Deputy Country Director - Engineering Background

Background

Innovation: Africa (iA) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose team of dedicated problem solvers work together to bring solar and water technologies to rural communities in Africa. We use solar energy to pump clean water and provide schools, orphanages, and medical clinics with light and refrigeration to store vaccines and medicines. iA has completed close to 1,300 solar, water, and agricultural projects, providing light, clean water, food and proper medical care to more than 5.7 million people in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Cameroon, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Job Summary

The Deputy Country Director will support the Country Director in overseeing iA’s operations, strategy, and program implementation in South Africa of solar water pumping systems.

This role is ideal for a 1-2 years experienced dynamic and results-driven leader who is a skilled project manager with background in water engineering.

The Deputy Country Director will play a key role in coordinating project execution and logistics, supporting local teams, ensuring quality standards, and expanding iA’s impact.

Based in Israel, this role requires a highly organized and detail-oriented individual with strong administrative skills and excellent interpersonal abilities. As a representative of Innovation: Africa, the Deputy Country Director will engage with partner communities and key stakeholders. 

Reports To

Country Director

Responsibilities

• Support the Country Director to oversee the implementation of the organization's projects in the country, ensuring that they are delivered effectively, efficiently, and in line with the organization's values
• Alongside the County Director, manage the organization's staff in the country, ensuring that they are recruited, trained, and managed effectively. This may involve overseeing the development of job descriptions, conducting performance appraisals, and providing support to staff as required.
• Support the development and implementation of strategic plans for the country’s operation, ensuring that they align with the organization's mission and objectives
• Report on the organization's activities in the country, ensuring that progress is monitored and reported to the organization's headquarters and donors as required
• Maintain iA project database, tracking tools, finance software, file and organize documents
• In the field: assist in preparing for donor trips, take field notes, oversee project implementation, meet with local contractors, visit prospective projects, meet with relevant stakeholders and ministries, accompany international guests on project visits
• Commit to regular traveling to the field

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Water Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related technical field
• 1-2 years of proven experience in project management, administration and coordination
• Experience negotiating/vetting contractors
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a multicultural team
• Willingness to travel regularly to rural field locations
• Native-level in English; additional languages a plus

A seasoned and charismatic professional with the necessary managerial experience to get the job done while inspiring confidence in the local teams and relevant donors. As such, all candidates must be results-driven, with proven experience in project management, administration and coordination. 

The ideal candidate is a problem-solver, detail oriented, flexible with strong communication skills. Exposure to working with municipal offices, negotiating/vetting contractors, experience in working in rural communities under an international humanitarian aid and development setting, and effectively reporting to international counterparts is preferred. Must be a fluent English speaker or have advanced proficiency in reading, writing and speaking.

Requirements/Other

This job requires regular travel to project sites in Africa.

As an international organization, our team is spread out between NY, Israel and Africa, and team members are constantly on the move. We strive to use technology solutions to keep our staff in close contact despite our travel schedules, and are all frequently on the phone, Zoom, Slack and more. This position requires the ability to keep up with this fast-paced environment, and to be comfortable working with colleagues across time zones and continents.

Application Instructions

Please send your cover letter and CV as a single PDF attachment to deputy.engineer.sa@innovation-africa.odoo.com. Please make the file name your full name.

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