Director of Africa Programs : Nairobi, Kenya

Deadline for Applications: April 2, 2012

Overview of the Position

The Director of Africa Programs plays a major role in furthering the mission of the organization and helping to set and reach its operational goals. This position provides high-level oversight for all Africa-based programs and staff and works closely with top-level management in determining the organization’s strategic direction, priorities and approaches. This position reports to the Chief Operating Officer at the agency’s U.S. headquarters.

Essential Functions

Strategic Leadership - Assist in providing strategic leadership for the organization and in setting both long and short-range programmatic goals. - Continually explore opportunities for the organization to expand and strengthen its impact.

Representation - Serve as the primary representative and designee for the organization in Africa with external partners, vendors, legal counsel, local authorities, financial institutions, etc. - Develop and maintain strong and influential relationships with a wide array of operational partners, including governmental, intergovernmental, nongovernmental organizations and other key stakeholders. - Represent the organization as requested at international meetings and conferences.

Overall Management - Provide effective overall management for the organization’s Africa-based programs. - Directly supervise the senior managers in the Nairobi office and work closely with them in the oversight of all Africa programs and staff.
- Maintain close coordination and communication with all of the organization’s Africa-based staff, with particular attention to achieving outcomes, professional development and staff morale. - Ensure the overall high quality and ethical standards of the organization’s Africa-based programs. - Ensure resources are in place and used effectively to carry out the organization’s strategy and planned activities.

Ensure that accurate and timely financial and programmatic reports are provided as needed to funders and headquarters.

Organizational Health and Stability - Ensure that the organization’s policies and practices in its Africa programs meet the statutory requirements and accounting standards connected with its non-profit registration status. - Ensure fiscal responsibility of Africa operations, practicing good stewardship, remaining within budget, protecting assets, and optimizing resources. - Help safeguard the organization’s long-term stability, solvency, reputation, and progress on mission. - Maintain steady and close communication with the organization’s headquarters to ensure excellent coordination. - Collaborate with headquarters on public relations and fundraising initiatives.

Thought Leadership - Identify and capitalize on opportunities for research and publishing to distill and share knowledge products from the organization’s programs.
- Collaborate with headquarters on advocacy initiatives, in order to have the maximum impact on policies and programs affecting refugees and asylum seekers globally.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of refugee law, protection, assistance and of African political and cultural histories.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a large and diverse operational program, and to balance the competing needs and demands of various partner agencies. • Demonstrated ability to analyze budget data and financial reports, and to ensure cost-effective program implementation. • Demonstrated commitment to transparency and accountability. • Experience in managing a large and diverse staff, and the ability to lead teams in a multi-cultural environment. • Experience with staff performance management and conflict resolution. • Proven leadership and decision-making skills; sound judgment, initiative, flexibility and collegiality.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills; ability to effectively present information to senior management, the Board of Directors, operational partners, and other audiences. • Demonstrated organizational skills, as well as strong analytical and problem solving skills. • Ability to maintain confidential information. • Ability to maintain high performance standards and attention to detail.

• Ability to conduct oneself in a professional manner and to represent the best interests of the agency. • Ability to travel frequently and sometimes for extended periods, including internationally and to ‘hardship’ locations in Africa. Qualifications

Education: University Degree in a relevant field (e.g. international affairs, law, human rights migration studies, public health, anthropology, etc.). Advanced degree preferred.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years previous work experience in the field of refugee protection and assistance, with at least 3 of those years at a management level.

Strongly Preferred: Prior experience with the U.S. Refugee Admission Programs (including domestic reception and integration); prior experience providing remote oversight to operations in multiple countries.

How to apply:

Please email the following items to admin@refugepoint.org: 1. Cover letter (including salary requirements) 2. Resume 3. Unedited writing sample (any length, subject and format) 4. Names and contact information of three references

Incomplete applications will not be considered. No calls, please.