Skills Training and Rehabilitation Society (STARS) was established by a group of intellectual Afghans in 1997 to offer helping hand to the needy country people, particularly women and children. STARS has been working in Afghanistan since 1997, helping to tackle the country’s nutritional problems along with provision of other DRR and development services, and supporting vulnerable people to improve their livelihoods. STARS helped food insecure individual through local markets with the help of donors. STARS support emergency nutrition programs, providing ready-to-use foods in response to severe malnutrition in Afghanistan.

SUMMARY

The Program Coordinator provides advice and guidance in strategic decision-making to the Office of the Executive Director, He/she is responsible for working collaboratively with program units in program development, strategic planning, provision of technical assistance, and conduct of program audits.  The Program Coordinator is responsible for formal and informal mentoring of local staff to promote their professional development, and working in partnership with other units including Human Resources to identify technical and professional development needs requiring in-house or external training that will increase the effectiveness of the program staff in professional development areas related to technical and financial program development, program management, and program monitoring.  

Internal Relationships:

Extensive interaction with program/project managers/directors and staff, technical staff. Regular interaction with General Director/Executive Director.  Periodic interaction with Finance staff, and Finance/Grants, Administration, Human Resources, and Security Departments. 

External Relationships:       

Ongoing interaction with Afghan Authority, donors, international/local organizations, Networks, and the international community. 

• Engage and participate in strategic discussion and decision-making processes with senior leadership
• Provide overall strategic planning and guidance related to the thematic areas and new initiatives (including concept and proposal development)
• Develop new initiatives and proposals in the assigned areas
• Mentoring, counseling and supporting program staff for the purpose of building their technical and professional capacities
• Provide leadership support and advice as necessary to the programs/projects staff
• Provide recommendations and suggestions to achieve the goal and objectives of the programs/projects through systematic and periodic program audit
• Liaise and coordinate with Afghan and international organizations (government, civil society, NGOs, donors, and other organizations)
• Maintain high-level communication with all STAR’S stakeholders in relevant areas
• Review STARS research and all externally-distributed reports and documents, including STARS related research, surveys, and assessments, to that they are sensitive to the context of Afghanistan
• Be involved in any assignment asked and required by the DG/ Executive Director.

Specific Responsibilities:

•  Lead and assist the program/project staff to develop concepts, Proposals and reports to donors as well as to other stakeholders   
• Liaise with relevant government, Donors and other stakeholders at the strategic, planning and programmatic levels;
• Participate and work with. leading team for the organization development
• Network actively with relevant organizations, public policy communities, and others within and outside the STARS to exchange ideas and identify prospective strategic roles;

Education:

MA Degree, equivalent knowledge, or equivalent work experience.

Experience:  

More than seven years’ experiences in program/project management, design, implementation, planning, reporting, and monitoring and evaluation.

Experience working in an international organization required.

Five to Seven years’ experience in leading, managing, Humanitarian and Development programs and initiatives.

Required Skills:

• Ability to communicate the vision, goals, and objectives of STARS to staff and various external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and monitoring programs related to STARS thematic areas of Governance, Law, and Civil Society; Economic Reform and Development; Women’s Empowerment; and International Relations, as well as focal areas of Afghanistan, including Education and Peace and Reconciliation. 
• Good diplomatic and negotiating skills.
• Ability to lead and direct a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary program team.
• Familiarity with USG, EU and other donor’s requirements and respective program management systems a plus.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills in English.
• Fluency in oral and written Pashto and Dari.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with international and national colleagues.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft WORD, Access, and Excel.

Please send your CVs along with an interest letter to cv.stars@yahoo.com with the subject line (Program Coordinator) and Vacancy Number.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.