Resident Program Director at International Republican Institute

Job Summary

Every employee of IRI is responsible for carrying out the Mission of IRI and demonstrating the Core Values in their day to day operations. The Core Values, which are IRI’s foundational building blocks include:

Excellence– We believe in quality results delivered by investing in people. Freedom– We believe in exploration and experimentation to be agile and responsive. Respect- We believe in trust, empathy and empowering people. Teamwork- We believe in diversity, inclusion and the power of global collaboration. Transparency– We believe in open communication and clear decision-making. Accountability- We believe in personal responsibility as the foundation of success.

The Resident Program Director (RPD) is responsible for all programmatic, personnel, outreach and accounting matters and is the publica face of IRI in Tanzania. The RPD will oversee IRI programming in the areas of political party strengthening, civic education, and empowerment of marginalized groups (especially youth). IRI is currently implementing a five-year USAID program that aims to strengthen and support civil society, in particular Tanzanian women and youth, to effectively engage in the promotion of accountable and inclusive political processes. The three interlinked objectives of the five-year program are (1) promote increased citizen engagement and oversight of political and electoral processes; (2) create a more competitive and representative multiparty political system; and (3) increase transparency in electoral administration. In addition, the RPD monitors, analyzes and reports on political and related developments in Tanzania to provide regional and country analysis, as well as inform programmatic adaptations. In consultation with IRI/Washington, the RPD designs and implements a long-range strategy for IRI programs in the country, manages budgets and is responsible for compliance with local laws and /regulations governing current funding.

The RPD will be based in Dar El Salam, Tanzania pending permitted travel in light of the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Position Requirements

• Master’s degree in political science, public administration, international development, law, public policy, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years’ professional experience in development and program management leadership positions in the areas of political party development and elections in a developing country. Experience working with Tanzanian political parties preferred.
• Demonstrated strategic visioning, leadership and experience working effectively with government institutions, local civil society organizations and development partners;
• Experience managing complex activities involving coordination with multiple program partner institutions;
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including written and oral English, to fulfill the diverse technical and managerial requirements of the program and to effectively coordinate with a wide range of stakeholders;
• Fluency in spoken and written Kiswahili with the ability to represent IRI programming in meetings with the Government of Tanzania and/or local partners conducted in Kiswahili is preferred.
• National from an East African or Southern African Development Community (SADC) country is preferred.
• Working knowledge of the politics, economics, history and culture of the East Africa region.
• Strong written and oral communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated management experience including ability to motivate and manage staff.
• Demonstrated experience working with USG funded projects and familiarity with USG regulations and processes.
• Demonstrated financial management experience in developing and administering program budgets.
• Ability to prepare, present and negotiate complex and sensitive agreements and/or project proposals with bilateral/multi-lateral agencies and other donor communities.
• Ability to communicate skills and experience to others as a trainer, advisor or technical consultant; sensitivity to working in advisory role with local organizations.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team to coordinate and lead the efforts of other professionals to effectively meet program goals.
• Willingness to travel within the country of assignment a significant amount throughout the year.
• Willingness to live and work in a challenging environment.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities

• Monitors, analyzes and reports on political and related developments in specific countries to provide regional and country analysis
• Serves as the official senior IRI representative in country, developing credibility with and maintaining good relationships with all relevant stakeholders, including U.S. and foreign diplomats and donor agencies, host-country government representatives, and program partners
• Participates in the substantive design of new programs and contributes to the development of new program ideas
• Oversees the implementation of all program activities oversees ensuring consistency with grant work plans and objectives.
• Establishes, maintains, and develops productive working relationship with relevant stakeholders, consultants, field and DC staff.
• Oversees all operations related to the IRI field presence, and ensures IRI is in compliance with local laws regarding IRI’s legal status in the country and employment of local staff
• Supervises local field staff, including participating in the hiring, professional development and evaluation process for these staff. Sets specific goals and provides ongoing performance feedback.
• Mentors local staff in program development, finance, work plan development and presentation, reporting, monitoring and evaluation, business development and knowledge management in their country of assignment.
• Maintains an understanding of donor and IRI policies and procedures related to grant compliance and oversight
• Understands a grant’s substantive, financial and compliance requirements
• Oversees the implementation of all program activities in the country ensuring consistency with grant work plans and objectives, reporting weekly to DC
• Monitors and approve field office budgets and expenses, in collaboration with DC program staff and the Regional Project Accountant, to ensure that expenditures remain within budget allocations
• Monitors, analyzes and reports to DC staff on political and economic developments, and media responses regularly
• Ensures adherence to monitoring and evaluation plans, including the monitoring of programs and evaluation/analysis of program results
• Provides information and contributes to sections of quarterly, semi-annual, final and other relevant reports for funders
• Anticipates potential problems and trouble shoots project problems and offers solutions and actively takes part to lead resolution of them with creative and immediate solutions
• Leads business development efforts, including identifying and seeking out potential new or additional sources of funding with real-time costs estimates for proposal budgets, and/or the development of new program ideas, coordinating with DC staff
• Actively supports IRI’s communication strategy including IRI’s branding and outreach plans on projects assigned, including drafts and updates program summaries and other outreach materials, drafts web stories, tweets, etc.
• Performs other duties as assigned.