The Rift Valley Institute (RVI) is an independent, non-profit organization, founded in Sudan in 2001, currently working in seven countries in Eastern and Central Africa. The aim of the Institute is to advance useful knowledge of the region and its diverse communities, bringing a better understanding of local realities to bear on social and political action. The RVI works with institutions in the region to develop and implement long-term programmes that combine action-oriented research with education and public information.

Overview

The Head of Programmes is a newly created position that is intended to support the expansion of the Institute in Africa, enhance the quality of the Institute’s work, and ensure that its programmes are meaningful and professionally run to the benefit of communities in the countries where RVI operates. Working collaboratively with colleagues, the Head of Programmes will ensure the Institute is working to a common purpose across multiple countries, that its staff are supported to realize their professional potentials, and relationships are cultivated with RVI Fellows and like-minded research institutes.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Development: Play a leading role in the development of long-term organisational strategic plans that deliver the vision and mission of the Institute in a sustainable way, that have a meaningful and measurable positive impact, and advance the development of RVI as an African-based institute.

Programme Delivery: Lead, innovate and support the design and development of meaningful programmes that benefit the people of eastern and central Africa, support the achievement of RVI goals in local knowledge generation and application, and ensure strategic synergies, collaboration, coherence and adequate resources between country programmes. Oversee the development of systems for monitoring impact and learning.

Resource mobilisation: Oversee the expansion and diversification of RVI’s funding sources, by leading funding bids that fall within the goals of the Institute.

Publications and Communications: Provide quality control of RVI’s publications in collaboration with the Publications and Communications Manager.

Team leadership: Cultivate an enabling and empowering workplace environment and ensure RVI’s programme of work is delivered in a safe and secure manner.

Knowledge Management: Monitor political, social, humanitarian and security developments in East Africa and the Horn of Africa and ensure RVI has systems in place for documenting and archiving RVI’s projects, publications, and organisational history.

The Person

• We seek applications from candidates with the following values, qualifications, experience and skills.

Values

• Demonstrate a commitment to RVI’s values and ways of working, and that anunderstanding of local knowledge and local concerns enables equitable development and peaceful and open societies.

Requirements

Knowledge & Qualifications

• Hold a Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant social science discipline.
• A strategic thinker with proven ability to develop and implement long-term institutional plans.
• A track-record in research in countries of the Rift Valley region where RVI works and demonstrable experience of the operational challenges of working in fragile and insecure contexts.
• An understanding of climate change as a key risk to development, peace and security for communities in countries where RVI operates.
• A commitment to development that promotes social equity and inclusion.

Experience

• Extensive, progressive experience in senior, director level, leadership roles working with or within the international development sector.
• A track record in programme design and managing effective partnerships.
• A track record in social science research or education.
• A track record in the management and stewardship of human resources and creating an enabling environment for professional development.
• Experience in spearheading and developing organisational strategies and workplans.
• A track record in proposal writing and fundraising.
• Widely travelled with experience of working in eastern or central Africa.
• Proven commitment to a culture of learning and innovation.
• Experience in promoting public engagement in research, education and policy and building capacity and collaborative networks of researchers and research institutions.

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to lead strategic and operation planning processes and the implementation of long-term organisational plans.
• Ability to prioritise and manage a high workload and multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines.
• Ability to manage resources, both human and financial, sensitively and effectively.
• Good communications skills with ability to explain RVI’s work and strategy in public.
• Strong collaboration skills to work with staff and partners.
• Proficiency in a regional language highly desirable.
• A track record in resource mobilisation and an ability to nurture donor relations.