Project Director – Commercially Viable, Conflict-Free Gold (CVCFG) Project

Apr 4, 2019 | Levin Sources
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Levin Sources is a consultancy that helps its clients integrate social, environmental, and economic sustainability into their mining and minerals operations and sourcing practices through research, assurance, and capacity building.

Project Introduction

The USAID-funded Commercially Viable, Conflict-Free Gold (CVCFG) Project aims to tackle economic injustice and conflict by driving better business in the gold supply chain. The five-year programme seeks to strengthen the responsibly sourced gold supply chain originating from eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The project aspires to improve access to markets for artisanal and small-scale mining cooperatives and facilitate international responsible ASM gold trade. The consortium responsible for implementing the project is led by Global Communities.

Using a private sector-centric approach, the program will address downstream and upstream barriers to achieving commercially viable, conflict-free, Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) gold supply-chain originating in eastern DRC. This will be achieved by:

  • Objective 1: Increasing demand for and co-investment in conflict-free, traceable ASM gold from eastern DRC by increasing the reputation, visibility and availability of responsibly sourced gold from eastern DRC that meets ICGLR and OECD requirements;
  • Objective 2: Increasing the exports of conflict-free, traceable ASM gold from eastern DRC by strengthening and replicating the supply chain traceability and due diligence approach introduced by the Just Gold Project;
  • Objective 3: Improving governance and business operations of ASM gold cooperatives through targeted and participatory capacity building.

Levin Sources is leading Objective 1 and providing support for Objective 2.

Job purpose

The Project Director is responsible for strategic direction over the lifetime of the project, ensuring the successful achievement of the project’s objectives and alignment with Levin Sources’ values and strategy. The Director will maximise the opportunity for positive impact in DRC and across Levin Sources’ and other partners’ and stakeholders’ activities, S/he will participate in the consortium steering committee, oversee monitoring and evaluation, provide senior technical expertise and quality control, and ultimately ensure delivery of the project in line with donor requirements and expectations. S/he will work closely with all consortium members and other project partners, platforms, and initiatives that coalesce around the fundamental challenge of scaling sustainable supply chains of responsible gold from DRC into international markets. An aptitude for public relations and private sector mobilisation is key.

Main duties

Market systems development and stakeholder engagement

  • Lead Levin Sources’ research into barriers to trade and market development opportunities by providing guidance to the project team, overseeing research methods, and ensuring the quality of the deliverables being produced;
  • Provide strategic and commercial leadership to identifying, developing and piloting solutions to identified barriers and opportunities;
  • Prioritise, pursue and realise opportunities in diverse markets in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and/or North America;
  • Engage and curate long-term and mutually beneficial relationships with strategic stakeholders;
  • Secure investment agreements from companies across the mineral supply chain, from ICT multinationals to designer jewellers;
  • Represent the project in several contexts, such as at events, stakeholder meetings and other relevant opportunities to raise awareness about the project, share the business case for ASM gold from DRC and attract co-investment

Project leadership

  • Represent Levin Sources and the project team during strategic meetings with the other members of the consortium, such as the project senior management team;
  • Ensure constructive and productive relations with all members of the Levin Sources team, the consortium, and project partners and stakeholders;
  • Manage the project team, composed of Levin Sources’ project manager, researchers, specialists and administrative support;
  • Oversee management of sub-contractors
  • Oversee the budget and hold responsibility for the compliance and financial management of the project.

Strategy and innovation

  • Be familiar with adaptive management approaches.
  • Build on the progress of previous initiatives designed to link ASM gold to the market and drive to generate change in the sector through innovative solutions;
  • Be passionate and engaged with the challenges and ambitions of solving economic injustice and conflict through better business in the gold supply chain. Note that these responsibilities may vary as the project develops in order to ensure its success.

Desired specifications

Required Experience and Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance, Economics, Law, Geography, International Relations, International Development, or related fields.
  • 10+ years’ relevant experience in the minerals sector, specifically with respect to precious minerals or conflict minerals value chains.
  • Deep understanding of one or some of the following additional sectors: supply chain logistics, banking and finance (trade finance, project finance), jewellery, electronics, medical, international trade and development.
  • Established network in trade facilitation and/or downstream markets preferred.
  • Experience leading multi-million, multi-year donor programmes. Experience in USAID grant implementation advantageous.
  • Highly commercial, including experience with negotiation and deal-making.
  • Able to confidently develop and manage the strategic and commercial aspects of the project, mitigate any risk and harness opportunities for maximizing positive impacts for project beneficiaries, partners, and donors.
  • Excellence in relationships management and research, analysis and writing. Able to design structured research methodologies and plan research to meet tight deadlines and generate credible findings.
  • Experience working in and/or with businesses; small, medium and large
  • Experience working at the policy and political level in responsible sourcing of raw materials.
  • Experience working with diverse stakeholders in Sub-Saharan Africa and in gold market economies.
  • Demonstrated ability to solve problems and drive innovation.
  • Highly proficient team leader able to motivate and unite diverse interests around a common goal.
  • Quantitative and qualitative data and information analysis.
  • Knowledge and past application of monitoring and evaluation methodologies.
  • Ability to engage stakeholders and build relationships at all levels.
  • Diplomacy and empathy
  • Fluent in English. Fluency or working proficiency in French desirable.