Program Manager, Resilient States

Company: Search for Common Ground
Location: Washington
Posted on: April 22, 2025

Job Description:

Team Summary supports collaboration across differences to address our greatest challenges and to build an America where we can all belong and thrive. As an initiative of Search for Common Ground, we have 40 years' experience in conflict settings around the world, and know that disagreement is an opportunity to transform conflict into cooperation. It is how we can solve our most challenging problems. We know that most Americans want to overcome the divisions we face in our society - and that everyone has a role to play.We are a dynamic, motivated, and diverse team committed to working across divides to generate locally-rooted, responsive, and sustainable solutions to some of the nation's most seemingly intractable issues. The Program Manager will support the Resilient States Program, working with the Program Director, and alongside the State Leads for Texas and Pennsylvania (and potentially additional states) - as well as a broader team of finance, operations, monitoring and evaluation, public engagement. The Program Manager will also engage and coordinate with external implementation partners and peer organizations.Position SummaryWe seek a Program Manager for the Resilient States Project, which aims to support leaders in key states to build greater social resilience and to mitigate risks for toxic polarization and political violence. The program brings together state leaders across different sectors, ideologies and backgrounds, and helps them work together to build up strengths and address risks specific to their states. The project currently works in Texas and Pennsylvania, and may extend to other states in the future.The Program Manager will lead national team coordination, program planning, and grant management; implement national projects; and support in-state programming. They will facilitate coordination with our national partners and collaboration with other peers in the field. In close coordination with the Program Director and State Leads, they will oversee partner subgranting and support capacity building of state partners. The Program Manager will also lead collaboration with other CG-USA team members, engage in team-wide planning and strategy-setting, and lead special team projects, as assigned.The ideal candidate has a background in democracy, peace-building, social science, advocacy, or other related field, and a strong track record of program and grant management. The ideal candidate is a problem solver, has demonstrable success in fostering teamwork, is flexible and comfortable adapting to varied contexts, and is energized by responsive, partner-driven programming.Core Responsibilities

• Manage Resilient States Program Implementation and Team Coordination:
• Plans overall program implementation, supports in-state programming, and tracks program progress.
• Analyzes research, data, and contextual changes to adapt strategy and mitigate risks.
• Manages grant cycles - from proposal writing, grant start-up, reporting, and close out, in close coordination with Program Director and Finance Manager.
• Coordinates and assists team of peers and contributors to achieve programmatic goals and overcome obstacles.
• Supports Program Director with team leadership for key staff recruitment and employee development.
  • Lead national-level projects and collaboration:
  • Independently implements national and whole-of-program projects, including research and multi-state events.
  • Manages collaboration and learning with peer organizations.
  • Contributes to outreach and representation on behalf of the program.
    • Support in-state programming and capacity building:
    • Facilitates subgrants and other direct supports to partners.
    • Directs technical resources and supports partner training.
    • Recruits and manages consultants, as needed.Other Contributions
      • Workplan: Improve, finalize and monitor costed work plans and spend-out plans; support in finalizing and monitoring the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) plan.
      • Project activities: Design project activities, in collaboration with team members; lead and/or deliver project activities.
      • Reporting: Review project documents; finalize donor reports; review General Ledger (GL) and support CG-USA Finance Manager in financial reporting.
      • Compliance: Coordinates with the appropriate team members ensuring project, finance, and logistics staff follow donor rules/regulations; ensure 501(c)3 and legal compliance; lead capacity-building sessions to streamline rules and regulations.
      • Support procurement: Facilitate team members to manage logistical planning and, as needed, coordinate with project vendors (e.g., hotel, catering, transportation, etc.)
      • Financial management: Ensure project financial health; engage regular Budget versus Actual (BvA) meetings; ensure budget revisions are done as needed.
      • Subaward management: Provide oversight to partner work plans and facilitate subgranting.
      • Staffing and performance management: Lead in staff capacity-building and identifying learning/growth opportunities; coordinate with the Program Director on project staffing plan; lead recruitment for key staffing roles; manage key roles.
      • External engagement: Maintain regular communication with donors (including reporting and briefings); support regular meetings with partners in the field.
      • Program management, quality and project design: Coordinate with relevant colleagues in documenting achievements and adaptations, recording lessons learned, organizing reflection sessions, adapting work plans, and supporting program fundraising.
      • Program Strategy: Provide inputs to strategy development, planning and Objectives and Key Results (OKRs).
      • Values: Infuses organizational Values into all work.
      • Other duties: Tasks broadly in line with the above key contributions, as assigned.Qualifications
        • Typically BS/BA with minimum 9 years' experience.
        • Experience in democracy, peace-building, advocacy, or other related fields.
        • A strong track-record of program management, including grant management.
        • A demonstrated ability to work with teammates, partners, leaders, and constituencies from different backgrounds and viewpoints.
        • A commitment to working across difference to build a more peaceful and just America, and a commitment to CG-USA and Search values.
        • A highly collaborative working style.Competency Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
          • Manages overall strategy and vision. Provides functional and program/project management. Anticipates and plans for needs and takes action accordingly. Provides guidance to direct reports or matrixed team members.
          • Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with vendors, organizations, professional associations, partners, funders, and CG-USA's network of experts.
          • Modifies a planned course of action in response to new information or new circumstances.
          • Responds to changing circumstances and expectations readily.
          • Articulates CG-USA program goals and objectives within and external to Search. Develops program objectives that reflect broader Search strategies and approaches.
          • Provides input for standards across functions globally within Shared Services teams and with a view from a multicultural perspective that reflects consideration of other cultures, other viewpoints, and other ways of doing things.
          • Overcomes obstacles using ethical practices; formulates and evaluates morally and ethically justified solutions.
          • Assesses risks and opportunities to lead decision makers to a favorable outcome.
          • Checks the accuracy of one's own and others' work and sets up systematic checks and balances to support content and data integrity.
          • Has knowledge of project management tools including technology as resources for efficiency and reduction of stress.
          • Works with employees to set and communicate performance standards that are specific and measurable.
          • Anticipates the consequences of situations and plans accordingly.
          • Analyzes the costs, benefits, risks, and chances for success in making a decision.
          • Provides coaching and mentoring to staff.
          • Remain alert and responsive to any safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills that will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Safeguarding Policy.$72,500 - $90,000 a yearLocationThe candidate must be based in the United States. Standard work will take place remotely/at a home office, but will require interfacing and attending in-person events in DC, Pennsylvania, Texas, and other potential RSP states. Occasional travel to other US locations will be required. Standard work hours are Eastern or Central time-zone business hours.Working Conditions and Physical RequirementsUsual office environment conditions; ability to travel at least 15%.Supervisory and Budget ResponsibilityMay manage one direct report, as well as consultants.As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.
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Keywords: Search for Common Ground, Frederick , Program Manager, Resilient States, Executive , Washington, Maryland