Director and Team Lead of the Cooperative Development Research and Resource Center of OCDC (International Cooperative Partnerships)

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1 Director and Team Lead of the Cooperative Development Research and Resource Center of OCDC (International Cooperative Partnerships) Executive Overview The U.S. Overseas Cooperative Development Council (OCDC) brings together organizations that promote, assist, and support the formation of member-owned and controlled cooperatives throughout the world. OCDC, a group of nine cooperative development organizations, formed in 1968 to coordinate these cooperative development activities. OCDC s members are global leaders in cooperative development in Africa, Latin America and Asia and apply their expertise and approaches in a wide range of settings and countries. With multi-year projects in over 70 countries, OCDC members implement the largest portfolio of cooperative development programs in the world. OCDC members have been development partners with the U.S. government for more than 50 years and receive funding from other sources as well. The ongoing focus of OCDC s members is to lift people in developing countries from poverty through income development, food security and democracy building. As part of our ongoing work we are launching a new initiative: the Cooperative Development Research and Resource Center (CDRRC). CDRRC has been established to build upon, expand, and broaden ongoing research activities to meet the needs of the international cooperative development community. In this newly created and highly visible position as Director and Team Lead (International Cooperative Partnerships), you will lead the strategic development, and ultimately the implementation of, the Cooperative Development Research and Resource Center. This is a newly awarded planning grant you are coming in at the very beginning of this initiative. This is yours to build. You will work in close collaboration with the Executive Director of OCDC and you will have access to the shared resources of OCDC. The development of CDRRC grows out of the long and rich field experiences of OCDC s members and the positive results of their collaborative work (in areas like cooperative law and regulation in developing countries, cooperative performance metrics, and the assessment of the impacts of cooperative programs and enterprise). These successes have led to the shared desire to create an institutional capacity (CDRRC). As you develop the design and business plan for CDRRC, you will identify key stakeholders throughout the cooperative landscape and partner with key decision makers across OCDC members to identify key issues impacting international cooperatives, and prioritize key strategies to support CDRRC s mission. Ultimately you will create a platform to: (1) establish learning agenda objectives, (2) coordinate research and (3) disseminate and support adoption of the results. Your work will expand upon and enhance the current individual member cooperative development organizations research efforts through greater coordination and shared efforts across worldwide stakeholders. Page 1 of 6

2 Relevant Background Information The Cooperative Development Research and Resource Center (CDRRC) initiative spans national and international levels. The vision is to establish a capability that: Over the next ten years will build a far-reaching network of partnerships with organizations and individuals who are already engaged in researching various aspects of collective action. Will search for the institutional, regulatory, economic, and other determinants of cooperative sector success as well as create more rigorous measurements of the economic and other impacts which cooperative enterprises make on the lives of their members and communities. Will bring together donors, policy-makers, social scientists and policy leaders to utilize the results of research to strengthen the enabling environment and support for cooperative development. With the sustained involvement of all OCDC members, CDRRC will become an important contributor to international cooperative research and resource development, supporting the global cooperative community goal of greater cooperative enterprise contributions to enduring economic, social, and environmental returns. CDRRC will partner with international development organizations to ensure their access to the cooperative development research necessary to inform cooperative development policies and future interventions. In addition to improving and expanding the knowledge base of OCDC member cooperative development organizations (CDOs) and their partners, the CDRRC will provide a platform for the development and deployment of specialized services to, and in concert with, the OCDC membership, such as evaluative studies, worldwide outreach, information dissemination and application of cooperative development research products and tools. The CDRRC will also assemble partnerships between OCDC and its members with a wide constituency of international development agencies and other cooperative development stakeholders. Organization Overview U.S. cooperatives began their work in overseas development following World War II based on their conviction that cooperatives, which have enabled millions of Americans to improve their economic and social conditions, could also help rebuild Europe and assist low-income people in developing countries. International development activities by OCDC members provide expertise and support to nearly 5,000 cooperatives serving 130 million people in 100 countries. The projects and activities by OCDC members are delivered in partnership with U.S. government agencies, foreign governments, and multilateral agencies, foundations and corporations. OCDC s members are cooperatives or associations of cooperatives engaged in international development. They represent diverse economic sectors including agriculture, finance, health Page 2 of 6

3 care, rural electrification, housing and community building. In the U.S., OCDC s member organizations encompass more than 22,000 cooperatives with approximately 100 million member-owners. OCDC brings together organizations committed to building a more prosperous world through cooperatives. OCDC s mission is to champion, advocate, and promote effective international cooperative development. OCDC s members are: ACDI/VOCA, Global Communities (formerly CHF International), Communications Cooperative International, Cooperative Resources, International, HealthPartners, Land O'Lakes International Development, National Cooperative Business Association, NRECA and the World Council of Credit Unions. Essential Duties and Responsibilities In this role you will lead three key phases to develop CDRRC: Planning and Scoping Phase Complete analysis and research, and produce a plan that enables the OCDC board to reach decisions on the constitution and form of the research and resource facility. Develop program plan that supports the establishment of CDRRC as an entity. Develop policy documents and define CDRRC research agenda. Coordinate with several other cooperative development program (CDP) research activities (e.g. efforts to develop and apply a comprehensive approach to measuring cooperative impact across a broad axis of financial, economic and participatory measures). Outline a plan to expand upon on-going research on cooperative laws, regulatory policies, organizational structures and management issues (all which influence the ability of cooperative and cooperative industries to prosper in the developing country). Initiate networking and outreach with partners and other stakeholders, including cooperatives, academic centers, cooperative development organizations and international development agencies. Design Phase Complete extensive information gathering and outreach to ensure the CDRRC design coordinates with existing research work related to cooperative development and support organizations. This phase includes these planned activities: Due diligence on the demand for CDP expertise and resources and outreach to CDP practitioners and sponsors. Formulate an expandable agenda of cooperative development research, benchmarking and principles for dissemination drawing on the initial work of the CDO collaborative study effort, approaches currently employed by CDOs and drawn from other sources. Page 3 of 6

4 Formalize an organizational structure and program design to effectively address the common resource needs of CDOs and others working to improve the performance of cooperative sectors and industries. Develop the CDRRC s organization and operational format and implementing systems. Develop the CDRRC s business plan, including an assessment of funding implications and sources. Once these preparatory activities are completed, constitute the Center and establish organizational and resource alliances among expert entities (including US CDOs and the domestic resources available to them) and sponsor cooperative development programs and projects overseas (including multilateral agencies and their policy development and research arms). Launch and Dissemination Phase CDRRC implementation will occur under a gradual building process, over several years, assuring that its contributions to the work of the existing cooperative development universe can be effectively formulated to be additive, and not duplicative, enhancing the work and capabilities of OCDC-member CDOs and their partners. Conduct evaluative works aiming at formulating strategies and proposals to demonstrate ways in which cooperatives at a local, national and/or international scale may be effective in meeting key development challenges including: food security; technology transfers; post-conflict civil society efforts; climate change; disaster response. Essential Education, Experience, Skills, and Attributes This position requires the following: Bachelor s degree required. Master s degree preferred. 10 plus years senior management experience. At least 5, preferably 10yrs of experience working with cooperatives. International experience preferred. Demonstrated success leading an organization or a major area/initiative. Experience crafting a vision, cultivating a plan, implementing a strategic initiative, and building enthusiastic support in the community. Ability to design, implement, and direct multiple projects, setting deadlines and ensuring financial accountability. Analytical decision making and business judgment. Track record of gathering input, assessing risk and developing scenarios. Able to present information that considers the business impacts and articulates the benefits for stakeholders. Ability to take ownership for issues and follow through to resolution. Excellent communications skills, both written and verbal Excellent facilitator and able to lead discussions. Confident, engaging presentation style. Able to travel as needed. Page 4 of 6

5 Attributes Business acumen: You re intellectually curious. You are detail-oriented but you can also see the big picture and understand how the details relate to the overall mission of an organization. You are passionate about identifying and meeting challenges through proactive alignment and engagement of key stakeholders. You also know how to translate strategy into action. Egoless, results-driven, consensus builder: You are able to build consensus, as you seek first to understand, then to be understood. You understand the concerns and needs of others and how to realistically manage expectations. People know that you have their best interests in mind and that you are sincere in your communications you are seen as an honest broker. Service-driven and results driven. You are committed to providing the highest level of service while remaining aligned with the mission of the organization. You are known for how you get things done. You see the big picture, monitor your key metrics, and take the action necessary to produce results. You understand that success in this role requires taking full strategic advantage of each meeting, event and phone call, to foster rapport, build support (including financial support), and deliver on our key priorities. You work confidently, and are seen as knowledgeable and trustworthy. Excellent communicator: You are approachable, flexible, and responsive. You confidently engage with staff at all levels. You are known for your poise, tact, and diplomacy. Organizationally agile. You have a thoughtful, respectful communication style and foster an open environment that enables thought-provoking discussions. You give respect and earn respect. You share information, work cooperatively, seek out relevant information, decide the appropriate steps and get the desired results. You effortlessly adjust your style and message to convey value to different markets. Entrepreneurial: You are curious and an excellent sounding board for new ideas. You enjoy engaging in thought-provoking business discussions and yet appreciate the value in sound business fundamentals and well-constructed business decisions. Perceptive. Smart and creative, you intuitively recognize opportunities and take action. An excellent priority manager. You easily identify what s urgent from what s a priority. You are able to make a thorough review of the agenda at hand, and make sound decisions on what takes precedence going forward. Personally resilient. You are effective in start-up mode and know how to launch major initiatives. You have a unique ability to know what is needed in the moment without losing sight of what the organization can become. Page 5 of 6

6 What s Attractive to the Right Candidate? This is a high visibility role where you will work directly with leadership and your contributions will be appreciated. You will be seen as a strategic, thoughtful, and collaborative partner. You will be at the very center of driving initiatives that will support the international cooperative development world as a whole. Your natural ability to make connections with people, gather ideas, and turn ideas into action, will benefit the entire cooperative development community for years to come. Mission: Cooperatives are one of the most powerful tools for building a prosperous world. They can dramatically impact individual lives and communities. Your work is important, and it makes a real difference in the world. This is yours to stand-up. You will have an active voice as a key contributor. Your ideas and input are an integral part of our success, domestically and internationally. You will enjoy a close working relationship with the Executive Director, who is has over twenty years of expertise and personal investment in the world of cooperatives, and is supportive, does not micromanage, and will trust you to do your job well. OCDC offers a competitive compensation package. To Apply for the Director and Team Lead (International Cooperative Partnerships) This search is managed by Jennie Kinsfather at Staffing Advisors. Please forward your resume and cover letter to Jennie@StaffingAdvisors.com with OCDC Director and Team Lead/ in the subject line of the . Staffing Advisors is committed to helping our clients create a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Page 6 of 6