idealist.org

Position: Program Director - Africa

Reports to: Senior Program Director

Location: Washington DC (70%); Field (30%)

Summary:
The Program Director administers senior oversight and hands-on leadership for Relief International’s (RI) country programs in Africa. This includes providing management leadership with the Africa Headquarters country desks toward ensuring sound execution of grants and contracts and country operations in coordination with field offices. The Program Director provides strategic vision and leadership for new program development opportunities in collaboration with the Program Development Unit, desk officers, and field teams. He/she plays a key role representing RI with positive effect with external partners, donors, and the interagency community and on sector-oriented initiatives in the Africa region.

Responsibilities

Program Management:
• Direct the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the region’s key activities according to RI and donor requirements and regulations.
• Oversees the recruitment, contracting, and supervision of the Africa-HQ RI staff members and international key personnel associated with project delivery.
• Supervises and manages team of Africa program officers and program assistants.
• Serves as primary liaison for the Africa Program Department to other departments.
• Directs and coordinates Africa-staff and activities to ensure effective operations consistent with RI objectives and protocols.
• Is a senior liaison for the Global Security Coordinator on application, maintenance of safety and security protocols and supports incident response measures.
• Is the direct line of report for Country Directors; provides overall guidance and motivation to Country Directors.
• Authorizes all programmatic documentation for submission and dissemination.
• Authorizes the submission of periodic narrative program reports to donors in a timely, compliant, and consistent manner to RI and donor standards.
• Reads, analyzes, and interprets technical procedures, and governmental regulations to ensure RI Africa programming is current and compliant to standards.
• Authorizes and cross-checks effectiveness of program mid-term and final evaluation processes on time and in accordance with donor requirements.
• Promotes RI program objectives and interests with the donor community, interagency community, government, and external partners in the international relief and development community; participates actively on key working groups via InterAction, the UN and other venues essential to coordination and representation.
• Represents the RI Africa programs to the general public and at key venues via public speaking, writing opportunities, and other awareness raising activities.
• Supports operating and recruitment procedures, in coordination with the Departments of Finance, HR, and Grants and Contracts.
• Travels to field offices routinely to ensure program implementation is according to plan and donor and RI protocols.
• Provides the Senior Management at RI with routine recommendations for future program directions.

Grants and Contracts Management:

• Reviews analyses of project activities, costs, operations, and forecast data to determine progress toward stated goals and objectives.
• Works closely with Finance Director on legal and financial matters pertaining to the organization's international field programs.
• Draft and review all agreements with federal government and private donors.
• Track financial aspects of program implementation, including budgets, projection of expenses, pipeline analysis, and processing of expenses.
• Monitor and analyze program implementation and performance that includes, program objectives and indicators, budgets, donor regulations, and compliances.

Program Development:

• Supervise development of concept papers, project proposals and responses to RFPs.
• Provides hands-on technical writing of proposals when necessary.
• Assists in preparing public relations materials such as brochures, information sheets, newsletters, and annual reports.
• Works with Program Development Team to develop and maintain strategy for ongoing country programs.
Qualifications
• M.A. in international development, social sciences or related field; or equivalent experience required.
• At least 6 years of progressive management experience in the humanitarian relief and development field.
• Experience taking on roles with increasing responsibility and accountability.
• Experience managing personnel teams of 5 or more and delivery of sound management decision making with respect to team function and performance.
• Experience in strategic planning.
• Experience managing field relief and/or development operations from HQ or country-level.
• Experience with security and safety standards/protocols, fluid environments, and complex emergencies.
• Experience developing proposals for the US government, UN, and foreign government donors; proven familiarity with major donor procedures for proposal and reporting; experience managing USAID grants preferred.
• Demonstrable understanding of Sphere, IASC, and UN Cluster systems.
• Demonstrable skills in project implementation, including preparation and monitoring of indicators / performance monitoring and budget preparation and tracking.
• Professional interest and experience in Africa, preferred.
• ****US citizenship or valid US residency/work permit required

Salary: Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications
To Apply: Please submit a resume, cover letter, salary history, 3 professional references (e-mail, address and phone number), and date of availability to hrprogram@ri.org. The email subject line MUST include the following: Program Director - Africa.