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The Center for Global Development (CGD) (https://www.cgdev.org/) is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit policy research organization in Washington, DC and London, UK that focuses on the issues and institutions that are critical to inclusive development. Through rigorous empirical research and active engagement with the global policy community, we focus on the policy intersections of low- and middle-income countries and the governments, institutions, and corporations that can be partners in delivering greater progress.

The Market Shaping Accelerator (MSA) (https://www.marketshapingaccelerator.org/#about) is led by the world’s leading market shaping scholars including Professor and President of the Center for Global Development Rachel Glennerster (https://www.cgdev.org/expert/rachel-glennerster) (CGD and UChicago), Nobel laureate Michael Kremer (https://michaelkremer.economics.uchicago.edu/) (UChicago) and Professor Christopher Snyder (https://sites.dartmouth.edu/csnyder/) (Dartmouth) .

MSA is a partnership between three leading institutions – combining the academic expertise of Dartmouth and the University of Chicago, with the policy insights of the Center for Global Development.

MSA aims to catalyze the development of Advance Market Commitments and other market shaping mechanisms to incentivize innovations addressing pressing global challenges including biosecurity, global health and climate change.

Job Summary

MSA's portfolio has the potential to be truly transformative but realizing that potential requires someone to help us deliver. The Senior Program Manager is MSA’s operational and administrative lead as well as a close partner to the Director—responsible for keeping our people, projects, and budgets on track. Working across three institutions (CGD, UChicago and Dartmouth) you will build lightweight systems that help a small team deliver consistently with external partners, while also overseeing core finance, grants administration, and day-to-day operations. Working with a high degree of autonomy, you will coordinate across the full portfolio—from planning and resourcing to tracking deliverables and supporting convenings and special initiatives. This role is central to how MSA operates and requires excellent judgment, discretion, and comfort managing sensitive information.

The role is highly collaborative, fast-paced, and well-suited to someone who enjoys bringing structure, mentorship, and momentum to a growing team. In this role you will work alongside economists, domain experts, and policy staff, supporting a team tackling some of the world's most pressing problems.

This position is based in Washington, DC, which is where the majority of the team is based.

Responsibilities include:

This list represents possible responsibilities; the exact list and distribution will be tailored to the individual candidate.

A) People & project delivery (core) (~40%)

+ Run the operational rhythm for a small, fast-moving team: weekly prioritization, work planning, and follow-through across multiple concurrent projects.

+ Maintain a lightweight portfolio tracker (timelines, deliverables, owners, risks) and proactively identify bottlenecks; escalate tradeoffs and decisions as needed.

+ Support and mentor junior staff in partner-facing execution (agendas, meeting prep, notes, follow-ups, and deliverable management), helping build confidence and consistency.

+ Coordinate cross-functional inputs (internal team, CGD, UChicago and Dartmouth colleagues, external partners/consultants) to keep workstreams aligned and on schedule.

B) Budget, grants, and contracting (core) (~30%)

+ Oversee financial operations for MSA projects, including budget tracking, forecasting, analysis and regular reporting to the Director and relevant CGD, UChicago and Dartmouth teams.

+ Support grant management across the project lifecycle: budget development, tracking, and reporting requirements in coordination with CGD / UChicago / Dartmouth finance/grants teams and staff.

+ Manage consultant/contractor workflows, including scopes of work, budgeting, invoicing, and payment processing; ensure compliance with organizational policies.

+ Ensure effective, compliant use of funds across projects; maintain well-organized financial documentation and audit-ready records.

C) Operations, hiring, & administrative leadership (core) (~20%)

+ Develop and improve operational systems and processes that enable smooth execution (templates, workflows, file management, onboarding materials, documentation norms).

Coordinate day-to-day operations needs (purchasing, scheduling logistics, vendor coordination, travel/expense support as relevant).

+ Manage recruitment and hiring operations for new staff (approximately two hiring rounds per year), including coordinating postings, screening/vetting logistics, interview scheduling, reference checks (as needed), and offers in collaboration with the Director/CGD HR.

+ Lead onboarding for new staff, ensuring clear role setup, documentation access, introductions, and early-week workflows that set people up to succeed.

+ Track and improve internal operational performance—spot recurring friction points and implement pragmatic fixes that reduce burden on program staff.

D) Convenings, workshops, and communications support (~10%)

+ Support programmatic activities including convenings, workshops, and special initiatives: timelines, budgets, vendor coordination, and run-of-show logistics.

+ Provide light communications support (e.g., coordinating website updates, basic editing/proofing, keeping key materials organized and current), in collaboration with relevant staff/CGD teams.

Requirements:

+ Undergraduate degree required

+ Minimum 5 years of experience

+ Must have the right to live and work in the US

+ Experience running multi-project portfolios with partner-facing delivery, with proven ability to manage competing priorities and a wide range of stakeholders

+ Experience in budget and grant management

+ Proven ability to act with a high degree of autonomy and make decisions to deliver work to a high standard

+ An ability to see ahead and think creatively and strategically is essential

+ Strong organizational skills with methodical approach to tasks and excellent attention to detail

+ A working knowledge of project management tools and techniques

+ Excellent oral and written communication skills

Preferred Competencies:

+ Experience in non-profit or academic organizations, ideally in an operations or administrative position. Experience in the private sector would also be a good fit.

+ Curiosity and interest in global health, pandemic preparedness and climate change and/or other MSA cause areas

+ Comfort coaching/managing more junior staff

Salary Range: $75,800 - $86,000. Pay commensurate with education, skillset and experience.

Deadline - February 8, 2026. We aim to move quickly, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and a resume. Please specify in the cover letter how you meet the criteria for the role and your motivation for joining the team.

The organization is working hybrid will all staff required to be in the office three days per week. CGD is registered to employ staff living in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Candidates must be able to live and work in one of these locations to be considered.

In compliance with United States federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document upon hire. CGD will sponsor United States work authorization for this position.

Read about CGD’s benefits package  here. (https://www.cgdev.org/careers)

CGD/E is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and celebrates fostering a collaborative, diverse, and inclusive work environment. All persons will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, parental status, veteran status, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age or sexual orientation.

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