COUNTRY DIRECTOR (COTE D'IVOIRE)

Expected start date: Summer 2015. CARE is seeking a Country Director for Cote d’Ivoire based in Abidjan. The Country Director (CD) is CARE International (CI)’s legal representative in Cote d’Ivoire. S/he leads CARE’s strategy and operations in that country towards CARE’s vision of “a world of hope, tolerance and social justice, where poverty has been eliminated and people live with dignity and security”. More specifically, the CD drives for impact that benefits women and girls, address injustice and discrimination, and enhances the lives of poor and vulnerable communities. The CD provides strategic leadership and guidance to the Country Office team and to external partners to:

• ensure that CARE’s role in the country continuously evolves for maximum impact and relevance to the environment
• position CARE as a partner of choice and an influential voice in reducing poverty and social injustice.

The CD is responsible for fulfilling the CI approved “Performance Standards of Country Offices”. S/he oversees the development, funding and implementation of the Country Office (CO) program portfolio. S/he is responsible for adequate emergency preparedness and manages emergency programming and operations. S/he establishes and sustains productive relationships and political influence with government officials, donors and strategic partners. S/he leads the CO’s fundraising strategy and ensures the CO’s financial viability. An organizational citizen, s/he contributes to CI’s global strategy, shares knowledge and supports the generation of evidence to inform CARE’s global programming.

The CD is also accountable for competent operational and risk management, including the proper management, well being and safety of CARE staff and the proper stewardship of CARE’s resources. The CD models and ensures systematic practice of CARE core values - Respect, Integrity, Commitment and Excellence- S/he also promotes Gender Equality and Diversity among CO staff and in programming.

The CD models new ways of working and drives the teams toward the CARE 2020 vision, fostering innovation, holistic planning and programming and helping to build effective teams, coalitions and networks. S/he encourages on-going staff development to motivate and strengthen the teams’ resilience in the face of change.

The requirements include:

Bachelor’s Degree in related field
6-8 years in senior management position in development field
Strategic and operational Management

• Demonstrated experience in leading strategic and operational planning
• Extensive conceptual skills including strategic analysis
• Demonstrated management skills in a complex international setting

People/Relationship Management

• Demonstrated self-awareness, leadership and interpersonal skills
• Strong human resource management skills including capacity building, coaching and conflict management;
• Experience supervising and developing a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural setting;
• Demonstrated interest and ability to give feedback, develop, motivate and lead a diverse team to achieve results;
• Demonstrated use of positive coping strategies in stressful environments

Financial Management

• Knowledge and experience with financial management as demonstrated by ability to:
• Manage a complex budget
• Effectively follow-up on internal and external audit recommendations
• Ensure donor compliance and reporting

Information/Knowledge Management

• Ability to establish a learning culture within the CO and to facilitate knowledge sharing across CARE

External Relationships/Fundraising

• Experience in successfully managing various forms of partnerships with national and international NGOs, etc.
• Experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with donors and government counterparts.
• Strong representation, influencing and negotiation skills.

Cote d’Ivoire is one the leading West African countries in term of economic development with important gaps in term of wealth distribution and development. The country is emerging from over a decade of political, civil and military instability. Consecutive to the 2010/2011 presidential elections crisis a more stable government is in place and recently the African Development Bank (ADB) relocated in Abidjan. Living conditions in Abidjan are generally expensive but satisfactory with the availability of good medical facilities, international schools including American and French schools as well as many shopping malls where almost all the products can be found. This position is accompanied.

To apply for this position, please visit our website here:  http://ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH05/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=CAREUSA&cws=1&rid=2454

Our diversity is our strength; we encourage people from all backgrounds and experiences, particularly women, to apply.

The closing date for this posting, if listed, is approximate. Job postings may be removed from CARE`s career website at any time.