The Program Development Officer’s primary responsibilities are divided into four main areas: Project Oversight, Activity Development & Implementation, Stakeholder Engagement, and Reporting & Compliance.

Project Oversight:

• Provide general oversight of a portfolio of project activities, primarily based in northern Ghana, adapting as the geography of targeted communities and type of programming evolves over the course of the program.
• Monitor activity implementation to ensure timely completion and adherence to budget.
• Track the implementation of each grant activity to ensure alignment with strategic program direction, proposing and implementing corrective actions and solutions as necessary.

Activity Development & Implementation:

• Advise on programmatic design of new project activities in concert with senior management, including identification of potential local partners and participants.
• Develop activity-level Theory of Change (TOC), outlining the contribution of each activity to the overall program objective.
• Assist local partners in the co-creation of activities, including outlining objectives, timelines for implementation, expected results, and monitoring and evaluation plans with the support of M&E and Grants teams.
• Prepare program and budget information with support from Procurement staff during grant development.

Stakeholder Engagement and Representation:

• Develop and maintain positive working relations with grantees, government officials, civil society actors, donors and participants in target communities, ensuring all relevant stakeholders are included.
• Train local partners on Creative and USAID policies, procedures, and methodologies, as relevant to the implementation of small grants.
• Represent the LRI program in meetings with Ghana and US government officials, USAID and donors. Prepare and deliver impactful briefings.
• Attend focus group discussions and program activities to derive lessons learned to inform future project activities.
• Conduct site visits to generate grant ideas with grantees, monitor activity implementation, and conduct impact assessments.

Reporting & Compliance:

• Feed information in a timely manner on political and security developments in the target area to contribute to the program’s learning process.
• Champion all Creative and USAID/OTI procedures and manuals (e.g., Activity Management Guide; Activity Cycle Flowchart; Field Procurement Guide; and Operational Communications, Emergency, Information, and Physical Security Plans).
• Update the activity database with relevant information, including notes summarizing activity development, implementation and outcomes.
• Other duties as assigned by the Deputy Chief of Party – Program.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree is required (Master’s preferred), with studies in social sciences or related fields.
• At least 6 years of general work experience and 4 years of relevant experience in the design, implementation, and management of community development projects, community participation, preferably in urban communities with nonprofit organizations in Ghana.
• Must have at least 3 years of management experience.
• Experience in one or more of the following sectors required: community mobilization/participation, conflict mitigation and resolution, civil society strengthening, youth engagement, etc.
• Previous work experience with international donors/NGOs.
• Previous work experience in research methodologies and project monitoring and evaluation.
• Fluency in Spoken and Written English required
• Proficiency in other languages spoken throughout northern Ghana desired.
•  Must have existing work authorization for Ghana.
• Must have experience working in northern Ghana, and be willing to be based in the North and travel throughout the region.

Skills and Abilities

• Take initiative and be able to manage a complex portfolio of activities with supervision.
• Ability to work in teams to develop ideas or grant projects.
• Good organization skills and ability to maintain and foster relationships with staff and implementing partners.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, patience and a willingness to spend time translating the needs of communities into strong development projects.
• Capacity to understand and analyze national, regional, and local political contexts and to design grants that relate to current political contexts.
• Ability to work under short deadlines and efficiently handle multiple tasks.
• Attention to detail and the ability to function well in a team.