• The.Ismaili Portugal | 17 November 2022 | Portugal

    Recrutamento: Executive Officer

    Foto: DR

O Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board (ITREB) da República Democrática do Congo encontra-se a recrutar para a posição de "Executive Officer”, para as suas instalações em Kinshasa. Envie a sua candidatura até 30 de novembro de 2022.

The Shia Imami Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board for D.R.Congo
Position: Executive Officer (EO)
Location: Kinshasa - DRC

The Position

he Executive Officer (EO) is the senior-most member of the ITREB’s staff. Under the supervision of the Board, the EO plays a leadership role in assisting the ITREB to fulfil its Constitutional mandate to provide religious education to all levels of the Jamat, train and upgrade religious education teachers and waezeen, engage in research, prepare materials and publications, be a point of reference and consultation for Mukhi/Kamadia in matters of religious practices, and to work in close collaboration with the Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS).

The EO is responsible for directing the ITREB’s administrative, academic and programme staff, and driving the implementation of its programmes and activities to achieve its strategic goals, in keeping with the guidance of the Imam-of-the-Time and with the goal of making the ITREB an organization that applies best practices in all aspects of its work. The EO oversee the interface between the Board members and staff, and manage its operations, secretariat, and staff at the national and local levels. As a leader, the EO inspires and motivates staff in order that they are self-driven high performing individuals. The EO oversees the interface between the volunteers and staff, and manages its operations, secretariat, and staff at the jurisdiction level.

The Executive Officer reports to the ITREB’s Chairman.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To fulfil this role, the EO shall undertake the following tasks, responsibilities, and deliverables:

ITREB Secretariat:

  • Coordinate the development of the ITREB’s strategic plans and their translation into programmes and activities, operational plans, budgets, and performance metrics.
  • Lead the preparation of the annual objectives, strategies, and budgets.
  • Monitor the implementation of the annual operating plans across the various portfolios and areas of activity. Evaluate their impact and make recommendations, as appropriate. Propose and take corrective actions in case of slippage or under-performance.
  • Responsible for ensuring that the approved budgets are adhered to.
  • Oversee the management of financial systems to ensure the accuracy, timeliness, and quality of information. Prepare regular and annual reports for the Board and for onward transmission.
  • Ensure adherence to financial policies and procedures (i.e., financial discipline, accountability, cost management, record-keeping, transactions, procurement, asset, and inventory management).
  • Analyse the Board’s programmes, activities, and performance to identify gaps and opportunities, and make recommendations as appropriate. Ensure the periodic evaluation of key programmes.
  • Stay abreast of external and internal issues and trends that may potentially impact the work of the Board and the Jamat (e.g., ethics / bioethics, secularization, education practices, teaching of RE, social media, regulatory context for faith communities, etc.).
  • Organize and participate in Board meetings. Ensure timely preparation and circulation of meeting agendas and minutes, and follow-up on Board decisions and on matters that arise.
  • Serve as the institutional memory and the point of reference for the continuity of the ITREB’s work. Coordinate the transition / handover process from one leadership team to the next.

Human Resource Management:

  • Ensure that the Board’s organisational structure and staff deployment are streamlined, effective, and aligned with its priorities.
  • Lead, inspire and motivate staff in order that they perform to their best capacities.
  • Foster a positive and productive work environment.
  • Ensure the implementation of human resource policies (e.g., staff recruitment, performance appraisal, succession planning, and code of conduct).
  • Make recommendations concerning recruitment, deployment, and/or replacement of staff. Encourage the continuing professional development of staff.
  • Draw on the expertise of TKN volunteers and other experts, as required.
  • Encourage and support the spirit of volunteerism within the Jamat, in keeping with our traditions and guidance of Mawlana Hazar Imam.

Programme Oversight and Management:

  • Analyse the needs and make recommendations to improve implementation of the programmes and activities to the religious education of the Jamat.
  • To ensure that the overall and specific targets for access to quality religious education for the various segments of the Jamat are achieved and improved upon. This includes timely reporting on a quarterly basis to Department of Jamati Institutions on Religious Education.
  • Responsible for maintaining credible and updated Management Information Systems in respect of the functions of ITREB and provide analytical reports, enabling better awareness as well as newer initiatives taken by the Board.
  • Manage the performance, vigorously, of the ITREB’s programmes and activities to attain targets and benchmarks of quality and access, especially relating to the provision of religious education to various segments of the Jamat. Successful oversight and implementation of STEP is particularly important.

Institutional Collaboration:

  • Work collaboratively with the National Council and Central Institutions to achieve strategic, programmatic, and administrative synergies, especially in ECD, youth development, and aspects of the Council’s outreach agenda in which ITREB input is required.
  • Serve as the point of liaison with GRB on financial, statutory and audit related matters.
  • Support the liaison between the Board and the Mukhi / Kamadia.
  • Develop and sustain relationships with the Department of Jamati Institutions, the Institute of Ismaili Studies, AKDN agencies in-country, ITREBs in the region and internationally.
  • Ensure the timeliness and quality of the Board’s communications to its stakeholders. Make proposals concerning his / her own continuing professional development.

Others:

  • Undertakes any other assignments in addition to the above and duties as directed by the Chairman and/or Honorary Secretary.

PROFILE: QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND ATTRIBUTES

The candidate should be a senior professional with 5-10 years of experience in management preferably in an education or non-profit context. The EO should have the skills and maturity to lead the Board’s professional staff and, from time to time, to represent the ITREB in various national and international forum. The role requires strengths in strategic thinking as well as operational management.

Academic Credentials:

  • Master’s degree in management, business administration, education administration or related field is a minimum requirement. A background in education, Islamic Studies, humanities, HR management / organizational development and/or an accounting designation would be an asset.

Attributes and Skills: Essential:

  • Fluency in English, Gujarati and/or Hindi.
  • Familiarity with and empathy for the Jamat, including cultural diversity within the Jamat.
  • Deep sense of responsibility, sound judgment and discretion.
  • Good inter-personal skills in dealing with senior leaders, volunteers and staff in the system.
  • Demonstrated ability to build strong, supportive and collaborative working relationships with internal team members, and leaders.
  • Proven ability to lead and motivate professional and volunteer team members from diverse backgrounds.
  • Demonstrated experience in successfully managing teams, staff, and/or projects.
  • Capacity to be effective through collaboration and teamwork.
  • Well-organized, self-motivated, able to multi-task, pays attention to detail, a “can do” attitude and a problem-solving mindset.
  • A track record of delivering projects and results within deadlines. Sensitivity to budgetary prudence and an entrepreneurial approach in optimizing the use of resources.
  • Good analytic and financial skills. Comfort in working with financial information, budgets, nonfinancial metrics and their interpretation.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills. An ability to articulate papers/reports that are concise and coherent.
  • Comfort in working with computing, information and communication technology.
  • Jamati institutional and volunteer experience.

Desirable:

  • Awareness of the provisions of the Constitution of Shia Imami Muslims and prior exposure to the Jamat religious education system.
  • A background in education, Islamic Studies, humanities, HR Management / organizational development and / or accounting designation.
  • Knowledge of Urdu and French would be an advantage.

Travel and Schedule:

  • Candidate may be required to travel and will have flexible work weeks, including working evenings and weekends. A willingness to travel from time to time within the jurisdiction and internationally is necessary.

Application Process: