Resident Director: Gambia

This position is contingent on funding and subject to donor approval.

The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) seeks a Resident Director with excellent management skills and extensive experience leading high-level program support in transition environments. The Resident Director will convene civil society actors to participate in and monitor elections and electoral reform processes; coordinate technical assistance to civil society organizations to demand increased government transparency and accountability; facilitate inter-party dialogue and debate; advise government officials to encourage more transparent political processes, and provide leadership to a team of local staff. This position works closely with Washington-based management who provide overall strategic guidance and support for in-country activities. The Resident Director reports to the Regional Director and coordinates with headquarters-based program staff. The position is based in Banjul, the Gambia, and will require occasional travel within the country. 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
• Ensure collaborative leadership and oversight of a 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
• Serve as a technical resource liaison to program partners, including government officials and civil society representatives in response to implementation needs and requests
• 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 Gambian civic and political party leaders and key actors, government ministries and departments, the media, and other stakeholders in the political reform process
• Monitor programs to determine that programmatic goals are achieved and those 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

• Serve as the principal liaison between NDI and international donor representatives in-country, Gambian 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 bi-weekly 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 NDI Gambian staff to play a substantive role in program development and implementation**Qualifications:**

• Bachelor’s degree in international relations or a related field. Additional years of relevant work experience may be substituted for educational requirement on a one-for-one basis

• A minimum of twelve (12) years program management experience overseeing international development programs, preferably in the field of democracy and governance, and at least five in a senior leadership role

• Substantial work experience in multiple disciplines of democracy development, including electoral reform, civic engagement and/or civil society development, election observation, and governance processes, preferably in Africa

• Substantial experience 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

• 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

• Knowledge of NED, DRL and USAID processes and practices; and

• Substantial program design and management, proposal writing, and financial management experience, including experience in initiating and managing sub-grants preferred

• Ability to motivate and inspire a diverse group of professionals in a challenging environment, instilling a strong sense of mission and teamwork to program implementation

• 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

• Excellent organizational, networking and managerial skills, as well as the ability to conduct professional political relationships

• Experience working in sub-Saharan Africa, West Africa region preferred

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Windows, Excel, and PowerPoint, Google suits and 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.