Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91-FP.991123111109.3173A-100000@cap1.capaccess.org> Date: Tue, 23 Nov 1999 11:14:42 -0500 From: "David C. Montgomery" <mailto:dmontgom@CAPACCESS.ORG> Subject: Position opening To: mailto:DEVEL-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
Please bring the following opening to the attention of anyone you believe qualified:PRESIDENT, Volunteers in Technical Assistance [VITA]
For forty years, VITA, a private nonprofit organization, has helped to enable poor people around the world to improve their quality of life. VITA works in Benin, Belarus, Chad, Guinea, Honduras, Moldova, Morocco, South Africa, and the Ukraine. Historically, VITA has been a source of information about problem-solving at the village level. Consequently, a strategic objective of VITA continues to be making available (to the rural poor worldwide) information which they can use to improve their standard of living. VITA has pioneered the use of low-earth satellite telecommunication to help meet this goal. Another important component of VITA's total portfolio includes implementing micro-credit projects and providing disaster relief information to Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and others responding to disasters worldwide. VITA has also carried out projects involving agricultural development, renewable energy and the environment. Funding for its programs derives from the Agency for International Development, the World Bank, UNDP, corporations and foundations. The annual budget is about $5 million. The current President is retiring after twenty years and now the Search Committee seeks a leader to build on his accomplishments. The new President must be a practical and inspiring idealist as well as an entrepreneur who can function as an effective manager with a diverse staff in the collegial tradition. Experience working in the developing countries and someone who is cross-culturally sensitive is essential. Some background involving volunteers would be helpful. Previous financial oversight experience as well as the disposition to delegate and innovate is important. The ability to speak French is highly desirable. Experience working with host country NGOs (to strengthen their institutional capacity) is a plus. Someone skilled at working with a Board is important. The successful candidate will have an appreciation and understanding of the importance of information in development. The ability to "market" VITA's development experience to USAID, UNDP and the World Bank is essential. A candidate with a successful track record raising funds from private and nontraditional sources would be attractive. Since VITA is a leader in knitting NGOs together, through technology and information, the Search Committee welcomes the candidacy of international communication professionals as well as others with appropriate backgrounds for this position. The starting salary will be based on previous earnings. An attractive benefits package is also provided. The new President will work out of a suburb of Washington, D.C. Ten percent international travel is required. The opportunity to work on some of the 2lst Century's most challenging problems is the main attraction of this job. Please visit VITA's website for more info at www.vita.org. Candidates able to withstand a searching background check should include a cover letter with their resume and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of five (5) character and professional references. Interested candidates should send or E-Mail a cover letter and resume to VITA's search firm: Dick Irish LEADERSHIP SEARCH 2674 Five Points Road Marshall, Virginia 20115 Tel. #540 364-4320 (Phone calls welcomed; E-Mail: mailto:leadershipsearch@erols.com.) -----------------------------------------------------------