Senior Technical Advisor II, Community and Governance Practice

Who We Are 

IREX is a global development and education organization. We strive for a more just, prosperous, and inclusive world—where individuals reach their full potential, governments serve their people, and communities thrive. With a projected annual portfolio of more than $150 million and more than 750 staff worldwide, we work with partners in more than 100 countries in four areas essential to progress: cultivating leaders, empowering youth, strengthening institutions, and increasing access to quality education and information. 

The Senior Technical Advisor plays a key role in advancing IREX’s impact in the world by integrating local governance strengthening tools and approaches in IREX’s capabilities, thought leadership, programs and new business. The Senior Technical Advisor supports our Global Programs Group through capacity building and technical assistance, research and writing, product development and testing, learning and innovation, and external outreach.  

The Senior Technical Advisor conceptualizes the design of programs, interventions and technical products, bringing a strong technical base of knowledge grounded in research and practice; oversees, develops and/or sources local governance strengthening resources and tools; and researches and evaluates the application of theories, methods and techniques to develop thought leadership products and support new business and strategic partnership development. 

The Senior Technical Advisor also contributes significantly to new business development, leading, coordinating, writing and advising program proposal teams in Global Programs and the Strategy and Development Group. They also support strategic communications efforts and partnership development. 

We are doers. Our decades of on-the-ground experience help us create greater impact, practical recommendations, and lasting partnerships. 

Are you the next member of our team? 

Your Background & Skills 

• Bachelor's degree in international development, public policy, public financial management, participatory governance or related field. Master’s degree preferred. 
• 12 + years of progressive experience and proven track record of working with or for local/subnational government, including experience in community development planning and using community-informed and inclusive approaches as a sustainable way to support communities to achieve development and humanitarian outcomes at scale. 
• Experience working with NGOs, CSOs and development organizations. 
• Experience integrating subnational governance solutions related to digital transformation. 
• Proven track record of writing, leading or contributing substantively to successful proposals for project opportunities larger than $5 million. 
• Excellent writing and drafting skills and experience co-creating subnational governance approaches and tools.  
• Capacity to synthesize high volumes of information into key messages to various audiences.   
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, high level of reliability, and track record of follow-through.   
• Excellent oral communication skills with the ability to present the results of efforts through high visibility public speaking engagements, etc.   
• Outstanding interpersonal, intercultural and collaboration skills.   
• Demonstrated ability to plan strategically and creatively to meet specified objectives.   
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including governments, private sector, civil society, etc.   
• Strong facilitation and capacity building skills.   
• Ability to learn through feedback and collaboration with others across the organization.   
• Ability to carry out evaluation and learning activities.   
• Fluency in English required; proficiency in additional language(s) preferred.   
• You must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States. 

Your Daily Tasks 

• Conceptualize technical design of local governance and related programming with a strong technical base of knowledge grounded in research and practice. 
• Develop, review and provide quality control of division technical products (e.g. manuals, papers, toolkits). 
• Conduct and/or source training and technical assistance related to local governance for programs and the division. 
• Provide technical review and resource development for new and/or cross-cutting technical areas related to local governance.  
• Provide updates to the division on new reports, studies and/or trends in international development related to local governance strengthening and support. 
• Provide oversight/support for a portfolio of local governance and related programs (including travel to global program of