Regional Program Manager – Middle East, North Africa and Sahel (MENA & SAHEL)

BACKGROUND

The Programs Department is the central management and coordination function for program development, program delivery, and capacity development at IDLO. It is responsible for the implementation of IDLO’s global program portfolio for field and non-field locations in line with organizational strategy.

THE POSITION

Reporting to the Director of Programs, the Regional Program Manager Middle East, North Africa and Sahel (MENA & SAHEL) is responsible for leading the development and implementation of innovative and complex programs to deliver on IDLO overall strategy. The Regional Program Manager leads and supervises Program teams in HQ and Senior Managers in Regional and Country Offices. The successful candidate leads the development of regional and country strategies and ensures the development and delivery of IDLO’s programmatic portfolio in the assigned regions. The Regional Program Manager engages in resource mobilization, supports IDLO’s policy research and represents IDLO with governmental and other national counterparts, donors, bilateral and multilateral partners, civil society organizations, and thinks-tanks.

In particular, the Regional Program Manager MENA & SAHEL will be expected to:

1. Ensure the alignment of regional and country strategies with IDLO’s global strategy:

• Lead and oversee the development of regional and country strategies, oversee their implementation, and ensure the accountability of Regional and Country Offices for key performance indicators and alignment with organizational strategy.

2. Ensure overall program management and oversight:

• Manage the IDLO program portfolio for MENA & SAHEL, including providing substantive and managerial guidance to country and regional managers, program personnel, and technical experts, ensuring HQ backstopping and undertaking periodic field visits;
• Exercise financial and budgetary oversight over programs in the assigned regions;
• Maintain an overview of IDLO programs and ensure that progress, results, and key achievements are monitored, captured, and shared with management and donors, both orally and through regular reports;
• Oversee the design of implementation plans by means of program cycle management tools, logic models and frameworks, work plans, monitoring reports, and others;
• Identify and report on issues relating to program implementation and oversee the development and implementation of innovative solutions;
• Ensure compliance with IDLO’s policies, business processes, procedures, and contractual obligations in relation to program management and implementation;
• Establish and maintain regular communications with program partners and stakeholders at the HQ and field level;
• Foster effective communication and coordination with relevant IDLO HQ Departments, Branch Offices, and Country Offices.

3. Lead program teams and ensure effective, efficient, results-focused, and timely delivery of activities:

• Effectively lead regional program teams by providing clear direction, ensuring performance management, and addressing professional development through ongoing dialogue and mentoring; foster a teamwork approach and address possible conflicts in a positive and constructive manner; encourage initiative and maintain effective working relationships within a multi-cultural setting;
• Supervise and manage international and national technical experts and ensure that the work delivered meets quality standards;
• Develop staffing plans and engage in the recruitment and selection of employees and consultants; 
• Oversee the monitoring of contracts and provide recommendations on amendments and changes to contracts.

4. Contribute to policy research on regional issues:

• In collaboration with concerned IDLO departments, design, research, draft, review and edit working papers, memos, briefs, and other original materials on justice, security, and related developmental issues in the assigned regions;
• Ensure timely and accurate analysis of political, social, and economic events, trends, and/or developments in the assigned regions and respond to internal and external requests.

5. Lead program development and engage in resource mobilization:

• Under the guidance of the Director of Programs and in collaboration with other IDLO Departments, generate ideas and identify opportunities for programmatic growth and engage in resource mobilization;
• In collaboration with concerned IDLO departments, lead the design and drafting of program and project proposals, working papers, MoUs, and other strategy and programmatic documents for the assigned regions;
• Advance new donor and stakeholder partnerships and manage relations with external stakeholders and donors to maintain or enhance existing relationships to the benefit of IDLO.

6. Representation:

• Represent IDLO with bilateral and multilateral donors and partners, host-country officials (government, parliament, judiciary), technical experts, civil society, and think tanks, ensuring that programmatic achievements are shared to position IDLO as a partner in the work of development in the area of rule of law.

IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

Education and Experience

• Master’s Degree in International Relations, Political Science, Law, International Development, Public Administration, Area Studies (Africa or the Middle East), or a related field is required.
• Minimum of 10 years of significant and relevant professional experience within an international organization, NGO, or government, designing and implementing complex/innovative programs.
• Significant regional experience in the Middle East, North Africa, and/or the Sahel region.
• Proven experience in the development and implementation of rule of law, justice sector reform, security sector reform, access to justice, or gender justice programs.

Languages

• Fluency in English, French, and Arabic is required. 
• Specific knowledge, skills, and behavioral competencies
• Familiarity with standard program and data management tools, as well as results-based management and monitoring and evaluation approaches and tools;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Proficient use of other ICT applications;
• Proven experience in engaging with national/local authorities and multi-lateral organizations in the assigned regions;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and experience working in a diverse professional environment. Shares information and contributes encourages and motivates others to become involved in team activities. Provides constructive feedback and willingly helps others. Contributes to a professional environment that fosters collaboration and cooperation. Works effectively across and within IDLO organizational boundaries;
• Acts as a role model and offers guidance to colleagues. Takes initiative to share knowledge, experiences, and information with others. Accepts and gives constructive feedback (up, down, and across) to develop and motivate others;
• Proven ability to see through tasks set and deliver results;
• Ability to work under pressure with tight deadlines, flexibility, and an entrepreneurial spirit;
• Ability and willingness to travel, if necessary;
• Keen sense of ethics, integrity, and commitment to IDLO’s mandate;
• Self-motivated and dynamic with a willingness and ability to use initiative to assist the organization to achieve its objectives.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

For this internationally recruited position, IDLO will offer the selected candidate a Professional Fixed-Term Contract of 24 months, with the possibility of extension subject to performance and availability of funding, at an annual basic salary of EUR € 80,000, a leave and benefits package, including home leave, provident fund, and health insurance in accordance with IDLO Employee Regulations and Rules. Relocation, installation, expatriate, and educational allowances are also available for internationally recruited employees in accordance with IDLO Employee Regulations and Rules. 

Salaries paid by IDLO to employees are exempt from taxation in Italy. IDLO employees are responsible for compliance with the income tax laws of their country of nationality or residence and/or any other relevant fiscal jurisdiction.

DISCLAIMER AND CLOSING DATE

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the employee assigned to this work. This is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities.

The Director-General of IDLO reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities or even to cancel the recruitment to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

The application deadline is: 6 November 2020 (23:59hrs Rome time)

In the interest of making the most effective use of resources, only the short-listed candidates will be contacted during the selection process.