Program Director: Southern & East Africa

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) seeks a Program Director to join its Southern and East Africa (SEA) team. This full-time role is responsible for leading and overseeing current country programs in SEA, including but not limited to Sudan, Malawi and Zambia. The Program Director will manage team members, contribute to strategic planning, oversee aspects of program implementation, and ensure quality control of programs and written products. In addition, the Program Director will initiate and lead program development and fundraising efforts for programs in the stated portfolio.

Essential Accountabilities/Responsibilities

• Leads day-to-day internal management of multiple countries and acts as management focal point in absence of regional director and/or deputy director.
• Leads and oversees team members in the planning, design and evaluation of NDI’s projects in collaboration with local partners, in-house experts and external experts and advisors.
• Develops and maintains collaborative external relationships with international democratic development organizations, civic organizations in the U.S. and the region, national and international news organizations, political party networks and partners, and NDI’s network of volunteer trainers and experts.
• Responsible for oversight of the annual budget; working with staff to provide a full, accurate and timely accounting of all funds.
• Provides guidance to field directors on NDI and donor policies and procedures.
• Monitors political events in the assigned regional department.
• Serves as senior-level NDI representative at local and international conferences and meetings and assists with NDI’s public outreach.
• Leads and supervises staff in documenting program progress and achievements, ensuring quality control of written quarterly and semi-annual reports; provides final edits on generated documents.
• Travels to assigned countries to assess political development, new opportunities and evaluates current programs; serves as “Resident Director” in absence of established office or staff.
• Collaborates with the regional director, deputy director and country directors on fundraising initiatives.
• Manages subordinates including conducting yearly performance reviews, coaching on performance, recruiting and filling staff vacancies; orchestrates recruiting activities for SEA in the field (i.e., approves job descriptions under established guidance, selects candidates for short-lists and interviews.)

Peripheral Accountabilities/Responsibilities (Non-essential)

• Manage, as well as support onboarding and training of Project Assistants, Program Associates, Program Officers and Program Managers, and participate in the recruitment process for those positions by reviewing resumes and recommending candidates for consideration/interviews
• Act as a back-up for other team members as needed
• Participate in cross-functional initiatives as needed
• Actively seek and engage in professional development opportunities to enhance knowledge in project/program management
• Maintain a general working knowledge of relevant program trends and issues occurring external to NDI
• Perform other duties as required

Parameters

• Operate under general direction, plans or coordinates work in accordance with established objectives
• Interact with NDI partners, funders and other key program contacts
• Interact regularly with staff at all levels within NDI
• Serve as a resource and provide guidance to lower-level staff
• Regularly interacts with NDI partners, funders and other stakeholders, including international development organizations, civic organizations, NDI’s network of volunteers, trainers, and experts, political leaders, and other key program contacts.

Required Qualifications

Supervisory Responsibility

• This position manages direct reports in both Washington, DC and in the assigned region.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in International Relations or related subject; graduate degree desired.

Experience

• A minimum of 12 years relevant work experience in international development, community organizing, political campaigns, organizational development, legislative affairs, or impressive experience at NDI. Additional years of relevant work experience may be substituted for educational requirement on a one-for-one basis

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Extensive program design and strategic planning experience as it relates to executing program activities; this including managing staff, completing budget management activities with large grants or handling multiple programs or countries
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity to effectively interact with all levels of staff, U.S. and foreign government personnel, members of donor organizations, funders, and policy makers
• Superior oral and written communications skills to effectively present information, respond to questions and negotiate details
• Foreign language ability applicable to region preferred
• Exceptional skills for analyzing complex program and political issues and to think innovatively and introduce new concepts
• Superior writing skills, clear and persuasive and experienced in editing of written materials
• Ability to establish network of significant contacts and political leaders
• Prior demonstrated management and leadership experience with the capability of leading, inspiring and motivating staff to carry out NDI’s objectives
• Ability to lead regional team-wide capacity building sessions for junior staff
• Working knowledge of PC-based word processing and spreadsheet applications
• Experience managing budget planning and overseeing budget related tasks
• Ability and willingness to travel to regional locations, which are often remote and difficult to reach
• Experience in writing technical documentation
• Knowledge of basic networking
• Knowledge of project management applications such as JIRA
• Knowledge of server operations, data communications and systems analysis and networks.
• Knowledge of networking, client server architecture, cloud computing and enterprise system architecture
• Knowledge of network security standards, policies and implementation techniques