Regional Director, West and Central Africa

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) invites applications for a Regional Director to join our dedicated and talented Global Programs team in our mission to create business solutions to poverty!

MEDA’s work is built on a foundation of Mennonite business roots and faith-based values, within the global context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We believe business solutions are effective interventions to address poverty. Through a market-systems approach and strategic partnerships, MEDA enables access to finance and provides business and technical expertise to build transformative agri-food market systems that create decent jobs, allowing traditionally excluded groups to become active participants in a sustainable economy. MEDA welcomes all who share our values and want to join us in our mission. To find out more about MEDA, please visit our website at www.meda.org.

Position Summary: Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Global Programs, the Regional Director oversees the implementation of the programs and projects within West and Central Africa. The Regional Director serves as a key member of MEDA's senior management team and is responsible for providing direction and management to achieve the region's mandate and goals in support of MEDA’s mission. The Regional Director leads a cross-functional Regional Team and Project Leads. MEDA is shifting from working through partnerships to working with partners to design and deliver results. As such, the role requires strong relationship management skills and experience working in partnership with private sector, non-governmental and government. Th_e_ Regional Director is accountable for the success of transformational initiatives, working in and contributing to the smooth operation of the MEDA matrix model in a collaborative, open manner.

• Job Status: Full-time

• Start Date: January 2025

• Location: open to applicants within West and Central Africa, (please note that moderate travel into the operational project locations is required).

• Language Skills: Bilingual proficiency in French and English required; knowledge of Portuguese is an advantage

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategy and Planning – 20%

• Responsible for executing MEDA’s strategic plan at the region/portfolio level

• Direct regional and country strategies, ensuring alignment with MEDA’s corporate strategy and impact and financial targets, domestic agri-food economic and policy environment, and donor landscape

• Raise MEDA’s profile and contribute to the positioning of MEDA as a thought leader through publications, presenting at conferences and industry events, contributing to sector or geographic donor/policy groups

• Builds partnerships with and serves as the organizational representative with host governments, funders, and other key stakeholders in the region

• Collaborate with other senior leaders in Programs and with colleagues across divisions to continuously review and improve MEDA’s approach

• Flags opportunities for new business to Partnership Business Accelerator (PBA) leadership.  Supports proposal development if required

Leadership and Management – 40%

• Leads a team of operational and technical staff including establishing and regularly monitoring performance objectives and holding staff accountable for their realization
• As member of senior management Global Programs team, contribute to the development, implementation, and maintenance of Divisional standards, excellence in project management, and applied learning
• Foster a spirit of collaboration and improvement so that staff are empowered to contribute fully to the organization
• Lead Country Teams through change – and coach Program Leads on leading their teams through change – to ensure continued engagement and support for MEDA’s strategic direction
• Lead and manage the performance of direct reports ensuring acquisition, retention and development of a strong team
• Review and approve workplans and budgets and ensure execution of deliverables according to plans within agreed variance allowances
• Track and report progress and activities against workplans and deliverables and provide regular and timely reporting to SVP Global Programs

Compliance and Contract Management – 30%

• Oversee management of donor, partner and subcontractor agreements to effectively deliver results while managing risk in compliance with MEDA’s policies and signing authorities
• Manage active donor relationships and demonstrate MEDA stewardship of funds
• Approval of financial and narrative donor reports
• Review and approve financial requests and budget revisions, and recommend approval to the SVP Global Programs or CFIO as required, in line with MEDA’s policies and signing authority
• Ensure all in-country operations are compliant with local laws, the Project Contribution Agreement, and MEDA’s policies, procedures and standards, and that appropriate controls and systems are in place, in coordination with MEDA Finance, Legal and Human Capital

Key contacts and relationships – 10%

• Works directly with regional and country staff to support project and program operations and compliance
• Nurtures a collaborative and supportive working relationships with peers within the Regional Division as well as at Corporate
• Strong working relationship and liaison with corporate departments (Finance, Legal, P&C, Security, IT, Tech. Teams, MIM, Internal Audit)
• Strong working relationship and liaison with Country Directors /Country Project Managers and all Regional staff

_Any other duties and/or requirements as assigned

_

REQUIREMENTS

Education:  University degree, ideally a Masters, in Business Administration, International Economic Development, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness; Development Finance or a field closely related to MEDA's work.

Experience:  Proven track record of at least ten (10) years of professional management experience in project development and implementation; staff management; program planning and budgeting and delivering consulting services. Additionally, five (5) years of overseas management experience is ideal.

Additional Qualifications

• Appreciation and support of MEDA's mission, vision and values
• Understanding and appreciation of business principles, international development and MEDA’s approach of creating business solutions to poverty
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively, both domestically and internationally to developing countries
• Strong experience working with bi- and multi- lateral government agencies, donors, non-governmental organizations and other development agencies
• Experience in supporting entrepreneurial/small business agri-development in rural areas
• Excellent skills in building relationships, networking and presentation, negotiation and interpersonal communication
• Skilled in leadership and team building
• Highly motivated, self-starter and results-oriented

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, when received. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. Only successful applicants will be contacted.

MEDA is an equal opportunity employer and accommodations are available during all phases of the recruitment process. We ask that any applicants requiring accommodations make their needs known in advance.

Please note - MEDA is working with a recruitment partner (HPD AFRICA) on this search and selected candidates will go through a screening process with HPD AFRICA before meeting MEDA's hiring team.

Keywords

Regional DirectorWestCentral AfricaGlobal Programspovertymarket-systemsfinancebusinesstechnical expertiseagri-foodpartnershipsstrategymanagementcompliancecontractrelationshipsleadership