Director at The African Centre for Childhood

Location: Pietermartizburg, South Africa
Last Date: November 22, 2010
Email: info@acchildhood.org

THE AFRICAN CENTRE FOR CHILDHOOD
The African Centre for Childhood is committed to employment equity.

DIRECTOR
BASED IN PIETERMARITZBURG

1. Preamble
The African Centre for Childhood (ACC) is a partnership between the Regional Psycho Social Support Initiative and the University of KwaZulu-Natal with technical support from UNICEF. It was established to build partnerships for the development and delivery of situated supported distance learning to support people working with and caring for children at risk, their families and communities.

The ACC has just finalised the completion of a pilot of an Open Distance Learning Certificate Programme, entitled ‘Community Based Work with Children and Youth. Its success has been far-reaching, with 500 students across 8 countries having completed the course in March 2010. This programme will continue, and the ACC will further develop this mode of delivery, expand into new areas of engagement and participate in the development of a degree programme.

Reporting to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the Director of the ACC will ideally have extensive experience working with children at risk. The main purpose of this post is to provide leadership to the ACC:

• strategically positioning it;
• securing the funds for its operation; and
• building networks and relationships with stakeholders in order to advance the vision and mission of the ACC.

As a partnership-based organisation, a key element of all work at the ACC is collaborative and team-oriented. A priority of the Director will therefore be to facilitate, build and manage relationships in the five key responsibility areas mentioned below in collaboration with the Board of Trustees and any associated bodies.

The appointment is for an indefinite period, subject to performance and available funds.

2. Minimum Requirements

 A PhD degree with five years’ appropriate experience related to the care and support of vulnerable children, youth and their communities;
 The willingness to travel extensively in Africa;
 Evidence of success in major fundraising;
 Experience in distance education;
 Competence in English and an African indigenous language; and
 Knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of African cultures.

3. Key responsibilities will include
• Strategic direction and leadership and the introduction, implementation and regular review of programmes being offered through the ACC partnerships;
• Ensuring the development and implementation of a quality assurance frameworks for programmes being offered through the ACC partnerships;
• Establishing and supporting relationships which further the ACC’s capacity-building, research, intervention and other relationships and interests;
• Building the public profile of the ACC and securing funding for its activities, with the support and guidance of the Board of Trustees; and
• Financial oversight of ACC activities and management of any other ACC personnel.

4. Additional Requirements

• Commitment to work as part of a team
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Meticulous administration
• Commitment to education in Africa
• A wide range of contacts in the grant-making world.

5. Salary

The commencing salary will be disclosed to shortlisted candidates.

6. Supporting documents

Your application must be accompanied by a one-page letter of motivation, indicating why you believe you are eligible for the position, and the contact details of three recent referees. Only applicants who will be invited for interviews will be contacted. Certificates will be called for should this be necessary. All correspondence should be mailed to The Chairperson, African Centre for Childhood, Suite 175, Postnet X6, Cascades 3202, or e-mailed with the subject-line “Application for Director’s Post” to info@acchildhood.org.

The closing date for applications is 22 November 2010.