Africare is a leader among private, charitable U.S. organizations assisting Africa. Africare is also the oldest and largest African-American led organization in the field. Africare's programs address needs in three principal areas: Agriculture & Food Security, Health & HIV/AIDS, and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene.
Throughout its 40 year history, Africare has reached 30 million people across the continent with innovative, sustainable, culturally appropriate and life-changing projects to improve the quality of life in communities throughout Africa. We strategically invest in innovating and implementing community-based solutions to complex problems, with a strong focus on skills transfer to create leaders out of beneficiaries. Our work has transformed communities and garnered wide recognition for its impact and sustainability.
Africare’s 1,100 staff members operate in 19 countries across Africa. Headquarters is based in Washington, DC where the President’s office and the Finance, Development, and Operations Departments are based. We are searching for a Country Director based in our Mozambique office.
Position Summary
Mozambique currently has one of the fastest growing economies in the developing world and continues to attract large amounts of foreign investment, primarily in mining and gas. Accordingly, the Country Office has emphasized building partnerships with private investors, both to mitigate the risks inherent in extractive sector investment and also to diversify its fundraising away from a dependence on traditional donors. Collaboration with foreign investors comprises both grants for traditional corporate social responsibility projects as well as contracts for service delivery, including resettlement services for infrastructure projects. The Country Office intends to expand this service-provider aspect of its portfolio, and therefore seeks someone who can envision Africare Mozambique as a pioneering form of social enterprise. However, relations with traditional donors will remain a key portion of the portfolio, so the ideal candidate should also be comfortable engaging in these relations as well.
The Country Director (CD) is a well-established manager and diplomat who serves as the representative and provides leadership to all Africare programs in the country assigned. The CD reports to the Director of International Programs. The CD ensures that all activities are responsive to the needs of the host country. S/he is a spokesperson for Africare in the country and the primary communication link between the in-country program(s) and Africare headquarters. Responsibilities include: analysis and interpretation of the country’s development needs and opportunities; program development and fundraising; staff development and supervision; oversight of administrative and financial management in country; and project monitoring, documentation and reporting. The CD provides leadership as well as technical and logistical guidance to ongoing projects, development of new business, and administrative functions.
Duties and Responsibilities
• Business Development:
o Provides leadership to Africare operations by establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with private sector firms, government officials, host country planners and staff, local officials, third country and international development personnel, and U.S. Government/non-government personnel.
o Establishes and maintains close contact with officials and representatives of other agencies and organizations for the purpose of interpreting and stimulating interest in Africare goals, objectives, philosophies, and resources as they relate to host country priorities and projects.
o In conjunction with Africare staff and key host country personnel, analyzes and interprets the country’s social and economic development needs and opportunities, providing technical guidance in the preparation of project requests and associated documentation.
o Engages international agencies, foundations and businesses to widen opportunities for collaboration and project funding.
o Engages Africare’s technical units in initiating new project implementation activities following Africare’s Opportunity Review process.
o Responsible for constant review and analysis of evaluations and best practices developed during the implementation of Africare projects throughout the continent to ensure incorporation into business development programs with potential partners.
o Determines new areas of Africare involvement while developing and implementing viable projects that offer employees the opportunity for job success.
• Human Resource Management:
o Supervises all Africare staff members and contract personnel in the country of assignment.
o Undertakes annual performance appraisal of staff in accordance with Africare policies and the country specific HR manual.
o Establishes rapport with staff/personnel, and is responsible for ensuring a healthy work environment across all country offices.
• Administrative and Financial Management:
o Administers and oversees Africare financial and administrative management, including contract negotiation, procurement, budgeting, financial record keeping, and financial reporting.
o Working with HQ finance department and following established guidelines, prepares and submits budget data and reports complete and on time, and manages fiscal expenditures, preventing budget over-runs.
o Oversees and ensures compliance with Africare policies and ethical guidelines and complies with Management Services guidelines on procurements, security and other functions and Internal Audit’ recommendations.
o Understands, interprets, and implements Africare Policy Manual covering: Personnel Policy, Travel & Allowances, Organization and Goals, and Operating Policy. Ensures observance of all relevant laws and legal requirements in managing its affairs and programs at country level.
• Project Management:
o Assesses, monitors and evaluates project activities to ensure adherence to goals prescribed in project plans and consistency between budget burn rates and activity implementation rates.
o Ensures that all prescribed conditions for ongoing programs are being met, and that national/local officials are operating on the same understanding with regard to ongoing projects. Adheres to established program schedules, and completion of assigned work in accordance with deadlines established for projects.
o Serves as team member with Africare/Washington evaluation personnel, providing technical assistance and counsel with respect to programmatic and operational evaluations.
• Assures preparation and timely submission of country plans or reports and programmatic recommendations for International Program Office review and consideration, including budgetary, administrative, program, training, and related documentation.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
• Minimum of 10 years of management experience with progressively increasing responsibility. Excellent supervisory skills working with diverse staff.
• Documented experience in producing high quality technical and cost proposals that are approved for donor or private-sector funding. Track record of building partnerships and networks with PVOs, the private sector, and other development partners.
• Experience developing funding opportunities through fostering relationships with international donor agencies, foundations, U. S. and foreign private sector, and other domestic sources.
• Minimum Bachelors Degree (Master’s Preferred) in development management, agriculture, health, or public administration, with a focus on Africa preferred.
• Strong understanding of US government funding regulations (other donors such as the UN system and private foundations strongly preferred in addition).
• Excellent communication and analytical skills. Fluency (writing and speaking) in Portuguese strongly preferred, but excellent Spanish and a willingness to learn will also be competitive.
• Previous experience in strategic planning and participatory processes.
Africare offers a competitive salary along with an excellent benefits package.
How to Apply:
Applications should include a CV and cover letter. In the cover letter (of no more than two pages in length) the candidate should briefly describe his or her motivation for the position and highlight relevant experience. Applications should be submitted by 12 October 2012.
Please send CVs to mozambique.vacancies@africare.org, including "COUNTRY DIRECTOR" in the subject line.
Unfortunately, due to the large number of applications that we receive, we may not be able to respond to each individual candidate; only short listed candidates will be contacted. Please respect our no phone calls policy.
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