Peaceful World Conversations

National Director   Angola, Search for Common Ground,  Luanda, Angola

Salary:

Salary: Commensurate with experience and education, with excellent benefits Education:

Bachelor (BA, BS, etc.), Full time, Last day to apply: February 21, 2009 Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and a European office in Brussels, Belgium, SFCG's mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict - away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. SFCG seeks to help conflicting parties understand their differences and act on their commonalities. With a total of approximately 380 staff worldwide, SFCG implements projects from 28 offices in 18 countries, including in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the United States and eight African countries.

Project: SFCG established an office in Angola in 1996 to support the peace and reconciliation process in the post-Lusaka phase. During eleven years of its operation, SFCG-Angola has carried out activities with media, civil society, community members and the Angolan government. With offices in Luanda and Cabinda, a full-time radio production studio, and a community outreach toolbox that includes conflict resolution training, community organizing, facilitation, and youth empowerment, SFCG seeks to transform Angolan society into a culture of coexistence, security, social justice and popular participation.

Summary of Position: The National Director heads the Senior Management Team and is responsible for all aspects of the Angola program. S/he reports to the Africa Director and is supported by the Africa Programme Manager and Programme Assistant for reporting and proposal writing. A central component of the Director's job is team-building, coordinating a senior management team, maintaining diversity (projecting our image as an impartial and independent organization), and fundraising.

Responsibilities:

 Setting program and project priorities, plans, and long-term strategy, and managing their implementation within the overall vision and goals of the organization;  Leading fundraising in collaboration with headquarters in Washington, DC and Brussels and ensuring compliance with donors' rules and requirements;  Working with and managing a diverse staff in Angola;  Heading the Program's Senior Management Team;  Serving as SFCG's representative in Angola;  Overseeing the design and implementation of monitoring and evaluation of the overall program and individual projects;  Maintaining the continuity between and integrity of new and existing projects;  Developing and maintaining relationships with donors, clients, key government officials, partner organizations international trainers, partner organizations, other NGOS, etc.;  Maintaining regular reporting to Washington and Brussels;  Contributing to the development of global programs where relevant;  Keeping in touch with the international conflict resolution and peace building fields to ensure that the program's work remains innovative and professional;  Managing the strategic direction of the program, and establishing new directions with changing times, in consultation with the Africa Director and Senior Management;  Taking responsibility for the financial management and health of the SFCG-Angola program, including budget setting, financial reporting, and budget monitoring in consultation with the CFO, and budget management;  Recruiting, managing and evaluating SFCG's program and project staff in Angola;  Overseeing ongoing capacity-building efforts in national staff members, particularly in areas of program and budget management;  Monitoring and evaluating the results achieved by the different projects and the program as a whole;  Developing and maintaining relationships with institutions and organizations at all levels (i.e. government, international and donor communities, private sector, partner radio stations and other media actors, traditional leaders, civil society and church representatives, etc.);  Managing existing and cultivating future donor relationships in consultation with the Africa Director, Director of Development, and Senior Management;  Completing proposal and report writing; and  Engaging directly in the continuing development of the organization, its mission and its staff, through the sharing of experience and knowledge, working in close collaboration with SFCG's Institutional Learning Team.

As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications Essential:  At least seven or eight (7-8) years of experience in peace-building, development and/or related fields, including democracy and governance issues and civil society strengthening;  Bachelor's Degree in a related area required;  Experience with budgeting, project development, proposal and report writing, and grants management;  Demonstrated financial management and program administration experience;  Successful experience managing a team and programs in the field of conflict resolution, international development or related fields;  Dynamic leader with creative problem-solving approach to challenging situations;  Knowledge of major donor rules and regulations, and the ability to manage multi-donor funding;  Excellent managerial skills, interpersonal and networking skills, as well as the ability to conduct professional working relationships;  Experience in successfully using the media for social change;  Experience in setting up and managing monitoring systems and initiating regular evaluations of the program;  Cross-cultural experience and sensitivity; experience of living and working in developing countries;  Ability to work with people at all levels, ranging from high-level officials to community leaders;  Written and oral fluency in Portuguese and English (French is highly desirable);  A team spirit and sense of humor;  Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills; and  Entrepreneurial spirit. 

Additional

Qualifications: Highly Desirable:  Significant experience in project management;  Knowledge of SFCG's work and its Common Ground methodologies;  Experience in Angola or with the current Angola context;  Knowledge of Angolan context and current issues on the continent.

How to

Apply: To Apply: Please send a cover letter and current resume to ffortune@sfcg.org with the subject line National Director-Angola. Be sure to include salary requirements (in currency figures) or current salary, and to mention that you found this posting on Idealist. Position is open until filled, but looking to fill this soon with the right candidate. No phone calls please. Please see our web site www.sfcg.org for full details of our work.