South Sudan/Sudan: Project Director - Information Access
for Abyei
Location: Abyei, Sudan
Description
Background
Internews is seeking a Project Director for a program in the
disputed or 'transitional' area of Abyei. Through this program, Internews
will support a series of activities that will promote critical information access
for communities in Abyei. The primary goal of the project is for citizens in
Abyei to have access to a democratic space for dialogue that promotes stability
through reconciliation, participatory development and reconstruction. This
program will support the establishment of a local FM radio station for the
Abyei region, founded on the principles of community radio, and ensuring
continued access to independent, reliable and accurate information in local
languages, for more than 150,000 people in the Abyei region (and neighbouring
Twic County in South Sudan).
The Project Director provides oversight in ensuring that grants received by Internews to help independent broadcast media in the field office are properly executed and reported. S/he is an experienced broadcast professional, especially in remote, conflict-ridden environments, and is a believer in the power of information to save lives. The Project Director is expected to provide consistent and high standard editorial oversight training and mentoring and management support in this highly sensitive environment. The position will be based in Agok/Abyei for the duration of the project.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include
the following; other duties may be assigned:
- Provide overall management, vision and direction of program, including budget management, technical oversight and quality assurance
- Supervise/Manage staff in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
- Ensure the project is in compliance with all grant and cooperative agreement rules, requirements and regulations as well as with Internews internal policies and procedures.
- Oversee provision of in depth technical support through formal and in-house trainings to radio stations and journalists.
- Collaborate closely with all partner organizations to monitor their progress and provide technical support as needed
- Serve as the primary budget authority over the project, responsible for ensuring all costs charged to the project are allowable, reasonable and correctly allocated.
- Prepare and assemble materials for all reports, including work plans, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and final reports, in compliance with donor guidelines. Work with Regional Manager to provide comprehensive draft reports, in English, including all proper M&E data, narrative reports, success stories, quotes and photos.
- Develop and maintain a thorough knowledge of the region of responsibility, including the local media
- Maintain contact with local government officials and local organizations in the Agok/Abyei area
- Organize and lead onsite training, workshops and coaching sessions for local journalists in Abyei/Agok
- Provide ongoing mentoring and training support to help radios develop stronger program content
- Facilitate logistics and organize community engagement events in close partnership with civil society organizations
QUALIFICATIONS
- Excellent English skills mandatory; knowledge of local languages in target region in Sudan and/or Arabic language skills desirable
- Minimum 5 years radio broadcasting experience, preferably in community radio
- Minimum 5 years management experience
- Experience in US donor environment, including experience in project set-up
- Experience in building and effectively supervising a diverse team of employees.
- Successful track record in supervising, designing, managing, and implementing technical assistance programs
- Proven ability to develop and monitor work plans, training plans, and procurement plans;
- Practical experience in establishing and operating training programs
- Experience living and working in Africa and/or conflict/post-conflict environments
- Strong background understanding of conflict in South Sudan and the Abyei region
- Ability to adjust to shifting political circumstances and create programming accordingly
- Sensitivity to cross-cultural dynamics in the work place and experience supervising staff
- Must be self-reliant, resourceful, good problem-solver, good humored, and flexible
- Ability to travel within and spend extended time in the field, with limited facilities, often under harsh conditions
- Relevant academic qualifications
- Must be computer literate
