Eastern Congo Initiative Country Director

About Eastern Congo Initiative: Founded by Ben Affleck, the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) is the first U.S. based advocacy and grant-making initiative wholly focused on working with and for the people of eastern Congo. We envision an eastern Congo vibrant with abundant opportunities for economic and social development, where a robust civil society can flourish. ECI believes that local, community-based approaches are essential to creating a sustainable and successful society in eastern Congo.

We believe public and private partnerships, combined with advocacy that drives increased attention and public policy change, will create new opportunities for the people of eastern Congo. To achieve this vision we will be advocates with and on behalf of the people of eastern Congo to:

• Increase the quantity and quality of public and private funding that supports the communities and citizens of eastern Congo, providing local organizations and leaders with the necessary resources to heal and sustain their communities 
• Raise public awareness about the tremendous need in the region through highly targeted media and advocacy activities 
• Drive policy change that increases United States government engagement in Congo 

About the Role:
ECI’s Country Director will play a key role in supporting ECI’s grant-making work and ECI’s work more broadly.

The Country Director will help to identify, vet, and evaluate potential and actual ECI grantees in eastern Congo and will be responsible for ensuring the management of processes to support ECI’s presence in DRC. The Country Director will represent ECI to government officials, NGOs, with select media, and other senior officials in the DRC, in other African countries, in the United States, and Europe.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Direction            

• Provide ECI national office with strategic planning that is fully resourced and strongly contributes to ECI vision and mission. This includes context-based annual plans and budgets that respond to community priorities with clear goals and targets.
• Provide overall leadership to ensure ECI office operations have supportive financial, procurement, human resources and procurement policies in place.
• Create and update  country office work plans to ensure all activities are aligned with the overall strategy and undertake quarterly, or more frequent evaluations of activities against work plan and strategy.
• Participate in meetings with the Advisory Committee and Executive Committee as needed.
• Support the development and engagement of a Local Advisory Committee.

2. Grant Management

• Provide leadership ensuring that all ECI grantees implement quality projects by establishment of a strong Design, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning strategy that enhances a permanent learning culture.
• Oversee the implementation of ECI’s grant making strategy in eastern DRC.
• Develop and maintain systems to ensure effective grant management.
• Contribute to the preparation of regular dockets of grantees for approval by ECI Board of Directors.
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of grant reports by grantees to ECI Executive Committee.

3. Capacity-Building and Technical Assistance

• Oversee specific capacity-building and technical assistance needs among ECI grantees.
• Identify, design and implement regular appropriate capacity training activities focusing on specific needs (e.g. financial management, program oversight, media, advocacy, etc.).

3. External Relations

• Ensure ECI office is recognized in key networks with donors, government and NGOs through active participation in field, national, regional and international coordination mechanisms at provincial and national level.
• Develop relationships between ECI DRC and ECI US office through the refinement of working advocacy and communications strategies that facilitate timely provision of updates on ECI operations work progress, challenges and perspectives.
• Establish a fundraising strategy for DRC office.
• Coordinate partners for development of proposals.
• Responsible for new business development.
• Provide the US Deputy Director with accurate and up to date developments and issues. in the region, particularly related to advocacy and grant making.
• Ensure appropriate representation of ECI at local and regional events and forums.
• Serve as a spokesperson for ECI with the local and international media.

5. Administration and Human Resources Management

• Responsible for all security plans and implementation.
• Identify and manage all legal requirements for ECI’s presence in the DRC, including management of any partner NGO relationships.
• Create and oversee all office budget and financial systems and provide all financial reports to US Deputy Director.
• Promote an open, diverse and participatory work environment.
• Coordinate with Program Director to oversee and manage Goma staff and provide guidance, assistance and support as appropriate including conducting annual performance evaluations.

6. Perform other duties as required
Selection Criteria:

• 8-10 years of extensive strategic and operational experience, preferably with an international NGO, and demonstrated experience in the management of large and complex multi-sector programs, preferably in the Great Lakes region of Africa. Exceptions may be made for applicants who possess skills and expertise to meet job description.
• Experience working with local community-based organizations, international NGOs and donors
• Background in staff management, program management, grant writing,  and supporting grant making activities.
• Demonstrated ability to establish, build and manage complex and diverse stakeholder relationships such as key government officials, NGOs, and other high-level individuals
• Solid knowledge of bi-lateral donors (USAID, DFID, AUSAID, CIDA) regulations
• Demonstrated skills in leadership and management in a complex international setting, excellent people management skills and accountability, and interpersonal skills including the ability to work closely with high-profile individuals
• Excellent English written and verbal communications skills and proficient Swahili and French written and verbal communications skills
• Ability to produce high quality work and balance competing priorities within demanding timeframes
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team or under limited supervision with high levels of initiative
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
• Experience developing and managing an office budget and financial system
• Prior experience living and working in eastern Congo, with a willingness and ability to reside in Goma, DRC.
• Ability to travel throughout eastern Congo and internationally

Desirable personal qualities include strong initiative, hard-working, self-starting approach and a balanced mix of self-confidence and humility. Must be able to work and thrive while under pressure or in stressful circumstances with a positive approach and can-do attitude. Proven ability to be solution-focused and approach challenges or conflicts by thinking outside the box. Applicants should be good natured and charismatic with a good sense of humor.
 
Compensation & Benefits
Salary is based on experience and benchmarked against non-profit levels. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including excellent medical and dental benefits, as well as a generous vacation and sick leave package.

How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and CV describing the candidate’s professional experience, two writing samples and contact information for three references. Only complete applications will be considered. ECI is an equal opportunity employer.
Applications can be submitted to jobs@easterncongo.org with “Country Director” in the subject line. Successful Applicants will be invited for a phone interview. No phone calls please.
ECI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.