ABOUT IREX:  

IREX is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to building a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world by empowering youth, cultivating leaders, strengthening institutions, and extending access to quality education and information. Founded in 1968, IREX has an annual portfolio of over $140 million, work in more than 100 countries worldwide with offices in over 20 countries, and a global staff of over 600.  

POSITION SUMMARY:  

IREX seeks a qualified Program Manager candidate to lead the five-year Strengthening Civic Engagement project in Kazakhstan. The new activity is guided by the following goal: to cultivate independent and effective civil society to achieve more expansive rights for the citizens of Kazakhstan. The project has three objectives: (1) Strengthen public engagement through collective action to advance Kazakhstan’s reform priorities.  (2) Support civil society to apply innovative solutions to help people claim their fundamental rights. (3) Enhance the regulatory environment to allow civil society to maximize their contributions to society.  

Based in Almaty or Astana, the Program Manager will be responsible for providing technical and management oversight of project deliverables. The PM will collaborate closely with the Chief of Party (COP) to design technical activities that align with local priorities and result in the strengthened independence, sustainability, and effectiveness of civil society. 

Citizens or residents of Kazakhstan are strongly encouraged to apply.  This position is contingent on project award. 

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Supports the COP in providing day-to-day management oversight and coordinating technical and administrative personnel and functions. Serves as Acting Chief of Party in the Chief of Party’s absence. 

• Manages and supervises a team of technical staff, ensuring knowledge of and adherence to operational systems, USAID, and IREX policies 

• Provides technical expertise across project activities and ensures quality deliverables 

• Manages a comprehensive activity workplan plan for the project, including a resource needs analysis 

• Oversees project implementation in consultation with the COP and in accordance with the project objectives, schedule, and budget; collaborates with the COP to design and implement interventions to expand the current cohort of young civil society leaders, strengthen public engagement to advance reform priorities, support civil society in applying innovative solutions to advance political and other rights, and maximize the contributions of civil society by cultivating an enabling environment 

• Provides technical direction for effective partnerships and oversees the technical activities of local partner organizations 

• Contributes to monitoring, evaluation, and learning; program communications; and program reporting 

• Manages the process of identifying and mobilizing consultant STTA. 

• Other duties, as assigned.  
   

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of a BA in social sciences, international development, social work, law, public policy/administration or related field. Master’s degree is preferred but not required. 

• A minimum of 6 years of relevant work experience managing complex and large‐scale donor funded programs in one or more of the following areas: human rights, strengthening citizen-driven advocacy, supporting civil society organizations, building CSO institutional capacity to coordinate with government and private sector stakeholders.  

• A minimum of 3 years of experience in a supervisory role. 

• Proven experience successfully building consensus among diverse actors 

• Excellent organizational, communications, and interpersonal skills  

• Demonstrated skills in conflict management and negotiation, and ability to lead and build consensus and cooperation among diverse groups and individuals   

• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including CSOs, media organizations, governments, private sector, NGOs, donors, etc 

• Demonstrated knowledge of integrating an inclusive perspective (e.g., gender, youth, etc.) in the key delivery areas of the proposed activity.  

• Experience in monitoring and evaluation activity outcomes  

• Professional fluency in English is required.  Ability to speak Russian and/or Kazakh is preferred. 

• Kazakhstan citizenship or residency with work authorization strongly preferred.