IREX - Chief of Party, Peace, Reconciliation and Development Program

IREX is an international nonprofit organization providing thought leadership and innovative programs to promote positive lasting change globally. We enable local individuals and institutions to build key elements of a vibrant society: quality education, independent media, and strong communities. To strengthen these sectors, our program activities also include conflict resolution, technology for development, women and youth.

Founded in 1968, IREX has an annual portfolio of over $60 million and a staff of over 500 professionals worldwide. IREX employs field-tested methods and innovative uses of technologies to develop practical and locally-driven solutions with our partners in more than 100 countries.

Summary of Position

IREX seeks a Chief of Party to direct a USAID-funded Northern Mali Development Program. The goal of this program is to support the consolidation of peace, reconciliation and development in northern Mali through a set of activities that will deliver quick, tangible results in the three northern regions: Tombouctou, Gao, and Kidal, and ultimately increase citizen’s confidence in government. By responding to community needs through tangible development investments, the program seeks to measurably increase the legitimacy of both local and central Malian governments through meaningful civic engagement. The position is contingent on funding.

Summary of Responsibilities:

The COP will be based in Bamako, Mali and will maintain overall responsibility for meeting program objectives. Among other duties the COP will:

· Provide vision and strategic direction for the program

· Make key decisions and solve problems in short time frames while ensuring operational and program integrity

· Develop and implement a plan of activities to meet program objectives

· Serve as primary liaison with donor(s) and with host-country government institutions

· Provide oversight of grant activities, including supervision of the program staff, ensuring appropriate grant design, ensuring that procedures are established and complied with for grant development, grant implementation, management, monitoring, evaluation, and grant closing.

· Supervise the Operations Manager who is responsible for all operations (administration, logistics, procurement, budgeting, financial, and database oversight)

· Develop and maintain effective partnerships with local organizations

· Coordinate with local, regional and international organizations active in the governance sector

· Manage and mentor project staff

· Coordinate with home office

· Oversee project budgeting and ensure budget discipline

· Oversee monitoring, evaluation and reporting on program activities

Skills and Qualifications:

· Master’s degree in political science, international development, and/or related field required.

· A minimum of ten (10) years of work experience in promotion of democracy, peace and reconciliation, civil society development and engagement and/or related fields in West Africa.

· Previous USAID COP experience strongly preferred.

· Knowledge of current social, political and economic circumstances in Mali required; previous experience working in Mali preferred.

· Technical expertise and experience in designing and conducting community development, civil society support, local government or media expansion projects required.

· Proven ability to facilitate dialogue and work constructively with a diverse range of actors and to accommodate divergent interests and agendas in a multi-cultural environment.

· Effective communication skills, both orally and in writing to make formal and informal presentations and to compose professional and analytic reports and program documents.

· Proven ability to establish and maintain effective and collaborative relationships with political party leaders, civil society groups, opinion leaders, the media, government officials, and representatives of the international community at the national and local level.

· Prior experience in coordinating with national and international organizations.

· Excellent interpersonal and team work skills.

· Must be able to travel to Northern Mali, security permitting.

· Experience working on rapid transition programs in insecure environments

· Superior written and oral communication skills in English and French or Arabic required; Bambara or other local language skills highly desirable.

To Apply

Go to http://www.irex.org/careers and click on Current Openings. Then click on the corresponding position and apply through our website. Please supply a resume and a cover letter with your application.

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

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