Portfolio Manager, Advancing Capacity for the Environment - Bethesda, United States - DAI

Description

**Portfolio Manager, Advancing Capacity for the Environment**

City/Country Location Details **Bethesda, Maryland**

Employment Status

Job Type **Project**

**Advancing the Capacity for the Environment**

**SCOPE OF WORK**

**Position Title:**

Portfolio Manager

**Contract Name:**

Advancing the Capacity for the Environment (ACE)

**Contract No:**

7200AA22N00002

**Period of Performance:**

March 2024 to July 2027

**Place of Performance:**

Washington, DC, or an approved remote location

(candidates must be authorized to work in the US)

**Maximum Level of Effort (LOE)**

Full-time/LTTA

**Position Reports To**

Senior Portfolio Manager

**PROJECT BACKGROUND:**

The Advancing Capacity for the Environment (ACE) program facilitates the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)s work to combat climate change, conserve biodiversity and manage natural resources, improve land governance, and expand access to secure, modern energy and resilient infrastructure. ACE strengthens capacities for technical leadership and effective programming through integrated support in four areas: communications, knowledge management, training, and facilitation/organizational development. ACEs primary clients include the Center for Climate-Positive Development (CPD), Center for Energy, Infrastructure and Cities (CEIC), and Center for Natural Environment (CNE), and their associated divisional offices, within the agencys Bureau for Resilience, Environment and Food Security (REFS). The program objective is to enhance USAIDs effectiveness, leading to positive and sustainable development outcomes globally in the above sectors.

**POSITION DESCRIPTION:**

The Portfolio Manager will serve as a primary relationship manager, and frontline ACE representative, for their designated USAID division or operating unit in coordination with ACEs Technical Area Directors. They will be responsible for collaborating with USAID staff to understand client needs and discuss options on how the ACE program can best meet client objectives. The Portfolio Manager will support the ACE Technical Area Directors and Finance and Operations team in scoping new activities, developing activity budgets, and ensuring necessary reviews/approvals from ACE and USAID. They will closely monitor existing activities to ensure that they meet client expectations for quality, timeliness and budget performance, as well as proactively troubleshoot and fill gaps as needed. The Portfolio Manager will be responsible for overseeing ACE annual work planning as well as regular budget and workplan reviews (e.g., monthly and/or quarterly) with USAID and the ACE team, proactively identifying opportunities for adaptation. The Portfolio Manager will be responsible for leading key ACE-wide initiatives, including roll-out and maintenance of ACEs program management tool (e.g., Asana), weekly and quarterly reporting, after action reviews, and pause and reflect sessions, among other activities.

**RESPONSIBILITIES:**

+ Relationship management.Build trust, foster engagement, and facilitate meetings among and between USAID and ACE program stakeholders. Activities will include strategic planning, agenda setting, identifying points of agreement and areas for follow up, capturing key decision points and follow on actions, scoping, and developing timelines and workplans. The Portfolio Manager will provide updates on technical progress and funding levels of the assigned activities; proactively alert ACE team members to any risks and/or feedback from the client in real-time. They will offer solutions, guidance and problem-solving in coordination with ACE and USAID team members.

+ Annual and ongoing work planning and budgeting.Lead annual and ad hoc work planning and budgeting for selected operating units in coordination with the Chief of Party, Technical Area Directors and the Finance and Operations Team. Work closely with the operations team to develop and manage activity budgets, monitor funding levels for assigned buy-in activities, and adapt workplans, activity scopes, and budgets as needed. Cost out activities and liaise with the client on funding options.

+ Program management and reporting.Lead on several ACE-wide program initiatives, including the roll-out and use of program management tools (e.g., Asana), weekly/quarterly reporting, and pause and reflect workshops. Ensure that the ACE team continues to use and regularly updates project status in Asana. Continually seek opportunities to expand Asana functionality in coordination with the ACE team and relevant information technology staff. Coordinate weekly ACE team reporting to USAID, DAI and the broader ACE team. Contribute to quarterly and annual reporting in coordination with the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Manager.

+ Procurement.Lead procurement for firms, vendors (e.g., venues, audio/video production), consultants, and other subcontractors. Activities include scope development, market research, serving as technical evaluation committee panel member, contract negotiation, onboarding, contractual oversight, deliverable review, and contract close-out.

+ Activity lead.Serve as designated manager for select ACE activities. Specific tasks may include project management tasks, such as scoping activities, developing and managing timelines, and managing the performance of and supporting consultants, subcontractors and sub-awardees. Depending on program needs and the Portfolio Managers expertise, tasks may include communications, knowledge management, training, facilitation and/or organizational development in coordination with the ACE Technical Area Directors and team.

+ Quality assurance/quality control. Ensure that ACE activities and processes meet high standards for quality through designing and maintaining workflows that include quality assurance and quality control. The Portfolio Manager will ensure that ACE activities and products have undergone a QA/QC process, including internal/external reviews as needed. As needed, Portfolio Managers may also directly edit, review, and check compliance of reports and other deliverables produced by members of the ACE team or submitted by subcontractors and consultants.

+ Monitoring, evaluation and learning. The Portfolio Manager will support the MEL Manager as needed. Specific tasks may include gathering indicator data, supporting qualitative data collection, contributing to MEL reports, after action reviews and pause and reflect workshops.

**PLACE OF PERFORMANCE:**

The ACE Team works remotely. Staff residing within the Washington DC metropolitan area are encouraged to work in person at the DAI office in Bethesda on ACEs anchor day. Office space is available for other days of the week.

**INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL:**

Some limited international and domestic travel may be required.

**REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:**

+ Bachelor's degree with 5-8 years of experience, including experience in international development or working with US government donors;Mastersdegree preferred.

+ Excellentprojectmanagementand budget skills with an ability to multi-task to meet established deadlines and within accepted quality standards.

+ Exceptionalsoftskills inclient management,meeting facilitation, internal/external communications, building trustamong teams and fostering collaboration.Strong presentation skills in formal client meetings and public events with clients and stakeholders.

+ Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.Demonstrated experience originating documents, editing varying quality of inputs from internal and external stakeholders, andpackaging final deliverables ready for client and stakeholder review.

+ Demonstratedexpertisein one or more of ACEs core technical areas: communications, facilitation/organizational development, training and/or knowledge management preferred.

+ Experience working with diverse stakeholders, such asUSAID implementing partners, host country governments, national level ministries, civil society organizations,field teamsand NGOs.

+ Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.Ability to prioritize effectively in an environment where prudent judgement is essential.

+ Ability to work collaborativelywith members of acomplex team, pulling in resources andexpertiseas needed to address challenges andidentifysolutions as a teamwhen needed.

**COMPENSATION & BENEFITS**

For employees working in the United States, the full-time equivalent annual base salary for this position is expected to be between $90,000 - $115,000.

Salary for part-time employees will be prorated based on actual hours worked. Actual offers will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, qualifications, relevant education, experience, skills, seniority, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Eligible U.S.-based employees will be able to enroll in medical, dental and vision insurance, plus a 401(k)-retirement plan with a company match. Additionally, employees will be eligible for company-paid annual leave (vacation & holidays), sick leave, and parental leave, as well as short- and long-term disability coverage. Detailed information will be provided at the time a formal offer is extended.

For employees working outside of the United States, compensation and benefits will vary based on location.

**EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY**

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or status as a protected veteran.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting discrimination in all forms, nurturing respect for our interpersonal relationships, and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races, ethnicities, and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner.

DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

**DAI ORGANIZATION AND VALUES**

DAI is a global development company with corporate offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, EU, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Palestine and project operations worldwide. We tackle fundamental social and economic development problems caused by inefficient markets, ineffective governance, and instability. DAI works on the frontlines of global development. Transforming ideas into actionaction into impact. We are committed to shaping a more livable world.

DAI and its employees are committed to confronting racism and holding ourselves accountable for positive change within the company and in the communities, cultures, and countries in which we live and work. DAI is committed to attracting and retaining the best employees from all races and backgrounds in our continued effort to become a better development partner. DAI upholds the highest ethical standards. We are committed to the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment as well as other ethical breaches. All of our positions are therefore subject to stringent vetting and reference checks.

DAI is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer with a commitment to diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

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