iLab Liberia is an
international non-profit organization dedicated to providing a collaborative
and open learning environment in Liberia that offers free trainings in
Information and Communication Technology (ICTs). iLab’s mission is to assist IT
professionals as well as organizations and institutions in their efforts to
more readily share information using ICTs. Among other activities we offer,
iLab staff provide trainings in open source tools and systems because they
promote interactive communities and shared ownership. iLab hosts local meet-ups
as well as national and international organizations holding events that are
in-line with iLab’s mission.
Post Title: Director
Duty Station: iLab
Liberia office in Monrovia, Liberia
Report to: Board of
Directors, donors
Start date: February
2013 (including 4-6 week handover with current Director)
End date: December
31, 2013 (with possibility of extension)
Background:
iLab Liberia has
grown significantly since first opening its doors in May 2011. During its
initial six months, iLab became an international hub for the presidential
elections, providing connectivity and training for journalists, election
observers and civil society organizations. In 2012, iLab has continued as an
unparalleled tech center, serving more than 800 individuals and offering a
unique combination of cross-sectoral training and a community of like-minded
individuals leveraging technology for the good of Liberia.
iLab holds between 6
and 10 events each month with an average of 30 participants per event, forms
new partnerships weekly, and hosts visiting scholars and external workshops on
a regular basis. iLab partners with civil society organizations, government
ministries, NGOs, as well as academic institutions within Liberia and abroad.
iLab has a small but mighty team of 7 people, a team that works closely
together developing course curricula, forming new partnerships and leading
events. in 2013, iLab aims to provide more in-depth IT training for a variety
of entrepreneurs including incubation services for aspiring IT professionals,
extended courses in GIS and computer programming, trainings for high schoolers
and young women, and projects promoting open data.
iLab’s co-founder
and current Director will be leaving Liberia in the first quarter of 2012, and
the team is seeking a dynamic and exceptional leader to fill this role. The new
Director will manage the team; grow the lab’s curricula; strengthen existing
partnerships and develop promising new collaborations; oversee the
organization’s finances and overall operations; seek grants for iLab’s
continuation; follow existing grant guidelines and produce the necessary
reports and evaluation exercises necessary to meet each donor’s requirements.
iLab is interested in a Director with a strong technical background in computer
science or a similar field in order for iLab’s national staff to deepen their
expertise and for iLab to offer more technologically advanced courses. While
this technical expertise is preferred, iLab encourages applicants with program
management background and foundational experience with ICT4D to apply.
Responsibilities:
Staff
Management
- Manage
a multidisciplinary team and build a strong identity within the team by
setting clear expectations, circulating information, building capacity and
assigning tasks well-matched with staff’s skillsets - With
the team, develop and maintain a dynamic strategic plan for iLab’s
long-term growth - Ensure
iLab staff comply with all written policies - Offer
in-house tutorials to iLab staff such as writing skills, use of social
media, website content, and – other skill-building tutorials as needed
Support
for iLab activities and strategic partnerships
- Oversee
coordination, monitoring and evaluation of all iLab activities and
partnerships - Seek
out funding opportunities and beneficial collaborations in-line with
iLab’s mission - Provide
technical support for projects and partnerships - Actively
participate in local and international ICT/ICT4D forums - Co-develop
monthly curricula with iLab team - Use
social media on a daily basis to promote iLab’s work - Teach
iLab courses on occasion
Financial
Management
- Ensure
submission of finance, progress, and donor reports, compliance with donor
and internal procedures, and compliance with national legal obligations - Oversee
administrative and financial management/logistics - Transparently
and accurately account for the use of funds - Manage
iLab’s bank accounts and records using QuickBooks and Google spreadsheets
Job
Requirements and Preferred Skills
Technical
Required
- Bachelor’s
degree in international development, computer science/engineering or
equivalent industry experience. Other degrees considered include business
administration, education - At
least two years relevant work experience (developer/IT professional,
ICT4D, business and administration, international development,
international education, humanitarian aid) - Demonstrated
knowledge of ICT solutions in low bandwidth/income environments;
familiarity with reaching marginalized populations via ICTs - Ability
to learn quickly and solve problems creatively (for example, can solve
technical and non-technical problems through online research and good
old-fashioned persistence)
Preferred
- Graduate
degree in computer science/engineering - At
least two years international work experience - Proficient
with PHP, Java, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, MySQL - Experience
with content management systems such as Drupal, WordPress - Experienced
Linux user - Demonstrated
GIS skills: ArcGIS, KML, Google Earth, Quantum GIS - Expert
in MS Excel
Programmatic
Required
- Experience
managing a collaborative and small team (between 4-6 people) as well as
offering one-on-one support to each staff member - Ability
to build effective relationships with all clients, peers, and stakeholders
- Ability
to promote and expand iLab’s paid services in addition to garnering a
wider audience for the lab’s free events
Preferred
- Experience
writing grant proposals and fulfilling existing grant requirements - Fundraising
experience - Experience
with financial management protocols and guidelines - Background
in managing large grants - Experience
using Quickbooks - Applied
M&E experience
Interpersonal
Required
- Excellent
communication skills in spoken and written English - Experience
living abroad - Highly
self-motivated, adaptable, innovative and eager to work; especially
motivated by working for the public good - Able to
negotiate diplomatically and function well under pressure in an
unpredictable environment - A
natural community builder with creative problem-solving skills - Comfortable
with public speaking and facilitating workshops/teaching courses
Preferred
- Experience
working in West Africa or the region
Work
Environment
This position will
be based in Monrovia, Liberia. The candidate should be prepared to implement
programming in a post-conflict environment challenged by corruption and damaged
infrastructure as well as widespread poverty.
What
we offer
- Per
diem for housing in addition to salary - Round-trip
ticket to and from Liberia - Evacuation
insurance - Costs
covered for all immigration paperwork, including visas and all required
vaccinations - Three
weeks paid vacation and up to 3 weeks unpaid leave available in 2013 - An
opportunity to build on the success of Liberia’s only technology hub and
play a key role in developing the country’s ICT community - The
chance to work with a remarkable team of Liberians dedicated to improving
their country - The joy
of working in a multi-cultural work environment - The
beautiful surrounds of Liberia – a country rich with dense jungle,
gorgeous coastline and a sunny tropical climate. A bonus: iLab’s offices
are located 2 blocks from the beach and the office overlooks the ocean
to apply:
To apply for this
position, fill out this
form and email your CV, cover letter and two references’ contact
information to: hiring@ilabliberia.org.
Applications will only be reviewed if the completed form, CV, cover letter and
references’ contacts are submitted. All applications must be sent by December 21, 2012. Applicants will be
contacted by January
7th, 2013.