Afghanistan Program Director

About Seeds of Peace

Job Summary

The Country Director will serve as the senior on-the-ground representative for Seeds of Peace and will support and advise the Regional Director in the development of the annual program plan for South Asia. S/he will provide day-to-day in-country coordination between Seeds, educators, partners and the U.S. State Department.

Duties & Responsibilities

 Program Planning and Strategy: Assist in the development of a program strategy for South Asia that is consistent with the goals and needs expressed by local partners and populations as well as the strategic plans of Seeds of Peace. Participate in the formulation of agency declarations in the region. Promote institutional learning between partner school and organizations.
 Personnel Supervision and Development: Develop and maintain a healthy environment for the team (including staff, delegation leaders, and volunteers), encourage staff and volunteers to reflect the institutional character in their relationships with partner organizations. Supervise personnel and consultants required to execute grant-funded programs.
 Program Management and Implementation: Manage logistics and preparation for the camp season including: selection, orientation, travel arrangements, visa interviews, and advising staff on local issues in order to appropriately update curriculum for the camp dialogue program. In addition to camp responsibilities, design and implement year-round regional programming, draft meaningful content for the web and other organizational publications, and strengthen relationships with local partners, school, and NGOs.
 Represent Seeds of Peace and Regional Program: Keep the Regional Director and New York Office informed about activities/events in the region. Respond to requests for information from the Regional Director and New York Office. Take part in meetings, conferences and networks with individuals, groups, organizations, local NGOs and governments, when necessary. When requested by the Regional Director, represent Seeds of Peace to donors and other constituents.
 Fundraising/Grant-making: Work with the Director of Corporate and Government Relations to identify and prepare grant requests and oversee “membership program” in the region. Ensure semi-annual monitoring of each of the approved projects.
 Other: Perform tasks required by the Regional Director. Demonstrate a commitment to Seeds of Peace’s values and mission. Awareness of gender issues and willingness to implement gender equity policies. Willingness to travel within the regional and to the US.

Job Requirements

The key qualities needed in this position are an ability to function as both a problem solver and social entrepreneur, and an ability to make concrete things happen in a challenging environment. Also includes:
 Masters Degree in Social Sciences, Education, or a related field is an advantage.
 A minimum of 7 years progressively responsible experience in field program management with local and international NGO is required.
 Strong humanitarian skills as well as long term program development experience.
 Experience in identifying, designing and managing youth development and peace building programs. Demonstrated capacity to manage programs and personnel, and the ability to perform several tasks at once.
 Capacity to communicate effectively, orally and in written formats, in English language is required. Ability of function in emergency situations.
 Ability to work as a team member.
 Analytical and research skills.
 Ability to document and communicate; excellent editing skills.
 Excellent public and human relations skills; good sense of judgment and high level of discretion and diplomacy.
 Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications is required.
 Broad knowledge of the region’s political and socio-economic reality.
 Knowledge of the key stakeholders in education, reconciliation, and peace building communities.
 Knowledge and understanding of the U.S. government’s economic and political systems.
 Ability to work with Seeds of Peace donors and support fundraising initiatives.
 Experience with media and social entrepreneurialism projects a plus.

Submission Guideline

Please send us an electronic cover letter, resume, and contact information for two references. Applications , whose subject line should be: “Afghanistan Program Director: (your name),” should be e-mailed to:

Paul Mailhot
Paul@seedsofpeace.org

Functional Area

Management

Countries

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