Associate Peace Corps Director – Program Manager

Associate Peace Corps Director – Program Manager

The United States Peace Corps – Lesotho is seeking a full-time Associate Peace Corps Director (APCD) to manage a program in which approximately 50 American Volunteers work in rural and urban communities throughout Lesotho to strengthen local capacity in developing, managing, implementing, and evaluating community development projects in the areas of health, HIV/AIDS, and youth development. The incumbent serves as a member of the senior staff, participating in the development and implementation of policies; negotiating projects with middle to senior level Government of Lesotho officials; and participating in decision-making that affect the overall operation of the Peace Corps – Lesotho programs. The full time position (i.e., 40 hours/week) will be based in Maseru and will report to the Director of Programming and Training (DPT). S/he supervises a Programming and Training Specialist and works closely with other members of the programming and training unit to support, train, and manage the Volunteers. The selected candidate will also work closely with the HIV Coordinator to integrate HIV-related activities in the program.

Minimum requirements:

Required Education and Experience
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
A Bachelors Degree in subjects related to Public Health, Youth or Community Development, or relevant work experience.
Experience working in a supervisory/leadership capacity, and mentoring others.
Experience in designing training modules and implementing trainings for groups of 10 or more.
Experience in project management and development--including personnel management.
Experience in motivating and working with counterparts, local partners and community groups.
Experience working with the Ministry of Health in Lesotho.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of gender roles and gender-sensitive approaches and how behaviors may impact health and wellness in Lesotho.
Knowledge of HIV/AIDS-related issues in Lesotho and their effect on health and development.
Ability and readiness to travel frequently to rural communities throughout Lesotho
Very strong organizational skills.
Demonstrated competency in computer skills, specifically in MS Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook.
Able to work independently with minimal supervision, as well as in a group setting.
Proven ability to function well as a team player in a complex organization.
Professional appearance and demeanor.
Flexibility in work hours when it is necessary to complete a project or to meet a deadline (i.e., willingness to take calls, work, travel during odd hours and weekends).

Highly desirable skills:
A Masters Degree in subjects related to Public Health, Youth Development, or Community Development.
Experience working with the Ministry of Gender and Youth.
Understanding of Peace Corps’ function and philosophy.
Proven ability to work well with all kinds of people and in cross-cultural situations.
Knowledge of monitoring, reporting, and evaluation methodologies.
Experience working with expatriates--particularly working with Americans and understanding American culture.
Membership in professional organizations.
Experience working with volunteers or in a volunteer organization.
Coaching and mentoring skills.

Please submit a cover letter, academic certificates and transcripts, and your Curriculum Vitae to: Director of Management and Operations, US Peace Corps, 5 Bowker Road, P.O Box 554, Maseru or by e-mail to jobs@ls.peacecorps.gov, by 12:00 noon, Friday, October 17, 2014

The United States Peace Corps, an agency of the US government, is the largest non-Basotho development volunteer organization in Lesotho with over 70 Peace Corps Volunteers operating in all 10 districts as teachers, health educators, and co-facilitators of community development. We have been operating in Lesotho for almost 50 years working at various times with the Ministries of Health & Social Welfare, Education, Agriculture, and Gender, Youth, Sports & Recreation, the National AIDS Commission, and many other organizations working to develop the Mountain Kingdom.