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Senior Program Officer - Middle East and North Africa Department

8:11:00 PM

AMERICAN CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL LABOR SOLIDARITY

BARGAINING UNIT POSITION DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: SENIOR PROGRAM OFFICER – Middle East and North Africa

CLASSIFICATION: PROFESSIONAL IV

STATUS: EXEMPT

This position is based in Washington, DC

Summary of Position: This is the most senior bargaining unit program position. The Senior Program Officer is responsible for day-to-day support and counsel to field offices and programs. S/he is thoroughly conversant with all aspects of regional program activities and current events relevant to the on-going political, economic, social and trade union developments in the region. S/he is the main contact between the Washington office and the field. S/he has working knowledge of and experience in USG regulations and procedures related to the funding and management of grants.

The Senior Program Officer writes persuasive proposals, describes complex activities and develops budgets for those activities. S/he participates in the development and implementation of trade union development programs. S/he produces well-written program reports and evaluations. S/he monitors programs to meet budget targets and programmatic results. S/he prepares and exchanges information and coordinates activities with other sections of the Center, as required. S/he provides advice and guidance to Field Representatives for the development and implementation of programs, the drafting and submission of concept papers and project proposals to donor organizations, and the effective management of field offices and programs. S/he draws on his/her experience to initiate program proposals and seek funding.

The Senior Program Officer assists and advises the Coordinator on details of programs in assigned country(ies) of responsibility. S/he works closely with AFL-CIO affiliates to coordinate their participation in the development and implementation of Solidarity Center programs, at the request of the Coordinator and within approved communications guidelines. S/he assists with and, when necessary, provides logistical support for international visitors and participants in Washington-based programs conducted by the Solidarity Center, AFL-CIO, affiliates, GUFs and/or other related organizations. S/he represents the Center at various meetings and conferences in the U.S. and abroad. S/he coordinates with Washington-based NGOs, and U.S. Government agencies. S/he has the experience and presence necessary to represent accurately and effectively in public fora and in private meetings with donor organizations, partner organizations, and national and international public and private organizations, the policies and programs of the Center and the AFL-CIO. S/he travels to the region and is able to fill in for Field Representatives on a temporary or indefinite basis.

The Senior Program Officer directs the work of other staff in the program/regional office, and assumes the responsibilities of the Coordinator in his/her absence, with the exception of hiring, firing, promotion or discipline.

Supervisor: Program Director

Specific Duties:

  • Provide specified field offices with programmatic financial and administrative support;
  • Write/edit proposals, reports, letters, and other correspondence;
  • Conduct issue research for use by Center headquarters and field offices;
  • Assist field offices to arrange study tours in the U.S. for visitors from the region, and conduct meetings with a wide variety of visitors from the region involved in efforts to promote labor rights and standards and democracy;
  • Coordinate activities with the Center’s other program and functional offices;
  • Assist, as required, in the work of the Center’s other program and functional offices;
  • Develop coalition-building contacts with U.S. labor, government and non-governmental organizations in the Washington area;
  • Provide guidance to field offices on AFL-CIO and Center policies and priorities and serve as a liaison between the Center and AFL-CIO affiliates, GUFs, ITUC, its regional organizations and the ILO;
  • Assist and advise field offices in program development and proposal writing;
  • Develop and implement regional and sub-regional programs and programs in countries without a resident field representative;
  • Provide field offices with information on USAID, NED, and U.S. government rules and regulations that affect program management;
  • Recruit outside program consultants and other technical staff in accordance with field needs;
  • Provide technical assistance and support to conduct program evaluations of field projects and recruiting evaluators;
  • Support field trips by Center personnel;
  • Share information on country conditions and labor issues as requested by Washington-based U.S. government offices and Congress;
  • Travel on a TDY basis to conduct and/or oversee program development and/or implementation in countries without a Center field office;
  • Work closely with AFL-CIO affiliates to coordinate their participation in the development and implementation of Solidarity Center programs, within approved communications guidelines.
  • Monitor programs to meet budget targets;
  • Represent the Solidarity Center as directed;
  • Furnish financial and administrative support services to field offices, and provide advice and guidance to field offices on grants management and funding procedures;
  • Initiate concept papers and program proposals and seeks funding for same;
  • Direct the work of program officers, assistants and secretaries in the program/regional office;
  • Assume the responsibilities of the Coordinator in his or her absence, with the exception of hiring, firing, promoting or disciplining staff; and
  • Perform other related duties as assigned.

The duration of this position, as with all positions at the Solidarity Center, is contingent upon continued grant funding.


Qualifications

The following experience/skills are required:

  • Excellent writing and communications skills in English;
  • Fluency in Arabic;
  • Knowledge of trade union organizations in the Middle East and North Africa, history of the region, and current knowledge of social, political and economic landscape;
  • Demonstrated ability to design programs, write proposals, create budgets, and obtain funding;
  • Demonstrated ability to implement organizational policies, support field operations and ensure compliance with financial management procedures;
  • Detailed knowledge of donor regulations and procedures related to the funding and management of grants; and,
  • Ability to manage multiple projects at the same time and to assist the MENA team during RPD travel or absence.

The following experience/skills are highly desirable:

  • Proficiency in French;
  • Detailed knowledge of and experience working with partner organizations in the region;
  • Campaign experience involving multiple trade union and labor support organizations; and,
  • Excellent skills in grant management and compliance, including tracking and managing program budgets and writing timely and compelling program reports.

Basic Qualifications: A Senior Program Officer must have the ability to work independently and without supervision and must have extensive knowledge of international relations and trade union and socio-economic and political developments in the U.S. and abroad. Previous trade union experience, and/or experience in the Center as a Program Officer III are required. S/he must be capable of managing multiple assignments simultaneously and of making substantive decisions that have major effects on costs and completion of projects. S/he must have, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree in political science, international relations, labor relations or related fields and/or ten years equivalent work experience. Good communications and writing skills are a must. Computer literacy for word processing and simple spreadsheets is required. S/he must have the ability to work and interact easily with a wide variety of people. Persons considered for this position must agree to accept temporary or indefinite assignments as a field representative, based on the needs of the Center. Fluency in a foreign language is a plus and may be a requirement for some Program Officer positions.


Contact Details

Contact:
Ana Maria Gutierrez
Telephone:
202-974-8349
Email:
agutierrez@solidaritycenter.org

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