Summary
Date Posted: Friday, February 11, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
Title: Director, ICRW Africa
Job ID: 1367
Location: Nairobi, Kenya or Kampala , Uganda

About ICRW:
The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) has been the premier applied research institute focused on women and girls for the last four decades. ICRW works with partners to conduct empirical research, build capacity, and advocate for evidence-based practical solutions to change policies and programs. With offices in Washington, D.C., South Asia and East Africa, ICRW conducts research to inform policies and programs seeking to alleviate poverty, promote gender equality and protect the rights of women and girls. Corporations, foundations, governments and civil society organizations partner with ICRW to discover through rigorous research how to dismantle barriers and help women and girls achieve their full potential. ICRW’s focal areas include gender-based violence, healthy transitions to adulthood, economic empowerment, HIV/AIDS, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
At ICRW, we believe that research can and should be a process of social development, and we employ participatory methods when appropriate. Further, ICRW pursues intersectional research to the greatest extent possible. All research we undertake serves to advance ICRW’s mission of improving the status of women and girls, promoting gender equality, and eradicating poverty.

Primary Role:
ICRW’s Africa Office currently covers activities in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Rwanda with the hopes for further expansion. The Director, ICRW Africa is a member of ICRW’s Executive Team and contributes inputs from the work in Africa to ICRW’s global analysis of gender and development and to its strategies to achieve its mission. The Director provides vision and leadership for ICRW’s strategies and business development to achieve its mission in Africa, effective management of an interdisciplinary team of researchers, program experts, and administrative staff; and expert technical knowledge in at least one of ICRW’s thematic areas. The Director will be responsible for identifying new donors and partners in the region to shape and expand ICRW’s work in the region.
The Director can be based in Nairobi, Kenya or Kampala, Uganda and will travel regularly to focal countries as required.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks:
Strategic Leadership and Management:
• Leads the expansion of ICRW’s visibility, reputation, and work in Africa. Serves as an institutional leader internally and externally. Functions as a member of the Executive Team, participating in institutional strategic planning and decision-making, and representing ICRW in key institutional and external forums. Provides input on institutional strategy and direction, policies and priorities, financial sustainability, and visibility.
• Provides management supervision and support for employees in the Nairobi and Uganda offices.
• Ensures alignment with ICRW financial and human resources policies as well as full compliance with the applicable national laws.

Works closely with staff in Africa Region and DC Office to:
• Coordinate project activities in the Africa region;
• Provide opportunities for dissemination of results;
• Facilitate new recruitment;
• Conduct annual performance evaluations;
• Assist in writing new proposals for projects in the region.

Business and Program Strategy Development:
• Leads the business development and strategic planning efforts while working closely with the Business Development team in DC.
• Builds networks with institutions and partners in the region to develop opportunities for new areas of work and growth.
• Represents ICRW with partners, governments, NGOs, the private sector and donors, serves as an institutional spokesperson at public events and forums, and works towards developing program priorities.
• Identifies donor interests and new funding possibilities in order to develop a program of research.
• Provides strategic vision and guidance to Africa based staff; develops and maintains working relationships with key in-country partners, donors and the Kenya and Uganda Boards.
• Works closely with ICRW DC on strategic planning for business development in the region.

Quality Assurance and Program Management:
• Responsible for ensuring the quality of project work, proposals, reports and publications emanating from the region:
• Works closely with Project Directors to ensure quality products, and ensures compliance with donor financial and reporting requirements for projects;
• Works with the COO and other members of the DC Executive Team as appropriate to identify and resolve local management issues and needs, including human resources, communications, and/or administrative needs.

Technical Work:
• As a recognized expert in gender and development with strong research experience in at least one of ICRW’s thematic areas, participates in or leads technical project work in the region.
• Undertakes technical work as relevant, develops new areas of work and product lines, and is responsible for promoting institutional knowledge-sharing and collaboration.
• Leads high-visibility and strategic technical initiatives and projects and participates in and/or leads research and technical assistance work in her/his programs.
• Provides strategic project guidance to the staff, working closely with Executive Team and applicable technical directors in Washington and/or Asia.

Things to consider:
• Experience in multi-country management
• Proven business development success
• History in building partnerships – working effectively and respectfully with multilaterals and/or local organizations in complex environments to win U.S. based foundation and private sector funds
• Successful team or project lead experience with the ability to successfully motivate a team to accomplish organizational goals.
• A candidate of impeccable reputation, network and influence in the region.
Education :
PhD or Master’s degree in Sociology, Demography, Anthropology, Public Health, Gender studies or related field with a minimum of 12 years post-graduate experience in gender and development.

Experience :
Minimum twelve (12) years experience in gender and development along with deep management experience in program or policy research to include demonstrated leadership on gender and development and a proven track-record in non-profit fund-raising and business development. Prior experience working with international NGO’s and donor agencies strongly preferred.

Skills:
• A strategic thinker with an entrepreneurial spirit; must possess the requisite leadership skills necessary to lead, motivate and manage senior staff who have highly specialized knowledge of their areas of responsibility.
• Strong fundraising capabilities with a wide network of partners and or donors to work with and help further expand and strengthen ICRW’s work in the region.
• Strong negotiation skills to help shape a strong agenda for moving forward ICRW's reach and impact in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Demonstrated capabilities in the creation, implementation and ongoing management of systems to ensure that activities that involve multiple departments get done on time, within budget, at a high level of quality, and lead to successful, measurable outcomes.
• Demonstrated team-based, collaborative management style that supports open and frequent communication, extensive sharing of information, and participatory decision-making.
• Strong communication (written and verbal) skills to work effectively with a dynamic and active board of directors.
• Ability to platform key issues and gain buy-in from the board of directors and potential donors and partners.
• Excellent oral communication skills, especially in cross-cultural settings.
• Solid understanding of gender inequality and its implications for women and girls in relation to a wide range of issues including their livelihoods and economic empowerment, sexual and reproductive health and rights, their personal safety and wellbeing.
• Strong writing skills and demonstrated track record of producing high quality deliverables in a timely fashion.
• Ability to package and communicate complex and technical information in accessible forms for lay audiences—in both written and verbal communication.
• Versatility, flexibility, and adaptability in responding to projects under evolution.
• Sense of confidence and comfort level with guiding donors, clients, and partners with clear direction and recommendations in mind.
• Strong, strategic sense for business development.
• Computer literacy required to include a proficiency in standard business applications (e.g. in the MS Office Suite), as well as the ability to utilize technology to automate processes, provide meaningful analyses and disseminate information.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 144

Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree

Job application procedure
Interested candidates are expected to submit a cover letter, resume and writing sample. Due to the large volume of responses we receive, ICRW is not able to provide candidacy status on an individual basis. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
ICRW is committed to promoting a culture of equity through our recruitment processes, staff training, policies & procedures, Board membership, and research programming. We believe that all people deserve an equal opportunity for employment, advancement, and fulfillment - regardless of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity & expression, national origin, disability, or veteran status. We are committed to expanding our definition for what diversity means, moving beyond the binaries, and setting new standards for ourselves and across sectors.
ICRW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or local law, where applicable. ICRW is an E-Verify Employer.
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