Ethiopia Country Manager

Job Description

 Position: Ethiopia Country Manager

Reports to: Team Leader, Africa Programmes

Supervises: Approximately 3 to 6 programme team members

Contract duration: 2 years, with probation, and possibility of extension

Location: Addis Ababa, with travel in Ethiopia and globally.

The Life & Peace Institute (LPI) is an international centre that supports and promotes nonviolent approaches to conflict transformation through a combination of research and action that entails the strengthening of existing local capacities and enhancing the preconditions for building peace. LPI’s Horn of Africa Regional Office in Addis Ababa is looking for Ethiopia Country Manager.

Job Summary

The Ethiopia Country Manager provides overall leadership and management of LPI’s Ethiopia Programme strategy and team; guides and oversees the effective and cost-efficient implementation of ongoing programmes and projects; keeps the Team Leader – Africa Programmes, Director of Programmes and Head of Office well informed of programme developments and priorities; pursues new funding and partnership opportunities in line with the programme strategy and LPI’s Strategic Plan. S/he represents LPI with the government, authorities and diplomatic missions in Ethiopia on bilateral issues and the wider region, as well as with communities, civil society and academia. In addition, other key priorities are: strengthening staff and partner organisation capacities, ownership of programmes, as well as ensuring quality programming.

Key Responsibilities[1]

Leadership and Programme Management

• Provides leadership, guidance and technical support in the ongoing development and implementation of LPI’s Strategic Plan and programme strategy and plans for LPI’s Ethiopia Programme.
• Ensures the compliance of all legal registration required for operating in Ethiopia including renewals of all permits as needed.
• Leads, manages and oversees the operation of all financial, administrative and programming activities related to the Ethiopia Programme.
• Oversees ongoing programme/projects with an emphasis on improving partnerships and programme quality. In particular, ensures timely progress against schedules, achievement of outcomes and deliverables and quality of results, including managing programme deadlines, drafting and reviewing of programme reports.
• Supports and guides the development of new strategic programme areas.
• Develops existing and new donor and government relationships through exposure of these stakeholders to quality LPI programming.
• Maintains a solid and up-to-date understanding of the peace and conflict dynamics in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa Region and proactively manages changes in programme’s and projects’ scope; identifies potential crises and devises risk mitigation and contingency plans.

Effective Resource Management

• Oversees development and management of the Ethiopia Programme budgets. Budget holder for Ethiopia Programme.
• § Oversees audit processes and effective implementation of all findings and recommendations.
• Coordinates with the Finance & Administration team, Director of Programmes and Head of Office to strengthen LPI's and partner organisations’ accounting and internal financial procedures and reporting.
• Ensures compliance with LPI and donor administrative & financial regulations and Ethiopian law.

Human Resources Management

•  Inspires and supervises, directly and indirectly, programme staff (including remote management), coaching and professional development, performance management and reviews, identification and mentoring of staff for succession planning.
• Oversees hiring and training of new programme staff, including orientation to LPI values, policies, programming and partnership approaches and strategies.
• Coaches and mentors new management staff, including the development of plans for personal and professional development.
• Ensures that human resources policies, procedures and salary administration are consistent with LPI norms as well as local labour law.
• Conduct periodic performance and development reviews of direct reports consistent with LPI performance management policy.

 Representation

• Develops, nurtures and strengthens LPI’s relationships with partners, key donors, and authorities.
• Identifies and negotiates funding opportunities for ongoing activities and new initiatives.
• Coordinates closely with LPI’s Country Programmes, including the Regional Horn of Africa Programme (HARP) and Global Policy Initiative.

 Other

• A key member of LPI's Addis Ababa Regional Office Management Team (SMT member) and other strategic LPI meetings.
• Responsible for the overall security management for the Ethiopia Programme and staff.

Key Internal Working Relationships: HARP Manager and Head of Office; Addis Ababa Regional Office Finance & Admin team; Country Managers; Director of Global Policy; Senior Advisor-Strategic Processes; Knowledge & Learning Unit team; Finance & Administration staff at the Uppsala Office; Director of Programmes; Executive Director.

Profile

• 5-10 years’ peacebuilding experience in Ethiopia and/or the Horn of Africa region.
• Experience in design and management of complex peacebuilding programmes.
• Ability to engage a range of community, non-government and government stakeholders.
• Strong training, facilitation, analytical and research skills.
• Experience leading and managing teams.
• Deep understanding of the Ethiopia context and related civil society, academia and policy circles
• Excellent inter-personal communication with strong networking skills, with extensive networks at different levels across Ethiopia.
• At least Masters in relevant discipline (peacebuilding, political sciences, international relations etc).
• Fluent written and spoken English and Amharic. Other Ethiopian and regional languages an advantage.
• Willingness to travel within Ethiopia, the broader region and Sweden.

 Disclaimer Clause: This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position. The employee accepts that this job description may be changed by the Head of Addis Ababa Regional Office, as the need may require.

How to Apply

Send your application, including a Cover Letter and CV in English, no later than 27 November 2021 to applications.addisababa@life-peace.org, with the subject line “Ethiopia Country Manager”.