Who We Are
At IREX we strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world—where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people and communities thrive.
But around the globe, persistent poverty, repression, and injustice prevent too many people form achieving their full potential. To address these problems, we focus on people, not on vaccines, roads, or wells. We support individuals and institutions to create change in their own communities—and to create person to person bridges between nations.
IREX works 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.
IREX is seeking a forward-thinking project development specialist who can offer significant growth opportunities for partners in Central Asia. The ideal candidate will have the leadership and strategic skills to assist the digital innovators in Central Asia in enriching their locally produced content and leveraging intellectual property rights. The Program Manager (PM) will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of IREX programs, coordinating with local consultants and staff and IREX HQ in DC. The PM will be responsible for designing, planning, and implementing project activities among emerging and already established digital leaders and innovators in the region. The position requires strategic skills, strong organizational and collaborative skills, and knowledge of the digital landscape in countries of Central Asia to create opportunities for new partnerships and provide technical and administrative oversight and support to sub-partners for a program in Central Asia. The PM will monitor deliverables from consultants, subgrantees and vendors and be responsible for management of the local office and employees, and program reporting.
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
- A Bachelor’s degree, preferably related to the skills sought for this position: communications, management, English, media, international development, technology for development, or other related area. Being an alum of USG-funded academic exchange programs would be considered a positive.
- 5+ years relevant experience in digital media content development, communications consulting organization, a digital agency, or account management/planning at a creative agency, or technology for development.
- An understanding of the NGO sector and USG-funded projects
- Excellent English writing skills required. Ability to communicate professionally and provide written reporting in English. Knowledge of Kyrgyz language preferred.
- Blend of creative, project management, analytical skills, and multitasking skills preferred.
- Strong industry connections throughout the digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and media industry, including movie studios, TV studios, as well as marketing and communications companies in the region of Central Asia.
- Excellent cross-cultural and interpersonal communication skills, and ability to network with stakeholders in Central Asia.
- Self-motivated and directed: able to identify tasks and be proactive to constantly seek excellence.
- Willingness to travel across Central Asia 30%+.
- Proficient in Microsoft office products, including and especially Excel
- Must demonstrate valid proof of unrestricted authorization to work in Kyrgyzstan.
Your Daily Tasks
- Support subgrant and contract arrangements, including drafting scopes of work and collecting deliverables. Mentor and accompany IREX partners and ensure that project activities are working according to schedule and meeting targets.
- Provide technical, reporting, administrative support for the program, troubleshoot problems with program team.
- Guide project team, digital innovators, and content producers to collaborate and network throughout the region.
- Leverage latest content development and consumption trends, data, and insights to identify marketplace opportunities for IREX project partners with relevance to target audiences of IREX partners.
- Identify, together with IREX partners in Central Asia, exact tools, forms, and formats for collaborations, which would have best consumption and cultivate new partner opportunities among target audience representatives through strong networking in the region.
- Support project partners, including outreach, monitoring, and mentoring. Track a wide range of information and data, maintaining accuracy and completeness.
- Contribute to procurement processes, including gathering bids, drafting contracts, and other paperwork.
- Other duties as assigned.
Please supply a resume and a cover letter that explains your interest and why you believe you would be a good match for the position; please include your salary range requirements.
Requested materials must be submitted in electronic form by August 10, 2021 to the email: DesignHub.CA@irex.org
IREX will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008.
Successful candidates are subject to background screenings.
This position is eligible for Telework.
Must demonstrate valid proof of unrestricted authorization to work in Kyrgyzstan.
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
EOE – Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity.
All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply. AA/EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled