Project Director

Q2IMPACT; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Q2IMPACT is seeking a Project Director / Task Order Manager to lead the EAP MEL Platform, directing contract performance, client engagement, and quality control from Washington, DC. You will oversee cross-functional teams, manage budgets, schedules, and reporting, and ensure compliance with security and DOS standards.

The ideal candidate holds a Master’s degree in a related field, 10+ years of international development or MEL experience, and an active Secret clearance, with a proven track record

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in international development, public policy, evaluation, international affairs, public administration, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in foreign assistance, MEL, project design, evaluation, performance management, or program management.
• Experience leading complex, multi-country USG task orders or contracts, preferably for DOS or related agencies.
• Experience managing demand-driven assignments and rapid-response staffing for field-based work.

Responsibilities

• Serve as main client contact with COR, CO, EAP/RASP, and stakeholders.
• Provide central management for all task order requirements, planning, staffing, budgets, reporting, quality control, and risk mitigation.
• Lead rapid planning for demand-driven assignments, including technical plans, budgets, staffing, and security plans.
• Select, guide, and support technical experts, embedded personnel, regional consultants, and surge staff.
• Ensure all contracted tasks meet DOS standards and delivery expectations.

Skills

Client engagement

Contract management

Task order leadership

Team supervision

Clear communication

Security clearance

Education

Master’s degree in international development, public policy, evaluation, international affairs

Job description

About Q2IMPACT

Q2IMPACT is a data-first organization known for delivering innovative, customized solutions in monitoring, evaluation, learning, digital transformation, and performance management for government, security, and development partners. Drawing on deep expertise in advanced analytics, digital platforms, and AI, we help clients solve their most complex data, knowledge management, and operational challenges. Our collaborative culture values curiosity, partnership, and technical excellence.

Description

Q2IMPACT is a data-first organization known for delivering innovative, customized solutions in monitoring, evaluation, learning, digital transformation, and performance management for government, security, and development partners. Drawing on deep expertise in advanced analytics, digital platforms, and AI, we help clients solve their most complex data, knowledge management, and operational challenges. Our collaborative culture values curiosity, partnership, and technical excellence.

Project Summary

The EAP Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Platform supports the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP), Office of Regional Assistance and Security Program (RASP), and other Department bureaus, embassies, consulates, field offices, and EAP operating units that manage or oversee foreign assistance programs. The task order provides demand-driven MEL, project design, strategic planning, performance monitoring, evaluation, data management, learning, training, third-party monitoring, infrastructure monitoring, and surge technical assistance across Washington, DC and the East Asia and Pacific region. The platform is designed to strengthen evidence-based decision-making, align programming with DOS priorities and 18 FAM 301.4 requirements, and deliver timely, high-quality services through close coordination with the COR, EAP program offices, Activity Managers, posts, and technical teams.

Position Summary

The Project Director / Task Order Manager serves as the senior lead responsible for overall contract execution, technical and operational performance, quality delivery, and client engagement for the EAP MEL Platform. The Project Director is the primary point of contact for the Government and provides the central management necessary to fulfill contract requirements, including cost and quality control, response to deliverable requests, technical and administrative direction to experts and project teams, reporting, risk management, and compliance with security, contractual, and quality assurance requirements.

General Duties And Responsibilities

• Serve as Q2IMPACT’s primary point of contact with the COR, CO, EAP/RASP, EAP operating units, embassies, consulates, Activity Managers, and other Department stakeholders.
• Provide central management and oversight for all task order requirements, including deliverable requests, work planning, staffing, schedules, budgets, reporting cycles, quality control, and risk mitigation.
• Lead rapid, responsive planning for demand-driven assignments, including technical implementation plans, activity budgets, staffing plans, and location-specific security plans.
• Select, guide, place, and support technical experts, subject matter experts, embedded personnel, regional consultants, monitors, subcontractors, and surge staff required to carry out the task order’s technical requirements.
• Ensure all contracted tasks use consistent and transparent quality control methods and meet Department of State standards, 18 FAM 301.4 requirements, Section 508 requirements, and agreed schedules and deliverable expectations.
• Oversee delivery across the full anticipated scope of work, including strategic planning, project design, performance monitoring, evaluations, data management and analysis, training and capacity development, third-party monitoring, infrastructure support, learning, short-term technical assistance, embedded personnel, and regional support.
• Maintain strong coordination and communication systems for Washington-based and regional tasking, including clear escalation, issue resolution, and documentation of decisions, assumptions, and approvals.
• Review and approve major deliverables, reports, briefs, tools, work plans, financial reports, and client-facing products prior to submission to ensure technical soundness, responsiveness, and readiness for Government acceptance.

Requirements

Minimum Education and Experience

• Master’s degree in international development, public policy, evaluation, international affairs, public administration, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in foreign assistance, MEL, project design, evaluation, performance management, or program management.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-country USG task orders or contracts, preferably for the Department of State or other foreign affairs, diplomacy, security, or development clients.
• Experience managing demand-driven assignments, interdisciplinary technical teams, subcontractors or consultants, and rapid-response staffing for short-notice or field-based tasking.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Senior-level client engagement, contract management, task order leadership, and team supervision skills, including experience serving as a primary client point of contact.
• Deep understanding of Department of State foreign assistance priorities, MEL standards, 18 FAM 301.4, evidence use, adaptive management, and quality assurance for technical deliverables.
• Strong regional familiarity with the East Asia and Pacific region and the ability to manage work across Washington, DC, EAP posts, operating units, and regional or remote technical teams.
• Ability to manage surge and local support staffing while preserving methodological independence, data quality, and consistent technical oversight.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to translate technical findings, implementation updates, risks, and decisions into concise client-ready products.
• Active Secret-level security clearance.

Required Security Clearance

Active Secret-level clearance required.

Location and Travel

Washington, DC; international travel as required.

Benefits

• A dynamic group of professionals with diverse backgrounds and expertise, committed to delivering high-quality results and making a meaningful impact in communities around the world.
• An opportunity to lead and shape a growing firm that has a solid reputation in the industry and is poised for further expansion.
• A chance to work across development, diplomacy, and defense sectors, with a broad portfolio of projects and clients.
• A supportive and inclusive culture that values innovation, excellence, and collaboration.
• Competitive salary and benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, and paid time off.

Working Conditions And Required Equipment

The incumbent in these positions will work in a professional office environment and will utilize the following equipment when working

• Computer (laptop or desktop)
• Printer/Photocopier/Scanner/Fax
• Telephone
• Other (Specify if any)

The physical demands and work environment that have been described is representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of these positions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

These position descriptions provide an overview of the major functions and requirements of these roles. This document is not intended to be an exhaustive list encompassing every duty and requirement of the positions; the Employee’s Manager may assign other duties as related or as otherwise deemed appropriate and necessary within the general scope, without the need for additional compensation.