Fiji — Program Development Officer

Title: Program development officer
Location: Habitat for Humanity Fiji national office, Suva
Term of service: 12 months, beginning as soon as possible

Assignment summary
The program development officer is responsible for resource mobilization, fundraising and partnership development. This includes meeting, negotiating, networking and communicating with government, donors, nongovernmental organizations, church and other faith-based groups and other entities. Through these connections, the volunteer will help forge, develop and maintain partnerships, mobilize resources, fundraise and advocate to develop, expand and improve the Habitat for Humanity Fiji programs and projects.

Responsibilities
Under the direction of the national director, the program development officer will

• Represent HFH Fiji to meet, negotiate, network and communicate with government, donor, NGOs, FBOs and other entities to forge, develop and maintain partnerships, mobilize resources, fundraise and advocate. Through these efforts, the volunteer will help develop, expand and improve the Habitat for Humanity Fiji programs and projects.
• Closely collaborate with other HFHF staff to effectively coordinate and connect program implementation with program development.
• Produce high-quality reports—both regular and ad hoc—for the national director, the head of finance and administration, Habitat for Humanity International, internal and external auditors, donors and partners.
• Produce high-quality written proposals and conduct concise, professional PowerPoint presentations.
• Act as a liaison between the national office and government, donors, NGOs, FBOs and other partners.
• Participate in annual program events; affiliate self-assessment, evaluations, staff retreats, staff development activities, international and national meetings and other events as needed.
• Participate and assist with Global Village and other HFH Fiji home-building activities.
• Perform other duties both in the Suva office and in the field, including occasional overnight travel to rural areas, as assigned by the national director.

Requirements

• At least five years of full-time experience in relevant program development work that includes resource mobilization, strategic fundraising and partnership development.
• Willingness to travel within Fiji—including remote and rural areas—and internationally as needed.
• English fluency, both written and oral.
• Strong verbal communication skills.
• Excellent people skills.
• Ability to problem-solve and think creatively.
• Proficiency with Microsoft programs (i.e., Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and Internet usage.
• Experience working in multicultural environments is strongly preferred.
• Ability to work across a broad spectrum of private, corporate, religious, government and not-for-profit sectors.

Support from the host organization
Work-related transportation costs and office-related supplies will be covered. It would be preferable for the volunteer to have a valid driver’s license and be willing and able to occocasionally drive a four-wheel-drive vehicle on rural, unpaved roads. An office vehicle will be provided for work purposes only.

Volunteer budget
HFH Fiji will obtain and pay for the needed work permits for the volunteer before or upon arrival, per applicable Fiji laws; work-related transportation and office-related supplies. Volunteer will be responsible for all costs associated with living in the host country.

An estimate for a single individual is given below. (All figures are in U.S. dollars.)

Assignment location information
The volunteer will work in the Habitat for Humanity Fiji office in Walu Bay, Suva. The office is on the main island of Viti Levu in the country of Fiji, located in the Pacific Ocean. HFH Fiji has about 12 staff members and is an area of the capital city of Suva that is generally considered safe and secure. It is also located within walking distance of the major urban bus stop, should the volunteer wish to use the reliable and safe local transport systems (buses).

Fiji has a hot, humid tropical climate. It is a popular tourist destination, with over 500,000 tourists visiting each year. The capital city of Suva has many basic amenities and services, including: shopping malls, banks, ATMs, restaurants, hotels, a cinema, private and public health facilities, high speed internet, phones and cable television.

While the democratically-elected government was replaced in a bloodless coup in 2006, the security conditions for residents and tourists within the country have not been affected by the coup. Accordingly, Fiji remains a place with relatively low crime, though some basic precautions are suggested to avoid things like burglaries and purse snatchings. HFHF staff will provide further information and advice to volunteers.

Habitat for Humanity Fiji
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