Director of Program Management - Sesame Workshop - Staff

Sesame Workshop is seeking a Director of Program Management to manage complex social impact programs and support oversight of its diverse International Social Impact (ISI) portfolio. We seek a detail-oriented and collaborative individual who will work closely with program teams and partners to guide program design, planning, management, and compliance of a variety of programs that emphasize media integration, education outcomes, and community engagement in multiple geographies – including conflict and crisis settings.

The Director will provide full lifecycle award management and oversight of their assigned portfolio of grants, cooperative agreements or sub-awards to mitigate risk and to ensure compliance with donors’ regulations and SW’s policies. The Director will serve as an integral member of the ISI team. In consultation with the Vice President of International Programs, the Director will strengthen program management best practices and enhance systems and procedures to support efficient and high-quality program implementation across the ISI program portfolio.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director will manage a portfolio of global programs to achieve results; provide ongoing guidance to program teams in the NY Office and Regional & Country offices to ensure program quality and results and compliance with donor requirements and regulations and internal procedures. The Director will provide daily problem-solving and coaching to team members and work collaboratively within and across teams. The Director will also provide leadership within ISI to develop and refine systems, procedures, and training related to program management and U.S. or non-U.S. donor compliance. In partnership with the Philanthropic Development team, the Director will lead proposal management for USAID and a range of other donors, as assigned.

The Director will report to the Vice President, International Programs.

The position is based in New York City with approximately 15% international travel as needed. Sesame Workshop currently follows a hybrid work model with designated in-office days a minimum of 2 days per week, determined based on the functional nature of the role. Remote designations will not be considered.

Applicants must already be eligible to work in the United States without a current or future need for visa assistance.

Please note: The stated salary range in this posting is an average and may not be reflective of individual circumstances. We will review specific salary information with selected candidates during the interview process.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Management

• Manage a portfolio of complex multi-country programs and projects. Lead and support cross-functional teams to achieve project outcomes within the portfolio: Guide and ensure implementation of project activities across education, media production, distribution, and marketing/PR functions
• Set and communicate project goals with teams; develop and manage workplans, timelines, and budget; Plan and designate project resources; work with the finance team to prepare budget, forecasting, and ensure expenditures
• Oversee the development and execution of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) plans led by research teams; lead adaptive management and CLA (Collaborating, Learning, Adapting) approach for assigned projects and serve as a resource for other PMs
• Manage program award agreements, consultant and vendor contracts, and implementation sub-awards with support from the Legal team and with guidance from the Senior Director of Grants & Compliance
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with award staff of donor agencies and implementation partners; Review/prepare correspondence to donors on project-related issues
• Lead program start-up and close-out planning, providing guidance on and interpretation of applicable contractual, financial and regulatory requirements; support planning and management of audit processes in coordination with Finance and Compliance teams.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with award staff of donor agencies and implementation partners
• Ensure strong knowledge management for all assigned programs; provide guidance and solutions for strong knowledge management practices for other team members

Business Development

• Contribute to pipeline development in line with organization priorities and department strategy
• Lead proposal development processes including writing justification for bidding decisions, partnership selection, managing program design process, and budget development
• Conduct scoping and capture trips for priority proposals, as assigned
• As assigned, review and clear technical and cost applications for compliance with donor requirements and SW policies
• Support the development of strong Teaming Agreements with partner organizations
• Provide oversight on award negotiation with funders/clients; Review award agreements to ensure alignment with proposed program description and to ensure that executed awards and sub-awards support implementation plans, productive partnerships, and cost-recovery.
• Support systems and process development and alignment across Salesforce, Workfront, and other platforms.

General Program Management Best Practice

• Serve as a mentor to ISI Staff on program management best practice
• Manage the development, tailoring and/or revision of resource materials, including best practice guides, templates and other tools to assist program staff with award management
• Champion the use of Adobe Workfront and other online platforms that support efficient management across ISI; support capacity development and change management across the department and with Regional and Country Offices
• Identify best practices and lessons learned and opportunities to introduce more efficient or streamlined practices and tools to increase efficiency and effectiveness. Based on that, develop suggested amendments/revisions to SW’s project management methodologies as appropriate.
• Maintain knowledge of issues facing the Regional and Country Offices including the operational environment, compliance challenges and potential risks associated with the implementation of programs
• Minimize risk to the organization by proactively identifying potential problems and offer possible solutions and troubleshooting options; brief leadership in a timely manner and provide recommendations
• Perform other duties as assigned by the SVP

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 8 years of experience in complex project management in international development or humanitarian response programming
• 5+ years of experience leading collaborative processes and managing multi-disciplinary teams to accomplish program results; Demonstrated ability to work in a highly matrixed project team with a sense of urgency
• Demonstrated experience managing USAID (or similar) awards or contracts with a strong understanding of relevant rules and regulations and how they apply to proposal development and program management
• Experience designing and managing international social impact programs that integrate robust MEL and research approaches
• Experience with Adobe Workfront or other cloud-based project management software. PMP certification, a plus
• Systems thinker with meticulous attention to detail, as well as outstanding critical thinking and proactive problem-solving skills; Proven ability to prioritize and follow through
• Poised and professional communicator who can interact with colleagues of various levels and functions, internally and externally. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• International field-based experience a plus
• Advanced degree in relevant discipline a plus
• Ability to travel internationally and work across cultures and time zones

ABOUT SESAME WORKSHOP

Sesame Workshop is the global impact nonprofit behind Sesame Street and so much more. For over 50 years, we have worked at the intersection of education, media, and research, creating joyful experiences that enrich minds and expand hearts, all in service of empowering each generation to build a better world. Our beloved characters, iconic shows, outreach in communities, and more bring playful early learning to families in more than 150 countries and advance our mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org and follow Sesame Workshop on Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity