GENERAL:

Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in the United States and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources. By linking local individuals and communities with new ideas and technology, Winrock is increasing long-term productivity, equity, and responsible resource management to benefit the poor and disadvantaged of the world.

Description     

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

•   Project Director, Project to Mobilize Community Action and Youth Employment (MOCA-Youth Project) in Ghana’s Cocoa Growing Communities

•   Effective with the release of this position announcement, Winrock International is recruiting applicants for the position of Project Director for the upcoming project to Mobilize Community Action and Youth Employment (MOCA-Youth Project) in Ghana’s Cocoa Growing Communities. The proposed objective of the project is to reduce exploitative child labor in the cocoa growing areas of Ghana. The project will assist cocoa growing communities to design and implement Community Action Plans (CAPs) to address exploitative child labor and will provide livelihood services to households.

•   The responsibilities, duties, and qualifications are described in the attached position description. Position is contingent upon receipt of donor funding.

EEOE/AA.

POSITION TITLE:  Project Director, Project to Mobilize Community Action and Youth Employment (MOCA-Youth Project) in Ghana’s Cocoa Growing Communities
LOCATION: Ghana
DEPARTMENT: Civil Society & Education
REPORTS TO: Unit Director or designee

Position Summary:

The Project Director will be responsible for implementing a high-quality, results-oriented program to help reduce exploitative child labor in the cocoa growing areas of Ghana; help communities design and implement Community Action Plans (CAP); strengthen youth employment opportunities; enhance livelihoods; promote education; increase awareness; and promote policy reform in Ghana. Position is contingent upon receipt of donor funding.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Project Director is responsible for overall project management, supervision, administration, and implementation of a high-quality program. S/he will establish and maintain systems for project operations; ensure that all cooperative agreement deadlines are met and targets are achieved; coordinate and maintain working relationships with project stakeholders (including government and private industry stakeholders, subgrantees and/or subcontractors); lead collaborative initiatives with private companies; and oversee the preparation and submission of technical and financial reports to USDOL.

•   Manage the project to Mobilize Community Action and Youth Employment (MOCA-Youth Project) in Ghana’s Cocoa Growing Communities with responsibilities to include: (a) developing and overseeing the program’s annual planning and timely, high quality implementation of activities and deliverables; (b) overseeing monitoring and evaluation of project implementation and deliverables;
•   Oversee program budget and ensure that all financial activity is carried out in accordance with annual budget allocations, Winrock policy, and donor guidelines;
•   With support from field and home office staff, prepare and submit timely and accurate program, financial, and procurement reports to donor and Winrock;
•   Maintain close communication with donor, reporting regularly for formal review sessions and providing ongoing, informal updates of program progress;
•   Provide technical assistance, support, and oversight to local partner NGOs;
•   Provide technical assistance, support, and information to national and local government officials;
•   Develop relationships with the private sector in order to establish public-private partnerships to increase public awareness of mobile community action and youth employment for target population;
•   Develop strategies for working with private sector companies, labor unions, and other civil society actors, as appropriate on policies aimed at strengthening community action plans and youth employment;
•   Hire and supervise local project staff and annually evaluate their performance;
•   Represent the project and Winrock to donors, local and national government entities, the media, local NGOs, and the local business community;
•   Other duties as assigned.

Qualification Required & Experience

•   Successful candidates will have strong management skills as well as salient experience implementing programs to reduce exploitative child labor and to promote youth employment, preferably in Ghana/Western Africa. Specific experience and specialization in at least two or more of the following is required: child labor reduction, community mobilization, community development, workforce development, youth employment, education quality/access, livelihoods enhancement, safe work for youth, job skills and entrepreneurship training, legal reform and policy advocacy, protection referral mechanisms, public education/awareness (including work with the media), public-private partnerships, and/or monitoring & evaluation (of youth workforce development programs). Significant project management experience and leadership is highly desired.

•   Education: Bachelor’s level degree required, in international development, management, social science, human rights, education, economic development, law, public policy, or other related field of study. Master’s degree strongly preferred.
•   Certification, training, or experience in child labor reduction, workforce development, youth issues, gender issues, labor migration, organizational development, or policy advocacy would be an asset.

Technical

•   Applicants must have a minimum of 5 years of demonstrated leadership experience working on child protection and youth programs. Experience in Ghana strongly preferred.

Management

Experience:

•   Experience managing to the highest ethical standards international projects
•   Demonstrated leadership and administrative skills in the management of complex, multi-activity programming, on time and on budget.
•   At least 10 years of experience managing or supporting donor-funded programs (preferably US Government) valued at $4 million or more.
•   Financial management, budget design, and budget management experience.
•   Demonstrated success in motivating and supervising diverse teams of employees.
•   Experience in strategic planning and implementation of strategic plans.
•   Experience designing and implementing or overseeing monitoring & evaluation systems.
•   Experience with public-private partnership building, working with labor unions and workers groups, specifically in the cocoa-growing sector
•   Good track record working with and/or partnering with a variety of individuals and organizations, including senior US and host country government officials, international agencies, private sector companies, and donor organizations.

Skills / Knowledge:      

•   Knowledge or understanding of social, economic, and political context governing child labor, community mobilization and youth employment issues in developing countries.
•   Experience with public-private partnership building, working with labor unions and workers groups.
•   Experience working with local and international private firms to address child labor, community mobilization and youth employment in supply chains.
•   Fluency in English is required.
•   Knowledge of US Government regulations, policies, and procedures or those of an equivalently complex international government funding organization.
•   Demonstrated effective interpersonal skills, creative problem solving, conflict, and ethical management skills.
•   Excellent written and oral communication skills.
•   Computer literate in word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software (Microsoft).

SALARY:

The annual salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Excellent benefits.

Location: Ghana

How To Apply For The Job

Candidates with experience in the area above mentioned should submit a CV and cover letter to:-

moca.winrock@gmail.com

Closing Date: 15 July, 2015