Regional Director, Africa

At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better tomorrow. A nonprofit international development organization founded in 1971, Pact works on the ground in nearly 40 countries to improve the lives of those who are challenged by poverty and marginalization. We serve these communities because we envision a world where everyone owns their future. To do this, we build systemic solutions in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and governments that create sustainable and resilient communities where those we serve are heard, capable, and vibrant. Pact is a recognized global leader in international development. Our staff have a range of expertise in areas including public health, capacity development, governance and civil society, natural resource management, poverty, fragile states, monitoring and evaluation, small-scale and artisanal mining, microfinance and more. This expertise is combined in Pact’s unique integrated approach, which focuses on systemic changes needed to improve people’s lives.

Department

Program Advancement (PADV) - Pact exists to help create a world where those who are poor and marginalized exercise their voice, build their own solutions, and take ownership of their future. The (Integrated) Program Advancement team contributes to this by: Delivering on our promise to global quality and impact via integrated programs; Growing & diversifying our global portfolio integrating the private, public and social sectors; Promoting our work globally to influence the private, public and social sectors.

Position Overview

The Regional Director for Africa (RD) oversees all activities within the Africa region. Working closest with the Program Operations and Impact Area units, the RD prioritizes the management of assigned Deputy Regional Directors (DRD), Country Directors (CDs) and Country Managers (CM), and with support of Program Operations teams to ensure accountability to organizational targets, work plans, business plans, country and regional strategies. The RD ensures that Pact’s activities are implemented on-time, on budget, with high-quality products and services, and to the full satisfaction of the sponsoring organization, and that all programs are in alignment with Pact mission, vision, policies and guidelines. The RD works with staff and partners in the region and Pact DC to identify new business opportunities that are consistent with Pact’s strategic priorities, promote thought leadership and be a champion for a regional portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

Regional Portfolio Management

• Lead regional strategy development, ensuring alignment with Pact’s organizational priorities, trends in the region and current and future programming considerations.
• Support Country Directors in development of individual country office strategy.
• Oversee and support the operationalization of regional and country office strategies.
• Ensure that programming and business development activities align with country and regional strategies and advocate for organizational resources in support of these strategies.

Business Development

• Support the engagement of country office leadership with current and new donors in coordination with business development plans.
• In coordination with Pact’s Public and Private Sector VPs, develop and strengthen new and existing relationships with public and private sector donors and work to position Pact as a partner of choice.
• Represent Pact at regional and global fora to influence policies and strategies relevant to Pact services.
• Assess and keep abreast of the emerging trends in international development and business intel on opportunities.
• Actively participate in prioritized bids including: ensuring Pact’s corporate capabilities align with a bid opportunity; participating in design meetings to provide meta-level strategic inputs; assist in identifying and cultivating strategic partnerships; provide meta-level support to management and workplans; and in certain circumstances, serve as the Champion for a strategic opportunity.
• Promote Pact’s work with donors, partners and other stakeholders.
• Represent regional and global perspectives in Pact leadership and contribute to global human resource recruitment and policy development.
• Advocate for organizational resources to pursue opportunities in the region.

Thought Leadership and External Relations

• Foster and maintain relationships with donors, implementing partners and other key stakeholders.
• Represent Pact’s regional portfolio and thought leadership with current and prospective donors, professional networks and other key stakeholders.
• Promote interregional and global learning through the support of thought leadership through regional exchanges and peer learning.

Personnel Management

• Supervise, mentor and support the professional development of country directors and country managers. Mentor and support the professional development of Project Operations staff.
• By empowering staff and leading by example, promote a culture of inclusion, learning, support, diversity and innovation.
• Promote Pact’s culture and values of respect, inclusion and integrity across country offices

Program Management

• Delivering a range of management, technical, and operational support to empower and enable program managers to achieve time, scope and budget objectives.
• In close coordination with Program Operations and Impact Area staff, support project leads (i.e., Project Directors, Chiefs of Party) of large and/or complex projects and programs to address operational, programmatic and technical challenges.
• Maintain ongoing communication and close collaboration with donors to ensure strong relationships during implementation.

Country Office Operations

• Support Program Operations staff in opening and closing of country offices,
• Support Country Directors in troubleshooting human resources issues, legal issues and other operational challenges.
• Support Program Operations, Impact Area staff and CDs to identify and mitigate operational, financial, legal, programmatic and other risks.
• Review and concur with internal annual budgeting and quarterly reforecasting exercises, present to Pact leadership on Country Office and regional financial health.
• Support Program Operations to troubleshoot budget issues, including burn rates.

Basic Requirements

• Typically has an advanced degree or commensurate experience.
• At least 13 years' experience with a Bachelor's degree or 11+ years with a Master's degree
• Recognized leader in the community
• Exceptional leadership, management and supervisory skills with 8+ years managing professional staff and teams
• Extensive knowledge of the international development field, including the public and private sectors, with specific skills/knowledge in specialty area
• Proven ability to mobilize and manage financial resources
• Ability to lead and oversee the development, implementation, and compliance of functional best practices, policies and procedures, and knowledge exchange

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant field
• Experience in a similar role within the international development sector
• Experience in creating and leveraging private sector partnership and resources to move beyond corporate social responsibility
• Ability to leverage external relationships into new partnerships
• Demonstrated leadership in Africa or regional offices
• Demonstrated leadership as a team leader of major donor project and staff
• Demonstrated ability to develop and lead complex field-based contracts and projects
• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Demonstrated capability in strategic visioning, planning and agency representation
• Experience working with a variety of international donor organizations
• Proficiency in at least one other regionally relevant language

Pact is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, citizenship status, genetic information, matriculation, family responsibilities, personal appearance, credit information, tobacco use (except in the workplace), membership in an employee organization, or other protected classifications or non-merit factors.

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