Program Director Office Location: Goma, Democratic Republic of
Title: Program Director Office Location: Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo Reports to: Executive Director Eastern Congo Initiative Background ECI envisions a Democratic Republic of Congo vibrant with abundant, equitable opportunities for economic and social development, where a robust civil society can flourish. We create economic opportunities and leverage our social investments to support educated, healthy communities in DRC. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DRC has the potential to be the breadbasket of Africa. We create agricultural opportunities for smallholder farmers in one of the most fertile places in the world where 70% of the Congolese population depends on agriculture as their primary source of income. • •
ECI increases local household income through improving the quality, quantity and traceability of farmers’ crops, connecting them to local and international markets. This sustainable investment can transform communities across eastern DRC.
SOCIAL INVESTMENT A strong civil society underpins the success of our economic development initiatives. • • •
ECI provides grants to promising, innovative community-based organizations working in health, education and justice. We build the capacity of local organizations to deliver efficient and effective services with measurable results. Grants are made primarily in the same geographical areas where we create economic opportunities.
ADVOCACY We advocate in the US and DRC for increased quality and quantity of investment in DRC. • • •
ECI uses targeted methods to communicate directly to select individuals and governments who can help shape policies and action within the government, academic and private sectors. ECI partners with the DRC Chamber of Commerce to advocate for an improved business climate. Strategic international media and communications opportunities are cultivated to ensure the incredible potential of DRC is captured.
Scope of Work The Program Director will lead ECI’s program development, grant-making and grant-writing. The Program Director will lead the Program Team and provide overall management, strategic direction, and financial oversight of programs. The position is a member of the Senior Management Team and provides leadership on program strategy, donor relations, and organizational strategy. ECI’s programs including grant-making, capacity building and program implementation. Specific responsibilities include the following: 1. Grant-Making and Grant Management • Responsible for the management of all program-based staff including grant management personnel. • Support the development and implementation of ECI grant-making strategy. • Ensure ECI grant-making strategy is operationalized through a transparent grant-making process and increase the quality of grant-making activities. • Improve grant-making to deepen and scale well-designed programs. • Work with Program Quality and Capacity Building personnel for design, monitoring and evaluation of all programs and partners. • Provide high-level supervision for program assessments and baselines. • Responsible for the coordination, management and contract development of all technical consultants. • Provide high-level programmatic/technical support and capacity building to local partners as appropriate. • Finalize all donor reports and provide quarterly progress reports to US. • Liaise with ECI’s US staff to ensure contracts and donor regulations are properly executed and ensure ECI programs and grants are compliant with donor regulations. • Monitor all program staff’s monthly financial reports, cash flow, and budgeting. 2. Program Implementation Management • Lead project design and management of contributing personnel and consultants in agriculture value chain programs. • Manage all personnel working in ECI-implemented programming, providing key technical oversight in agriculture value chain programs. • Provide technical input to economic development programs. • Ensure activities are implemented in accordance with program calendar and within budget. • Monitor progress towards project objectives and make recommendations for changes as needed to ensure that program objectives and deliverables are of high quality and are achieved on time and within budget. Ensure quality and timely reports to donors. • Support the development of technical documents, abstracts, presentations, and other reports documenting the achievements, lessons learned, and other findings related to the project. 3. Organizational Development • Strengthen existing partnerships and donor relationships and develop public private partnerships that align with ECI’s vision and mission.
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Work closely with US office to develop outreach strategies to organizations, foundations, companies and individuals who could increase the technical scope of ECI’s grant-making and program implementation. Accountable to ensure deadlines for announcements, reviews, reporting and funding opportunities are met. Develop new opportunities at the DRC- level focused on new partnerships with agencies and embassies based in Kinshasa.
Qualifications • 5+ years of extensive strategic and operational experience and demonstrated experience in the management of large and complex multi-sector programs. • Strong background in staff management, program and budget management. • Extensive grant-writing, grant-making and program design experience. • Proven business development skills to grow, scale and increase revenue. • 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. • 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. • Ability to travel across DRC and internationally. • Masters degree in relevant field preferred. • Creativity, flexibility and willingness to think outside of the box are necessities. • Excellent English written and verbal communications skills and strong French written and verbal communications skills.
Please send resumes and cover letters to [email protected] by May 30th, 2015 specifying the position title in the subject of the email.
