Program Officer, Eastern Congo Initiative, Kinshasa (WEEKLY FAVORITE!)

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Program Officer

Posted on: August 9, 2012

Posted by: Eastern Congo Initiative

MORE / LESSDESCRIPTION

ECI Field-Based Program Officer

About Eastern Congo Initiative: Founded by Ben Affleck, the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) is the only U.S.-based advocacy and grant-making initiative wholly focused on working with and for the people of eastern Congo. We envision an eastern Congo vibrant with abundant opportunities for economic and social development, where a robust civil society can flourish.

ECI believes that locally driven, community-based approaches are essential to creating a sustainable and successful society in eastern Congo. Further, we believe public and private partnerships, combined with advocacy that drives increased attention and public policy change, will create a sustainable future for the people of eastern Congo. To learn more about ECI, our partners and our work, visit www.easterncongo.org.

Position Summary

The field-based Program Officer is an integral member of the ECI team, charged with centralizing, managing and shepherding ECI’s grant process and ECI donor relations, as well as supporting the team in function-specific needs aligned with ECI’s overall mission. The Program Officer has direct and primary responsibility for coordinating, tracking, reporting and driving the operational and procedural aspects of grants execution, from maintaining ECI’s record of prospective grants to partnering with staff in completing detailed and legally compliant grant documentation, coordinating supporting documentation directly with grantees, maintaining confidential grantee files and working with executive management to ensure grants are properly executed and funded. Responsible for establishing an ECI grants administration system, the Program Officer will function as a hub and driver of the grants process while adding value in understanding and addressing any issues that arise with grant contents and objectives.

The Program Officer will also develop and maintain a close working relationship with existing and potential grantees and collaborate broadly with scholars and practitioners, government agencies, non-governmental organizations and other donors on issues of common program concern. Working closely with ECI staff, the Program Officer will have the opportunity to further refine the current grant procurement, monitoring, reporting activities and strategy and to ensure that ECI’s grant-related efforts generate compelling and measurable impact for the people of eastern Congo.

Essential Job Functions

1. Internal Relations & Grant Making

• Identify and oversee the documentation of potential success stories and possible synergies between other local community-based organizations (CBOs) and international NGOs/funders
• Contribute to all reports and updates for Board of Directors
• Work with 5-10 additional CBOs to provide additional information to be included on ECI’s website
• Support coordination and development of new business opportunities
• Collaboratively monitor all USG grants to ensure compliance with U.S. and other bi-lateral regulations
• Draft grant and donor relations contributions for monthly Board of Directors updates and other communications initiatives
• Cultivate and ensure positive, growing relationships with ECI’s current and potential grantor and donor relationships
• Continuously learn the business of ECI by helping the team conduct literature reviews and other research as needed, included background research and drafting position papers as input to non-standard meetings and strategy/operational documents
• Coordinate internal knowledge management and sharing between Goma and U.S.

2. External Relations

• Coordinate and write stories for ECI website and for other media/marketing materials about grantees
• Translate (or check translations of) material for French ECI website, as needed
• Develop “success stories” on each grantee based on preliminary grant results, including statistics, website profiles, brochures, or video for use in securing strategic partners
• Develop relationships in DRC with international NGOs, national NGOs, government officials and visiting delegations
• Represent ECI at relevant local forums

3. Research

• Meet with UN officials, government officials, independent experts and local players to gather information about what is happening on-the-ground
• Provide ECI Program Director, Chief Executive Officer and ECI staff with information about developments on-the-ground with a particular emphasis on advocacy and grant-making
• Research and provide input to potential partnership opportunities with NGOs, foundations, corporations, etc.
• Compile information through interviews with other NGOs in eastern Congo on potential trainers or partners for capacity-building assistance
• Provide information on CBOs and research additional opportunities for inclusion in ECI proposals for funding
• Develop, with ECI staff, other written and printed material on potential or current grantees

4. ECI Operations

• Submit weekly priorities to ECI U.S. Deputy Director and Program Director every Monday
• Identify potential local contractors or vendors to support research and technical programming
• Maintain a contact sheet of all relevant individuals and organizations
• Maintain a contact sheet or database of all potential grantee contact information, relevant connections and relationships with organizations and individuals
• Support the filing and documentation of all programmatic information
• Provide programmatic updates each month to include in the Program Director’s ECI program update

Education and Experience

• BA/BS required; advanced education or experience as a paralegal or working with U.S. government agencies, public policy or in an international context a plus
• 2-3 years’ work experience with progressively increasing responsibilities
• Experience working in a private foundation or non-profit organization with significant volume of grant activity
• Specific experience working with the grants process within a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) organization
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with all levels of the organization
• Experience with or demonstrated commitment to international development, human rights-based efforts and organizations a plus
• Experience working with international constituents a plus
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, both internally and externally, in driving execution
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task and support multiple staff members simultaneously
• Extreme attention to detail and accuracy in documentation and data integrity
• Experience working closely with finance and legal staff in compliance matters
• Strong organization and workflow skills
• Excellent system skills, including experience with grants administration systems or similar database systems, including strong reporting skills
• Experience with Microsoft Office suit in Mac environment required
• Strong analytical and research skills
• Experience with creating and managing detailed project plans
• Fluency in French required; Swahili is highly desired

Desirable personal qualities include strong initiative, hard-working, self-starting approach and a balanced mix of self-confidence and humility. Must be able to work and thrive under pressure or in stressful circumstances with a positive approach and a can-do attitude. Proven ability to be solutions-focused and approach challenges or conflicts by thinking outside-the-box. Applicants should be good-natured and charismatic, with a good sense of humor.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is based on experience and benchmarked against non-profit levels. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including excellent medical and dental benefits, as well as a generous vacation and sick leave package.

MORE / LESSHOW TO APPLY

Please send your resume, cover letter and writing sample to jobs@williamsworks.com. Candidates under consideration will be scheduled for a phone interview. Successful candidates will be invited to interview with ECI team members, CEO and key advisors. No phone calls, please.