Conservation International is seeking an experienced leader to serve as the Country Director for our Madagascar program. Setting the strategic and programmatic direction of the country program, the Country Director will be responsible for senior-level program management and ensuring that program strategies, initiatives and outcomes advance CI’s human development and conservation priorities. The Country Director provides broad programmatic, project, monitoring and technical oversight and continuously engages key internal and external partners critical to program success. He/she represents CI in the country and has a key role in building alliances, a central focus for CI strategy. The Country Director ensures that CI’s work is presented effectively to donors and key stakeholders to ensure strategic and sustainable partnerships.
The Country Director is responsible for managing the country program and all its component projects, leading the team, raising funds and managing financial and other resources. He/she also ensures that the program is integrated with CI’s strategic fundraising and partnership goals and works in collaboration with CI headquarters-based technical and operations units to support the needs of the field programs.
The Country Director directly manages staff, interdisciplinary teams, and/or outside partners. S/he works with a high degree of independence and serves as a technical expert in CI’s multidisciplinary approach of conservation. S/he exercises a high level of creativity and strategic thinking to efficiently manage the country program and build the local capacity within environments that are complex and full of challenges.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Reporting to the Senior Vice President, Africa Field Division, the Country Director will be expected to:
- Develop program strategies, objectives, work plans and metrics.
- Provide strategic oversight and team leadership to effectively implement program activities and ensure high-impact outputs.
- Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary team ensuring effective communication, instilling organizational values and behaviors and creating a work environment that attracts, develops and retains talent
- Lead program alignment and integration with division and CI-wide conservation priorities.
- Engage CI leadership and other senior staff.
- Directly oversee and ensure program compliance with CI policies, funding agreements and local requirements.
- Enable CI to promote national institutional and policy frameworks for development, that favor biodiversity conservation, and to support national capacity for conservation in CI field programs.
- Continuously cultivate and engage stakeholders including donors, government and NGOs, technical colleagues and other partners critical to program success.
- Represent CI in Madagascar and build alliances with governmental and non-governmental organizations to support CI outcomes, serving as a trust ed and visible point of contact for CI.
- Champion opportunities for program growth and development.
- Ensure program financial sustainability by setting fundraising strategy, securing program funding and managing financial resources.
- Regularly partner with CI and HQ staff on funding proposals including coordinating and finalizing the writing of funding documents (proposals & budgets), and regional/global fundraising efforts.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
People and Resource Management Responsibilities:
- Directly supervise program and project staff, including overseeing the work of external partners.
- Manage the program’s budget and finances.
- Manage public or private funds; ensure compliance with donor requirements and CI policies .
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Local and/or international travel of 30% or more, often in difficult travel conditions.
- Ability to work in remote locations or under difficult working conditions.
- This position will be based in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Applicants will need to have the ability to live and work there.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree. Advanced university, Master’s, MBA, or doctorate degree preferred.
- 10 years of work experience in management position in conservation related work.
- Senior-level program or project management experience, preferably in the global conservation, NGO, advocacy or related for-profit arena.
- Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects or initiatives involving multiple internal and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to achieve program goals with a high level of creativity and strategic thinking, to efficiently manage, and to build local capacity within extremely complex, challenging environments.
- Flexible and results-oriented with a high level of resourcefulness to deal with constant changes as a result of local social and economic circumstances.
- Superb technical and analytical skills.
- Excellent organization and time management skills.
- 3 – 5 years’ experience supervising others including multi-disciplinary teams.
- Proven leadership skills and success in effectively inspiring and engaging diverse works groups in a multicultural environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in French and English. Similar skills in Malagasy would be an advantage.
- A record of success partnering with, and influencing, key stakeholders and successfully raising funds.
- Proven ability to multitask and meet priorities. Adept at working in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities with limited supervision.
More Information
- Job City Antanarivo