Ukraine: Resident Program Manager

NDI seeks an experienced professional to assist civic and political organizations in the former Soviet republic of Ukraine in promoting citizen participation in political life through election monitoring, advocacy and civic education. The position is based in Kyiv but will require travel throughout the country.

Background

Under a multi-year program in support of democratic development in Ukraine, NDI is assisting civic groups and activists as well as political parties in strengthening their capacities as instruments of public participation in decision-making. NDI also plans to support international and local nonpartisan election observation during Ukraine’s 2012 parliamentary elections. The civic and elections program manager will be responsible for designing and implementing NDI advisory consultations and training programs with civic and political activists. Areas of assistance include issue advocacy and citizen outreach, strategic planning, nonpartisan election-related education and monitoring, and some broader organizational development. NDI seeks an experienced professional with expertise in a number of these areas, as well some background in training and mobilizing volunteers and building membership of grassroots organizations.

The civic and elections program manager will also represent NDI to the government of Ukraine, the US Embassy and USAID, and local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The program manager will report to NDI’s Kyiv Office Director and assist as needed with tasks related to financial and human resource management within the Kyiv office.

• Manage the implementation of NDI’s civic and elections programming in Ukraine;
• Assist Ukrainian partners with the fundamentals of influencing public policy via workshops on topics such as: public opinion research, message development, advocacy strategies and tactics, strategic planning, building and maintaining coalitions, media relations and outreach to government officials;
• Manage election-related programs, including providing advice, guidance and technical assistance to Ukrainian election monitoring organization(s);
• Provide guidance to Ukrainian civic and political organizations on institutional development and management skills including: leadership skills and strategies, volunteer recruitment and retention, internal communications, transparent financial management practices and organizational sustainability/fundraising;
• Ensure programmatic goals are achieved and operational and reporting requirements are adhered to;
• Maintain relationships with key partners in civil society, government and the donor community;
• Draft and submit field reports that monitor, measure and evaluate program results;
• Develops program concepts and leads strategic discussions;
• Anticipates and plans for programmatic needs and takes action accordingly; provides guidance to staff in this area; oversees programmatic progress and measures program performance, timing and results; conducts assessments;
• Represents NDI at local conferences and meetings with NGO community, funders and donors and members of the foreign policy community to assist with NDI's public outreach;
• Supervises Ukrainian national staff and promotes professional development;
• Provides support for local and regional program conferences, workshops and meetings; and
• Maintains collaborative relationships with international democratic development organizations, civic organizations and NDI's network of volunteer trainers and experts; acts as back-up to team members not present.

Experience Required

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in public policy or related subject;
• Minimum of six years (eight for senior program manager) relevant work experience in civil society development and civic or political organizing. Additional years of relevant work experience may be substituted for educational requirement on a one-for-one basis;
• Demonstrated election monitoring and voter education experience, including providing guidance to nonpartisan election monitoring organizations on statistically-based observation and/or the use of ICTs;
• Living/working experience outside of the US preferred;
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity to effectively interact with all levels of staff, policy makers, US and foreign government personnel, members of donor organizations, and funders;
• Superior oral and written communications skills to effectively present information, respond to questions and negotiate;
• Ability to communicate skills and experience to others as a trainer and advisor;
• Exceptional analytical skills for interpreting and managing complex program and political issues;
• Experience working in a developing country, non-English speaking multi-cultural work environment and promoting staff development;
• Capacity to work both independently and as a member of a team;
• Working knowledge of PC-based word processing and e-mail technology; and
• English fluency (written and spoken); Russian language ability desirable.

This position is at least a one-year assignment beginning December 2011. Contingencies include funding for the position and key personnel approval by USAID.

Please apply online at
http://hostedjobs.openhire.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjob&jobid=217268&company_id=15851&jobboardid=479