Search for Common Ground Regional Director, Central and East Africa Jobs in Kenya

Search for Common Ground Regional Director, Central and East Africa Jobs in Kenya

The Organization:

Search for Common Ground (Search) is the world's largest dedicated peacebuilding organization, founded in 1982. With programs across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the United States, Search transforms conflict with a diverse set of tools inspired by its Common Ground Approach.

Search is currently implementing a 10-year strategy aimed at driving enduring change and transforming many of the world's most consequential conflicts.

The Region:

The Central and East Africa region is the largest of Search's four regions, with a diverse portfolio of programs in 10 countries and about $16 million in annual forecasted revenue. The programming streams include stabilization, preventing violent extremism, atrocity prevention, civil society strengthening, media and digital peacebuilding, security sector reform, and support to women and youth-led organizations.

Team Summary:

The Program Implementation team has oversight for the implementation of Search’s programs and projects in its country offices, in accordance with Search and donor policies and procedures. The Program Implementation team works on the full life-cycle of the project, from the start-up phase to the full close-out.

This involves designing work plans, implementing activities, reporting, financial management, and staffing management The Program Implementation team collaborates with other departments, including Finance, Institutional Learning, Programs, Global Affairs and Partnerships, Human Resources, and Information Technology.

The Role:

The Regional Director (RD) offers leadership and oversight in the execution of Search’s 10-year strategy across the Central & East Africa region. S/he is a member of the Global Leadership Team, contributing to key organizational initiatives and policy or strategy changes with particular attention to the suitability for field-level implementation.

The RD champions the iteration and execution of programming in the following countries: Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic. Expansion into Mozambique is planned and remote and punctual technical assistance is underway in Ethiopia.

S/he plays a leadership role in driving excellent performance through the management of the program portfolio in the geographies under his/her supervision (management of people and resources). The RD plays a critical role in coordination (through matrixed relationships) with all other functional departments to achieve performance targets, ensuring resources are strategically oriented and prioritized.

The RD ensures that Search’s program portfolio reflects best practices, codified methodologies and embraces reflective practice and adaptive management. S/he leads teams towards capturing results that demonstrate impact as per Search’s Peace Impact Framework.

S/he supports the development of a team spirit and collaborative office culture in each country and throughout the region, respecting diversity, equity and inclusion and reflecting Search’s values in practice and through supporting teams.

The RD is responsible for ensuring excellent program design and implementation in compliance with Search and donor policies and regulations. The RD supports outreach, advocacy and networking for the region and Search at-large, pursuing partnerships and ensuring Search’s reputation remains strong and relevant.

Key Responsibilities:

Regional Strategy Execution

Lead execution of conflict geography and country strategies, including facilitating regular review of the strategy execution at the conflict geography level

Lead on shifts in the geographic coverage of the program portfolio, including opening and closing offices, identifying new sub-offices, in line with the conflict geography strategy

Oversee annual planning (OKRs) for each country and regional team and facilitate regular review of performance dashboard and OKR progress

Ensure that program design is aligned with strategy

Business Development

Support the engagement of country and conflict geography leadership with current and new donors in line with annual targets and in line with Search’s program development strategy

Actively participate in prioritized bids including: contributing meta-level strategic inputs at the design phase, cultivating strategic partnerships, ensuring that the resources proposed will enable compliant and timely implementation with attention to minimum capabilities in each conflict geography

Collaboration with the Africa Program Development team on prioritization of country bids, as well as internal competitions

Program Management

Delivering a range of management,

technical, and operational support to empower and enable program leaders to achieve time, scope and budget objectives as per their OKRs and the conflict geography strategy

Ensure program implementation in compliance with Search and donor policies and regulations

Ensure that program implementation teams are equipped with access to Search’s library of tools and methodologies, and that they embrace a culture of reflective practice and adaptive management

Maintain ongoing communication and close collaboration with key donors and partners to ensure strong relationships during implementation

Supervise the program support team, ensuring quality and timely grant management support that responds to risks and opportunities

Personnel Management

Recruit, supervise, mentor and support the professional development of country leadership teams and the regional program management staff

By empowering staff and leading by example, promote a culture of inclusion, learning, support, diversity and innovation

Demonstrate and promote Search’s culture and values

Working with relevant colleagues, supervise ethics inquiries and related actions

Finance, Administration & Operations

In coordination with the Finance department, ensure that the leadership in the portfolio ensures efficient and compliant financial management of the program portfolio. This includes regular participation in organization-wide financial performance reviews, annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting and review of performance as per revenue targets

Ensure efficient and compliant opening and closing of country offices in line with Search’s strategy

In coordination with the Human Resources and Administration department, support on mitigating risk and efficiently managing security, legal, safeguarding, or other operational challenges

In coordination with the Senior Manager - Safety and Security, ensure that minimum standards are adhered to throughout the program implementation portfolio in each country and the region

Thought Leadership, Reputation and External Relations

In coordination with the Global Affairs and Partnership team, develop and strengthen new and existing relationships with public and private sector donors and work to position Search as a partner of choice

Represent Search’s regional portfolio and thought leadership with current and prospective donors, professional networks and other key stakeholders

Promote interregional and global learning through the support of thought leadership through regional exchanges and peer learning

Assess and keep abreast of the emerging trends in international peacebuilding, including business intel on opportunities

Qualifications:

Master’s degree in conflict resolution, international relations, international development or a related field; or appropriate degree complemented with experience

At least 4 years of working in Africa and in a cross-cultural environment

Minimum of 12 years of program management experience at a senior level, preferably in peace building or a related field

Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a diverse team, with attention to coaching and managing performance, and professional development of staff

Successful track record of fundraising and excellent skills in the cycle of design and proposal development

Strong interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal)

Fluency in English, required; fluency in French is an added advantage

Excellent financial literacy and management skills, including a familiarity with the basic compliance requirements of major donors

Ability to respond collaboratively in situations of uncertainty, ambiguity /or conflict

Willingness to travel up to 30 percent of time

Experience in overseeing a complex portfolio, involving matrix relationships with other teams and departments, as well as remote supervision of diverse teams

Significant field experience in managing multiple projects, multi-tasking, clear delegation and follow-through

Experience working collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders, local government officials, and international donors

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; Search for Common Ground Regional Director, Central and East Africa Jobs in Kenya

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