Director of Protocol at the African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999). We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Director of Protocol

Req Id: 2686
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Reports to: H.E. The Chairperson
Directorate: Protocol Services
Number of Direct Reports: 2
Number of Indirect Reports: 22
Number of Positions: 1
Contract Type: Regular
Job Grade: D1

Purpose of Job

• To provide strategic direction and leadership in managing the operations of the Protocol Services Directorate in order to achieve the AU strategic objectives and goals.

Main Functions

• Develops and executes the overall strategy for the Directorate and ensures alignment with overall organizational strategy; 
• Manages and supervises employees within the Directorate, ensures the timely delivery of the Directorate’s goals and effective staff performance evaluation;
• Drives the implementation and monitoring of policies, strategies and programs to contribute to the effective implementation of relevant AU Policy Organs Decisions;
• Ensures the delivery of the Directorate’s annual targets in line with the organization’s overall goals and maintains robust departmental monitoring and evaluation systems;
• Provides technical leadership and ensures efficient functioning of all Divisions within the Directorate; 
• Manages the work of the Directorate and supervises direct reports to ensure their effective performance in line with the organization’s performance management policy and system; 
• Leads the Directorate and ensures effective management of personnel, budget, performance, program quality, employee relations matters and training in conformity with relevant rules, policies and procedures;  
• Builds and maintains good working relations and collaboration with other Directorates/Departments; 
• Develops and maintains regular working relations with senior stakeholders in Member State and partner institution; 
• Coordinates meetings between the organization and relevant partners; 
• Ensures the preparation of periodic financial and budget execution reports and other reports; 
• Ensures the effective management of funds contributed to the organization, attributed to the Directorate; 
• Implements and Maintains thematic partnerships in support of the mandate of the Directorate;  
• Develops and oversees policy development and guidelines in line with the organization’s legal framework; 
• Designs policies consistent with the AU’s strategic goals and mandate in order to address the pertinent issues in the relevant area; 
• Prepares and oversees integrated programs, projects and overall activities of the organization.
• Maintains a positive work environment that facilitates collaboration and information sharing and is conducive to attracting, retaining, and motivating diverse talent.
• Develops and maintains standard operating procedures (SOP’s) for the Directorate.
• Manages risks, develops mitigation measures and ensures business continuity of the Directorate.

Specific Responsibilities

• Builds and maintains a strategic plan to form good working relations with other Organizations;
• Develops and maintains rules and procedures relating to practices and services, including the issuance of Certificates of Merit for departing PRC Members;
• Manages all protocol related matters, resources and activities of the Commission;
• Overall supervision of the Protocol Directorate and dealing with policy matters with host government, foreign embassies and international Organizations;
• Advises the Commission on all matters of protocol and ensure that existing international practices regarding diplomatic protocol at ceremonies and public functions as well as forms of communication are adhered to;
• Communicates protocol rules and procedures to staff of the Commission;
• Supervises the preparation and organization of official functions and ensure that the conduct of ceremonies, official programmes, and functions are appropriately carried out;
• Coordinates and follows up appointments of the Chairperson of the Commission for all public functions and ceremonies such as visits of Dignitaries, presentation of Letters of Credence by newly appointed Ambassadors to the AU.
• Ensures that necessary arrangements for settlements of newly recruited staff members are made and assistance provided for securing accommodation and completing all residence formalities with host country authorities and institutions;
• Periodic review of the Protocol Manual;
• Oversees and approves issuance of AU Passport;
• Prepares the Programme Budget of the Directorate and oversee programme implementation and budget execution; 
• Ensures the full implementation of the Headquarters Agreement by the Host Government, or entice re-negotiations in case of obsolete articles of these Agreement;
• Ensures the use of high diplomatic standards in the Organisation’s interaction with Dignitaries and other International Organisation;
• Ensures high standard logistical organisation of summits and other conferences held at or outside the Headquarters;
• Contributes to the popularisation of the African Union as well as the implementation of Agenda 2063;
• Managess all activities related to visits of dignitaries, functions and programmes;
• Performs any other related duties that may be assigned by the supervisor.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• A Master’s Degree in Public Relations, International Relations, Political Science or Diplomacy or a related field with fifteen (15) years of relevant work experience of which eight (8) years must be at the managerial level and five (5) years at supervisory level.

Required Skills:

• Leadership and management skills 
• Communication, report writing and presentation skills 
• Negotiation and Interpersonal skills 
• Research and analytical skills 
• Knowledge and working understanding of AU policies, strategies and work processes. 
• Knowledge in the use of Microsoft Office suite and AU computer programmes 
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese and Spanish) and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Focus
• Developing Organisational Capability
• Change Leadership
• Strategic Risk Management.

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationship
• Accountable and Complies with Rules
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with Influence.

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual Thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for Results
• Continuous Improvement Orientation.

Tenure of Appointment:

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

Gender Mainstreaming:

• Africa CDC is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Languages:

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, and Spanish) is mandatory and fluency in another AU language is an added advantage.

Remuneration
Indicative basic salary of US$ 78,138.00 (D1 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment (46% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$ 26,208.00 (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.

Application Closing Date
9th May, 2025, 11h59 p.m. EAT.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted. 
• Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as Diplomas, Bachelor's degrees, Master's degrees and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.
• The African Union is an equal opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. 
• Candidates from less represented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles.
• These countries include Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe., Seychelles, Somalia and Tunisia.