Country: Senegal
Closing date: 15 Jun 2016
The Organization
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 600 staff worldwide, SFCG implements projects from 50 offices in 34 countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. The organization is an exciting and rewarding place to work, with a dedicated and enthusiastic staff that is committed to its mission and values. You will be joining a highly motivated staff with a good team spirit and there will be opportunities to grow in the role.
Summary of Position
The Program Development Manager will play a key role in partnerships, program development and fundraising for conflict transformation projects in nine countries in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone).
The Program Development Manager will manage fundraising efforts, reporting and developing partnerships and relationships with key stakeholders working on conflict transformation in these countries, ensuring that quality and innovative concepts and proposals are developed and marketed, in line with country and regional strategies. The Program Development Manager will also maintain external communications with donors and partners and liaise with GAP and Communications to enhance the visibility of the region and represent the organization in relevant forums.
The Program Development Manager will be a key member of the Africa Regional Support Team and will be supervised by the Regional Director, West Africa. The Program Development Manager will work in close collaboration with the Africa Program Development Associates and with country teams, in a manner which consistently builds capacity and enables creativity and country program strategies to be funded.
Work Environment
Search for Common Ground has a great work environment with a mission of peacebuilding in the world. SFCG is a stimulating and richly rewarding organization to work for – full of hard-working, friendly, bright, enthusiastic, and passionate people dedicated to the work they do. There are many opportunities for team-building and involvement in staff events. The organization has won numerous awards.
Responsibilities
Program Development
Under the supervision of the Regional Director, the Program Development Manager will lead new program development for the nine countries in the West Africa portfolio. Key responsibilities will involve the following:
- Lead the design, development and submission of strategic concept notes and proposals, ensuring compliance with donor rules and regulations, alignment with SFCG and country strategic priorities and innovation and quality.
- In collaboration with GAP, lead partnership negotiations for proposals submitted as members of consortia.
- Support the Africa Program Development Associates and country teams as they design new programs and develop proposal, providing technical support, ensuring capacity building and cross-fertilization.
- Support country teams with budget preparation and liaise with the Finance Team and Regional Director to ensure compliance with donor and organizational guidelines and policies.
- Track West Africa proposal submissions, factors of success and failure.
- Provide support to country programs in their development and design of their country strategies and donor strategies, ensuring alignment with the organization-wide priorities.
- Support country teams in developing communication products aiming at promoting country programs or strategies as part of the region's fundraising efforts.
Reporting
- Supervise project reporting process, provide review and edit prior to submission, ensuring high quality donor reports which communicate results clearly.
- Track report submission deadlines and ensure that donor reports are on time and in line with reporting requirements.
- Design coaching and capacity building for in-country staff to improve capacity.
External relations, communications & visibility
- Be a focal point where delegated on donor communications, working together with the country team and Regional Program Manager to clarify information, follow-through on requests.
- Liaise with GAP and Communications to enhance the visibility of the region, through participation in conferences, workshops, working groups, etc., and contribution to visibility material as relevant.
- Develop and cultivate relationships with key actors within government, potential partner organizations, multi-laterals, corporations, and others who are working in West Africa.
- Coordinate with country programs to facilitate opportunities for funding, specifically unsolicited, in the region.
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.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field.
- Minimum of 3 years of experience in business/program development for international organizations, with a preference for focus on conflict transformation and/or international development.
- Specific experience with a range of donors, including for USG (USAID and Department of State), European Commission, United Nations, and various European Member States is necessary.
- Demonstrated knowledge of various funding mechanisms and of donor rules and requirements.
- Substantial experience designing projects which include the essentials of Monitoring & Evaluation.
- Experience in relevant region.
- Willingness to travel.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively to work with a diverse team, with attention to mentorship and professional development of staff.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and French required.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Salary: Commensurate with education and experience, with excellent benefits
How to apply:
To Apply:
Application deadline: June 15, 2016. Please submit a cover letter and resume through our Application System. Please be sure to include projected start date. No phone calls please. Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. Please see our web site www.sfcg.org for full details of our work.