Director of the SADC-Groundwater Management Institute

VACANCY: Director of the SADC-Groundwater Management Institute

The SADC Groundwater Management Institute (SADC-GMI) is a newly established regional center of excellence on groundwater hosted by the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa on behalf ofand under the strategic guidance of the SADC Secretariat, Directorateof Infrastructure and Services – Water Division, in Gaborone, Botswana.

The vision of the SADC-GMI is to ensure the equitable and sustainable use and protection of groundwater, as well as being a center of excellence in the areas of groundwater management and management of groundwater dependent ecosystems in the region. The role of the GMI will be to:

 Promote sustainable groundwater management and solutions to groundwater challenges in the SADC region through building capacity, providing training, advancing research, supporting infrastructure development, and enabling dialogue and exchange of groundwater information.

 Conduct and support SADC Member States in groundwater research, and serve as a focal interlocutor with national, regional and international groundwater initiatives.

SADC GMI is established as a not-for-profit company under South African law and a business plan was prepared as part of the establishment process and outlines the task, responsibilities and long term development plan of the Institute. For the coming 5 years the SADC-GMI will act as the implementing agency of the Sustainable Groundwater Management in SADC Member States Project funded by the World Bank (through thesupport of the Global Environment Facility and the Cooperation in International Waters in Africa trust fund). During this period the SADC-GMI is expected to secure long term funding to become a sustainable center of excellence and groundwater expertise in the region providing research, training and advice to public and private sector clients.

The SADC-GMI is guided and supervised by a Board of Directors withrepresentatives of the SADC Secretariat, SADC Member States and the University of the Free State.

The Board of Directors of SADC GMI hereby invites applications from suitably qualified candidates to fulfill the position of:

Director of the SADC-GMI

Key Responsibilities

 Provide leadership, vision and operational management for the SADC-GMI

 Lead the strategic and effective partnership with the hosting entity, the University of the Free State

 Drive the functional and organisational development of the SADC-GMI

 Develop and maintain the relationships with the SADC Secretariatand SADC Member States representatives (through SADC Subcommittee on Hydrogeology)

 Manage the activities of the SADC-GMI and provide internal leadership

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 Develop, plan and deliver the Sustainable Groundwater Management in SADC Member States Project

 Act as a custodian of the corporate governance for the SADC-GMI

 Develop the SADC-GMI brand and its public image as center of excellence and SADC institution

 Manage the organizational and individual performance of SADC-GMIstaff

 Raise funds for long term SADC-GMI operational and program activities

 Manage the finances of the GMI

Required qualifications and experience:

 A minimum of Master's Degree from a recognised institution in institutional and business management , water related field or other relevant field

 At least 15 years' of work experience, of which 10 years is progressive experience in management at international level

 Experience in working in similar fields in the SADC region will be an added advantage

 Personifying an agency that enables cooperation at national, regional and international levels

 Proven experience in operationalising institutions, including management of staff and programme performance, strategic and business planning and sustainable financial management and fund raising

 Experience in working in both a development and a research organisation will be an added advantage

Personal Attributes

 National of one of the SADC Member States will have an added advantage

 Fluency in English or Portuguese or French with working knowledge of any of the other two SADC Languages will be an advantage

 Shares knowledge and experience and is a good communicator and facilitator

 Approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude

 Is willing to travel frequently as required by the job and to support the SADC Secretariat and Member States

 Demonstrates evidence of the following: critical thinking and problem solving, planning and organization, decision making, communication skills, negotiation skills, multicultural sensitivity and delegation

Terms we offer

 The SADC-GMI offers a dynamic working environment with a competitive salary and employment conditions

 The duty station of the SADC-GMI Director is Bloemfontein in South Africa

 Applications from well qualified women are especially encouraged

How to apply

 Candidates are invited to learn more about the SADC-GMI andthe position of the Director by accessing the website www.sadc.int/water/groundwater.sadc.int or to contact Ms Barbara Lopi of

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the SADC Water Division ([email protected] ) for the access to web-based information on the SADC Water Sector.

 Interested candidates should forward a Word-processed application letter and detailed Curriculum Vitae to Chairman of the Board of SADC-GMI e-mail [email protected] with copy to [email protected] on orbefore 30th June 2014.

 Only shortlisted applicants meeting the above requirements will be contacted