Vacancy Announcement for Country Director, Kazakhstan based in Almaty

[Dawn Blackwell]

Country Director


Almaty, Kazakhstan


 


Position Description


 

 

SUMMARY:

The Country Director is responsible for maintaining American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS organizational relations in Kazakhstan overseeing internal operations, and providing overall supervision of American Councils programs in country. The Country Director coordinates all administrative and programmatic tasks in the region including: recruiting, advertising, tracking, testing, assisting interview teams, directing alumni and follow on activities, and managing and accounting for office expenses. The Country Director position, located in Almaty, reports to the Regional Director for Central Asia and works with Washington‑based program managers.

 

Responsibilities: 

·         Maintains American Councils organizational relations in Kazakhstan with relevant US government offices and institutions (the US embassy, PAS, USAID, and other US government agencies); with national government and private institutions (government ministries, agencies and offices; national corporations; American Councils’ institutional partners); with the in-country offices of American organizations and foundations; and, with the international and domestic press;

·         Oversees American Councils internal operations in Kazakhstan; coordinates the activities of program staff; and advises staff on American Councils policies and employment matters regarding local national employees; 

·         Responsible for all in-country activities of the USAID-funded Community Connections Program;  supports Regional Director and DC based Community Connections staff in developing and monitoring budgets, negotiations and reporting program activities to USAID;

·         Provides overall supervision of American Councils programs in Kazakhstan by communicating, as needed, with country-based staff members concerning academic, operational, and other policy matters as affected by the region’s political, economic and cultural conditions;

·         Communicates regularly with, and makes recommendations to, the Regional Director for Central Asia, the Washington-based VP overseeing field operations and other staff on general program matters, on perceptions of American Councils programs and on the influence of local conditions on the organization’s programs in Kazakhstan;

·         Assists US-, Kazakhstan, and other NIS-based program staff in developing new programs and seeking new funding sources for ongoing or prospective projects;  assists in coordinating the work of American Councils offices in the host country and works to further external relations there;

·         Assists in coordinating work in other regions, as needed;

·         Plan and execute innovative alumni programming throughout country;

·         Supervises staff, coordinates development of programs, and oversees internal operations of auxiliary centers such as Educational Advising Center,  Alumni Center, Computer Based Testing Center; and 

·         Manages all general office administrative matters such as budgeting, finance and negotiating contracts; interacting with landlords, etc.

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

·         Fluency in Russian or Kazakh vital;

·         Bachelor's degree (graduate degree strongly preferred) related to region in:  economics, international education or development, history or related area;

·         Five years professional-level program management experience;

·         Overseas work/living experience, preferably in Kazakhstan; demonstrated interest in Central Asia;

·         Supervisory experience; experience supervising local national staff preferred;

·         Grants management and business development experience;

·         Experience working with Western institutions of higher education (admissions, placement, advising, etc);

·         Cross-cultural skills; and 

·         Strong written and oral communication skills (English, Russian and/or Kazakh)

TO APPLY:

Send letter/resume and salary requirements to HR Department, American Councils, 1776 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 700, Washington, DC  20036.  Fax: 202-572-9095 or 202-833-7523; email: resumes at americancouncils.org . Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer.

 

American Councils improves education at home and abroad through the support of international research, the design of innovative programs, and the exchange of students, scholars, and professionals around the world.  American Councils employs a full-time professional staff of over 370, located the U.S. and in 40 cities in 24 countries of Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Asia and the Middle East.

 
Dawn Blackwell
Human Resource Generalist
American Councils for International Education:ACTR/ACCELS
Phone: 202/833-7522
Fax: 202/572-9095