Executive Director

Amani Children's Home
Amani Children’s Home is committed to reducing the number of children living on the streets in Tanzania by providing a nurturing place for homeless children to heal, grow, and learn. Amani reunites children with their relatives and equips families with the tools they need to be self-reliant. Amani is dedicated to creating a path for each child that leads to a future filled with hope.
Closing date: 26 Apr 2010
Location: United Republic of Tanzania (the) - Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region

The Executive Director will be responsible for moving Amani through its next phase of development driven by Amani’s core values: love of vulnerable children, the continual pursuit of excellence, collaboration and participation, personal integrity, and deep commitment to realizing Amani’s mission. You will be responsible for overseeing the development and delivery of high-quality programs to children and families, as well as nurturing and developing a passion for our mission in all the Amani staff. You must be a skilled leader and facilitator, with the ability both to lead and serve. It is essential to have strategic vision, to prioritize the participation of all stakeholders, and to steadfastly pursue social justice.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

Align staff, volunteers, and other stakeholders to Amani’s mission
Your objective is to facilitate Amani staff to act with a commitment to our core purpose. Develop people’s ability to reflectively engage with emerging issues. Design, pilot, and assess the effectiveness of processes and systems for organizational learning and innovation. Model Amani’s values to others.

Cultivate relationships with donors
Your objective is to ensure that the growth and sustainability of Amani are realized. You will build relationships with Amani’s donors and provide oversight to fundraising activities. You will identify opportunities for new partnerships that will diversify Amani’s income stream. You will inspire donors to continue their support through annual visits to the US, UK, Canada, and Scandinavia.

Coach and mentor management team
Your objective is to facilitate the development of a culture and practice of participatory leadership. You will prioritize learning, professionalism, responsibility-taking, teamwork, and creativity. You will support the Management Team to pursue Amani’s vision.

Program planning, monitoring, and strategy
Your objective is to develop program goals and to oversee program implementation. You will assist in monitoring and evaluating Amani’s programs for quality assurance and effectiveness. You will develop participatory child-centered programs that engage children as key stakeholders. You will develop productive alliances with other organizations.

Establish and ensure commitment to systems and procedures
Your objective is to develop and ensure implementation of policies that translate into the realization of Amani’s mission. You will ensure appropriate structures, systems and staff are in place to realize strategy. You will establish tracking and case management systems which facilitate monitoring of impact and efficiency.

Report to the board
Your objective is to be accountable to the Board of Trustees for all aspects of Amani’s organizational performance. You will provide opportunities for the board to increase its ownership of Amani’s mission. You will ensure that strategic issues are brought to the Board so that it may provide governance and direction.

Financial planning and oversight
Your objective is to oversee the Finance Manager and to ensure that internal control systems are functioning successfully. You will ensure that short and long range financial planning takes place. You will mobilize the Management Team to ensure that there is effectiveness and efficiency in financial management.

Skills and Experience
- Proven leadership abilities with at least five years of senior management experience in an organization of similar size and complexity.
- At least three years working within child rights programs in the Global South (East Africa preferred).
- Masters degree or equivalent in experience, preferably in the field of social sciences or management.
- Direct involvement in fundraising at a minimum of $400,000/year for no less than three years. Extensive experience in donor relationship management.
- Strong program management skills and willingness to understand, direct, and participate in the activities of the organization.
- Proven success in an environment where influence comes indirectly through communication and relationships, rather than hierarchical authority.
- High level strategic thinking and planning skills.
- Ability to appreciate and articulate the importance of Amani’s mission, values, and principles.
- On-going professional development and self-initiated learning after graduation.
- Exceptional communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills, with evident emotional intelligence, compassion, and cross-cultural competence.
- Demonstrable skills in participatory approaches to facilitation and action learning.
- Ability and flexibility to work in a variety of service and leadership roles.
- Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions.
- Demonstrated track record in building the capacity of individuals and staff teams to be effective, dynamic, and results-oriented.
- Highly organized and able to manage a rigorous schedule prioritizing simultaneous challenges.
- Fluency in English necessary. Candidates fluent in Swahili will be preferred.
How to apply
Submit your cover letter, CV (no more than four pages), and three professional references (with telephone contact and email) to: director-job@amanikids.org.