Country Director

Location

Starting Date & Initial Contract Details

As soon as possible. Full time, 12 to 24 months.

Role Overview

Leading a diverse team who are committed to serve the world’s most vulnerable with practical and compassionate care, the Country Director oversees all programme and support activities in-country. Representing Medair in all issues relating to the country programme, the Country Director plays a key role in donor relations and manages the country strategy and the project implementation in conjunction with senior field managers.

Project Overview

Emergency projects targeting displaced, war affected and vulnerable populations in Eastern Congo. Projects are focused on health and nutrition, WASH and infrastructure rehabilitation, with a strong emphasis on rapid response to emergency situations in complex and unstable environments and/ or remote locations.  Capacity building of local health employees and populations aimed at long term and sustainable behaviour change to improve public health outcomes.

Our Culture

Key Activity Areas

Leadership and Management

• Design, update and assess/review the country strategy, in conjunction with senior staff in-country and at GSO. Lead on the implementation of the strategy with support and guidance from the Head of Country Programme (GSO). Monitor external and country-specific trends to anticipate future needs and requirements for all stakeholders.
• Manage and support all operations and departments, including reviewing the management structures; overseeing the development, and maintenance of operational procedures for individual projects, sectors, and all departments.
• Ensure compliance of all operations and departments comply with contractual obligations (proposals), external and internal guidelines as well as applicable national and international laws and regulations, including in-country registration and official documents.

External Relations Management

• Focal point for in-country relationships with relevant funding partners (institutional donors or private partners) in order to secure funding for the country programme. Balance the programme funding portfolio and oversee the full cycle of proposals, operational and financial reports in collaboration with the senior field managers and GSO staff.
• Develop and maintain relationships with external stakeholders (authorities, churches, media, other NGOs and embassies) to raise public awareness; engage with issues relevant to the humanitarian community; identify funding opportunities, identify and develop partnerships. Ensure representation in all humanitarian coordination mechanisms, NGOs forums and workgroups, sectoral meetings (clusters and Ebola coordination mechanism).

Administrative & Financial Management

• Support the planning and construction of streamlined base and project budgets, in collaboration with relevant managers and GSO staff. Ensure budgeting allows for appropriate funding level of all operations, positions, assets, and departments. Ensure that private funding spending is identified and discussed with GSO.
• Manage the spending within the programme in-line with the approved budgets. Analyse projected cash flow, decide on the timing of major procurements, oversee audits and anticipate where over or under spending may occur and ensure communication with donors and corrective action are taken.
• Ensure sufficient and appropriate controls are in place to ensure good quality, accountability and controls of our operations. Follow-up recommendations of auditors and monitor corrective actions, frequent spot-checks, and timely reporting of all incidents. Train and support the team in partnership with the internal administrator.

Staff Management & Safety

• Support good performance and people management including job descriptions, recruitment, performance management, development and training, health and safety, team structures, capability disciplinary action, etc
• Provide the team with leadership, advice, support, and build-up the senior managers. Jointly review the set-up of the different teams to ensure appropriate workload and staffing levels as well as good communications between team members, teams, geographical locations (Nairobi, Switzerland, etc).
• Responsible for the security and safety of all staff members. Ensure that all security SOPs, guidelines, plans and manuals are up to date and followed / implemented or take appropriate action if not.
• Take the lead, in-country, when an issue occurs and work in close partnership with HCP when planning for contingencies, reviewing decisions, communicating to the team, etc.

Operations & Quality

• Ensure country programmes are implemented in accordance with Medair, country and international standards and best practices e.g. Sphere and HAP standards, WHO recommendations, etc. in partnership with the staff.
• Support and oversee the monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the implementation of the planned activities in accordance with the project proposals and logical frameworks and institutional donor policies and guidelines.
• Organise training, workshops, etc. to train staff on quality, lessons learnt, promote reflexion, develop standard documentation and operations for rapid responses as well as transition programming.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Work, live, and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• University degree in a relevant subject such as Management / Development Studies / Business Administration or in a relevant technical subject.
• Strong working knowledge of English and French (spoken and written).

What is the ROC and why is it required?

Experience

• 3 years’ experience in a management position.
• 1 years’ experience in a complex humanitarian emergency.
• Computer literate with good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Experience in dealing with donors and officials, excellent networking and communication skills.
• Knowledge of Humanitarian Essentials, Sphere and HAP Standards and humanitarian debates and issues.
• Experience in the design, monitoring of implementation and evaluation of humanitarian / emergency programmes.
• Visionary and able to convey that vision to the rest of the programme.
• Team-player with high emotional intelligence and conflict resolution skills.
• Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels, resilient and perseverant.