Assistant Program Manager at Spirit of America – HQ, Virginia

America’s premier national security citizen service organization seeks an exceptional Assistant Program Manager to serve in close cooperation and coordination with US military, development, and diplomatic personnel in security and stability operations. The Assistant Program Manager’s mission is to provide rapid humanitarian and economic development assistance for needs identified at the local level in some of the world's most challenging environments. The Assistant Program Manager will report to the Regional Director. This is a full-time, exempt position based in the U.S.

Responsibilities:

This position will require limited travel to the Assistant Program Manager's assigned area of responsibility, accompanied by the Regional Program Manager. Cross-regional initiatives are also possible based upon the needs of the organization.

The Assistant Program Manager will:

• Collaboratively develop projects and initiatives in response to local needs identified by US military and/or government partners in support of US mission effects and objectives. 
• Apply skills in project management to assist in the execution of Spirit of America-funded projects and initiatives. This includes managing project scope and objectives, maintaining stakeholder and vendor relationships, preparing budgets and contracts/agreements, coordinating procurement and logistics, identifying and managing risks, and measuring project performance.
• Assist in the preparation of project proposals and post-project assessments analyzing key activities, outcomes, and lessons learned.
• Coordinate project logistics, including identifying and evaluating vendors, procuring supplies, and coordinating the delivery of donated goods to the end user. Often, this will require close coordination with the US or local partners.
• Support in the management of relationships, long-term and short-term, with various stakeholders to include, US military, Department of State, think tanks, foreign public officials, civil society members, vendors, and enablers.
• Coordinate with local and US government partners to obtain project-related media and work closely with Spirit of America’s Marketing Department to create effective content (i.e. written emails, PowerPoint slides, fact sheets) to engage donors and partners in the US and abroad.
• Assist the Regional Director in preparing regional data and reporting, forecasting program expenditures, and completing project audits. Engage in other special projects and initiatives as identified by the RD.
• Travel internationally up to 25% of the year to the relevant region and engage with partners, US government, and civilians.

Requirements:

• The Assistant Program Manager will have at least a BA/BS degree or equivalent experience.
• 2-6 years’ experience working in or supporting: pre-conflict, conflict, or post-conflict environments, engaging with local populations and issues, partnering with host nation militaries or governments, or Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response environments.
• Experience in working on small- to medium-scale projects ($25,000 to $500,000).
• A solid understanding of USG interagency entities, roles, and processes and of America’s 3Ds of foreign affairs – defense, diplomacy, and development.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, a strong attention to detail, and excellent organizational skills are required.
• A willingness to flex regular working hours to accommodate for meetings in different time zones.

Qualities and Qualifications:
The Assistant Program Manager's personal qualities are as important as their prior experience. They must be friendly, outgoing, natural relationship builders. The Assistant Program Manager needs to have exemplary patience and outstanding listening skills. The Assistant Program Manager will have very high personal initiative. They will spend the majority their time interacting with US personnel and the local population.

The Assistant Program Manager will not only be a representative of Spirit of America but an ambassador of the goodwill of the American people. They must operate with the highest levels of integrity and cultural sensitivity. The Assistant Program Manager must also have a deep understanding and appreciation of Spirit of America's decentralized, non-bureaucratic approach for rapid local progress worldwide.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in Central Asia or the Middle East or supporting issues related to one of those regions.
• Conversational fluency in Russian or Arabic.
• Exceptionally well-travelled

Salary and benefits:
Salary range $70,000 to $92,000 based on experience. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, and 403b contribution match to 4%.

Spirit of America
Spirit of America is a citizen service organization in national security. We are citizens serving the nation, doing our part to preserve America’s freedoms and support those who serve America abroad. Our purpose is to ensure the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness prevail, and all who seek a free and better life are able to achieve it. This is patriotism without politics.

We are a privately-funded nonprofit founded in response to the attacks of 9/11. Our mission is to support the safety and success of Americans serving abroad and the local people and partners they seek to help. We are officially approved by Congress and the Department of Defense to work alongside deployed US troops and provide private assistance in support of their missions.

Spirit of America helps those who serve our nation abroad return home safely and proud of their success. We help our troops and diplomats build trust and goodwill, prevent conflict, and strengthen America’s security. Our work saves lives and limbs. In the world’s toughest places, people experience the best of who Americans are and what we stand for.

Spirit of America is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with applicable law, we prohibit discrimination against any applicant or employee based on any legally-recognized basis, including, but not limited to: veteran status, uniformed service member status, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age (40 and over), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics) or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local law. Our commitment to equal opportunity employment applies to all persons involved in our operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including supervisors and co-workers.