Democratic Republic of the Congo: Head of Office - Goma

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 more than 600 staff worldwide, SFCG implements projects in 35 countries. SFCG’s programs are in Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, and the United States.

Programme

SFCG launched activities in the DRC in 2001. Now in 2016 the country program has offices in Kinshasa, Goma, Bukavu, and Kalemie with annual budget of $8MLN USD. SFCG works with partners in all provinces of the country, and has numerous smaller satellite offices throughout the country. Media is a primary tool utilized by all the programs—radio, video, print, and drama. Each program is adapted to the specific local context and conflict, and all apply tools from SFCG’s toolbox.

SFCG’s Goma field office is currently supporting a host of programs around democratic dialogue, conflict sensitivity and transformation, to strengthen governance at local, provincial and national levels, to combat sexual and gender-based violence and promote youth engagement, and to promote protection of civilians through security sector reform. Activities in these areas include media production, training, radio programming, participatory theatre and collaborative joint activities. This thematic focus is executed in close collaboration with numerous donors, including DFID, the Dutch foreign Ministry, the German Foreign Ministry, and USAID.

Summary of Position

The position will be responsible for all aspects of programmatic, financial and administrative coordination of the office and various programs. Principle tasks will be to oversee the entire Provincial portfolio, determine appropriate implementing mechanisms to achieve projects’ strategic goals, serve as the primary program liaison for donors, partners and stakeholders in the province, oversee provincial level planning and budgeting, and reporting/evaluations, ensuring compliance with management and financial procedures. The position will report to the DRC Country Director. Working language for this position is French and English.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight to program staff charged with implementing programs.
• Supervise monthly financial reports according to SFCG procedures
• Ensure a conscious Program approach in line with the “Common Ground” principles
• Verify and analyze work-plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness.
• Manage the field-based SFCG operations staff and some of the program staff
• Represent SFCG before partners, donors, and local and international organizations working in the province and ensure SFCG activities are visible. In accordance with SFCG advocacy policy, advocate for search of common ground solutions to various conflict situation in the Province
• Represent SFCG to government authorities
• Contribute creative ideas for Program development and develop technical and financial proposals to local and international donors
• Ensure close monitoring of the political and security environment and develop contingency plan for the office
• Ensure compliance with Congolese law and SFCG procedures in admin and operations
• Support monitoring and evaluation work in collaboration with SFCG’s Design, Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator
• Provide content material to the Africa Team for updating the websites, as well as for quarterly program updates, newsletters, and other SFCG literature

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 responsibilities.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least five years of work experience, preferably in conflict sensitivity, protection, development, or communications
• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field
• Very strong background in budget management, accounting and financial reporting.
• At least five years’ experience managing a team of local staff in a conflict zone, preferably in Africa. Cross-cultural experience and sensitivity, and experience living and working in developing countries
• Experience living and working in unstable environments
• Excellent coordination, communication and networking skills
• Strong report writing, fundraising and proposal writing skills.
• Ability to work with people at all levels, ranging from high-level officials to community leaders
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Microsoft Excel
• Professional-level competency in French and English, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Willingness to regularly travel on short notice around the country

Salary: Commensurate with experience and education, with excellent benefits

To Apply: Please send cover letter, current resume, three references and salary expectation through our Application System. Please be sure to include your earliest start date. No phone calls please. Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. Please see our website www.sfcg.org for full details of our work.