Program/Administrative Assistant at Human Capital Synergies

Purpose:

The Program/Administrative Assistant will prioritize and provide program-related administrative, logistical, and other support, focusing on executive-level support to the Regional Director, Africa. S/he will liaise with other internal stakeholders to ensure timely action on routine tasks, special projects and events forward, manage program schedules and timelines, create documents, correspondence and presentations, and provide project management as assigned.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide direct executive-level administrative support to the Regional Director, ARO, including managing of correspondence, scheduling and coordination of meetings, keeping RD’s and ARO’s calendar of events/meetings, drafting agenda, preparing program documents, and managing/closing follow up tasks.
• Organize travel/meeting plans with internal staff and external stakeholders, developing detailed itineraries, and managing logistics related to the travel schedule/meeting including agenda scope and briefing materials. S/he will also ensure that travel/cash advances and expense reports are prepared for and processed in a timely manner.
• Coordinate program activities across country teams and with other departments to maintain action lists and follow-up, managing correspondence and work flow, and compiling briefings and reports on time.
• Organize and schedule office and team activities.
• Gather information for internal communications, grant/administrative reports, regional notes, and team updates.
• Compile, verify and organize materials for trips, events, and reports.
• Manage special projects, including international events planning and execution.
• Create reports, presentations, or other data as requested
• Maintain database and contacts of key collaborators
• Facilitate translation of documents from French/Spanish to English as the need arises.
• Take meeting notes and share them with the Regional Director and all relevant colleagues for follow up actions/closure in a timely manner.
• Any other duties that may be assigned from time to time by the Regional Director, ARO.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAS):

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or any related field, from a recognized university.

Experience:

• Five years of demonstrable administrative experience.
• Experience working with grant-driven organizations preferred. Good understanding of best practices in procurement necessary.
• Highly organized and self-motivated self-starter who demonstrates a sense of ownership, willingness to take initiative, and prioritize with minimal supervision.
• Ability to communicate effectively across cultures.
• Detail- and process-oriented with excellent time management and project management skills, and the ability to handle multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.
• Fast learner and proactive thinker, able to anticipate needs and take action without requiring detailed instruction for routine responsibilities, and with a natural tendency to propose solutions along with anticipating and identifying problems.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
• Ability to maximize technology and other resources to ensure coordination among geographically diverse teams with proficiency in Google (Gmail, Calendar Apps) and Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint and Excel abilities).
• Fluency in oral and written English is essential; fluency in oral and written French would be an added advantage.
• Knowledge of diverse groups and sensitivity and appreciation of cultural differences is essential; experience living and working in a developing country or for an organization engaged in international work is desirable.
• This role requires candidates with high level of confidentiality and who have discretion.