Director, Technical Services Department

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Director, Technical Services Department 

Africare is an independent, non-profit organization working to improve the quality of life of the people in Africa. Since 1970, Africare has worked in partnership with 35 African nations to build sustainable, healthy and productive lives and communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC with 1,400 international staff working across 21 country offices, Africare is the largest non-governmental organization working exclusively in Africa. Since 1970 Africare has provided more than $1 billion in direct aid to Africa for agriculture and food security, health and water and sanitation programs and projects. 

Africare is searching for an accomplished and highly motivated technical expert and manager to lead and build an effective and efficient Technical Services Department at Africare, grow Africare’s programs, forge strong strategic partnerships in its technical fields and help establish Africare as a leading innovator in its fields. This is a key role on Africare’s management team reporting to the Chief Operating Officer.           

Key Responsibilities and Tasks:
 

Oversee Technical Support for Implementation of Projects and Programs 

·      Ensure the quality and timely delivery of the work of Africare’s technical teams and subject matter experts in Washington and in the country offices and Africare’s roster of technical consultants supporting project and program implementation

·      Build knowledge and learning systems to ensure the spread of innovations and best practices across the portfolio and their documentation and publication 

Grow Africare’s Book of Business

·      Develop strategy papers for Africare’s work in agriculture and food security, health and water and sanitation and updates those annually.

·      Build and manage strategic technical partnerships with other organizations to strengthen our technical capabilities and win more business.

·      Identify new business opportunities consistent with those strategies and help Africare close on them 

Position Africare Externally as a Leader and Innovator 

·      Represent Africare in professional fora and to the media on African agriculture and food security, health and water and sanitation issues.

·      Work with Africare staff to publish Africare's technical work and feature our technical work on the internet and social media 

Education Requirements: 

·      Minimum Master's Degree, in an agricultural or health discipline; degrees and training in economics, business administration or management highly desirable.

Experience/Skills Required: 

·      At least 10 years field experience in successfully designing and implementing agriculture and food security, health or water and sanitation programs in Africa and developing countries with experience that is directly relevant to Africa.

·      Field experience with local and community driven development projects.

·      Demonstrated technical knowledge of the issues in the fields Africare works in.

·      Documented grant writing ability and successful project design experience.

·      Experience with USAID grants.

·      Experience in working with the private sector.

·      Documented experience in personnel management.

·      Fluency in English required; working knowledge of French and/or Portuguese preferred. 

Applications should include a resume and cover letter. In the cover letter (of no more than two pages in length) the candidate should briefly describe his or her motivation for the position and highlight relevant experience.  

Please send resumes to techservicesjobs@africare.org , including "Technical Services Director" in the subject line. 

This position is opened until filled. Unfortunately, due to the large number of applications that we receive, we may not be able to respond to each individual candidate.   Please respect our no phone calls policy.