Country Director, Kenya

Country Director, Kenya
Closing Date: Wednesday, 13 October 2010

Country Director
Islamic Relief (IR)
Closing date: 13 Oct 2010
Location: Kenya
Country Director - Kenya
Salary: £23,979 pa
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Contract: One year fixed term
Ref: CDK/IPD/0910

We currently have a vacancy for the position of Country Director - Kenya based in Nairobi with significant travel to projects in North East Kenya and the wider Region. The post holder will consolidate IR strategy in the country office and provide strategic guidance and management to local staff. S(He) will outline the HR requirements of the programme, and periodically reassess to meet the short and long terms needs. The post holder will be responsible for strengthening IRW's visibility and for forging new and improved relations and partnership with internal and external stakeholders.

The successful candidate must have knowledge of international NGOs and the UN system together with good proven experience working in rehabilitation, development or emergency contexts. In addition, experience and knowledge of budgetary control and grant management is essential, together with experience of managing and mentoring local and international staff. Fluency in English (written and spoken) is essential and knowledge of a local language is desirable.

DIVISION PURPOSE: (International Programmes Division)
Through capacity building and through technical and programme support, the International Programme Division keeps the organisation focused on the socio-economic and humanitarian needs of vulnerable people.

The division reinforces IR's implementing structure to enable these people and their communities to develop themselves sustainably, and ensures that the organisation is prepared to respond promptly and effectively to humanitarian crises.

The division increases the organisation's ability to tackle poverty by developing and fostering partnerships and institutional relationships effectively and proactively, and by ensuring transparent and timely reporting to the organisation's donors.

DEPARTMENT PURPOSE:
The purpose of the Regional Department, besides preparing for and responding to humanitarian crises with relevant departments, is to guide, support and monitor the country programmes to ensure the continuous development of a global programme according to the International Strategy.

JOB PURPOSE:
The role has overall management responsibility for IRW's work in the country of posting including; management and development, representation, leading and managing a team and control of financial and other resources.

REPORTING TO: Regional Manager, Africa

STAFF REPORTING:
BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY: Programme Managers, Senior Logistics Officer, Finance Manager, Human Resource Assistant, Programme Coordinator x 2

Approximately £2 million

KEY OBJECTIVES
The Country Director (CD) will strengthen the organisation's position, performance and reputation through:

1. Ensuring that the staffing levels, management structure and human resource processes and management are appropriate and effective to enable the implementation of programmes in the long and short-tem.
2. Outlining resource requirements of the programme, and periodically assessing its appropriateness to meeting short and long-term programme needs
3. Coordinating IR's participation at national networks, events, conferences and other relevant public forums. Hence, ensuring that IR is an active and positive participant in the same.

4. Strengthening IR's visibility and contribution at public forums and with major institutional stakeholders, forging new and improved relations and partnerships with all stakeholders.
5. Supporting the Head of Region in providing the IR family with strategic direction, timely reports on issues related to IR partners and to institutions.

KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
The Country Director is accountable to fulfil his/ her roles and responsibilities in line with IRW's code of conduct, values and principles, and to report to his/her line-manager regularly on the basis of annually defined key performance indicators (KPIs).

1. STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND PLANNING
    * To ensure provision of overall strategic planning leadership and technical backing on programmes in line with IRW's strategic parameters.

    * To ensure the Country Strategy, thematic areas of work, as well as the Annual Country Business Plan and Emergency Preparedness Plan are implemented in line with regional and global strategies, and reviewed as necessary in consultation with staff and stakeholders

    * To ensure that projects fit into the overall country strategy and thematic areas and all parties involved understand this.

    * To work with programme teams, partners and beneficiaries to produce action plans as per the country strategy, within agreed timeframes.

    * To contribute to regional and IRW global policy/strategy development based on the experience of the country programme.

2. ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
    * To ensure effective financial and budgetary control of the programme and that accounts are produced on time and in accordance with IRW policy and procedures

    * To ensure effective grant management in accordance to IRW procedures and performance targets. This includes ensuring quality donor reports are submitted on time; budget holders are competent to manage and monitor their budgets and ensure proper expenditure phasing.

    * To ensure Security guidelines and procedures are operational and Security guidelines are reviewed bi-annually and updated when necessary.

    * To maintain up to date emergency preparedness and response plans for the country.

3. FUNDRAISING AND NETWORKING
    * To identify potential donors and contribute to the development of policy on major issues and/or advocacy with a range of stakeholders in the country office.

    * To build and strengthen significant relationships between IRW partners, INGOs, UN, institutional donors and relevant Government Departments.

    * To lead and coordinate Country Teams for the development of programmes and targeting of institutional funding.

    * Where appropriate, funding sources in country are secured in collaboration with the Regional Desk.

4. PROGRAMMES MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION
    * To ensure the effectiveness, impact and direction of the programme is appropriately monitored, reviewed and evaluated on a regular basis.

    * To maintain effective communications within the programme, and with the Regional Desk at International Office.

    * To review, update and communicate country situation analysis and emergency response twice per year to the Head of Region.

    * To ensure the production of high quality Annual reports, project proposals, both for IRW and donors, by agreed deadlines.

    * To lead, manage and motivate the team, ensuring that they have clear objectives and receive meaningful feedback on their performance.

    * Maintain a clear overview of the political, legal and security context and ensure robust security and evacuation plans are in place.

5. PROGRAMME MONITORING AND EVALUATION
    * To ensure the development and the use of innovative approaches to monitor the performance of programmes.

    * To ensure that projects/programmes implemented are monitored, evaluated on a continuous basis using the IRW Quality Management Standards and the IRW Policy and Procedures Manual and other international standards to improve its effectiveness.

    * To lead the Country Team to ensure the appropriateness, effectiveness, impact and direction of programme interventions.

6. STAFF CAPACITY BUIDLING, SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT
    * To ensure that IRW's Personnel Management Policies and code of conduct are maintained and reflect IRW's values and principles.

    * To ensure that a human resource strategy and implementation plan is developed, monitored and reviewed as an integral part of the strategic planning process.

    * To ensure that staff have clear objectives and receive meaningful feedback on their performance.

    * To optimise staff performance through ensuring that effective processes are in place to support and encourage personal and professional development of staff.

    * To maintain an effective Country Office Management Team (COMT) to facilitate involvement of staff in the running of the programme through an appropriate participatory, open team approach to decision making.

    * To establish appropriate measures whereby ensuring the security, health and well being of all staff. This includes monitoring and implementation of the staff security guidelines and improving the health and safety policy.

SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING
    * To ensure that there is an appropriate contribution to policy development and advocacy at a regional and global level, based on the experience of the country programme.

    * To contribute to IRW's efforts to influence policies of major donors, the private sector and UN agencies.

    * To ensure the promotion of information exchange, writing up programme case studies, and learning from experience at all levels, (country, region and global).

7. REPRESENTATION
The Country Director to ensure that:

    * IRW is represented to the Government, the UN and other international gencies, donors and bodies including the media, proactively identifying opportunities to build key stakeholder relationships.

    * There is appropriate liaison and negotiation with project partners, NGOs and international agencies etc, to monitor and review programmes and to co-operate and co-ordinate as appropriate.

    * Relationships are developed with Government and partner agencies at all levels to enable the appropriate development of the programme.

8. TRAVEL
    * Spend a minimum of 40% of time in the field with staff and beneficiaries.
    * To carry out other duties as directed by the Head of Region and associated with the job purpose.

Essential
Education
    * A postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline with considerable overseas experience in a variety of countries and contexts, of which a substantial part should involve sustainable livelihoods programme development and management.

Experience
    * Experience working as a Country Director, or in a senior management role with an International NGO.
    * Proven track record of working with INGOs in developing countries in rehabilitation; development or emergency contexts.
    * Substantial experience and knowledge of effective budgetary control and grant management

-Experience of successfully fundraising and dealing with EC, ECHO, UN and DFID
    * Experience of and commitment to participatory management and maintaining a supportive, open environment to ensure the learning and development of all staff.

-Experience of managing and mentoring local and international staff.
-Good interpersonal skills including the ability to listen, sensitivity to others views and perspectives, and conflict resolution.
-Proven experience in monitoring and evaluation of programmes; use of quantitative and qualitative research data collection in support of programme development.
-Strong and well developed analytical skills coupled with experience of writing quality reports that are usable by non-specialists.

Abilities
-To initiate and plan work strategically, without supervision

-To establish good working relationships with a variety of people.

-To communicate clearly in writing and orally
-To work under pressure and prioritise effectively.

Knowledge
-An in depth understanding of international development issues in particular in relation to community participation.
-Gender approaches in relief and recovery.
-Community Development, Social Protection, Food Security, Urban Poverty, etc

Languages
-Excellent written and spoken English

IT Skills
-Working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel

General Skills
-Problem solving skills
-Culturally sensitive

Interests
-Relief/Development issues

Commitment
-Abide by the NGO/Red Cross/Crescent Code of Conduct and IRW code of conduct.
-Willingness to travel extensively at short notice.

How to apply
This is an opportunity for a dedicated and highly motivated professional, with a strong commitment to IRW's values and beliefs. If you believe you are the candidate we are looking for, please download the application pack from our website www.islamic-relief.com and forward the completed form to recruitment@irworldwide.org on or before the closing date.

Applicants should be sympathetic to the mission and values of Islamic Relief.
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted. No CV's
Islamic Relief is an equal opportunities employer

Reference Code: RW_89KEWA-16