Program Officer, Africa

4747 Morena Blvd. Ste 100 San Diego CA 92117 • T 858.274.3718 • F 858.274.3728 • E [email protected] • W plantwithpurpose.org

PROGRAM OFFICER, AFRICA

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILEPlant With Purpose, a Christian development organization, reverses deforestation and poverty around the world by transforming the lives of the rural poor. For more than 30 years, Plant With Purpose has been a leader in linking international community development and environmental solutions, working with smallholder farmers in strategic areas where environmental degradation and poverty intersect. Plant With Purpose currently works in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Tanzania, and Thailand, employing an integrated methodology that combines environmental restoration, economic empowerment, and spiritual renewal. Activities include watershed restoration, reforestation, sustainable agriculture training, savings-and-loan groups, local leadership development, and supporting outreach efforts of the local Christian church.

JOB SUMMARY The program officer is the critical link between San Diego headquarters and the international program partners in the field. The program officer is responsible for ensuring excellent communication in both directions so that priorities are clear and genuine partnership flourishes. The program officer facilitates routine tasks such as planning and reports but is also engaged in creative program development and operational problem solving. The program officer will report to the Director of Field Operations, and participate as an active liaison to our Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Tanzania programs.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Program Liaison• Serves as the primary channel of communication between the international field programs

and Plant With Purpose USA• Acts as an expert on the field program and an advocate for the program within the San

Diego office• Ensures the field program understands Plant With Purpose priorities and delivers

accordingly

Program & Performance Monitoring• Provides support and training to ensure compliance with cycles of strategic and

operational planning and organizational norms• Monitors the implementation of Plant With Purpose funded projects to ensure compliance

with the annual action plan, annual budget, and common operational standards• Observes project implementation in progress thereby developing a good understanding of

the context, opportunities, and challenges


Program Development & Fundraising Support• Participates in new program systems development in the USA as well as the

organizational development of international partners, for increased performance and effectiveness

• Takes leadership in specific organizational and/or systems development as priorities are identified and agreed with supervisor

• Helps country programs develop clearly aligned multi-year strategic plans, which include local fundraising targets

• Supports national partner proposals and looks for opportunities to develop local fundraising capacity as necessary

• Works with the USA fund development department to package country priorities, collect compelling stories, provide accurate and timely data, and contribute actively to funding proposals

Continuous Improvement• Works collaboratively with country program leadership to identify priority areas

for improvement and maintains a feedback approach for consistent follow-up on improvement plans

• Remains informed about emerging trends in the industry, networks with other organizations, and brings in outside expertise where needed and useful

Financial Management• Reviews annual budget proposals for completeness, accuracy, and alignment with agreed

targets• Participates in quarterly reviews of local budget versus actuals• Additional responsibilities as assigned by Director of Field Operations

QUALIFICATIONS

Required• Excellent intercultural skills• Thirst for excellence and an eagerness to learn• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills; articulates clearly• Ability to adapt communication and leadership techniques to local idioms/norms• Ability to listen, synthesize, and develop ideas and information, and have good follow

through• Ability to initiate, self start, work independently, and seek out solutions• Competency to manage conflict in culturally appropriate ways

Preferred• Experience living and working in a cross-cultural, rural context, preferably in Africa• Management experience• Proficiency in French a plus


Education• BA in related field; and preferably 5 years experience in international or community

development

QUALITIES DESIRED• Adaptable• Good listener• Open minded• Strategic thinking• Analytical• Problem solving• Organization and planning• Innovative and willingness to take risks• Diplomatic, respectful, and open to learning

CULTURAL FIT COMPETENCIES• Demonstrate a sincere interest in the holistic mission of Plant With Purpose and the

diverse communities we seek to empower• Possess a love for the poor, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or culture; and a burden

to connect them with God’s love and the compassion of supporters in the United States• Ability to be a genuine team player and work in collaboration with team members from a

wide variety of backgrounds and cultures• Embody a commitment to the organizational values of Plant With Purpose: faith,

collaboration, stewardship, sustainability, empowerment, and innovation

PHYSICAL DEMANDSThe physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Frequent (30%) travel to project sites which at times may be in difficult and physically arduous conditions.


WORK ENVIRONMENTThe work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

JOB LOCATION

San Diego, California, United States

TRAVEL

30 percent

START DATE

Position open until filled

TO APPLYPlease submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected].

Please use “Program Officer” as the subject of your email.

Only complete applications will be reviewed, and only qualified candidates will be contacted.

Plant With Purpose is an EEO/AA employer by choice.

Documents

Program Officer, Africa