Senior Program Manager – Sustainable Development Finance

Center for Global Development•Washington, DC

1d•$75,800 - $86,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Program Manager is the Sustainable Development Finance team’s operational and administrative lead, reporting to and supporting the Director. The role keeps people, projects, and budgets on track across CGD’s Washington, DC and London offices. Working with a high degree of autonomy, the Senior Program Manager coordinates the team’s portfolio from planning and resourcing through deliverable tracking, and supports convenings and special initiatives. The position also oversees core finance, grant fundraising and administration, and day-to-day operations, and serves as a key point of contact with other parts of CGD. It requires strong judgment and management, communication, and interpersonal skills, and is suited to someone who enjoys bringing structure, mentorship, and momentum to a collaborative team. The role is based in Washington, DC, where most of the team is located. CGD operates in a hybrid environment, with staff required to work in the office at least three days per week. Employees must be able to declare a primary residence in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia. Candidates must have the right to live and work in the United States; CGD cannot sponsor work authorization. The Sustainable Development Finance team conducts research, policy analysis, and convenings to advance evidence-based proposals and policies for effective and efficient development finance that supports sustainable growth and poverty reduction, with a focus on low-income and lower-middle-income countries.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in a related field.
At least 8 years of experience.
Right to live and work in the United States.
Experience managing administrative and operational functions of a small team, including managing competing priorities and a wide range of stakeholders.
Experience in budget and grant management.
Ability to work autonomously and make decisions that deliver work to a high standard.
Ability to anticipate needs and think creatively and strategically.
Strong organizational skills, a methodical approach to tasks, and excellent attention to detail.
Working knowledge of project management tools and techniques.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Relevant master’s degree.
Experience in a nonprofit or academic organization in an operations or administrative position; private-sector experience is also considered a good fit.
Interest in sustainable development finance challenges and issues.
Comfort coaching or managing more junior staff.

Responsibilities

Run operational processes for prioritization, planning, and follow-through across multiple concurrent projects.
Maintain a portfolio tracker covering timelines, deliverables, owners, and risks; identify bottlenecks and surface tradeoffs and decisions.
Develop tools for assessing and tracking the team’s impact for internal and external partners.
Collaborate with other CGD teams, especially communications, finance, and institutional advancement.
Support and mentor junior staff in operational and administrative work, including meeting preparation, follow-up, and deliverable management.
Oversee project financial operations, including budget tracking, forecasting, analysis, and regular reporting.
Work with CGD’s fundraising team to develop grant proposals.
Support grant management throughout the project lifecycle, including budget development, tracking, and reporting requirements.
Manage consultant and contractor workflows, including scopes of work, budgets, invoicing, and payment processing, while ensuring compliance with organizational policies.
Ensure funds are used effectively and compliantly, and maintain organized financial documentation and audit-ready records.
Develop and improve operational systems and processes, including templates, workflows, file management, onboarding materials, and documentation norms.
Coordinate day-to-day operational needs, such as purchasing, scheduling logistics, vendor coordination, and relevant travel and expense support.
Manage recruitment and hiring operations, including job postings, screening and vetting logistics, interview scheduling, reference checks as needed, and offers in collaboration with the Director and CGD HR.
Lead onboarding for new staff, including role setup, documentation access, introductions, and early workflows.
Identify recurring operational friction points and implement practical improvements that reduce the burden on program staff.
Support convenings, workshops, and special initiatives through timeline and budget management, vendor coordination, and run-of-show logistics.
Coordinate SDF updates, website content, and social media posting in collaboration with relevant staff and CGD teams.