MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Technical direction and program implementation:

• Conduct detailed and ongoing assessment of the EMB’s organizational capacity and establish a technical assistance plan.
• Advise on the general implementation of electoral activities, providing support to improve electoral systems and procedures.
• Develop and provide advice on training programs on relevant revisions to the electoral laws and regulations.
• Develop an electoral agent training program, including training materials and guidebooks.
• Facilitate roundtable discussions with EMBs, international stakeholders and other relevant bodies on electoral framework and implementation issues as required.
• Liaise with other election assistance implementers, and the donor and diplomatic community to coordinate activities and maximize the impact of collective technical assistance efforts.
• Develop and maintain constructive working relationships with national counterparts, national and international assistance providers, and democracy and governance organizations and strategic partners.
• Evaluate strategies and activities on an ongoing basis to ensure maximum impact, proactively identifying appropriate next steps.
• Draft activity reports, collect monitoring and evaluation data, and participate in the drafting of quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports.
• Provide on-site and/or remote technical and/or management assistance to other country programs in the Africa Division as needed and requested.
• Other tasks as required.

POSITION SCOPE:  Provides broad technical and organizational development expertise to assure successful achievement of goals and objectives.  Monitors and evaluates interim results and develops contingency plans if objectives are off track.  Demonstrates mastery of electoral administration, with comprehensive knowledge of professional best practices.  Uses global/ industry outlook to determine impact on IFES’ strategy.  Applies thought leadership and innovations to work approaches.

DECISION MAKING/PROBLEM SOLVING:   Identify risk factors with potential to disrupt achievement of operational goals.  Consult with internal and external stakeholders to identify, propose and build consensus around best solutions.  Complex decision-making subject to management review.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:   Provides oversight and management of host country national staff, consultants and field experts, as assigned or delegated by the Country Director or when Country Director is not at post, in order to complete the project’s workplan.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Education:  A bachelor’s degree required (graduate degree preferred) in a field of study such as political sciences, social sciences, law, development economics, international development, public/business administration, or governance or another relevant field.

Experience: 

• At least 10 years of relevant work experience managing election-related programs, including managing donor-funded elections-related awards, and/or providing technical assistance on electoral administration, systems, and processes in developing countries
• Extensive experience in election systems and administration, with specific experience in electoral training and capacity-building of EMBs.
• On-site and medium/long-term capacity-building of election administration staff.
• Experience providing technical assistance to elections-related civil society organizations.
• Demonstrated initiative and problem-solving skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong professional and collaborative management skills.
• Extensive experience with implementing electoral cycle projects in post-conflict settings.
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective training materials.
• BRIDGE certification required.

Related Skills or Knowledge:  Prior experience working in an international office in a politically sensitive and challenging environment. Strong professional and collaborative skills when working with a team.  Ability and skills to promote and inspire effective collaboration between individuals, organizations and networks, demonstrating strong diplomacy skills and cultural and gender sensitivities. Strong consultative, collaborative and participatory way of working. Strong interpersonal, presentation, and communications skills to meet the diverse technical and managerial requirements of the program and to effectively coordinate with a wide range of stakeholders. Experience living and working in Central and/or West Africa strongly preferred. Knowledge of DRC’s/regional politics and development preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:  Fluency in written and spoken French required, fluency in English preferred.

TRAVEL:  As need arises to support projects in and outside of the DRC.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Standard office work environment.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.