Democratic Republic of the Congo: Country Manager, Fluent in English and French

Life & Peace Instituteis seeking a Country Manager for its DRC programme

Location:Bukavu, DR Congo

Starting date:October 2015

Duration:One year, with possible extension

Closing date for applications: 15 August 2015

Job reference: “CM15”

The Life & Peace Institute (LPI) is an international and ecumenical centre, based in Uppsala, Sweden, that supports and promotes nonviolent approaches to conflict transformation through a combination of research and action that entail the strengthening of existing local capacities and enhancing preconditions for building peace. Through our field offices we work with local partners in Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

LPI is seeking a Country Manager for its DRC programme, to be based in Bukavu, who will act as Deputy for the Resident Representative, who is based in Bujumbura. As Country Manager you would lead a dynamic and highly motivated inter-cultural team in the implementation of an innovative long-term peacebuilding programme in the North and South Kivu provinces. For more information about LPI’s work in DRC, please visit LPI’s website.

Relations within the organization

• The Country Manager will act as Deputy Resident Representative under the supervision of the Resident Representative, DRC programme.
• The Country Manager will report to the Resident Representative.
• The Country Manager will supervise staff in the DRC programme, as delegated by the Resident Representative.
• He/she will also work in close cooperation with the Programme Director, the Programme Advisor supporting the programme at LPI’s head office, as well as other head office staff as required.

Primary tasks and responsibilities

In agreement with the Resident Representative, the Country Manager will share the following responsibilities:

· Ensuring the effective functioning of the LPI office in Bukavu, as well as of its sub-offices in DRC, and ensuring the respect of Congolese law, internal HR procedures as well as security and safety Standard Operating Procedures and contingency plans.

· Ensuring the administrative management of the programme.

· Ensuring the financial management of the programme

· Communicating LPI’s programme and objectives to external stakeholders, including donors, academics, practitioners and other target groups.

· Writing of fundraising proposals and reports.

• Coordinating the implementation of LPI’s conflict transformation programme in DRC, in its three strategic priorities. Her/his main tasks will consist of *making sure that the following elements are an integral part*of the implementation of the programme:

o Nurturing existing partner relationships and overseeing engagement and disengagement processes with partners.

o Accompanying staff and partners in doing analysis of the deep roots of the conflict in DRC, mostly through the approach of Participatory Action Research

o Assessing the situation in country and permanently searching for adequate (desirable and realistic) responses to the situation

o Engaging policy makers in developing alternative policy options to promote sustainable conflict transformation.

o Monitoring and evaluation of the programme.

o Sharing LPI’s knowledge and experience in conflict transformation within LPI and with partners, peacebuilding scholars and practitioners.

o Promoting coordination with and between local and international actors active in similar or complementary fields.

· Undertaking other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications

· Minimum masters degree in peacebuilding, conflict management, business administration, social science, or other relevant field

· At least 5 years experience in project management from peace or development work

· At least 5 years professional experience in Sub-Saharan Africa

· At least 2 years experience in managing staff in inter-cultural settings

· Documented strong leadership skills

· Good communication skills

· Good administrative capacity, computer literacy

· Financial management and fundraising experience

· Excellent report writing skills

· Experience in security and safety management

· Fluency in written and spoken English and French

• Strong interpersonal skills, flexibility and ability to work as part of a team and under stress.
• Experience of working in an inter-cultural setting.
• Willingness and ability to travel, sometimes with short notice, and sometimes to conflict zones.

We expect the applicants to share the vision and values of LPI.

Location

This expatriate position is based in Bukavu, DRC, and involves extensive in-country travel and occasional international travel. This is a non-accompanied post, for reasons of security.

Application process:Interested candidates should submit a motivation letter and CV to applications@life-peace.org until 15 August 2015. Please indicate job reference “CM15” in the subject line. Applications are only accepted via e-mail. Only short-listed candidates will be notified.