**Description** **About Us** The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness, and accountability in government. Help support democracy worldwide by joining our team! **About the Role** NDI is looking for a Resident Senior Director (Chief of Party) who will provide strong leadership ability, democratic development experience, political savvy and excellent program and staff management skills to lead the implementation of a potential USAID-funded program in Sierra Leone. Responsibilities include overall programmatic and operational management, financial and human resource oversight, donor and partner relations, strategic development and adaptive management of programs. The Chief of Party will manage programming with political partners and civic organizations under the prospective Sierra Leone Elections and Political Processes Activity (SLEPP). Additionally, the Chief of Party is charged with conducting regular political analysis, managing program budgets, and maintaining relationships with international partners and local organizations including political parties, elected representatives, non-governmental entities, the diplomatic community, and other donor agencies. The Chief of Party will work in close coordination with Freetown-based and Washington, D.C.-based staff of NDI and consortium partners to manage the programmatic, administrative, financial, and logistical aspects of the prospective SLEPP program. The Chief of Party reports to NDI’s DC-based Regional Director for Central and West Africa. The position is based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, with travel to other areas of the country. This position is contingent on donor funding and the selected candidate is subject to donor approval. **Your Purpose and Impact:** + Lead, plan, implement, and provide overall leadership and vision for the prospective SLEPP program with the support of Sierra Leone-based national and international staff, short-term consultants and experts, and in coordination with NDI staff in Washington, DC. + Coordinate and liaise regularly with local and international consortium partners, including leading regular coordination meetings, providing consortium-wide oversight on the successful implementation of project objectives. + Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with and serve as a resource, mentor and trainer for political party representatives, government officials, political leaders, civil society leaders, and other relevant political actors across the political spectrum and at all levels of seniority. + Adapt programmatic activities based on changing political and security dynamics and in response to needs articulated by local partners and program stakeholders and in consultation with donors; monitor programs to determine that programmatic goals are achieved and that operational and reporting requirements are adhered to. + Serve as principal liaison between the SLEPP consortium and Sierra Leone government representatives, donor government officials, the diplomatic community and media as needed. + Liaise with international organizations on the implementation of complementary programming and participate in coordination meetings and related forums. + Monitor programs to determine that programmatic goals are achieved and that operational and reporting requirements are adhered to. + Oversee the accounting, management, and planning of program budget funds, in coordination with NDI’s Finance and Administration team, including the submission of a regular financial reconciliation to the Washington, DC office. + Build the capacity of NDI staff as appropriate to play a substantive role in program development and implementation. + Provide regular updates on relevant political developments in Sierra Leone and the region that may affect program outcomes to Washington, DC-based staff. + Oversee the development, review, and timely submission of program-related materials, including proposals, regular activity reports and monitoring and evaluation data that measure and evaluate program progress. **Minimum Qualifications:** + Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Political Science, Public Administration, International Relations, or a related subject. Relevant Master’s degree preferred. + Minimum twenty (20) years substantive professional experience overseeing international development programs, preferably in the field of democracy and governance. + Substantive senior-level experience in multiple disciplines of democracy development as a political practitioner with political parties or civic groups, or experience in strengthening credible elections, civic education, civic engagement and/or civil society development. + Program management experience, including development of work plans, strategic planning, office operations, and the management of fiscal and human resources. + Experience managing USAID-funded projects. + Knowledge of program design, monitoring, and evaluation tools and best practices. + Demonstrated ability to work effectively with senior political and civil society leaders as well as members of the donor and diplomatic community. + Exceptional interpersonal and managerial skills and cultural sensitivity to effectively interact with all levels of staff, U.S. and foreign government personnel, members of donor organizations, funders, and policymakers. + Proven capacity to meet program goals while managing financial, administrative, and security responsibilities. + Sound political and negotiation skills and extensive experience in working on complex programs and political issues. + Experience in local and international fundraising efforts. + Experience living and working in a country other than home of record. + Exceptional analytical skills for interpreting complex program and political issues. + Ability to adjust programmatic activities based on changing political circumstances and in response to needs articulated by local partners and program stakeholders. + Demonstrated intimate knowledge of and/or working experience in Sierra Leone’s political environment or similar regional or politically complex contexts. + Experience working in politically fraught and/or active conflict contexts. + Fluency in spoken and written English. + Experience with Google Apps (Gmail, Calendar, Google Drive, G+, etc.) and Excel. **Partially Accompanied (Adult Dependents Only)** – A staff member on overseas assignment may bring his/her adult dependent (spouse/domestic partner) to the country of assignment and NDI will provide the travel, housing and other allowances necessary to accommodate the presence of an accompanied adult dependent. **What We Offer:** We offer an environment committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging as a core part of our culture. We strive to foster empowerment and belonging as these values are central to our mission and to our impact. We believe that diversity in thought helps us solve the complex problems we face around the globe. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive benefits and allowance package based on the country of residency. **Additional Information:** _NDI is an equal opportunity employer (EEO). As such, NDI makes employment decisions and provides equal employment opportunity without regard to an applicant’s or employee’s race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state and local laws. As an equal opportunity employer, NDI encourages individuals with disabilities, including disabled veterans or veterans with service-connected disabilities, to apply._ _If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please notify NDI’s Human Resources department at Human_Resources_team@ndi.org. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act._ Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)