Director, International & Public Affairs, African Union Office

About the role

The Director of the African Union Office serves as the Church's senior representative to the African Union and leads its diplomatic and public affairs presence in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The role builds lasting relationships with African Union institutions, member-state missions, diplomatic representatives, NGOs, faith-based organizations and partners, and ensures accurate representation of Church positions. It also provides on-the-ground leadership, continuity, institutional memory and operational oversight for the office.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute an approved engagement plan for the African Union, diplomatic missions, multilateral bodies, NGOs and faith-based partners.
• Represent the Church professionally in diplomatic, public affairs, interfaith, humanitarian and civil-society settings.
• Maintain stakeholder maps, engagement histories, priorities and follow-up records.
• Coordinate with Church headquarters on political, social, humanitarian, religious-freedom and reputational context for African Union engagement.
• Prepare briefing materials, correspondence, meeting strategies, visit programs, reports and recommendations for Church leaders.
• Coordinate with Area leadership and affiliated humanitarian entities to ensure unity and appropriate approvals.
• Lead office operations, including personnel, budgets, security, protocols, records, facilities, vendors and compliance with Church policies and local requirements.
• Plan and support visits, consultations, events and delegations involving senior Church leaders and external dignitaries.
• Elevate risks and sensitive matters promptly through established channels.
• Manage staff and recommend hiring, performance, advancement and status changes with Human Resources.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in international relations, diplomacy, public policy, law, political science, public affairs, African studies, development or a related field, or equivalent education and experience.
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible experience in diplomacy, multilateral affairs, government relations, international public affairs or humanitarian engagement.
• Demonstrated experience working with senior government, diplomatic, multilateral, faith or civil-society leaders in Africa.
• Strong understanding of African Union institutions, diplomatic protocol, regional dynamics and international development or humanitarian issues.
• Experience managing an office, staff, budgets, security considerations, visits, events and sensitive records.
• Legal eligibility to reside and work in Addis Ababa and to travel regularly throughout Africa and internationally.
• Preferred: Master's degree, professional proficiency in French or another African Union working language, and prior experience with the African Union, a diplomatic mission, an international organization or a major NGO.

Required skills

• Exceptional judgment, discretion, cultural intelligence, relationship management, writing, briefing, negotiation and public representation.
• Ability to operate independently in a complex international environment while staying aligned with authorized direction.
• Fluency in English and ability to work across linguistic and cultural settings.
• Sound knowledge of Church doctrine, organization, policy and humanitarian and public affairs objectives.