Position Summary: The Director leads global operations, HR, compliance and security efforts across Invisible Children’s (IC) areas of operation in central Africa (currently including DR Congo, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Sudan) in support of the organization’s mission. The Director serves as a link between country teams and the headquarters office in Washington, D.C.
Location: Home base with some field travel to central Africa (some degree of travel is REQUIRED)
Level of effort: Near full-time, with some full-time periods of work (when in the field, for example)
Duration: Starting August 2024 through end of June 2025, with a possible extension
Reports to: CEO
About Invisible Children: IC is a US-based nonprofit organization working to end violent conflict and foster thriving ecosystems in solidarity with our world’s most at-risk communities. In partnership with trusted local civil society organizations and communities across central Africa, we work to break cycles of violence through an integrated model that includes community protection, social cohesion, community-based trauma healing, conflict analysis, and advocacy initiatives.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
Leadership
- Lead by example and model the highest standards of integrity;
- Contribute to the development of IC’s strategic priorities and programs so that field operations and compliance considerations are appropriately built into plans, budgets and forecasts;
- Design, track, and effectively manage operational priorities and corresponding resources;
- Conduct field office level reviews and audits of conformity:
- Develop, execute, and monitor plans for key operations initiatives.
Operations
- Ensure IC’s field operations support the organization’s strategic priorities and staff;
- Review and propose revisions to IC policies and procedures;
- Oversee the successful implementation of key operations and administration functions;
- Oversee field-based procurement and some US procurements, as requested by the CEO;
- Contribute to proposal development to ensure compliance and adequate planning for operational needs.
Compliance
- Lead and support the implementation and refining of policies and procedures at the field level to ensure compliance;
- Maintain awareness of host country laws and regulations that affect IC and its programs;
- Build the capacity of field staff through mentorship and training.
Human Resources
- Provide guidance at the field level on standardized, principled, and compliant human resources policies;
- Oversee recruitment efforts for all field-based positions and some US-based positions as requested by the CEO;
- Advise field-based leadership on performance management, retention, employee relations, and succession planning activities;
- Support the handling of labor-law related matters with the help of the field base HR manager:
- Lead the development of top priority HR policy materials.
Safety and Security
- Review existing security policies / manuals, and propose suggested updates and additions;
- Ensure swift and thorough management of safeguarding incidents and reports;
- Arrange and/or conduct training for staff.
Profile
- FRENCH and ENGLISH language fluency required. Applications that fail to explicitly state in the CV at least advanced speaking and written command of both languages will not be considered;
- Willingness to travel to the field periodically, including to very remote field locations;
- Several years of senior operations experience at a regional or global level required;
- Several years of experience in conflict and post conflict contexts, preferably in sub-saharan Africa, preferably with director experience in one or more of the following countries: CAR, DRC, Sudan, South Sudan;
- Direct, recent experience with operations and compliance on USAID awards strongly preferred, preferably on non-BHA awards;
- Graduate degree in a relevant field strongly preferred;
- Advanced command of Word, Excel and confidence and skills with technology, including web-based collaboration platforms.
Compensation and benefits: Invisible Children provides a monetary and non-monetary compensation and benefits package that favorably compares to leading INGOs.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success, and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce, and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include (but are not limited to): socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or indigenous status.
Safeguarding: We define Safeguarding as “the preventative action taken by Invisible Children to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm”. We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Invisible Children are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process.
How to apply
Please submit only your CV (no additional materials) to [email protected]. Please include exactly and only “Operations Director – [YOUR NAME]” in the subject line. In your cover email: (a) indicate where you saw the job posting; (b) confirm spoken and written fluency in English and French; and (c) confirm that you are willing to travel to IC areas of operation periodically. Invisible Children will review applications on a rolling basis.