Director of Local Partner Capacity Strengthening

Pact seeks an enthusiastic, experienced leader to manage the capacity strengthening (CS) of local partners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Central Africa Regional Mission countries. This will include a focus on increasing capacity to apply, receive, and better manage USAID-supported direct awards. This position will report to the Chief of Party/Project Director and serve as a member of the leadership team on the anticipated USAID-funded DRC Localization Capacity Strengthening Support Mechanism, guiding the project’s strategy for working with a range of Congolese and regional mission partners, overseeing a team of professionals delivering capacity strengthening support, and helping ensure alignment between the project’s parallel work to strengthen USAID’s own capacity to partner with local organizations.

Please note that this position is contingent upon award of funding and that the exact position title, requirements, and responsibilities may change if dictated by USAID.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of the project’s overall CS strategy to strengthen the technical and organizational capacity of existing and potential new USAID/DRC and regional mission partner organizations, while maintaining performance and quality of local partner transition efforts.
• Ensure strong coordination of multiple project locations, staff and technical teams, to develop, modify and monitor programming elements.
• Drive and monitor implementation of CS activities by mentoring technical teams, ensuring adherence to targets, timelines, budget management, and achievement of objectives.
• Partner and network with government, civil society organizations and private sector to develop platforms for resource sharing, cross learning and innovations that yield sustainable CS results.
• Lead the technical and contextual adaptation of Pact’s CS tools and approaches to support achievement of program objectives and targets.
• Lead the development and realization of local organizations’ resource mobilization and sustainability strategies, including technical assistance for transitioning to direct USAID funding.
• Support knowledge management, linkages, and exchange of learnings and best practices across program activities and project teams, as well as with other actors in the capacity strengthening and local partner transitioning space.
• Coordinate closely with the Chief of Party and other project leaders to ensure that CS interventions are in line with program budget and outcomes.
• Lead a team of up to 4 capacity strengthening advisors who will support specific technical CS areas for the project
• Contribute to project planning (i.e., development of work plans and operating budget) and work closely with the Chief of Party to collaborate with and report to USAID.
• Provide innovative solutions to granting needs, especially concerning local partners on the cusp of receiving direct USAID funding for the first time and those already implementing USAID-funded projects that need support increasing their absorption capacity.

Basic Requirements

• Master’s degree and 9+ years relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience, including 5 years of management experience or Bachelor’s and 11 years of experience including 5 years of management experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience working in the DRC.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with governments and civil society partners.
• Excellent facilitation and training skills in a variety of organizational development topics.Direct experience with transition awards and/or successfully graduating indigenous partners to direct donor funding.
• Demonstrated track record of successfully building and effectively managing diverse teams of employees.
• Demonstrated experience developing organizational capacity in financial and grant management, human resources, USG compliance, and related topics, with partners at various stages of organizational development.
• Fluency in English and French.

Pact is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, citizenship status, genetic information, matriculation, family responsibilities, personal appearance, credit information, tobacco use (except in the workplace), membership in an employee organization, or other protected classifications or non-merit factors.
At Pact, we recognize your impact, offer you opportunities and support your total well-being. Our comprehensive benefit offerings may include healthcare, retirement (8.8% to 13% based on service tenure) and savings plans, paid time off, disability and life insurance programs, learning and development opportunities, wellness programs as well as other optional benefit elections .
With the continuing impacts of COVID-19 around the world, we are taking action to protect the health and well-being of our colleagues and maintain the safety of the communities where we operate. Pact seeks an environment free from COVID-19 and prefers all employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Attestation of vaccination status will be required for employment with Pact. Unvaccinated employees may be subject to additional health and safety requirements to include any federal, state and/or client restrictions.