Program Manager US 2026

Dalberg Advisors•Washington, DC

1d•$105,750•Hybrid

About The Position

Shape and implement solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges with the Dalberg Strategy Activation team. ABOUT DALBERG Dalberg is a global group that partners with organizations to design and implement strategies that deliver measurable impact, advancing a more sustainable planet and inclusive societies where all people can thrive. We work side by side with governments, foundations, companies, and communities to move from insight to action—translating bold ideas into programs, policies, and systems that work in practice. As a diverse, purpose-driven community of professionals, Dalberg combines strategy and management consulting with hands-on implementation, equity-centered community design, data and research, and strategic communications. This integrated approach allows us not only to help clients define what needs to change, but to support them in making change happen—from piloting solutions to scaling them across institutions and geographies. We are from everywhere, at home anywhere—an African and American organization as much as an Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern, and European one. Dalberg is a place where people bring their full selves to work, practicing transparency and openness while maintaining independence of thought. Our culture is grounded in respect, inclusion, and a shared commitment to learning and growth. Today, Dalberg is a team of 610+ people from 55 countries, collectively speaking 90 languages, with 48%+ female representation in leadership. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core to how we work—with our clients, partners, and the communities we serve. Established in 2001 by experienced private sector consultants, Dalberg operates from 25+ locations worldwide, supporting strategy execution and systems change across sectors and regions. ABOUT OUR STRATEGY ACTIVATION WORK Executing on a strategy or standing up a new initiative or program is when the ‘real work’ starts for most of our partners. Therefore, our Strategy Activation work is the practice of speeding up the initial stages of implementation using project management offices (PMOs) and other structures to deeply partner with clients over time to increase the chances of success for a new initiative, program, or learning agenda. It provides the foundational steps towards bringing a strategy to life, contextualizing it further and teasing out implications for business-as-usual, helping test critical assumptions, making strategic choices, adapting to emerging needs and laying the groundwork for implementation. ABOUT YOU You are a social impact leader, and you thrive tackling both global and domestic issues, from malnutrition to climate change to economic growth, ensuring no population is left behind. You enjoy leading high-performing teams and engaging deeply with the decision makers and on the ground change makers. You have demonstrated entrepreneurial abilities in your past works by driving innovation and have made change happen. and you want to put your skills to work – transforming organizations that drive change around the world. You have rich experience of working on the ground with communities and partners delivering the impact. You are a committed self-starter with experience as a ‘top performer’ at a leading consultancy firm or at a well-known social impact organization, a passion for international development, and an entrepreneurial spirit. What You Will Do and How You Will Grow Program Managers are resourceful team leaders who manage critical thinking and analytical horsepower that drives teams. As the link between junior team members and Dalberg management, Program Managers deliver creative ideas and results for our clients worldwide. With a combination of analytical skills and social acumen, Program Managers are savvy communicators who understand the community and local landscape, guide their teams in working with stakeholders and decision makers, solve problems that come in way of project delivery, and structure communications that promote constructive dialogues with diverse stakeholders in the public sector, private sector, civil society, and international communities. For a few examples: · A Dalberg team is working to expand and deepen programs to transform the trajectories of children in Wilmington, Delaware from cradle to career while also providing housing opportunities to keep the neighborhood affordable for current and legacy residents. · Dalberg supported the Los Angeles Department of Economic Opportunity to finalize the design of, and launch, a new Economic Mobility Initiative (EMI) aimed at supporting micro- and small businesses in the county by delivering services and programming in partnership with various community organizations. Dalberg supported USAID in launching a global Community of Practice (CoP) aimed at enhancing educational outcomes for underprivileged children and youth in the Global South through non-state education.

Requirements

A clear commitment to domestic and/or international development, demonstrated through prior work on issues such as economic development, global health, education, climate, gender equity, justice, mobility, or financial inclusion
Significant professional experience (typically around 6-8 years) in social impact consulting, international development, public sector delivery, philanthropy, or other mission-driven organizations, including experience leading programs, workstreams, or teams
Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Public Policy, International Relations, Development Studies, Economics, Social Sciences, Education, Social Entrepreneurship, or a related field (or an equivalent combination of education and experience)
Demonstrated ability to deliver results, learn quickly, and take on increasing responsibility in complex, evolving environments
Strong experience managing multi-workstream programs, including setting up and operationalizing project and performance management systems, coordinating delivery with partners and clients, and adapting plans to on-the-ground realities
Ability to build trust and work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior leaders, partners, and on-the-ground teams
Action-oriented problem solver with strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, and the ability to translate evidence into practical decisions
Proven ability to work effectively as part of a team in entrepreneurial, fast-paced, and mission-driven environments
Experience working across different cultural and geographic contexts; time spent working in low- and middle-income communities is a plus
Professionalism and sensitivity to political, cultural, and institutional dynamics in complex environments
Familiarity with project delivery approaches and tools (e.g., Agile, Scrum, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, Jira) is helpful; we value adaptability and a willingness to learn
Fluency in English (spoken and written) required; fluency in Spanish a plus.

Nice To Haves

Fluency in foreign languages
Experience with Excel or PowerPoint
Demonstrated ability to innovate new programs, ideas, or initiatives

Responsibilities

End to end program delivery
Working closely with the stakeholders on ground as well as with senior management of the clients
Lead project teams in disaggregating problems and providing solutions to address them
Manage two or more projects simultaneously
Contextualize and apply innovative strategies and solutions for our clients
Manage workstreams and provide direction
Coach, manage, and support junior team members
Ensure the quality of client deliverables