Supervises: LMI Program Staff and Missioners
Start Date: August – September 2011
Length of Position: 3-4 years (2 years minimum)
About Liberia Mission, Inc.
Liberia Mission, Inc. (LMI) is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty for children and families through material and spiritual support and a Catholic education. LMI alleviates poverty and promotes societal transformation by providing quality education, a loving home, and life skills training for children and youth so that they may become capable, responsible, and compassionate citizens and future leaders of Liberia. The St. Anthony of Padua School provides a Catholic education for over 340 students in kindergarten through grade 9. The residential program provides a nurturing home for 110 students, ages 7 through 22, who would otherwise have difficulty accessing educational opportunities. The St. Michael the Archangel chapel is a gathering place of worship and spiritual formation for the children, youth, and staff of Liberia Mission, Inc. and the surrounding community. LMI is rooted in a Franciscan understanding of Catholic spirituality and is supported by its parent organization, Mission Honduras International (Parent Entity), a U.S.-based non-for-profit organization.
The Role
The LMI Director oversees the program activities of LMI’s Catholic school, residential homes, and chapel with a spirit of servant leadership that promotes capacity building of local staff and development of programs with the overarching aim to help children to become compassionate citizens and leaders of a peaceful and productive Liberia of tomorrow. The director will live on site to promote this Catholic mission and work directly with staff and youth, and represent LMI in an ambassadorial role to the greater Liberian community and visitors to the mission.
Your responsibilities include
• Overseeing all day-to-day operations and administrative functions of Liberia Mission’s residential program, school, and chapel to ensure implementation of existing programs and institutional policies in alignment with mission values, and identifying/developing new policies, procedures, program strategies, and capacity building opportunities to continuously enhance the LMI mission and goals
• Managing the staff and related human resource issues including implementation of HR policies and procedures and hiring/training/supervising/evaluating direct-reports
• Promoting communication, collaboration and accountability amongst all program staff, activities, and objectives through professional development and cultivation of local capacity and leadership
• Overseeing the financial activities including preparing and tracking the annual budget, analyzing financial reports and ensuring proper financial controls and procedures for bookkeeping and cash flow management
• Working with the LMI Volunteer Coordinator in hosting individual and group volunteers.
• Engaging in exploratory and developmental conversations and activities with the Liberian staff, the local Catholic church and other NGOs and institutions to identify, assess, and formulate opportunities that enhance LMI’s mission
• Collaborating with the Parent Entity to continuously enhance the program in the ongoing development of the strategic growth to promote an innovative and intentional Catholic institution that aims to implement best practices as recognized in the areas of international development, education and social work, through long-term planning, fundraising and identifying new partners
Who You Are
As Director, you are skilled in management, administration, and organizational development. Your motivation for leadership stems from a God-centered call to serve and work alongside people of various cultures in a developing country. You believe that faith, love, compassion, collaboration, effective communication, and community-building are central to the process of working towards LMI’s goals of developing Liberia through the education of its youth. You recognize that development work is full of rewarding experiences as well as challenges that require patience, the ability to listen, critical thinking, humility, and creativity in order to grow with and through challenging times. Your resilience, adaptability, desire to learn, perseverance, and ability to care for self while caring for others enhances your role as Director of LMI.
Your Qualifications
• International experience/experience working and living in the developing world
• Experience in management, administration, and organizational development for a minimum of three years
• Experience working with children and youth, especially at-risk youth and/or those who have experienced trauma or who have other special needs
• Fluent in English and able to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing
• Appreciates living and working from a faith-centered perspective
Compensation
This missioner position provides a modest monthly stipend, two round-trip airfares to/from Liberia, international health insurance, a multiple-entry visa for Liberia, room and board on site at Liberia Mission, Inc., all job-related expenses and travel, and vacation time provided.
How to Apply
If you feel the call to serve at Liberia Mission, Inc. and believe that you have the required skills and competencies for the position, send your resume, cover letter and (3) references to Monica Desmond at mdesmond@missionhonduras.com no later than June 15, 2011. Please, no phone calls. If you have questions regarding the position, please email Monica Desmond at the above address. We welcome couples or colleagues to apply. For more information about Mission Honduras International / Liberia Mission, Inc please visit: www.missionhonduras.com. Mission Honduras International / Liberia Mission, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
