Organizational Background

Partners for Democratic Change (Partners) is a global non-governmental organization committed to building democratic institutions and strengthening civil society worldwide. Since 1989, Partners has provided communication, negotiation, conflict resolution, and cooperative planning competency to thousands of civic, NGO, municipal and national government leaders in over 50 countries.  Partners has established a network of locally staffed and managed Centers that work on change and conflict management in 18 countries including Albania, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Jordan, Kosova, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Romania, Senegal, Slovakia, Serbia and Yemen.    Each Center within this network (Partners for Democratic Change International or PDCI) is established as an independent in-country NGO managed by an in-country board of directors and staff. PDCI is a network with a high reputation for undertaking cutting edge work. There are over 150 highly committed, professional staff within the network with specialist skills who are working to bring about lasting positive change in their communities.   

Partners Yemen was established in 2009 as part of Partners for Democratic Change’s GE Foundation supported Sustainable Leadership Program. Under this Program, Partners provides new Centers with support and mentoring on a range of organizational skills and practices to enable the new institution to become established and to operate as a self-financing, locally registered, independent entity. Partners Yemen has worked on  building a culture of conflict and change management in Yemen through projects focusing  on creating sustainable conflict resolution mechanisms in local communities, building the leadership capacity of Yemeni women, bringing together tribal leaders for training and dialogue opportunities, and providing assessment and training services for international donors, international and local organizations, and private companies.

Position Summary

Partners for Democratic Change is still in the process of incubating the Partners Yemen Center. We are looking for an experienced professional who can work with the Partners Staff in Yemen to strengthen the organization, build resilience, mentor local staff, and develop the capacity of the organization to be sustainable. We see this as a short-term assignment (12 months) during which time the Center Director/Country Representative would identify, hire and groom a local leader to take over the Center Director role and responsibilities. The position would be based in Sana’a, Yemen and would be supported and managed by the Regional Director for the MENA Region in Partners for Democratic Change based in Washington DC.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of a vibrant organization that already has a track record of impressive work that is well respected by donors and local organizations alike.  Partners Yemen has a healthy portfolio of projects, a committed staff of 20 and large potential to expand it’s work.

For more information please visit our website at: http://www.partnersglobal.org/network/yemen

Duties and Responsibilities

Primary Functions of the Country Director/Country Representative (this would be a 12 month assignment)

• Provide management support to Partners Center in Yemen.
• Follow up with relevant donors and funders to achieve funding targets.
• Provide leadership role in managing Partners programs in Yemen
• Provide needed financial management to the team in Yemen and work with Washington based Controller to update the financial systems and make sure that financial reporting requirements are in compliance with donor requirements.
• Work with PDC office to update the HR systems and make sure it is in compliance with Yemeni laws.
• Provide necessary training and support to local staff to be able to function professionally and effectively
• In collaboration with Partners for Democratic Change, identify, hire and groom a local leader to become the Center Director by the end of the Country Representative term.
• Represent the Center and cooperate within the Partners for Democratic Change International Network.
• Ensure that Partners Yemen participated in the Partners network information exchange and organizational learning systems
• Maintain regular communication with Partners in DC to ensure timely implementation of programs, the development of new programs and the achievement of organizational restructuring
• Attend semi-annual meetings of the Partners international network.
• Promote and advance the quality, effectiveness, and sustainability of Partners Center in Yemen.
• Establish and maintain working partnerships with government, business and NGO representatives and broadly market the Center’s services.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Hiring: Identify, hire and groom a local Center Director providing necessary training and support.
2. Strategic Planning: Initiate and implement a staff retreat that will result in a business plan for Center sustainability and growth.
3. Financial: Oversee budget and financial management and provide necessary training to local staff to be able to fulfill Partners and donors reporting requirements. 
4. Human Resource management: Manage the human resources of the organization according to personnel policies and procedures that fully conform to current laws and regulations undertaking any restructuring as required.
5. Fundraising Oversee fundraising planning and implementation, including identifying resource requirements, researching funding sources, establishing strategies to approach funders, submitting proposals and administrating fundraising records and documentation
6. Program Management: Design and implement Center’s programs and services and provide necessary training to local staff to be able to manage programs on a sustainable basis.
7. Public Relations: Identify and connect with key government, donors, NGO and business sector representatives and manage these relationships

To fulfill the functions and responsibilities above, the Center Director/Country Representative will work closely with Partners’ staff in the Washington, D.C. office.  

Job Requirements: Skills and Qualifications

Required skills and qualifications

• University degree in business, law, management, conflict resolution, international studies or other relevant field
• 5-10 years leadership/management experience
• Experience working cooperatively with NGOs, government, and businesses, and contacts with each of these sectors
• Experience in managing personnel and financial systems
• Experience of leading change within an organization demonstrating leadership and strong management
• Excellent spoken and written English skills
• Excellent communication skills in Arabic.
• Commitment to diversity and peaceful coexistence
• Valid passport and ability to travel

Preferred skills and qualifications:

• Background in change and conflict management
• Previous experience managing a local organization in the MENA Region
• Organizational development experience
• Teaching/training experience
• Fundraising/proposal writing expertise
• Experience working with international organizations and the international donor community (European Union, UN, USAID etc.)