Assistant country director
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Background
The Assistant Country Director - Programme (ACD-P) is responsible for ensuring that CARE's programs in Chad contribute to CARE's vision of "a world of hope, tolerance and social justice, where poverty has been eliminated and people live with dignity and security". The ACD-P is a senior manager in the country office providing programme and management leadership. S/he may be asked to deputize for the Country Director if necessary. The ACD-P is expected to provide strategic leadership in the areas of programme design and proposal development at the same time as have oversight of implementation, donor reporting, project budget management, and monitoring and evaluation of ongoing activities. The ACD-P will work to ensure that CARE Chad's interventions remain relevant and make significant contribution to reducing vulnerability, poverty and social injustice.
The ACD-P is responsible for overseeing the development and review of programme strategies in line with the CARE Chad Long Range Strategic Plan within a complex political, economic environment. S/he manages a team of professionals focused on the design, funding, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of multi-donor, multi-sector programmes that include a broad range of health, food security and livelihoods, water and sanitation, social protection, education and community development interventions. The combined impact of the programmes should effectively address the underlying causes of poverty in line with CARE's Programming Principles. S/he must also ensure that systems and trained staff are in place to ensure excellent management, quality and accountability of all programmes. The ACD-P will contribute to seeing CARE Chad is a leader in innovative approaches and partnerships which are appropriate for the context of the CO. S/he works closely with the programme units at CARE Canada and CARE International members and is responsible for ensuring timely communications and programme agenda settings. As a member of the Senior Management Team, the ACD-P is responsible for leading and supporting CO initiatives. S/he is responsible for (along with the CD) maintaining good working relationships with host government officials, donors and other partners. Travel to project sites and some international travel is to be expected.
Responsibilities and tasks
Job responsibility 1 - 20% of time
• Staff management
• Provide efficient supervision and management for all direct reports and lead the establishment and functioning of a strong, effective and coordinated programme team.
• Ensure the proper implementation of CARE's performance management system for direct reports, including job description and IOP development, regular feedback, mid-term reviews and annual performance appraisals.
• Proactively address performance issues through regular, constructive and honest feedback and coaching.
• Identify necessary staff development, career development and succession planning strategies for direct reports.
• Ensure that an environment exists to allow programme staff to develop and innovate.
• Oversee the recruitment and orientation of new senior program staff.
Job responsibility 2 - 25% of time
• Programme quality
• Oversee the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of country office programs and projects and ensure that they are in line with CO strategic plan and program strategy and with the CI Programming Principles.
• Ensure systems and plans are in place to guarantee that CO programs/projects are designed and implemented based on sound analysis, address the underlying causes of poverty and achieve measurable positive impact on the poor and marginalized. • Work with staff and partners to generate viable programs in line with CO strategy.
• Take the lead in identifying and securing funding for those programmes through the development of concept papers and proposals, respond to requests for proposals from donors and members.
• Ensure effective M&E across the programme and that program lessons are being used to promote improved programming and learning. Ensure that monitoring and evaluation systems enhance accountability of COs vis-à-vis the communities with whom we work as well as other stakeholders (civil society, donors and government counterparts).
• Ensure that disaster risk management is integrated in CARE Chad programs.
• Update the CARE Chad emergency preparedness plan (EPP) on a regular basis.
• Work with the CD to oversee the development and implementation of a CO advocacy agenda that supports CO programs and, if possible, is in line with CO and CI priorities.
• Ensure GED issues are addressed in all programs/projects.
Job responsibility 3 - 20% of time
• Programme management
• Ensure that CARE programmes and projects are managed in a manner which achieves stated goals and objectives, and in line with CARE policies and procedures and donor rules and regulations, and demonstrate sound resource management.
• Ensure that qualified staff and appropriate policies, procedures and systems are place to properly manage CARE's programs/projects.
• Monitor the CO programs and projects to ensure that they are implemented in a professional manner in line with the project proposal and with donor rules and regulations through project visits and the review of annual implementation plans and activity reports.
• With support from the Compliance Unit, ensure proper management of financial and other resources entrusted to CARE's programmes and projects, including the review and approval of program/project budgets (including project matches) and the monitoring of budget reports (including the proper recording of matches).
• Ensure donor and government reporting is done according to agreed upon standards and in a timely manner.
• Work closely with units in Programme Support (finance, procurement, HR, Fleet, logistics etc.) to ensure proper coordination exists for efficient programme implementation.
• Ensure strong commodity management and accountability where applicable.
• Regularly review and ensure that the most efficient CO program management structure is established and functional in order to ensure program quality and the cost efficient achievement of project objectives.
Job responsibility 4 - 15 % of time
• Reflective practice and learning
• Ensure that the CO program remains dynamic, with opportunities for innovation and personal growth by promoting a culture of, and mechanisms for, reflective practice and learning at all levels.
• Establish mechanisms for knowledge sharing and learning between projects and programs within the CO and with parties beyond the CO.
• Establish a reward system and model a culture that recognizes and supports innovation, analysis and leaning.
• Ensure the CO actively participates in organization wide and regional learning initiatives related to CARE's priority program themes and approaches.
• Ensure that lessons learned are consolidated and used to inform ongoing and future practices.
Job responsibility 5 - 10 % of time
• Programme strategy
• Lead the preparation and implementation of the overall CO Programme Strategy in line with the CO's Long Range Strategic Plan, national development plans, CARE Canada and CI strategic plans, and CARE programming principles and programming priorities.
• Contribute to facilitating the CO's transition process including office restructuring, funding diversification, etc.
• Collaborate with the senior management team to develop and implement mechanisms of continuously ensuring the CO’s viability in the national and international operating context.
• Lead the preparation of programme strategies based on sound contextual analysis and that target specific underlying causes of poverty and social injustice, in line with CARE's Unifying Framework.
• Oversee periodic review of the operating environment and ensure CARE’s role and operating model are in line with that environment.
• Seek strategic partnerships to promote and achieve objectives of CARE's vision and programming principles as well as promoting greater ownership of such programme strategies in CARE Chad.
Job responsibility 6 - 10 % of time
• External relations and partnerships
• Develop and enhance relationships between the CO and other parts of CARE and external organizations so that CARE can maximize its impact on poverty and social justice.
• Establish and maintain good relationships with relevant – counterparts/departments of the government, CI members, the locally-represented multi/bi-lateral donors, foundations, international and national NGOs, CBOs and other civil society organizations.
• Identify issues to be addressed to heighten donor and government accountability and maintain a positive image and good visibility for CARE amongst these groups.
• Support and work effectively in coalitions, networks and social movements.
• Contribute to national dialogue on poverty reduction strategies and related issues.
• Ensure timely reporting and communications with CI members, donors, government and other key actors. Ensure cordial media relations and act as CARE spokesperson as required.
Required qualifications
Education & certifications required
• Bachelor's Degree in International Development, International management or any other related field or an equivalent of demonstrable work experience.
Desired
• Master's Degree in related field.
Experience required
• 5 years in senior management position in relief/development field with experience at Country Office level.
Desired
• 8 years in a senior management position in relief/development field including prior experience as a senior programme director in developing countries.
Skills required programme management
• Demonstrated experience in leading strategic and operational planning
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills in a very complex international setting
• Extensive conceptual skills including development of programme strategy
• Excellent knowledge of a variety of donor guidelines
•Advance writing skills in English
• Demonstrated experience in budget development and programme design (including concept preparation and proposal development),
implementation and evaluation
•Experience in emergency related activities
People/relationship management
• Demonstrated leadership and interpersonal skills
• Ability and interest to coach and develop staff
• Experience with performance management
• Experience with the management of a diverse workforce
• Strong representation and negotiation skills
• Demonstrated use of positive coping strategies in stressful environments
• Demonstrated cross cultural communication skills
Financial management
• Knowledge and experience with financial management as demonstrated by
• Ability to manage a complex budget
• Donor compliance and reporting
• Information/Knowledge Management
• Ability to establish a learning culture within the CO
External relationships/fundraising
• Experience in successfully managing institutional partnerships with national and international NGOs
• Experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with donors and government counterparts.
Desired
• Experience and knowledge of operationalizing a rights-based approach.
• Experience in programme design and oversight in health, food security and livelihoods, water and sanitation, social protection, education and community development sectors.
• Demonstrated experience with proposal development with range of international donors (i.e UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA, WFP, BPRM, USAID, CIDA, EU, ECHO, DfID, AFD, BMZ, German and French MoFA, etc).
• Experience and skills in organizational change processes.
Core competencies
People skills
• Ability to work independently and as a team player who demonstrates leadership and is able to support and train local and international staff and also able to work with disaster affected communities in a sensitive and participatory manner.
Communication skills
• Well developed written and oral communication skills.
• Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external stakeholders as a representative of CARE. This includes effective negotiation and representation skills.
Integrity
• Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to CARE's core values and humanitarian principles.
Awareness and sensitivity of self and others
• Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity.
• Have experience and the ability to live and work in diverse cultural contexts in a culturally appropriate manner.
• Has a capacity to make accurate self-assessment particularly in high stress and high security contexts.
Resilience/adaptability and flexibility
• Ability to operate effectively under extreme circumstances including stress, high security risks and harsh living conditions.
• Works and lives with a flexible, adaptable and resilient manner.
Work style
• Is well planned and organized even within a fluid working environment and has a capacity for initiative and decision making with competent analytical and problem solving skills.
Financial accountability
• Dollar amount of budget managed: $8,000,000 - $10,000,000 Dollar amount of signing authority for this position: No limit but countersigned by another senior staff person.