Country Director- Chad

Role Profile

Country Director_Concern Worldwide

Role Description

SRI has been retained by Concern Worldwide to assist with their search for exceptional candidates to fill the position of Country Director.

Reporting to the Regional Director, the Country Director will have overall responsibility for the strategic development and on-going management of the Concern Chad programme, ensuring that it is effective in meeting objectives as set out in agreed strategic direction papers / strategic plans, annual plans, programme proposals, etc. and is in line with Concern Worldwide policies & procedures and the global strategic plan.  S/he will lead the senior management team and represent the organisation with government, donors and other international organisations.

This is a full-time position and the successful candidate will initially be engaged on a 3 year contract that will be based in N’Djamena, Chad.

Please note that applications should be submitted using SRI directly not through Concern via this email address - Ms. Peeui Sangalang, Researcher, SRI Executive at psangalang@sri-executive.com

Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership and Strategic Direction:

• Lead / Guide Country Management Team, ensuring a participative decision making process on policy and strategic direction.
• Provide effective leadership, enthusiastically managing and supporting the Concern team and leading by example on Concern’s values, to achieve organisational outcomes
• Ensure staff capacity, organisational structures and programme approaches are fit for purpose and able to effectively deliver strategic organisational goals
• Develop programmatic strategies and operational systems that balance country, donor and organisational priorities and capabilities.
• Engage with major organisational advocacy issues, providing support and leadership for key strategic campaigns.
• Lead on the implementation of the HAP accountability plan for Concern Chad.

Risk Management & Financial Accountability:

• Ensure that there is optimal use of financial resources within the organisation; managed in a transparent and accountable manner consistent with Concern’s and donor policies, systems and procedures, delivering quality results and demonstrating value for money.
• Ensure effective financial management systems, processes and controls, compliant with good operating standards and the relevant legal requirements in-country and ensure that financial systems and schemes of delegation can be modified rapidly in the event of an emergency.
• Monitor and manage existing legal cases, making decisions that minimise Concern’s financial, reputational and legal risks and ensuring that the Concern lawyer is providing appropriate legal support.
• Respond robustly to any suspicions or reports of fraud, code of conduct abuses or other misdemeanours, ensuring that Concern’s policy and procedures on investigations are adhered to.
• Ensure that Concern Chad complies with all relevant national legal and administrative requirements (project approvals, expat work permits, timely payment of all taxes, etc).
• With the Country Management Team, identify all risks and implement mitigating measures.

Programme Development and Implementation:

• Support and guide the ACD Programmes to ensure programmes are designed and implemented in line with Concern Worldwide policies, quality standard and building on past learning.
• Ensure that organisational approaches such as mainstreaming, HIV, equality, partnership and Preparing for Effective Emergency Responses (PEER) are effectively incorporated across Concern Chad’s programmes.
• Ensure monitoring and evaluation systems are implemented in line with Concern policies and tools to measure impact and efficiency, incorporating a results-based management approach
• Enable an organisational culture supporting effective learning and sharing and continual improvement of programme quality.
• Lead the development and delivery of high quality and innovative strategies for information and communication management.

Support Systems:

• Support and guide the General Systems Manager and Country Financial Controller to ensure that effective and efficient administrative & logistical and financial support are provided to the staff of Concern Worldwide.
• Maintain and develop an efficient administrative, logistical and financial capacity within the programme.
• Support the CFC in budget preparation, revision and monitoring, ensuring that budget holders actively manage their cost centres and prepare accurate budgets in line with the annual plan.
• Ensure that a schedule of reports (to Dublin, donors and / or government) is maintained and that reports are prepared and submitted on time.
• Establish and maintain an effective safety and security management system to meet agreed standards.
• Ensure that Concern’s IT systems provide efficient and effective communication and data management for the organisation, linking with Concern Worldwide systems.

Human Resource Management:

• Support and guide the HR Manager to ensure that there are competent and empowered human resources, in a fair, diverse and efficient workplace where respect for people and equality are valued and promoted within a programme of excellent people practices.
• Ensure that the National HR Manual and HR policies are in line with organisational and national legal requirements and that all staff are aware of and comply with these.
• Ensure that the remuneration and benefits package for national staff remains competitive and that Concern is able to attract and retain good quality staff.
• Ensure that Concern is perceived as an employer of choice for national and international staff, undertaking initiatives to ensure a good working environment and team spirit.
• Ensure job requisitions are prepared on a timely basis for expat staff positions and work closely with HR in Dublin for the recruitment of new staff (or ensure that the line manager does so).
• Ensure that national and international staff with good potential are provided with appropriate training & development and career development opportunities.
• Ensure that the Staff Performance and Development Review (PDR) system is undertaken for all staff.  Monitor and review performance and, in particular, hold staff accountable for meeting the success criteria and delivering any improvement goals which have been identified; giving corrective feedback where required and taking decisive action in the case of poor performance.
• Ensure that staff are adequately trained and developed for their roles e.g. by analysing staff training needs, organising the delivery of training or coaching, coordinating the sharing of experience.

Representation & Networking:

• Create a strong and visible profile for the organisation, as a leading actor in the fight against poverty and the implementation of resilience programming.
• Communicate information regarding Concern and its programme at National level to Government, Donors and INGOs, alliances and networks across a range of fora.
• Engage appropriately with the media to ensure that Concern's values and vision and programmes are highlighted.
• Represent Concern Worldwide in strategic national and international meetings; sharing experiences based on programme work.
• Ensure that relationships and formal agreements with the government are maintained and updated.
• Lead on Concern’s engagement with Alliance2015 partners in country (currently only ACTED), exploring possibilities for collaboration and promoting Alliance2015’s approach to the Paris Declaration and Accra Agenda for Action. 
• Report on Alliance2015 engagement and progress towards objectives on behalf of all of the partners in country.

Other:

• Actively participate in collective exercises such as preparation or updates of Preparing for Effective Emergency Response (PEER) plan, Security Management Plan (SMP) and other Concern initiatives.

• Take active measures to address equality issues, particularly relating to gender, in programme as well as operational (eg HR) activities.
• Ensure the highest stands of accountability through ensuring good communication and information sharing within and outside the programme and enabling staff, beneficiary and other stakeholder participation at all stages of the project cycle.
• Be aware of, understand and comply with all of Concern’s policies and procedures (P4, finance, logistics, HR, security management etc).

• Undertake other related duties as may reasonably be assigned by the Regional Director

Required Experience and Qualifications:

Education

Third level qualification in relevant discipline such as Development studies, social sciences, management or other related discipline.

Relevant Experience 

• A minimum of 5 years overseas experience working with an international humanitarian / development NGO, with strong programme development, team management and financial experience. Minimum of 3 years’ experience at Country Director / Country Representative level within an international NGO, preferably in a conflict or post-conflict context.
• Proven ability to manage security in an insecure environment
• Fluency in French and English, both spoken and written, is essential for this post.
• Experience of emergency work, as well as longer term development work.
• While not necessarily a technical expert, should have knowledge of rights based approaches, equality issues, HIV&AIDS issues, accountability issues, disaster risk reduction, current approaches to ensuring programme quality and achievement of results/impact.

Desirable:

• Post-graduate training in NGO management or organizational development
• Previous Concern experience
• Experience of working in conflict or post conflict situations
• Experience working in a Sahel country
• Ability to communicate in Arabic is an advantage.

Special Skills, Aptitude or Personality Requirements:

Essential:

• Empathy with organisational values, mission and vision, commitment to humanitarian principles.
• Proven management ability, including ability to motivate and develop skills of others.
• Able to lead and manage a diverse team.
• Able to make sound management decisions in difficult situations and also be able to work in a participatory manner with colleagues.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills.
• Able to prioritise and handle a diverse and heavy workload.
• Ability to work under pressure often to strict deadlines.
• Proven experience in building relations with donors and securing external donor funding.
• Good networking skills.
• Excellent communication, presentation, networking and interpersonal skills with an ability / confidence to engage and represent Concern at public fora, media and with donors.
• Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Patience
• Sense of humour
• Willingness to travel frequently and live under fairly basic conditions