Vacancy Announcement for Country Director based in Baku Azerbaijan

[Dawn Blackwell]

Country Director, Azerbaijan
Position Description
 

SUMMARY:

The Country Director is responsible for maintaining American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS organizational relations in Azerbaijan, overseeing internal operations in the Baku office, and providing oversight of student, undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate, and teacher and professional development exchange programs.  Primary responsibilities include: recruitment and testing of potential program participants; orientation and coordination of logistics for participants; oversight of administrative and finance functions; supervision and delivery of alumni programming; and liaison with government officials.  The Country Director reports to the Director of Program Administration and works with Washington‑based program managers and field-based program officers.

 

Responsibilities: 

Oversight and Leadership:

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

·         Represents American Councils as related to all programs in individual consultations, public appearances, and meetings with potential and existing partners;

·         Maintains American Councils organizational relations in Azerbaijan with relevant US government offices and institutions (the US embassy/ consulate, PAS, USAID, and other US government agencies); with the Azerbaijan 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;

·         Communicates regularly with, and makes recommendations to the Operations Director, Eurasia on general program matters, on perceptions of American Councils administered programs and on the influence of local conditions on administration of programs in Azerbaijan;

·         Participates actively in developing new programs, seeking new funding sources, and enhancing external relations.

 

Administration and Finance:

·         Oversees American Councils internal operations; coordinates the activities of program staff; and advises staff on American Councils policies and employment matters;

·         Manages all general office administrative matters such as negotiating contracts; interacting with landlords, maintaining proper work environment, etc.;

·         Provides DC office with finance reports monthly, and budgets every six months; monitors all outgoing and incoming funds; 

·         Oversees tracking of all applicant and participant files;

·         Hires for approved positions, prepares contracts and maintains files for host-country national staff, trains and oversees staff, conducts performance reviews, monitors proper submission of timesheets.

 


Program Administration:


·         Oversees and assists in organizing, implementing and reporting on activities, including recruitment and alumni activities delivered by host country offices;

·         Monitors all recruitment activities to assure timely and proper conduct of competitions;

·         Conducts recruitment, including advertising, lectures, interviews with finalist candidates, testing, correspondence, and meetings with parents, applicants and finalists, and those not selected;

·         Coordinates alumni activity planning and delivery of appropriate activities for alumni of all programs, oversees alumni assistants and alumni fellows, coordinates updates to alumni information, submits regular reports on alumni activity;

·         Coordinates appropriate contributions to recruitment and alumni activities from alumni, host-country national assistants, and Americans;

·         Meets with ministry and US government officials regularly to provide appropriate information and overview of the competition process and alumni activities; keeps them informed of changes regarding the competition;

·         Coordinates and supervises all logistics for events:  meeting flights, transporting to hotels, organizing support staff, registering participants, providing support to dignitaries and guests.

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

·         Program administration experience;

·         Experience in budget management;

·         Supervisory experience; experience supervising host-country national staff preferred;

·         Fluent in regional languages and/ or Russian;

·         Experience traveling extensively under difficult conditions;

·         Overseas work/living experience, preferably in Azerbaijan; demonstrated interest in Azerbaijan and the region;

·         Cross-cultural skills;

·         Strong written and oral communication skills;

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

 

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 for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS, an international not-for-profit organization, believes in the fundamental role of education in fostering positive change for individuals, institutions and societies. Building upon over three decades of regional expertise and development experience, American Councils advances education and research worldwide through international programs that provide the global perspective essential for academic and professional excellence. In collaboration with partners around the world, our dedicated team of professionals designs and implements innovative and effective programs responsive to the cultures and needs of the international communities in which we work.  American Councils employs a full-time professional staff of over 370, located in forty-seven offices in forty cities in 15 countries of Eastern Europe and Eurasia.