North Africa Regional Project Director 107 views0 applications

About the Organization:

Heartland Alliance International (HAI) is the international wing of a family of organizations that has been leading anti-poverty and social justice work in Chicago for more than 125 years. HAI implements programs in Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and in Chicago at the Marjorie Kovler Center. HAI’s technical areas include mental health and psychosocial support, gender equity, access to justice, and stigma-free HIV prevention, care, and treatment. Across all programs, HAI promotes progressive, innovative approaches to human rights protections and gender equity. Our mission is to secure the rights and well-being of marginalized people and communities.

In 2004, HAI launched its first Middle East and North Africa program to mitigate the humanitarian implications of ongoing political instability and armed conflict. Today, HAI’s programs in Iraq and Lebanon prioritize the needs of vulnerable groups, including women, children, religious and ethnic minorities, internally displaced people, refugees, and survivors of torture, human trafficking, gender-based violence, and other forms of trauma. To address these groups, HAI provides direct services and works with local non-governmental partners and helps build the capacity of health and mental health professionals, legal service providers and judicial officials, government organizations, and the media.

Summary:

This position serves as the representative of HAI in North Africa and leads the organization’s implementation of programming throughout the region. The primary responsibility is overseeing implementation of a project involving supporting local civil society and human rights organizations, particularly around enhancement of safety and security measures, and improved resilience.

This position reports directly to the Director of International Programs, based in our headquarters in Chicago, IL, USA. HAI expects this position to be based in Tunisia. Candidates with the appropriate work authorization, language skills, and ability to travel will also be considered from elsewhere in the MENA region. The position requires frequent national and international travel (30% +), with expected regular travel to Algeria, Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Management and Leadership

· Grow HAI’s regional presence with the strategic vision, expertise and passion necessary to implement project objectives according to an ambitious work plan

· Provide leadership to the North Africa regional team and provide supervision and oversee all aspects of project implementation

· Manage, train, and supervise all project staff members and consultants across Algeria, Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia, applying all project-related security measures for their safety throughout the project

· Collaborate with HQ senior management to develop a medium-term regional strategy to guide and inform future program development initiatives

· Identify, evaluate, and cultivate new partnership opportunities with other international and local non-profits by participating in local and regional coordination meetings

· Engage in background research and monitoring of country and regional developments

· Monitor changes in the external operating environment, especially in regard to government and donor policy changes in the region, as well a security

· Represent HAI to local authorities, donor representatives, international organizations, and NGOs in the area of operation

· Maintain close and positive collaboration with major donors and partners in the area of operation

· Negotiate or approve contracts and agreements with suppliers, distributors, federal and state agencies, and other organizational entities

· Supervise implementation of projects to ensure that activities are implemented in accordance with agreed strategies, principles, implementation and M&E plans, and donor requirements

· Conduct frequent field visits to project sites in each of the four countries and makes site assessments to ensure project goals are progressing and to strengthen and encourage staff as needed

· Ensure all monthly, quarterly and bi-annual updates/reports are prepared and submitted, in accordance with donor & HQ requirements

· Provides project planning documents and recommendations to HQ as requested.

· Oversee compliance with all relevant external and internal standards and associated reporting across all projects

· Direct, plan, and implement policies, objectives, and activities of the organization to ensure continuing operations and to increase productivity

· Cultivate a positive, nurturing, and mutually-supportive work environment by motivating and supporting staff, and boosting morale in creative ways in alignment with HAI values

Qualifications

We are looking for an outstanding professional who has a demonstrated passion for human rights work and is eager to fill a leadership position that has the opportunity to design and shape lifesaving human rights programming; build the capacity of local staff and partners; and secure the sustainability of HAI’s resources for years to come. Candidates who meet the below criteria are strongly encouraged to apply.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or competency required.

· A Master’s Degree (or equivalent combination of education and years of experience) in international relations, development studies, political science or a related field

· 5+ years of relevant professional experience, preferably in an international non-government organization with at least 2 years of senior-level management experience (ie. Chief of Party, Country Director, Project Director)

· Demonstrated commitment to advancing human rights and supporting democracy, rights, governance, and civil society

· Proven experience of working in partnership with NGOs and other civil society organizations and networks

· Experience managing complex, multi-country programs

· Experience living in challenging, insecure environments, including previous experience in the North Africa region or in comparable environment

· Ability to satisfy visa requirements to travel to Algeria, Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia;

· Possessing legal authorization to work in Tunisia OR potentially an alternative country, granted the candidate is able to satisfy the previously mentioned travel requirements

· Demonstrated experience in maintaining and reporting financial information for large institutional donor-funded projects including working knowledge of financial regulations and procedures;

Language Skills:

· Excellent oral and written communication skills in Arabic, with preference for North African dialects; and, **

· Excellent oral and written communication skills in English; and, **

· Proficiency in oral and written French preferred.**

Please Provide:

§ A cover letter describing your relevant qualifications for this position

§ Resume

§ 3 professional references

Heartland Alliance makes all hiring and employment decisions, and operates all programs, services, and functions without regard to race, receipt of an order of protection, creed, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, amnesty, physical or mental disability, protected veterans status, genetic information, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, use of FMLA, VESSA, military, and family military rights, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, height, weight, or HIV infection, in accord with the organization’s AIDS Policy Statement of September 1987.