Location
Monrovia, with possible travel to other locations in-country
Duration
12 months
Organizational Overview: Peace Dividend Trust is a non-profit social enterprise that tests and scales new ideas that improve the impact and efficiency of aid and peacekeeping. Operating in Timor-Leste, Haiti and Afghanistan, PDT has redirected over $650 million in international spending into these local economies and created the first ever mission start-up guide for the launch of new U.N. peacekeeping operations.
In 2010, the Skoll Foundation recognized PDT as one of a handful of social enterprises effecting measurable and sustainable change in the developing world. U.S. President Obama awarded the organization the G20 SME Finance Challenge prize at the annual heads of state gathering in Seoul, Korea in November 2010. For more information, please visit www.peacedividendtrust.org
Liberia Context: Peace Dividend Trust will be launching its award-winning Peace Dividend Marketplace (PDM) model in Liberia. PDM is an innovative approach to market development in countries recovering from conflict and disaster. Through targeted services that link international, regional and local buyers with capable national suppliers, the PDM works to increase and leverage the economic impact of international assistance and investment efforts. This in turn helps drive money into the domestic economy, restoring livelihoods, generating competition in the marketplace, and contributing to wider growth and development.
In Liberia, the PDM will support the ability of international organizations and donors (e.g. United Nations or World Bank Group) and multinational corporations (e.g. Chevron) to buy local. The Country Director will need to be comfortable building strong relationships with international organizations, multinational corporations, government partners and local businesses, as well as managing a multifaceted project and a team of national and international staff.
Position Overview: PDT is seeking an entrepreneurial Country Director (CD) who will lead the start up of the Peace Dividend Marketplace project in Liberia. This includes both material and personnel aspects of mission start up, as well as building strong relationships with a range of stakeholders. The CD will have the support of an experienced deputy and will have successfully led private sector-related programs in west Africa. S/he will also have a successful record in building productive relationships with donor representatives in-country. Bringing a strong alignment with the mission and values of PDT, the CD will promote an entrepreneurial and results-driven environment, be flexible to changing needs and contribute strategically to PDT’s overall mission.
Responsibilities and Duties
The Country Director reports to the Projects Director based at PDT’s headquarters and is responsible for all aspects of Peace Dividend Trust’s work in Liberia, including:
Strategic Leadership
• Lead in-country implementation in accordance with workplan, proposal, contracts, budget, PDT and donor policies and procedures
• Develop country strategy based on workplan and other documents to adapt standard PDM to local context
• Oversee needs assessments, evaluations, monitoring visits
• Contribute to strategic planning
• Implement start up strategies
• Provide guidance on substantive issues including: achieving results, private sector development, procurement, SME business development, market research and training
• Lead continuous improvement efforts to ensure activities are responsive to local context and emerging trends
Representation
• Represent PDT and coordinate appropriately with the Government of Liberia, international organizations, Liberian Chamber of Commerce, business associations, local businesses, international corporate entities and other partner organizations
• Delegate representation appropriately, based on activity streams
• Ensure coordination with stakeholders on issues of relevance to country program
Staff Management
• Ensure line management of staff
• Implement internal HR systems, in collaboration with Human Resources management in headquarters
• Recruit national staff directly, and recruit international staff in coordination with Project Director and Human Resources at HQ
• Mentor and build capacity of national and international employees
• Carry out annual performance appraisals, according to PDT policies
Finance Management
• Coordinate budget planning with Finance Director and Projects Director
• Oversee financial reporting from country office
Communications and Reporting
• Prepare regular quantitative and qualitative reports for HQ and other reporting requirements
• Ensure tracking of activities and contribute to donor reporting
• Ensure regular and effective internal communications with project team, including regular management meetings with middle management staff and regular all staff meetings.
• Participate in a minimum of weekly phone calls and regular correspondence with the Projects Director – Liberia
• Ensure results and success stories are communicated appropriately in cooperation with Communications Director
Security Management
• Responsible for safety and security of all staff, based on security risk assessment and training program
Qualifications
• Master’s degree in Business, Internal Affairs/Development, related field or substantial equivalent in professional experience
• Minimum 5 years field experience, preferably in Liberia or other countries in West Africa
• Experience in relations with United Nations and international private sector organizations
• Demonstrable experience in organizational representation
• Experience in managing a budget of at least $2m
• Experience in security management in post-conflict environments
• Experience in successfully leading and managing a team of national and international staff
• Experience working on projects funded by public and large private donors
• Willingness to learn basic Liberian English and other local languages
Package
Competitive salary, in-country adjustment, and benefits.
Application
If you have the talents to lead an award winning organization into the its next phase, to build PDT’s reputation for changing the way aid works, send your CV and a cover letter, clearly explaining how you would meet these qualifications to: vacancies@peacedividendtrust.org ., subject line: CD-Liberia-DX
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Only applicants being considered for an interview will be contacted.
To learn more about our activities see: http://www.facebook.com/peacedividendtrust