The Implementer-Led Design, Evidence, Analysis and Learning (IDEAL) activity aims to enhance the food and nutrition security of vulnerable populations through improving the design, implementation, and overall effectiveness of development and emergency food security activities funded by USAID’s Office of Food for Peace (FFP). The Knowledge Management Senior Specialist will work together with the Development Learning and Application Advisor to manage IDEAL’s engagement in the Refine and Implement (R&I) process for FFP-funded Development Food Security Activities (DFSA).
The Knowledge Management Senior Specialist will report to IDEAL’s Development Learning and Application Advisor and work to implement IDEAL’s engagement strategy with Implementing Partners (IPs) and FFP, related to the R&I refinement period (the first year of DFSAs). The position will play a key role in the planning and execution of R&I inception, technical/sector related, and culmination workshops as well as knowledge management activities to ensure that refinement year learnings are integrated into the other components of IDEAL’s work.
Refine & Implement Engagement (80%)
- Support the implementation of the engagement strategy for IDEA, ensuring that implementing partners have resources needed for learning and application of adaptive management
- Responsible for planning and executing the R&I workshops, ensuring that the events are conducive to learning and knowledge sharing
- Support the monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of IDEAL’s engagement in R&I
- Connect DFSAs with resources to enable them to refine Theories of Change, measure outcomes and impact, strengthen sustainability and enable program learnings to inform later program design and developmental strategy
- Supporting DFSAs by facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing as needed during the R&I year through the provision of online platforms and other tools
- As needed, visit DFSAs in the field to better understand challenges, priorities and opportunities for support
- Develop materials related to all aspects of R&I workshops
IDEAL Knowledge Management Activities (20%)
- Represent IDEAL in conferences and meetings as needed to present on DFSA R&I progress, challenges and lessons learned
- Promote the effective dissemination and application of DFSA evidence and learning
- Facilitate DFSA participation in and contribution to Regional Knowledge Sharing Meetings
- Work with the IDEAL Knowledge Management and Communications team on other IDEAL KM initiatives, such as the Regional Knowledge Sharing Meetings
- As needed, coordinate with Emergency Food Security Programs (EFSPs) to strengthen linkages with DFSAs and strengthen EFSP capacities, linkages, learning and transition strategies
- Demonstrated success managing and facilitating medium- to large-scale face-to-face meetings and participatory learning events
- Experience in leading knowledge management and socialization activities for international development and emergency projects
- Proven project management skills, and ability to work with diverse and high skilled personnel in fast-paced team environment
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
- Intermediate to advanced skills in Microsoft Office applications, primarily Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Experience using webinar platforms, preferably Adobe Connect and Zoom
- Highly collaborative team player with willingness to pitch in as needed and ability to work on tight deadlines at times
- Ability to travel 35-40% of the time - travel includes both international and domestic trips
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in relevant field
- Familiarity with USAID and FFP programming
- Familiarity with food security and international relief and development programming and a desire to gain expertise in these areas
- French language ability
- Aetna Medical and Dental insurance with a concierge service
- Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
- Vision Insurance
- Life insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Commuter Benefit Program
- Vacation and Sick leave
- Paid holidays
What makes us special!
- Generous Retirement Savings with matching company contributions of up to 8%
- Family Leave – 10 additional days of paid time off for you to use to care for your family members
- Additional Maternity and Paternity Leave – 30 days where parents can take additional paid leave (beyond short-term disability and FMLA) at the birth or adoption of a child during that critical first year!
- Critical Child Illness Leave – We hope you never have to use it, but we will provide an additional 30 days of paid leave per year should your dependent child be faced with a critical illness.
- Pet Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Identity Protection, Home, Auto and additional Life insurances
- Summer Fun Fridays – During the summer months, early release at 1:30 pm every other Friday!
- Volunteer Day – One paid day a year to support the causes that matter to you!
- Ergonomic Options – Every employee at our HQ offices has the option of a sitting/standing desk
- Leadership and Employee Development Training, including:
- Our remarkable in-house CORE, Senior Management Development, and Leadership Development Programs
- Language learning opportunities
- Continuous Improvement skill development programs
- Brown Bag information sharing sessions
- Work hard/Play hard! We make sure there’s ample opportunity for fun, engagement, and celebration while you work, such as networking events, March Madness, World Cup, Dodgeball Tournaments, Take Your Child to Work Day, Founder’s Day, and our annual Day of Service