CHARITY JOBS IN AFRICA

Organization: Democracy International
Country: South Sudan
Closing date: 10 Sep 2014

Democracy International is seeking a Senior Transition Advisor to serve in an anticipated USAID-funded program in South Sudan. This position will be based in Juba, South Sudan.

Responsibilities:

The Senior Transition Advisor will play a critical interlocutor role between Democracy International, USAID, and USAID implementing partners in South Sudan. The STA will be responsible for attending meetings as needed with the Government of South Sudan, potential partners, stakeholders, donors, and other actors as requested by the Country Representative. The STA will develop and maintain collaborative relationships with these entities in order to ensure close coordination at the field level.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Provide guidance on the identification and development of USAID projects;
• Evaluate grant proposals and work with diverse groups-many of which have not previously received international funding;
• Assist USAID establish reports on USAID’s implementing partner activities designed to achieve strategic objectives;
• Communicate regularly and share program information with USAID project managers, bilateral donors, UN Organizations, international organizations, and indigenous and international NGOs to ensure visibility and synergy of USAID activities;
• Assist in developing an exit strategy that ensures reasonable time to transition to follow-on USAID or other donor programs;
• Travel in areas of focus to monitor and assess political conditions and meet with potential grantees;
• When required, report regularly to the Country Representative or other USAID staff on the status of:
• Grant development and implementation,
• Program performance,
• Communication and coordination issues among OTI offices with other USG entities,
• Security concerns, and
• Relations with local partners, including local, state, and national government representatives;
• When required, attend and present at key meetings with a range of actors and stakeholders; and
• Mentor/train other field staff as required.

Qualifications:The STA must possess the qualities listed below:

• BA degree and a minimum of seven (7) years’ professional experience or a master's degree and a minimum of four (4) years of professional experience in two or more of the following areas: contract/grant management, community development, political analysis, civil society, democracy and governance, humanitarian response, conflict resolution, mediation/arbitration, international law, and human rights activities;
• Minimum of three (3) years of overseas experience in conflict-prone countries;
• Minimum of two (2) years’ supervisory experience at a management level;
• Minimum of three (3) years of prior experience developing programmatic activities for an organization that focuses on political transition issues such as strengthening civil society organizations, youth groups, media activities, or other non-governmental entities;
• Demonstrated ability to conduct political analysis leveraging a range of sources, and to use such analysis to inform and shape a program strategy;
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with and representing a program to a wide range of stakeholders at the highest and lowest levels of local and foreign government;
• Fluency in English;
• Prior experience in South Sudan and familiarity with Southern Sudanese political dynamics
• Excellent political analysis, program and project management skills, and reporting skills as well as an in-depth knowledge of international relations in general;
• Ability to serve as an effective liaison with a wide array of individuals and institutions;
• Aptitude to operate with high levels of autonomy, responsibility, and authority in a highly stressful situation while exercising sound judgment in politically charged and challenging security environments;
• Demonstrated ability to maintain staff morale in a difficult work environment;
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, negotiation, and team-building skills;
• Previous experience working with the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI).

The position is contingent upon award.

How to apply:

Please submit your resume and cover letter at jobs.democracyinternational.com. We will only contact those candidates who best meet our needs. No phone calls or additional emails please.