Program Director P17

Job Title

Program Director P17

Agency

Texas A&M Agrilife Research

Department

Ciap - International Ag Program

Proposed Minimum Salary

$10,833.33 monthly

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

About Texas A&M AgriLife

Texas A&M AgriLife is comprised of the following Texas A&M University System members:

• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
• Texas A&M AgriLife Research
• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University
• Texas A&M Forest Service
• Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
  
  

As the nation’s largest most comprehensive agriculture program, Texas A&M AgriLife brings together a college and four state agencies focused on agriculture and life sciences within The Texas A&M University System. With over 5,000 employees and a presence in every county across the state, Texas A&M AgriLife is uniquely positioned to improve lives, environments and the Texas economy through education, research, extension and service.

Click here to learn more about how you can be a part of AgriLife and make a difference in the world!

Position Information

Responsibilities

Strategic Evidence & Learning Leadership

• Lead WSE’s transition from traditional MEL toward a strategic evidence, learning, and analytics function
• Advise senior leadership on program performance, emerging risks, and strategic decision-making using data-driven insights
• Develop frameworks linking scholarship outputs to long-term outcomes, including employment, leadership, and self-sufficiency
• Establish and operationalize a program-wide learning agenda
  
  

Data Analytics, Systems & Innovation

• Lead quantitative and qualitative analysis across multi-country student cohorts and institutional partners
• Conduct longitudinal and cohort-based analyses to assess program effectiveness and impact
• Design and oversee integrated MEL and analytics systems, dashboards, automated workflows, and reporting tools
• Introduce innovative approaches, including workflow automation, AI-assisted analysis, and predictive analytics where appropriate
• Ensure data systems are scalable, secure, and aligned with donor and program requirements
  
  

Donor Reporting & Evaluation & Learning

• Lead preparation of analytical reports and performance updates for the U.S. Department of State and other stakeholders
• Ensure all reporting is technically sound, policy-relevant, and defensible
• Design and oversee evaluations, research initiatives, and learning activities to support program adaptation and future planning
• Present findings to senior audiences, including donors, embassies, and partner institutions
• Contribute to external communications that position WSE as a leader in evidence-based programming
  
  

Team Leadership & Data Governance

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to MEL staff, including strengthening analytical and critical thinking skills
• Strengthen organizational capacity in data quality assurance, evidence-based decision-making, and data interpretation
• Establish protocols for data quality, validation, governance, confidentiality, and compliance across program systems
• Ensure alignment with U.S. Government standards and best practices related to data integrity and reporting
• Supervise and provide technical leadership and mentorship to the MEL team
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in applicable field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ten years of related experience.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Monitoring & Evaluation, Economics, Sociology, Data Science, Statistics, or related field.
• 12–15 years of progressively senior experience in MEL, research, analytics, or evidence generation within international development programs.
  
  

Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet applications.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong public speaking, organizational, leadership, and supervisory skills.
• Maintains attention to detail and utilizes sound judgment.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
  
  

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Demonstrated leadership experience managing MEL, analytics, or research functions for large, complex, multi-country programs.
• Proven experience leading strategic analytics, evaluations, learning agendas, or evidence-generation initiatives across geographically dispersed portfolios.
• Extensive experience working with U.S. Government donor frameworks, including the U.S. Department of State and/or USAID.
• Demonstrated field office experience supporting programs in Afghanistan or similarly fragile, conflict-affected, or politically sensitive operating environments.
• Proven experience overseeing complex data ecosystems, longitudinal analyses, and large-scale performance systems.
• Experience in education, women’s empowerment, workforce development, or scholarship programming.
• Experience working across multiple countries or regions required.
• Technical expertise, leadership, and communication.
• Advanced skills in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
• Demonstrated expertise designing, managing, and optimizing integrated MEL and analytics systems for complex international programs.
• Ability to operate independently in fast-paced, high-pressure, and highly sensitive international development environments required.
• Strong experience in data analysis, visualization, and interpretation.
• Demonstrated experience designing and managing MEL/data systems.
• Experience integrating digital tools, automation, or AI into data workflows strongly preferred.
• Ability to synthesize complex data into clear, actionable insights for non-technical audiences.
• Strong experience advising senior leadership and influencing strategic decision-making.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to present complex findings to high-level stakeholders.
• Proven experience mentoring and building capacity of technical staff.
  
  

What You Need To Know

Position Funding: This position is grant funded and availability is contingent on grant funding.

Flexible Work Arrangements: Flexible work schedules and remote work options may be available for this position, depending on the nature of the role and employee eligibility, in accordance with AgriLife Alternate Work Location Procedures.

Why Work at Texas A&M AgriLife?

When you choose to work for Texas A&M AgriLife, you become part of an organization that is an established leader in agriculture and life sciences with a wide range of capabilities to meet the needs of our statewide, national, and international constituents.

In addition, Texas A&M AgriLife offers a comprehensive benefit package including the following:

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums 
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays  
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas  
• Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife
  
  

Applicant Instructions

Applications received by Texas A&M AgriLife must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to prepopulate the online application.

Required Documents

CV/ Resume

Cover letter

List of references

Certifications/additional documentation

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.