Director General at African Union(AU)

Requisition ID: 242
Location: Addis Ababa
Reports to: Chairperson of the African Union
Directorate / Department: Bureau of the Chairperson
Number of Direct Reports: 4
Number of Indirect Reports: 5
Job Grade: D2

Purpose of Job

• To assist the Deputy Chairperson in delivering his / her mandate by leading the operational co-ordination of the Commission’s departments and non-elected staff in order to ensure high performance, results and impact.

Main Functions

• Facilitates the identification of top priorities for the senior leadership of the Commission’s 4-year mandate.
• Translates the senior leadership priorities into annual targets and goals and establishes a robust Commission-wide framework for monitoring and tracking progress.
• Provides regular reports to the Chairperson of the Commission on portfolio delivery;
• Provides regular reports to the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission on service delivery;
• Supports the implementation of the AU Institutional Reform Agenda by supporting reform initiatives across the Commission;
• Monitors and tracks progress in the delivery of the Commission’s annual performance targets;
• Ensures effective collaboration in programme development with the AU Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD);
• Collaborates with other members of the senior leadership team to ensure strategic coherence and overall synergy in the implementation of the Commission’s programme and the delivery of high impact results for the continent;
• Cultivates a knowledge management culture through promotion of research and publications that will ensure knowledge sharing and transfer across the Commission; and
• Drives performance and delivery across the Commission’s senior management and inspires high performance, teamwork and delivery across the portfolio.

Specific Responsibilities

• Facilitates the identification of top priorities for the senior leadership of the Commission’s 4-year mandate.
• Translates the senior leadership priorities into annual targets and goals and establishes a robust Commission-wide framework for monitoring and tracking progress.
• Provides regular reports to the Chairperson of the Commission on portfolio delivery;
• Provides regular reports to the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission on service delivery;
• Supports the implementation of the AU Institutional Reform Agenda by supporting reform initiatives across the Commission;
• Monitors and tracks progress in the delivery of the Commission’s annual performance targets;
• Ensures effective collaboration in programme development with the AU Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD);
• Collaborates with other members of the senior leadership team to ensure strategic coherence and overall synergy in the implementation of the Commission’s programme and the delivery of high impact results for the continent;
• Cultivates a knowledge management culture through promotion of research and publications that will ensure knowledge sharing and transfer across the Commission; and
• Drives performance and delivery across the Commission’s senior management and inspires high performance, teamwork and delivery across the portfolio.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Law, Finance, Management, International Relations or in a related field from a recognized institution plus fifteen (15) years of relevant professional experience with at least ten (10) years served in a senior management role preferably in an inter-governmental organization or national government / public service, international or regional institution, and a minimum of five (5) years of supervisory experience.

Required Skills:

• Ability to lead and manage complex organizations at the national, regional or international level;  
• Ability to set clear standards for accountability, probity, value for money and risk management
• Ability to propose new ideas and lead on new ways of working across silos in a complementary and synergistic way for a prosperous and peaceful Africa;
• Proven track record of change management and accomplishments at the regional, national or international level with strong resource mobilization, political and diplomatic skills;
• Demonstrated ability to lead a multi-cultural team and establish harmonious and effective working relationships both within and outside the organization;
• Interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Planning and organizing skills
• Knowledge and working understanding of AU policies, standards and processes
• Communication, presentation and report writing skills
• Proficiency in one of the AU official working languages (French, English, Portuguese, Arabic & Spanish) and fluency in another AU language(s) is an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Focus
• Developing Organisational Capability
• Change Leadership
• Strategic Risk Management.

Core Competencies:

• Building Partnerships
• Drives Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with impact.

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for Results
• Fosters Innovation.

Gender Mainstreaming:

• The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified candidates, including women, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Tenure of Appointment:

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two-years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

Remuneration
Indicative basic salary of US$  100,017.00  (D2 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment (46% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$ 26,208.00 (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.