Resident Country Director: Angola

The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) seeks a Resident Country Director with extensive experience supporting civil society engagement in electoral and political processes to be based in Luanda, Angola. The Resident Country Director will plan, implement and monitor programs, including program data collection, performance monitoring, and reporting; collaborate with technical experts and consultants to design, implement and evaluate training and technical assistance activities for political parties, civil society organizations, and members of parliament; ensures timely and accurate program reporting and response to requests by donors, program partners, and NDI headquarters. In addition, the Resident Director will assist in identifying funding opportunities and managing relationships with donors and government officials.

The Resident Country Director reports to the Regional Director and coordinates with headquarters-based program staff. This position is contingent on funding and subject to donor approval.

Responsibilities:

• Provide high-level leadership of all country programs and coordinate day-to-day activity implementation and operations in collaboration with country staff, consultants and technical experts, and NDI regional and international staff
• Ensure collaborative leadership and oversight of the country team, ensuring accountability in the execution of program activities and management of field operations and local staff based on established institutional procedures, local laws, donor regulations, and best practice
• Anticipate trends or events in political, social, and economic developments to gauge the impact on and opportunities for active and future new programs
• Lead development of new program initiatives; evaluate current programs, and engage with key program contacts, political leaders, civil society partners, donors, and other relevant stakeholders
• Cultivate and maintain collaborative relationships with Angolan civil society organizations and other stakeholders in the electoral process
• Monitor programs to determine that programmatic goals are achieved and operational and reporting requirements are adhered to
• Manage in-country program budget, develop and maintain financial management systems, and ensure the submission of accurate monthly financial reconciliation statements to the DC office
• Ensure program compliance with donor requirements with regards to work plans and performance monitoring plans, and respect of procedures to ensure the integrity of all financial transactions
• Develop and coordinate partnerships, and serve as the principal liaison between NDI and international donor representatives in-country, Angolan officials, international and local NGOs, the media, and the U.S. government representatives
• Develop fundraising strategies with donors to help raise additional funds in coordination with the NDI Washington staff
• Oversee the writing and timely submission of program activity reports, quarterly reports, monitoring and evaluation data, periodic updates on political/security developments, and other program-related materials
• Collaborate with and build the capacity of staff to play a substantive role in program development and implementation through training, guidance, and supervision
• Undertake additional duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in international relations or a related field. Additional years of relevant work experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a one-for-one basis
• A minimum of 15 years of program management experience overseeing international development programs, preferably in the field of democracy and governance
• Track record of success overseeing and implementing programs, managing staff, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations, and operations and human resources, including experience in overseeing sub-grants to local partners
• Experience in developing and analyzing program budgets and monitoring program expenditures.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with and build relationships with senior political and civic leaders, U.S. and foreign government personnel and policymakers, and members of donor organizations
• Substantial program design and management, proposal writing, and financial management experience, including experience in initiating and managing sub-grants preferred
• Lead an internal culture of teamwork including an ability to motivate and manage a diverse group of professionals in a challenging environment, instilling a strong sense of mission and teamwork in program implementation while coordinating with consultants and staff within the region and headquarters
• Ability to communicate skills and experience to others as a trainer, advisor, and consultant
• Demonstrated ability to conduct and apply sophisticated political analysis to programmatic activities
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English required to effectively present information, respond to questions and negotiate outcomes; working proficiency in Portuguese is preferred
• Experience working in sub-Saharan Africa, experience working in Angola or southern Africa preferred
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Windows, Excel and Powerpoint, Google products, social media, use of Internet
• Ability and willingness to travel to regional locations which may be remote and difficult to reach

Comments:

NDI is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). As such, NDI makes employment decisions and provides equal employment opportunity without regard to an applicant’s or employee’s race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state and local laws. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please notify NDI’s Human Resources department.