Job Opportunity: Landesa Africa Regional Director

 The Africa Region Director (ARD), Africa provides leadership for all of Landesa’s work in Africa and is part of a broader team developing and overseeing Landesa’s work globally. The ARD provides technical and managerial leadership, direction, and coordination of program staff to ensure the effective achievement of Landesa’s regional program objectives. While the primary responsibility is for program management, the ARD is also expected to engage directly in technical work including proposal drafting, project design, and undertaking specific project activities that may include: engagement with local civil society and government partners, field-based research, report writing, etc. (the time allocation is estimated to be 50% managerial and 50% technical work). The ARD will be responsible, directly and indirectly, for initiating, fostering, and enhancing key relationships with government, program, and donor partners, including civil society, and for ensuring the overall quality of the team’s work products.

The ARD should understand and actively support Landesa’s mission, strategic objectives, and program/project objectives and be able to create an effective, supportive, and collaborative work culture. In consultation with the Program staff and with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), the ARD will develop program strategy and objectives and ensure adequate progress toward the achievement of these and oversee all projects within the program. The ARD will ensure timely flow of information to the Chief Program Officer (CPO) and other members of the ELT, Landesa staff, and external partners/parties/donors when required and/or as appropriate, regarding the activities, strategies, opportunities, critical issues, risks and other relevant information about the Program and its projects; and represent the regional programs for Landesa in a variety of forums and to a variety of audiences. Working closely with the Research, Evaluation and Learning Team lead and staff, the ARD will foster a learning environment by developing robust Theories of Change, addressing project-level monitoring and evaluation needs, and identifying and executing on cross-program, cross-geographical and technical learning opportunities throughout the organization.

Reporting and relationships: The Africa Region Director reports to the Chief Program Officer.

Availability: The Africa Region Director will be expected to work a standard work week of 40 hours plus additional hours as necessary to get the job done. The position will require international and domestic travel. 

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide leadership across all of Landesa’s work in Africa, including on program strategies, the opening and closing of offices, the initiation of new work, staffing, managing and fundraising.
• Work closely with the Executive Leadership Team and other Regional Directors to support broader Landesa strategies and institutional development around the world.
• Develop and manage Regional budgets with relevant members of the Program Operations group and with Regional Program team members, including identifying underlying LOE projections; manage the approved budget (revenues, expenses and reporting) and ensure decisions related to budget adjustments are done in a transparent manner in line with Landesa protocols.
• Manage staff assigned to the Regional Program, including supervisory responsibilities, performance planning and evaluation and mentoring; manage ‘dotted-line’ relationships with persons who are not assigned in a supervisory relationship but who are on the Regional Program team for one or more activities.  Project future staffing needs and work with the CPO and HR to develop staffing plans to meet these needs.
• Collaborate with the ELT, CPO and other PD’s to ensure consistency in procedures/practices and project/program communication consistent with guidance found within the PLC process and other guidance documents, clarity notes and protocols currently in force;
• Within each project, ensure that basic project elements have been addressed and reviewed such as statements of work, work plans, budgets, reports, etc. This role is one of oversight as the expectation for each project manager is that she/he will manage to ensure high-quality and timely delivery of key project requirements. It is expected that the PD will hold regular check-ins with PLs to review progress against goals, support project team capacity building and help address project team concerns/challenges.
• Identify and pursue new funding opportunities in collaboration with the Resource Development Team, the Senior Business Development lead for Public Sector opportunities and, if appropriate, with the Corporate Engagement team.
• Support the Project Lifecycle Process.  Ensure that each project’s budget and staffing requirements have been addressed in proper consultation with relevant managers, that other program directors and stakeholders are consulted and that appropriate organizational, program and individual objectives have been adequately addressed.
• Ensure adequate communication within and about the Program(s) of responsibility:
  • Convey information from the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to regional program staff and communicate program information to the ELT as requested to ensure that organizational priorities and strategies are broadly understood and to ensure expectations for staff and the ELT are clearly articulated;
  • Inform the CPO and other appropriate ELT members of risks or sensitivities as they arise within the Regional Program;
  • Discuss with the CPO, other PDs and with project staff opportunities to deploy team members across projects (cross-team engagement) to build capacity, provide new learning opportunities and strengthen programming;
  • Ensure that reporting requirements (internal to Landesa and  external) are completed on time, with appropriate quality based on input and review by others at Landesa and working in coordination the CPO, and staff from Development, Public Sector and Corporate Engagement teams as required. 
  • Set a sound program culture that exemplifies Landesa’s values;
  • Lead by example and help increase the production, improve the quality and facilitate the sharing of materials with the Communications team to expand Landesa’s external communications work.
• Working with appropriate staff, periodically review and reassess Regional Program progress, challenges and risks based on learnings and changes to both external and internal environment, and report findings and recommendations to CPO through the established Program Review process.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• A deep commitment to the mission of a better world for the world’s poorest people through equitable land ownership and secure land rights.
• A demonstrated understanding of the political, legal/regulatory and social environment in the region, including historical and current trends associated with land governance.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a range of staff and people at all levels, including staff based outside the US, those from host country governmental and non-governmental organizations, and other counterparts, clients, donors, and grantors. Ability to demonstrate cross-cultural sensitivity, respect, tact, and poise. Ability to work collaboratively with teams regardless of role within team and to proactively seek ways to contribute to team success. 
• Exceptional ability to communicate in writing and orally in English; the ability to work in French or a locally relevant language desirable.
• Proficient using Microsoft Suite of products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other software such as Salesforce or Adaptive.
• Commitment to Landesa’s core values

Education and Experience:

• A graduate or professional degree in agricultural economics, economics, sociology, geography, anthropology or law is required.
• A minimum of 12 years of related experience managing international development programs that included significant emphasis on land governance issues such as:  a range of law and issues (including women’s land rights, youth and land, land and food security, land and climate change, land and conflict, etc.), land administration, ownership, registration, use, mapping, management and dispute resolution the relevant geographies, strong leadership and supervisory skills, working knowledge of project and program budgeting, human resource management and experience managing internal and external senior level relationships in an international context.
• Direct staff supervision experience is required.
• Extensive field experience in the relevant geographies and prior work experience with USAID, DFID, the World Bank or other multi/bi-lateral donor is highly desired.

Authorization to work in Africa is required. Equal employment opportunity has been, and will continue to be, a fundamental principle at Landesa. Landesa is committed to a work environment in which relationships are characterized by dignity, courtesy, and respect. We are committed to nondiscrimination in all of our business operations.

Physical and Environmental Conditions: Work is primarily performed indoors with some potential for exposure to safety and health hazards related to computer work. This position does not require unusual demands for physical effort.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of places such as offices, meeting or training rooms, residences, or commercial vehicles; e.g., use of safe work place practices with office equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls, and observance of fire regulations and traffic signals.

Work Environment and Working Conditions for Travelers to Developing Countries: While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to working conditions and hazards which are prevalent for the location and/or country of assignment.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  Work is primarily performed indoors with some potential for exposure to safety and health hazards related to electronics work.  The employee may be required to travel overseas and domestically.  When traveling overseas in a developing country, the employee may be exposed to:  Physical Hazards (illnesses, noise, extreme temperatures, wet or humid climates, etc.) Road Hazards (unfinished/dirt roads, potholes, traffic-related accidents, etc.), and Atmospheric Conditions (odors, dust, fumes, smog, etc.). 

Additional Comments:  The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made in appropriate circumstances to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.