Bi-lingual Secretary and Translator at DAI

Background

• Africa (HCD+) is a platform funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and will have the capability to serve as an African voice for advocacy, accountability and transparency on HCD.
• It will seek to accelerate political commitments, decision-making and funding for key priorities towards realising SDGs #1-6 in Sub-Saharan Africa. It aims to incubate regional advocacy and technical assistance hub on Human Capital Development towards increasing African Government's commitment, funding, and accountability to HCD.
• The platform, through increased HCD advocacy, focuses on three pillars: (i) Health and Nutrition; (ii) Education, skills and labour participation; (iii) Entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and digital economy.
• Also, HCD sits across multiple Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in many African governments.
• Hence, no organisation holds an integrated vision for HCD. An HCD-focused institution can further help the HCD agenda on the continent.
• It will focus on four missions: (i) Create transparency on the HCD performance across the continent; (ii) Advocate with heads of state and decision-makers to make HCD a priority; (iii) Ensure effective coordination and collaboration with stakeholders and decision-makers; (iv) Selectively drive the implementation of flagship programs in education, health and economic inclusion.

Position Objectives

• The Bi-lingual Secretary will be responsible for managing the schedule of the Executive Director in English and French.
• In addition will support in providing administrative, financial, contractual, and management oversight functions for a portfolio of projects. S/he will work directly with project and technical leads to strategically support projects to achieve quality programming and development outcomes. In addition, S/he will be undertake for the following activities.

Responsibilities & Duties

• S/he will manage the Executive Director’s schedule: receive and welcome visitors.
• Organize and manage appointments; keep the Executive Director’s timetable; make telephone calls; verify in-coming calls in order to assess their importance and possibility to answer, manage the Executive Director’s diary and schedule.
• Administrative management: organize meetings; receive, draft, type and make follow-up on administrative letters; meeting room bookings; provide supplies to the Director’s office.
• Organizing meetings and managing diaries.
• Management of mails: create a recording system of in-coming and out-going mails; ensure archiving and filing of documents, manage the office supplies for the Director, manage documents (in-coming and out-going, filing of letters); ensure follow-up on documents submitted to the Executive Director for signature.
• Booking transport and accommodation for overseas visits/international visitors (managing travel itineraries).
• Translating documents from English to foreign languages (French) and from French into English; coordinates the platform services per the terms of the Service Level Agreement for the relevant Business Unit or Department.
• Works with designated Technical Lead to ensure that technical activities and deliverables are implemented per the contract scope of work and approved work plan, with high quality.
• Support with the developing proposal and terms of reference as the need arises.
• Assist with managing budget realignments, contract modifications, and subcontract modifications.
• Participates in research, pre-positioning and/or proposal management for opportunities.
• Support in creating and maintaining comprehensive project documentation, master budget etcetera.
• Participate and provide support to the teams during strategic planning sessions based on her/his scope of work.
• Reviews and supports the technical lead - STTA deliverables.
• Manage budget realignments, contracts, and subcontract modifications; and
• Travel where necessary, with the Executive Director and Senior Programme Officer.

Qualifications and Person Specification

• Interested candidates should have a First Degree in Social Sciences or a related field.
• 6 - 8 years of working experience in similar positions.
• Good knowledge of project management.
• Good negotiation and interpersonal skills, ability to relate well and build a rapport with a diverse range of people.
• Good understanding of French Language.
• Sense of confidentiality.
• Ability to write concise, analytical, and accurate reports to meet agreed-on timelines.
• Attention to detail, good organizational and planning skills.
• Demonstrated strength and experience in writing technical reports.
• An excellent communicator with brilliant negotiation and analytical skills.
• Outstanding interpersonal, highly motivated and driven with a passion for delivering to the client.
• Build the capacity of the place teams to deliver on programme deliverables, reporting, and financial management.
• Strong computer skill in MS Office Suite is required.

Language:

• Fluency in English Language and French Language is required and
• Experience working in Francophone Countries is required.