Madagascar: Country Director - Madagascar

We are Searchers.

We are over 600 strong worldwide. We believe in our mission to end violent conflict.

It’s our purpose- our call to action.

A Searcher understands our vision of a world where:
Differences stimulate social progress, rather than precipitate violence

Respect for and cooperation with those we disagree with is considered the norm

A Searcher is a dedicated, enthusiastic and passionate individual, committed to our values.
Shared Humanity. Empathy. Impartiality. Inclusivity. Courage. Hope. Humility. Audacity.

With headquarters in Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium, we implement projects from 55 offices in 34 countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. You will be joining other highly motivated Searchers with a good team spirit and through commitment and dedication, have opportunities to grow.

Search Madagascar

Search for Common Ground in Madagascar was established in 2010 in response to the country’s political crisis. SFCG runs a multi-pronged program aimed at contributing to durable peace and the use of conflict transformation approaches throughout society. SFCG uses media, dialogue facilitation and community mobilization as its primary tools, including through producing its own radio programming and working with more than 50 radio station partners around the country. SFCG has partnered with the US Embassy, the European Union, UNICEF, UNDP, the UK Embassy, Ambatovy, and QMM/Rio Tinto in the implementation of conflict transformation activities. SFCG currently operates a main office in the capital Antananarivo and small offices in Fort Dauphin, Moramanga and Tamatave.

We are searching for…

The Country Director manages the overall program in Madagascar from a programmatic and operational perspective, as well as leading on fundraising and donor relations. The Country Director supervises the senior team including the Program Coordinator, the Deputy Program Coordinator, the DM&E Coordinator, and the Admin/Finance Manager, as well as one international intern. S/he is responsible for program strategy and quality, ensuring that activities are responsive to the country context and in keeping with the common ground approach. A significant emphasis on fundraising and budget management is expected.

This position reports to the Regional Director for Central & Southern Africa and collaborates closely with various Washington-based divisions of SFCG, including the Business Development Team, the Institutional Learning Team, Communications, Finance and Operations.
Your contribution

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Program Development and Implementation

• Define program priorities, plans and long-term strategy (in close collaboration with the SFCG Regional Director); manage and modify, as necessary, their implementation.
• Manage the country program with the highest quality standards and well-documented results.
• Ensure that program planning and management reflects the available resources, and respond to gaps with fundraising and/or operational adjustments as needed.
• Reporting to donors based on a credible monitoring and evaluation system for overall program results as well as for specific projects.
• Stay abreast of the international conflict resolution field to ensure that the program’s work remains innovative and professional.
• Be directly engaged in the continuing development of the organization, its mission and its staff, through the sharing of experience and knowledge, particularly contributing to its Institutional Learning efforts.
• Strengthen existing funding relationships and identify and pursue new potential donors in collaboration with headquarters in Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium.

Financial Management

• In partnership with the Finance Directors, ensure financial compliance both with Malagasy laws, donor requirements and SFCG procedures across the organization.
• Identify potential shortfalls and strategize with the organization’s senior management as necessary to ensure the program’s financial sustainability.

Staff Management and Development

• Develop and manage a team of diverse staff members and partners, modelling the kind of interethnic and multi-stakeholder cooperation that SFCG aims to promote widely.
• Participate in the recruitment and selection of highly qualified staff, providing information working conditions as well as security briefings.
• Strengthen the capacity of national staff and partners, contributing to SFCG’s legacy strategy of conflict transformation in Madagascar.
• Ensure compliance with SFCG Operations Manual policies and procedures.
• Ensure that country policies, contracts, and disciplinary procedures and processes conform to local labor laws.
• Ensure an updated security and evacuation plans are in place.

Organizational Representation

• Serve as SFCG’s country representative.
• Develop and maintain proactive, positive and professional relationships with partner organizations, other NGOS, donors, clients, key government officials, civil society groups, etc.
• Maintain responsible media coverage of program events and issues related to SFCG mission.
• Maintain regular written and oral reporting to Washington and Brussels on key country, program, security and staff issues.
• Establish a direct line of communication with other African Country Directors in the region for program guidance toward strategic initiatives.

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 duties.
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You are…**
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Minimum skills and experience:**

• Degree in relevant field (eg. conflict transformation, security studies, international studies, media and communications, sociology, political science, or related fields).
• Experience in managing large projects, with multiple grants and donors in a fragile state.
• At least three years’ experience living overseas, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Knowledge of the conflict dynamics of Madagascar.
• At least five years’ experience in managing a program, both programmatically and operationally, preferably on media and/or conflict transformation-related issues.
• Track record in successful fundraising.
• Experience with donor regulations.
• Experience in capturing results and overseeing reporting, monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Experience in managing multi-cultural teams, preferably in Africa.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• A problem-solving approach to challenging situations.
• Ability to multi-task while leading a complex team.
• Professional-level Proficiency in French and English, written and spoken.
• Available to start early June 2017.

Salary: Commensurate with experience and education, with excellent benefits

Sound good? To apply, interested candidates should**:

• Send a cover letter and current resumeto our employment website here.
• Include the following in your cover letter
• minimum salary requirements (or current salary)
• projected start date,
• where you found this posting.

This position will close on April 30, 2017. We are looking to fill this position with the right candidate. Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please. Please see our website www.sfcg.org for full details of our work.