Program Officer
Job Summary
Working as a member of one or two multi-disciplinary teams and under the guidance of a senior team member, Program Leader (PL) and/or Program Manager (PM) if applicable, the Program Officer (PO):
- Under the supervision senior team members develops, monitors, manages, and evaluates small research projects and Research Support Projects (RSPs);
- With guidance from senior team members, is responsible for a portfolio of Program Initiative (PI) projects in the range of 20-35 projects and RSPs values up to $5-7 million.
- Liaises with program colleagues in Ottawa and the regional offices on issues of project development and management;
- Assists senior team members in the identifying, developing and managing IDRC’s contacts with other international agencies and Canadian institutions;
- Contributes to Centre-wide public relations efforts and to knowledge dissemination and utilization, including participation in IDRC, public and scientific fora;
- Assists in revenue generation by preparing reports to co-funders and donors; and
- Participates in team meetings.
Primary Duties or Responsibilities
Project Development
- Assesses proposals, including conceptual, methodological, operational, evaluative, and financial aspects;
- Identifies and develops research proposals in accordance with Centre policies;
- Incorporates, at the project design stage, plans for dissemination and utilization of research results;
- Explores the potential for support and participation by the Canadian research community;
- Develop partnerships with other funding agencies to support project activities,
- Negotiates with researchers to increase the use they make of research as input in policy formulation; and
- Prepares project documents for approval.
Project Management
- Manages, in consultation with the Resources Branch staff, the preparation of contracts and grant letters, materiel purchases, travel arrangements, analysis of financial statements, adjustment of budgets and schedules, and project closures;
- Provides technical supervision, including analysis of interim reports, participation in workshops, literature searches, identification and administration of resource persons/consultants in support of projects;
- Reviews final project reports of research results, and negotiates revisions and/or additional research requirements; and
- Assists in coordinating the research activities of collaborative projects between Canadian and developing country researchers;
Program Development
- Works and contributes within the PI team structure that guides the formulation and development of the PI’s program strategy and related project portfolio.
Project Evaluation
- Plans and manages project evaluations; and
- Prepares project completion reports.
Centre-wide Collaboration
- Participates in regular PI meetings, and when required in other Program Area, Branch and Corporate meetings and committees; and
- Collaborates with colleagues in Ottawa and the regions in connection with the PO’s portfolio of projects in the identification and evaluation of emerging and key development trends and priorities in a particular region.
Research Utilization and Centre Representation
- Assists researchers in writing, editing, and publishing research results; and
- Participates in public and scientific fora;