Country Director – Somalia 149 views0 applications

Position: Country Director – Somalia

Location: Somalia, with significant representation in Nairobi required

Reports to: Regional Director – Africa

ABOUT RI:

Relief International (RI) is a home to teams of humanitarian activist-professionals committed to transforming adversity into renewal for the world’s most vulnerable populations. By partnering with beneficiaries and communities on the front-lines, RI innovatively bridges the gap between immediate relief and long-term community development.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Country Director, Somalia (CD) is responsible for the overall management and development of Relief International’s (RI) country program in Somalia. This involves ensuring that the grants programming meets stated objectives, that all activities are in line with RI’s mission and strategy, and the programming is meeting the needs of beneficiaries. The CD is also responsible for spotting and pursuing new program opportunities and identifying gaps in services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Planning and Development

· Develop, in cooperation with other staff, short, medium and long-range strategic plans maintaining program focus in areas congruent with RI’s program objectives

· Lead RI Somalia resource mobilization that is fully responsive to beneficiary needs

· Maintain effective communications with donors by tracking trends and anticipating the likelihood of funding opportunities

· Spot and aggressively pursue new opportunities for program growth and start-up including conducting full-scale assessments, in coordination with regional and global Programs and Program Development Team members.

· Assess other implementing organization’s activities using all available means to identify gap areas and overlap

· Identify and participate in forums and meetings for the NGO sector where a strategic benefit for the organization exists

· Negotiate contracts and agreements with donors and partners, in coordination with regional and global programs, program development and Grants and Contracts teams

· Maintain effective communications with RI’s regional and global support departments, regarding program development, funding agreements, security, human resources and other operational issues

· Identify, and where necessary, initiate and maintain program partnerships with external agencies.

Program Management

· Manage project implementation, including allocation of resources and ensuring that appropriate controls are maintained at all levels, by working with program managers

· Ensure that team members are effective and efficient and contribute the necessary work to ensure their programs are a success. Provide feedback to staff to ensure optimal performance.

· Ensure all programs are completed within time, on budget and achieve their objectives

· Provide adequate support to each program, including but not limited to strategic vision, technical input and advice, and hands on support with assessments, reporting, budget follow-up and problem solving.

· Monitor project implementation, communication and report both internally and externally

· Serve as a link between RI and all project counterparts through sector coordination

· Ensure overall audit compliance, financial transparency though supervision and direction of financial and administrative staff.

Personnel Management

· Provide leadership and management of national and expatriate staff ensuring a participatory management style that empowers national staff.

· Directly supervise the Director of Operations

· Assess international personnel requirements for all projects and programs within South Sudan in conjunction with regional and global support, and program managers

· Provide briefings to all incoming expatriate staff covering RI goals and objectives, country and program background, vision and future plans, policies and procedures and security

· Supervise all expatriate personnel and provide annual or end of contract evaluations for each expatriate

· Supervise national key personnel and provide regular evaluations.

· Ensure that the hiring, promotion, firing and determination of compensation levels of national staff in accordance with local laws and practice

· Ensure the continued safety of all personnel and establish and implement emergency security evacuation plans as appropriate

Security

· Serve as country security focal point or designate someone for that position

· Make security policy and recommendations based on all available information in conjunction with senior national staff.

· Ensure security guidelines are up to date and fully implemented

· Participate in relevant security coordination meetings

· Regularly report to GSO regarding safety and security

Reporting and Control

· Provide program reports and regular situation reports that are timely, meet information requirements and professionally written as needed by RI and as required by donors

· Evaluate and monitor all country programs to determine the extent to which they are meeting goals and determine action needed to improve achievements

· External Representation

· Maintain a suitable image for RI in South Sudan and protect RI’s interest and assets

· Assign a deputy in the country office who can represent in the CD’s absence

· Effectively liaise with donor governments and other lead agency representatives, as well as national government officials and counterparts within partner organizations, legal counsel, audit firms, etc.

· Initiate RI’s response to disasters and emergencies when appropriate

· Facilitate donor visits to project sites as appropriate

Financial Management

· Supervise the County Finance Manager

· County budget preparation and monitoring

· Ensure that cost share is adequately booked and monitored

· Ensure that the national office and sub-offices maintain complete, up to date and accurate financial records and that records are adequately reported and stored

· Ensure equitable allocation of shared national office operating costs to the various projects and donors as per an agreed formula

· Ensure the timely preparation and accuracy of financial reports by working with financial accounting staff as required by RI and donors

Other

· Act as the communication link between the regional and global staff and the field. Direct all communications up or down, as appropriate.

· Maintain organizational consistency through maintenance of strong, positive relations with field teams, Regional Support Office and Global Support Office.

· Undertake additional activities as required by regional and/or global staff

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

This position demands a dynamic individual with a demonstrated ability to achieve results in a demanding and fast paced environment.

· Master’s degree in a relevant field or Bachelor’s degree with commensurate work experience;

· Minimum of ten (10) years professional experience in lead management implementing emergency response programs in a conflict setting with at least 5 years of senior management experience

· Specific knowledges and experience with RI implementation and the ability to demonstrate results consistent with RI organizational values and goals;

· Ability and willingness to travel as needed;

· Solid background and knowledge of Rules and Regulations of USAID, ECHO, EC, DFID

· Demonstrated record in collaborating with local governments, rural communities, other NGOs U.N. Agencies and other international emergency response and development actors;

· Excellent interpersonal, communication, public speaking, and strategic planning skills required;

· Strong English writing and verbal skills required;

· Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, tasks efficiently;

· Excellent time management skills and resourcefulness with strong attention to detail;

RI Values:

We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence. We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities. We value:

· Inclusiveness

· Transparency and Accountability

· Agility and Innovation

· Collaboration

· Sustainability

HOW TO APPLY:

For consideration please submit a detailed CV, cover letter by July 25, 2019. Due to the critical nature of this position, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and applicants will be interviewed prior to the closing date that may appear on any of the job boards where this is posted.

Relief International (RI) is committed to upholding the rights of all children and vulnerable adults that we serve and those that we interact with in the course of our work to be protected from all forms of abuse and exploitation as outlined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) six core principles on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). RI has zero tolerance to beneficiaries’ and staff abuse and exploitation. RI will also conduct references and criminal background checks on the selected candidate/s for this role.