Executive Director of ECSOC 47 views

• Strategic day-to-day management of ECSOC’s Secretariat staff, office, budget and relationship with the principle donor and members (includes report writing).
• Support the executive Committee to develop strategic annual priorities and engage closely with them   to ensure Secretariat functions in line with these.
• In close consultation with the President of the ECSOC, act as focal point for information/experience sharing with and with in the sector on relevant issues and work with key Secretariat staff to manage membership process, mailing lists and communication products.
• Maintain a thorough understanding and develop messaging on operational constraints and policy related issues affecting ECSOC in country as well as broader political developments. Read, synthesize and analyses political and security updates.
• In consultation with the executive committee, conduct policy analysis, analyse information, and draft common ECSOC position/policy papers on key issues affecting the CSOs sector.
• Provide a conduit for the members, government, donor representatives and other stakeholders to communicate and coordinate with the sector
• Participate in important government, and other policy and planning processes together with the executive committee presidents and members
• Ensure the council’s activity costs are budgeted for and fully covered. Explore sustainable funding models beyond donor funding e.g. membership fees.
• Along with the ECSOC executive Committee President and vice presidents and members, represent the members at high-level fora including International and national forums, multi-donor meetings and other representative bodies as required. Issues will be agreed by the executive Committee.
• Increase and enhance engagement of and input from national into, regional and the international and create networking with like minded councils or establishment for joint engagement at sub-regional, regional and global level
• Lead and conduct the regular statutory requirements like annual plans, reports and audits and present it to the members during general assembly.

Coordination and Communication

• Ensure transparent coordination mechanisms and regular information-sharing between ECSOC, members, donors and government agencies and other stakeholders as relevant.
• Schedule ECSOC annual/bi-annual/ regular meetings and ECSOC executive Committee meetings, draft agendas with the president and vices as appropriate, invite external speakers and follow up on relevant action points
• Ensure executive Committee and Secretariat representation in the external engagements
• Along with the ECSOC executive Committee president and members, represent the ECSOC at key  meetings with wider sector, donors, and GOE and ensure the dissemination of written feedback
• Encourage active and open dialogue between the ECSOC Secretariat, executive Committee and  wider council members
• Coordinate visits of like minded regional and global networks, advocacy groups, researchers, donors, and partners working on Ethiopia
• Ensure the research, documentation and sharing of lessons learned/best practices on strategic or operational issues and actively share information with members and other coordination platforms
• Identify gaps in research and analysis that, if addressed, would be useful by large numbers of the membership

Partnership Relations

• Support roll-out of relevant guidelines and code of conducts etc by facilitating the engagement of members and various networks in country
• Support ACSO to conduct scoping and information management of CSOs (National and International) active in development, advocacy and humanitarian sector
• Provide an accessible first point of contact for general inquiries regarding the work of ECSOC
• Provide orientation briefings to new members about the council, the bi-law and the code of conduct
• Liaise with various similar coordination platforms in neighbouring countries in the region
• Provide information, briefings, presentations on the function and structure of the ECSOC, best practices and lessons learned to other global consortiums/councils/forums or national coordination platforms on request
• Maintain strong partner relations and engage in the identification of new potential partners
• Maintain and/or develop productive relationships with key individuals in relevant government ministries, civil society, foreign and local NGO community, UN Missions, Diplomatic Corps, other donors, etc.
• Work to ensure a smooth working relationship between secretariat and updating the executive Committee on issues affecting the secretariat

Human Resource Management

• Provide leadership and direction, promote professional working relationships, and encourage ECSOC Secretariat’s staff
• Lead regular internal coordination meetings and ensure staff support
• Conduct regular performance appraisals identifying capacity building needs and further career objectives; follow-up, and maintain updated job descriptions
• Identify and resolve staff conflicts and concerns in a timely manner
• Recruit Secretariat staff in compliance with the secretariat recruitment procedures, including development of JDs, shortlisting and interviewing maintaining transparency and accountability

Position Type: National Staff

Location: Addis Ababa, with field travel

Work Station: Addis Ababa

Employment Type: Full time

Reports to: President of the ECSOC

Qualifications:

• Minimum ten years of progressive national and/or international  experience working with NGOs, academic institutions, intergovernmental organizations, and  similar networks and forums,
• Postgraduate qualifications in law, international relations, political science, development leadership or other related fields,
• Demonstrated coordination experience in multi-agency forums,
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills,
• Documented skills in developing proposals, budgets and reports,
• Significant experience in the development of advocacy, policy and key messaging documents,
• Strong understanding of the Government system, CSOs, the private sector  and international principles of development,
• Significant understanding of complex development contexts,
• Proven communication, public speaking, interpersonal and negotiation skills,
• Excellent computer literacy,
• Fluency in written and spoken Amharic and English is required,
• Holder of a valid driver’s license, plus