Senior Program Consultants

Senior Program Consultants (Program Design, Implementation & Transformation)
The Beneficial Knowledge Group (The BKG)

• Independent Consultant Roster
• Home-based in the US or abroad
• 10 Openings (consultant pool)

About The BKG
The Beneficial Knowledge Group (The BKG) is a Massachusetts-based consulting, training, and staffing firm that strengthens the systems, controls, and teams organizations rely on to deliver their mission. We serve government agencies, NGOs, universities, medical and research centers, and private companies in the US and internationally, including French speaking countries.

The Role
The Senior Program Consultant leads The BKG’s program and project advisory work and the crosscutting activities that help clients assess, design, launch, and strengthen programs, projects, and operations. While contributing program expertise to The BKG’s review, assessment, and evaluation engagements, the role is central to our advisory and transformation work: helping clients clarify their vision, define and design the organization they aspire to become, and manage the change needed to get there, so that they reach their full potential.

Working alongside The BKG CEO or leadership, the Engagement Lead, the CPA Expert, and our Senior Consultants, you will lead program design, implementation advisory, monitoring, evaluation, and learning, change management, and stakeholder engagement, and contribute to proposal design and submission.

We are building a pool of seasoned professionals with both headquarters and field office experience managing programs, projects, and country offices for international NGOs, such as current or former Country Directors, Program Directors, Project Directors, and Directors or Senior Managers of MEL, communications, programs, or operations.

Key Responsibilities

Program design and organizational transformation
• Lead engagements that help clients define and design their best organizational self: clarify mission, vision, priorities, and theory of change, and translate them into programs, structures, and operating models that deliver results
• Design new programs, projects, and operations, including theories of change, results frameworks, logical frameworks, implementation plans, staffing structures, and budgets
• Lead change management for program and organizational transitions, such as launches, restructuring, mergers, decentralization, scale up, and closeout
• Facilitate strategic and program planning with Boards, leadership, staff, and partners, building ownership and alignment

Program implementation and management advisory
• Assess and strengthen implementation, including workplans, milestones, budgets versus actuals, burn rates, risk registers, and reporting
• Develop or review annual and multi-year workplans, implementation plans, and startup and closeout plans
• Advise headquarters and country offices on portfolio management, partner management, and coordination between headquarters and the field
• When required, oversee and advise client staff on implementing new or redesigned programs, working alongside them; client staff remain responsible for carrying out the work

Monitoring, evaluation, and learning
• Design and strengthen MEL systems, including indicators, baselines, targets, data collection tools, data quality, and reporting, in line with the OECD DAC evaluation criteria, results based management, and funder MEL requirements
• Lead or support program reviews, midterm and final evaluations, assessments, and learning reviews

Support to reviews, assessments, and evaluations
• Contribute program expertise to The BKG’s reviews, assessments, and evaluations, in tandem with the other functional teams
• Assess program performance, compliance with award and contract terms, and alignment between programs, operations, and finance, in line with 2 CFR 200 and EU, UN, World Bank, and foundation rules
• Provide the Engagement Lead with clear and concise findings and recommendations, and contribute to findings meetings as requested

Proposal design and development
• Lead or contribute to proposals for clients, when included in the engagement, and for The BKG, when engaged for this purpose: concept notes, technical narratives, theories of change, MEL plans, workplans, staffing plans, and budget narratives
• Analyze solicitations and evaluation criteria, and build compliant, competitive responses

Communication and stakeholder engagement
• Prepare clear, compelling communication products, such as program briefs, success stories, funder reports, presentations, and dashboards
• Design stakeholder engagement and communication strategies, and engage Boards, funders, partners, government authorities, communities, and staff

Key Deliverables
• Program designs, theories of change, results frameworks, and implementation plans
• Workplans, and startup, transition, and closeout plans
• MEL plans, tools, and evaluation and learning reports
• Change management strategies and transition roadmaps
• Proposal packages, when included in the engagement
• Communication products and stakeholder engagement plans

Qualifications

Required
• 10+ years of progressive experience managing programs, projects, or country offices for international NGOs, including both headquarters and field office roles
• Director or Senior Manager level experience in roles such as Country Director, Deputy Country Director, Program Director, Project Director, Senior Program Manager, or Director or Senior Manager of MEL, communications, or operations
• Proven record leading the design, implementation, and closeout of large, complex, donor-funded programs in Africa or other international settings
• Strong experience designing MEL systems and leading evaluations and assessments
• Demonstrated experience designing and submitting competitive proposals to US government, multilateral, and foundation funders
• Experience leading program design, organizational change, transformation, and workplanning
• Excellent written and verbal communication, facilitation, and presentation skills
• Mastery of 2 CFR 200, EU, UN, World Bank, and foundation rules, and national regulations in the countries of operation
• Full professional proficiency in English
• Bachelor’s degree or international equivalent (such as a Licence) in International Development, Public Health, Public Administration, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field; Master’s degree or equivalent strongly preferred
• Availability to travel domestically and internationally when engagements require

Preferred
• Strongly preferred: ability to read French fluently and communicate in French
• Program leadership in Africa, including French speaking countries
• Knowledge of USAID and other US federal funders, the Gates Foundation and other philanthropic organizations, and multilateral funders such as the EU, UN agencies, and the World Bank
• Experience in sectors such as health, education, livelihoods, food security, governance, or humanitarian response
• PMP, PMD Pro, or a recognized MEL certification

Engagement Terms
• Independent consultant on The BKG roster (1099 for US-based consultants, or equivalent status abroad), engaged per assignment under a separate consulting agreement. This is not an employment relationship.
• Consultants may accept or decline any assignment, control the methods, means, and hours of their work, and remain free to serve other clients, subject to conflict of interest and confidentiality requirements. They are not entitled to employee benefits.
• Compensation: a daily fee equal to the consultant rate negotiated and agreed in writing with The BKG for each assignment.

Travel, Per Diem, and Travel Costs
• Domestic and international travel is a strong possibility on most engagements, but it is not guaranteed.
• For each day of authorized travel, consultants receive a per diem at GSA rates within the US or U.S. Department of State rates abroad.
• Approved travel costs, such as airfare, ground transportation, visa fees, and required vaccinations, are paid or reimbursed by The BKG, in addition to the negotiated fee.

Equipment and Insurance
• Consultants provide their own work equipment, including a secure laptop, mobile phone, and reliable internet access.
• Consultants arrange their own health coverage (including medical evacuation), travel insurance, and general and professional liability insurance, and handle their own taxes and statutory obligations.

Code of Conduct
All consultants sign and comply with The BKG Code of Conduct. The BKG has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. Client information is handled in strict confidence, and conflicts of interest must be disclosed before deployment.

How to Apply
Send the following in PDF format to staffing@thebeneficialknowledgegroup.com:
1. CV highlighting headquarters and field office experience managing programs, projects, or country offices, MEL experience, and proposals designed and submitted
2. Letter of motivation stating your expertise, language skills, expected daily fee (USD) as a basis for negotiation, availability, and willingness to travel
3. Three professional references with name, title, organization, and contact details

Subject line: Application: Senior Program Consultant | [Your Full Name]

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Selected candidates undergo technical screening and background verification. Roster selection does not guarantee assignment volume.

The BKG is an Equal Opportunity Firm.

BKG_JD_Senior_Program_Consultant