance and provide guidance to ensure effective implementation.
• Identify and mitigate programmatic, operational, political, and financial risks.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

• Oversee performance monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting systems.
• Ensure the effective use of data to support adaptive management and continuous improvement.
• Lead preparation of high-quality technical reports, presentations, and project documentation.
• Promote knowledge sharing and dissemination of lessons learned.

Qualifications

Education

• Master's degree in International Development, Public Policy, Labor Economics, Law, International Relations, Public Administration, Business, or a related field.
• Advanced degree preferred.

Experience

• A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience managing complex international development or technical assistance programs.
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-country initiatives in Asia.
• Significant experience in one or more of the following areas:
  • Labor rights and worker protections
  • Labor, trade, and supply chain issues
  • Responsible business practices
  • Human rights, social compliance, or inclusive economic development
  • Governance, institutional strengthening, and capacity building
  • Stakeholder coordination and partnership development
• Experience managing large donor-funded projects and working with international development organizations.
• Proven experience managing diverse, multidisciplinary, and multicultural teams.
• Experience overseeing partnerships, subcontracts, or grants with local implementing organizations.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong understanding of international labor issues, responsible business practices, and institutional systems.
• Knowledge of trade, supply chain, compliance, and stakeholder engagement approaches.
• Exceptional leadership, strategic planning, and organizational management skills.
• Strong financial management and budget oversight experience.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in complex political, cultural, and organizational environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Language Requirements

• Professional fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of Asian languages is highly desirable.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working across South Asia and Southeast Asia.
• Experience engaging with ministries, regulatory agencies, industry associations, worker organizations, and civil society stakeholders.
• Familiarity with international labor standards, responsible sourcing, or related private-sector engagement approaches.
• Experience leading projects involving policy reform, institutional capacity strengthening, research, or stakeholder engagement.
• Experience working in multicultural and multilingual environments.

Application instructions

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