Regional Director - Africa

Job Description

Are you looking to make a difference in the world by helping to save and improve lives? Are you energized by working at the intersection of US national security, private philanthropy, and global impact?

Spirit of America is the only nonprofit organization that unites the American people with U.S. troops and diplomats stationed abroad to help them succeed in their missions, build goodwill, and save and improve lives wherever they serve.

Spirit of America seeks an exceptional individual to serve as our new Regional Director to lead our initiatives in the Africa region and serve in close cooperation and coordination with US military, development, and diplomatic personnel in security and stability operations. The Regional Director’s mission is to provide direct support for Spirt of America’s international operations in the region, to engage citizens in preserving the promise of a free and better life and identify and develop addition programs to address other regional priorities as needed. The Director is responsible for managing a small team of regional program managers and associate program managers to coordinate and provide targeted private assistance in response to needs identified at the regional and local level in challenging security and stability environments.

This is an opportunity to see immediate results from one’s work and directly impact on US national security and foreign policy objectives. A Spirit of America Regional Director must have boots-on-the-ground experience in pre-conflict, conflict, or post-conflict environments as well as experience working on recent US stability and security operations, and optimism, patience, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a great sense of humor in the face of adversity. Experience in special operations, non-military work experience, and regionally applicable foreign language proficiency are strongly preferred.

The Regional Director will report to the Chief of International Operations and plays a pivotal role addressing critical needs by supporting and serving communities in the Africa region.

Responsibilities:

There is a strong preference for this position to be based in the region, and to excel in the role this position will require at least 50-70% independent travel to and in the region. Cross-regional and cross-departmental initiatives are also possible based upon the needs of the organization.

The Regional Director will:

• Cultivate new relationships and strengthen current relationships throughout the region.
• Develop orjects and initiatives in response to regional and local needs where Spirit ofAmerica’s assistance can make a rapid and important impact on mission success, as well as comple,ent, or fill gaps in US government and military programs.
• Identify, develop, and manage regional stakeholders relationships with US military command elements, US Embassies, other USG partners, and other key interlocutors.
• Coach, develop, and mentor associate program managers and regional program managers during the project development and implementation process
• Manage local projects supported with Spirit of America funds, including third party vetting, negotiating, budgeting, and administration of unds to cinlude keeping records in accordance with industry-standard practices.
• Ensure the regional team adheres to export control procedures related to all acquisitions impacting the region.
• Serve as a regional and sub-regional expert for culture, politicis, ansecurity and US policy.
• Provide reuglar regional and personnel updates to Spirit of America leadership and team members.
• Monitor, evaulaute, and document in results of and lessons learned from projects supported by Spirit of America in the assigned region and across the regional team.
• Maintain and deliver timely financial reporting, forecasting, and bugeting.
• Collaborate with the strategic opportunities team related to larger initiatives which touch the region; support could include opening the regional relationship network, sharing local context, participating in local partner identification, assisting with proof of concept/pilot projects, absorbing projects if addded to the regional director’s portfolio, and communicating with designated project managers if an activity is not directly assigned to the regional director’s portfolio.
• Support the marketing team with creating appropriate content to engage donors and partners through social media, email, and other media while reviewing and proving input into the content developed by the broader regional team.
• Communicate and closely coordinate activities and projects with all levels of US military and cilivian personnel to include gernal officers, ambassadors, and major organizational donors.
• Provide support to the broader international operations team as they work through project development processes, identifying opportunities to guide tactical-level project concepts towards greater strategic level impact.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree preferred, and at minimum a decade of experience working on the ground in pre-conflict, conflict, or post-conflict environmens. Highly relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of the degree requirements.
• Proven ability to engage directly with local populations and partner with host nation militaries, governments, and NGOs to solve problems.
• Significant experience in direct counterinsurgency, stability operations, humanitarians/disaster relief, and/or non-lethal-effects experience at the field level in current US stability and security operations.
• Deep knowledge of the culture, history, politics, and security dynamics in the Africa region based on work or academic study.
• A solid understanding of America’s 3Ds of foreign affairs–defense, diplomacy and devleopment–and of USG interagency entities, roles, and processes is essential.
• Substantive experience working in a US Embassy, in close collaboration with a US Country Team, or in a Department of State/USAID regional bureau is a plus.
• Previous travel outside of military service (study aborad, NGO work, USG experience) is essential.
• Program/prject management experience is very relevant.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, a strong attention to detail, and excellent organiational skills are required.
• A willingness to work outside regular hours to accommodate for meetings in different time zones.
• Conversational in language spoken in region, fluency strongly preferred.

Qualiities and Qualifications:

The Regional Director’s personal qualities are as important as their prior experience. They must be approachable, outgoing, natural relationship builders. The Regional Director needs to have exemplary patience and outstanding listening skills. They must understand that personal initiative, optimism, and a good sense of humor are “secret weapons” that they must employ in abundance.

The Regional Director must build and maintain highly positive relations with US troops and diplomats, host nation partners, and local stakeholders at all levels. They must take direction from US personnel regarding where they can/can’t go and which projects are not advisable. The need to communicate easily and credibly with all levels of the military chain of command, civilian personnel, and other stakeholders is critical.

The Regional Director will not only be a representative of Spirit of America but an ambassador of the goodwill of the American people. They must operate with the highest levels of integrity and cultural sensitivity. The Regional Director must also have a deep understanding and appreciation of Spirit of America’s decentralized, non-bureaucratic approach for rapid local progress worldwide.

Individuals with overseas experience with the US Department of State, USAID, and other u.S. government civilian agencies as well as returned Peace Corps volunteers are highly encouraged to apply. 

Compensations:

Salary ranges from $130,000 to $190,000 based on experience. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, and 403(b) contribution match to 4%.

Spirit of America:

Spirit of America is a nonprofit founded in 2003 to engage citizens in preserving the promise of a free and better life. For over two decades, Spirit of America has united the American people with our troops and diplomats in common cause: to defend freedom, strengthen the frontlines of democracy, and secure a free and better life for those who seek it. We work with US troops and diplomats to identify places where America’s help is needed most. Then we deliver assistance with flexibility and speed through our troops and a network of local partners around the world.

We are recognized by Congress and have an agreement with the Department of Defense that allows US troops to collaborate with us to build goodwill and deliver assistance at scale. We fill the gaps between what government can do and what is needed.

Our work saves and improves lives, prevents conflict, and strengthens America’s security. In the world’s toughest places, people experience the best of who Americans are and what we stand for.

Spirit of America is an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with applicable law, we prohibit discrimination against any applicant or employee based on any legally-recognized basis, including, but not limited to: veteran status, uniformed service member status, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age (40 and over), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics) or any other consideration protected by federal, state or local law. Our commitment to equal opportunity employment applies to all persons involved in our operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including supervisors and co-workers.

About the Organization

About Spirit of America

We united the American people with our troops and diplomats in common cause: to defend freedom, strengthen the front lines of democracy, and ehlp people secure a free and better life.

Our Mission

Spirit of America is a nonprofit founded in 2003 to engage citizens in preserving the promise of a free and better life. We start by working with US troops and diplomats to identify places where America's help is needed most. We deliver assistance with flexibility and speed through our troops and a network of local partners around the world.

Together, we have protected citizen soliders defending their freedom in Ukraine. We have empowered Taiwanese volunteers to strengthen their democracy. We have brough hope to communities impacted by terrorism and conflict in Syria, Iraq, Armenia, and Mozambique.

And it all happens with support from people like you.