WAVS Program Director Job Description and Requirements

Title: Program Director, West African Vocational Schools

Location: Based in Guinea-Bissau (at least 10 months of the year) with trips to Seattle and Fresno, California

Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week

Starting date: December 1, 2015 (starting date is negotiable)

Background:

West African Vocational Schools is a Christian nonprofit that works hand-in-hand with local leaders in Guinea-Bissau to equip young women and men with life-changing job skills so they can transform their communities.

Guinea-Bissau is a largely overlooked part of Africa struggling with poverty, drug smuggling and political instability. WAVS believes education and job training are long-term solutions to these challenges.

The WAVS School, which has served more than 550 students and has more than 100 students currently enrolled, is run by an all-Guinean staff and offers classes in computer basics, auto mechanics, welding, English and French – courses that are in demand by people in the community and are designed to help young women and men acquire marketable job skills. The school is in the process of establishing a second campus in the capital city, Bissau.

The WAVS U.S. staff support the school by working directly with the Guinean staff to maximize the school’s impact and by recruiting donors and partners in the U.S. who support the school financially. We invite you to find out more about WAVS at www.WAVSchools.org.

WAVS mission:

Our mission is to create hope and opportunity in West African communities by working hand-in-hand with indigenous leaders to establish vocational training centers and economic development programs while sharing the Gospel message. Following the example set by Jesus Christ, we use our talents and resources to promote self-sufficiency and help develop leaders of influence and integrity who will be agents of change in government, business and society.

Job Description:

We are looking for a passionate and self-motivated individual who thrives in cross-cultural contexts and is able to manage a wide variety of important responsibilities in a growing and dynamic international NGO. The Program Director works closely with the U.S.-based Executive Director and reports to the Executive Director directly. The Program Director’s responsibilities include:

– Establish healthy and trusting relationships with the staff of our local partner organization in Guinea-Bissau and with community leaders to promote the mission and values of WAVS.

– Work hand-in-hand with the local administrative staff to evaluate, analyze, improve and report on the local organization’s programs and activities. The programs are run through a vocational school in Canchungo, a town of about 20,000 people in rural Guinea-Bissau.

– Work with local staff to monitor the school’s administrative operations, including finances and personnel management, and its programmatic operations, including its courses in auto mechanics, welding, computer basics, English and French. Report back observations and detailed information to U.S. staff.

– Gather information, including specific data, stories and photos, about the students and staff at the school, as well as graduates who are employed.

– Establish new relationships and build on existing relationships with leaders of other NGOs, local businesses, international government agencies, embassies, and local government officials. Find creative ways to establish partnerships with others that promote the mission and goals of WAVS.

– Work with U.S. and local staff to apply for and manage grants from international agencies and embassies.

– Work with U.S. and local staff to occasionally host visitors, including U.S. staff and board members, as well as short-term teams and others.

– Work with U.S. and local staff to further advance an important long-term project: the construction and development of a second campus in the capital city, Bissau (about 45 miles away from Canchungo by paved road).

– File monthly reports that will be shared with the U.S. Board of Directors and occasionally attend board meetings by Skype when requested.

– Maintain a strong knowledge and understanding of current events in Guinea-Bissau and international development trends and studies, including keeping updated on current events in Guinea-Bissau on a daily basis.

– Travel to Fresno, California, and Seattle, Washington, once a year to meet with U.S. staff and board members, as well as potential donors and partners in the U.S.

– Study and practice the local Guinea-Bissau Creole language with the goal of becoming semi-conversational within the first year of the job. Guinea-Bissau Creole is a rudimentary, Portuguese-based language and is relatively easy to learn, especially with an existing knowledge of Portuguese or Spanish.

– Work with U.S. and local staff, as well as qualified contractors, to maintain reasonably comfortable accommodations for the Program Director and visitors in rural Canchungo, a town with no working electric grid, paved roads, or public water system.

Requirements

– A commitment to the mission and values of WAVS.

– A university undergraduate degree.

– A willingness to commit to living in rural and urban areas of Guinea-Bissau for a period of at least two years (living in Guinea-Bissau for at least 10 months out of the year and traveling to the U.S. at least once a year).

– Demonstrated interest and experience in international development, including having lived in a developing country for at least two months (preferably for at least one year).

– Demonstrated success working on complex projects in cross-cultural contexts either domestically or internationally.

– Preferably, international experience in program development, budget management, personnel management, and educational and administrative systems.

– Preferably, experience in establishing strong relationships with local government and international agencies in an international setting.

– Exceptional online and offline communication skills with individuals and groups.

– Self-motivated, strong interpersonal skills, a team-orientated attitude.

– Ability to prioritize, organize, multi-task, conduct thorough research, and meet deadlines.

– Ability to problem-solve, find creative solutions, generate new ideas outside the status quo, and learn new skills efficiently.

– Past work experience. Examples include professional work experience, or some kind of successful entrepreneurial experience (e.g. starting a program in a developing country, leading a conference, starting a business, Peace Corps, etc.).

– Humility and willingness to learn. We are looking for passionate professionals who combine strong leadership skills with good humor, patience, and a humble approach to service.

Salary: $23,000 per year plus health and retirement benefits. All housing and transportation expenses in Guinea-Bissau, as well as all international travel expenses, are paid for by WAVS.

Applications: Applicants are asked to send a one-page cover letter and a résumé to Chris Collins, WAVS Executive Director, at chris@WAVSchools.org.