International Republican Institute seek to recuit Resident Program Director – CAR and DRC

Based in Bangui with potential of time in Kinshasa, the Resident Program Director (RPD) is responsible for all programmatic, personnel, outreach and accounting matters in their designated country. In consultation with IRI/Washington, the RPD designs and implements a long-range strategy for IRI programs in the country, manages budgets, and is responsible for compliance with local laws and regulations governing current funding.

Position Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in political science, international relations, or related field.
• Minimum five years or more of professional experience in democratic governance and politics, specifically in legislative strengthening, and preferably working directly with national legislative bodies/officials, political parties, media, and civil society organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in electoral management, promoting electoral integrity in Francophone Africa, and previous experience taking part in long-term election observation missions.
• Strong interest in, and working knowledge of the politics, security, economics, history, and various cultures of the Central African Republic (CAR) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
• A keen understanding of regional dynamics, especially conflict dynamics as they affect CAR, South Sudan, Chad, and the DRC.
• High emotional intelligence and ability to process and appropriately respond to complex political situations and humanitarian emergencies.
• Previous experience living and working in a conflict-affected country and/or in a highly challenging security environment.
• Ability to work independently; previous experience working in Francophone Africa.
• Willingness to travel within the country of assignment when deemed necessary, as well as occasional travel within Africa and the U.S.
• Demonstrated management experience including ability to motivate and manage staff.
• Strong knowledge of administrative processes.
• Demonstrated financial management skills and experience administering program budgets.
• Demonstrated experience working with US Government-funded projects and familiarity with US Government regulations and processes.
• Ability to prepare, present, and negotiate complex and sensitive agreements and/or project proposals with bilateral/multi-lateral agencies and other donor communities.
• Ability to conduct skills trainings and to function as an advisor or technical consultant to local and national organizations.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Fluency in both English and French.

Primary Functions and responsibilities

• Monitors, analyzes, and reports on political, security, and related developments in CAR, DRC, and other specific countries to provide regional and country analysis.
• Serves as the official senior IRI representative in country, developing credibility with, and maintaining good relationships with all relevant stakeholders, including U.S. and foreign diplomats and donor agencies, host-country government representatives, and program partners.
• Participates in the substantive design of new programs and actively seeks to develop new program ideas.
• Oversees the implementation of all program activities ensuring consistency with grant work plans, project timelines, and key programmatic objectives.
• Establishes, maintains, and develops productive working relationship with relevant stakeholders, consultants, and field and DC staff.
• Oversees all operations related to the IRI field presence, and ensures IRI is in compliance with local laws regarding IRI’s legal status in the country and employment of local staff.
• Supervises local field staff, including participating in the hiring, professional development, and evaluation processes for these staff. Sets specific goals and provides ongoing performance feedback.
• Mentors local staff in program development, finance, work plan development and presentation, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, business development, and knowledge management in their country of assignment.
• Maintains an understanding of donor and IRI policies and procedures related to grant compliance and oversight.
• Understands a grant’s substantive, financial, and compliance requirements.
• Oversees the implementation of all program activities in the country, ensuring consistency with grant work plans and objectives, reporting weekly to DC.
• Monitors and approves field office budgets and expenses in collaboration with DC-based program staff and the Regional Project Accountant, to ensure that expenditures remain within budget allocations.
• Monitors, analyzes, and reports to DC staff on political and economic developments and media responses.
• Ensures adherence to monitoring and evaluation plans, including the monitoring of programs and evaluation/analysis of program results.
• Provides information and drafts sections of quarterly, semi-annual, final, and other relevant reports for funders.
• Anticipates potential problems, troubleshoots project problems, offers solutions, and actively takes part to lead resolution of them with creative and immediate solutions.
• Leads business development efforts, including identifying and seeking out potential new or additional sources of funding with real-time costs estimates for proposal budgets, and/or the development of new program ideas, coordinating with DC staff.
• Actively supports IRI’s communication strategy including IRI’s branding and outreach plans on projects assigned, including drafts and updates program summaries and other outreach materials, drafts web stories, tweets, etc.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Apply HERE