ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND
Horn Relief is an expanding and vibrant African-based international organization, working with communities to create environments in which Africans can thrive. We work to prevent and overcome situations that adversely affect community well-being by: reinvigorating the economy, developing skills for life and work, providing humanitarian aid, and influencing policy. Our belief that economic, social and environmental security is the bedrock of a healthy community drives the nature and intent of our programming.
Horn Relief has been strengthening rural livelihood and delivering innovative humanitarian aid and development programs for the past 20 years. Currently, we have programs in Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan. Our present donor portfolio includes the European Commission, USAID, SIDA, and UNICEF, among others. Horn Relief is an exciting, dynamic organization experiencing managed rapid growth. It offers sound employment conditions with opportunities for personal growth and development.
POSITION SUMMARY The Country Director will have overall leadership and management responsibility for Horn Relief’s programs throughout Somalia. The Country Director will play a critical role in the development and implementation of strategies necessary to further develop Horn Relief’s portfolio in the country as the implementer of choice for the donors and government. The Country Director will be a Senior Member of Horn Relief’s structure, with overall responsibility for the country program and capabilities with significant expected growth. This position requires the demonstrated ability to grow the existing program, maintain existing relationships and develop new programming areas/projects. The position is based in Nairobi, and reports directly to the Programs Director at Horn Relief’s headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES The Country Director will have the duties captioned under each section below; Project Management and Coordination (40%) • Provide technical and operational supervision to all Horn Relief projects in Somalia. • In conjunction with the Project Managers, determine Projects resource requirements. • Lead the development and implementation, and maintenance, of process management and information management systems. • Oversee the implementation of Projects within the country; monitoring delivery for quality, costs and time. This task involves working closely with the Project Managers to identify potential project cost overruns, time delays or quality deficiencies, and implement actions for rectification. • Mentor and assist the Project Managers with planning, execution and delivery of projects, ensuring that Horn Relief’s unique approaches and best practice project management processes are incorporated into project implementation. • Analyze project results, and interpret results into recommendations for management to assist with the development of the organization as the implementer of choice in Somalia. • Ensure clear communications and good relations are developed and maintained within Horn Relief’s Program/Operations units in Nairobi, and with external parties such as donors, government etc in Somalia. • Lead the processes to the development of country annual work plans and budgets. • Develop and deploy standard project management tools, and develop the project management and technical skills of the Project Managers and other Project staff. • Provide timely and accurate project tracking, analysis of outputs, and reporting. • Develop and drive a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, and performance optimization across all projects. • Establish performance objectives, with appropriate measures for all projects and project staff. • Oversee the in-country operations and support systems including security, logistics, administration and IT.
Budgeting and resource planning (20%): • Provide management and financial oversight for all project activities, training and technical assistance. • Customize and implement Horn Relief’s financial Standard Operating Procedures for all projects in Somalia. • Prepare, and submit for approval, program budgets and expenditure forecasts based on established financial goals. • Prepare annual country budgets for Somalia country program, assessing costs and budget/expenditures from projects and asset inventory. • Responsible for certifying and authorizing disbursements.
Partnership Management and New Business Development (20%): • Develop current and future growth plans for Horn Relief, ensuring that those plans conform to the overall strategic plan of the organization. • Support new business development opportunities in preparing and delivering proposals and partnerships. • Ensure staff with the relevant authority is properly trained in proposal development and presentation. • Identify and develop potential new business opportunities. • Develop and maintain close working relationships with donors, government and other stakeholders as may be appropriate. • Represent the organization in all high level meetings as well as relevant policy and strategy exchanges. • Ensure that the organization retains legal registration, meets all statutory requirements, and has a healthy relationship with the requisite government and non-state agencies.
Human Resource Management (20%): • Assume responsibility for all staffing issues as required by the projects’ demands. • Conduct Staff Performance reviews in accordance with current Horn Relief’s human resources policies, and initiate appropriate responses. • In consultation with the Programs Director, and the Project Managers, identify and recruit appropriate Project staff. • Encourage and develop employees’ technical and Project management skills and attitude.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIECS • Post graduate degree, in Social Sciences, International development, Project Management, and/or Public Administration. • Minimum 10 years experience in team leadership/project management roles with at least 5 years of experience field/project management. • Strong organization skills, with experience with Project Management tools and methodologies.
• Strong Monitoring and Evaluation skills required, in particular for the development and analysis of baseline information, assessments and monitoring tools. • Relevant overseas experience in development and humanitarian context is required. • Experience of human resource management at a field level. • Experience in budget management and knowledge of financial procedures required. • Ability to multi-task and effectively handle stressful situations. • Must have excellent written and analytical skills including presentation generation and delivery as well as financial and other analysis techniques • Proficiency in computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, power point, etc.
• Strong contract formation, decision making and negotiation skills. • Must possess strong skills in facilitation management, team leadership, planning, and problem solving and be able to understand the total impact of the projects on the entire organization.
APPLICATION PROCESS Applications should be submitted by 30th November, 2011. The selection committee will review all applications as they are received. All applicants must meet the minimum requirements described above, and those unable to meet these requirements will not be considered. No phone calls please. Horn Relief is an equal opportunity employer. Each application package should include the following:
• Cover letter with the applicant’s current contact information • Resume (including detailed work experience, education/degrees) • Professional References (minimum of three, with complete contact information)
All applications should be sent to Horn Relief at vacancies@hornrelief.org and hornreliefjobs@gmail.com with the subject line: COUNTRY DIRECTOR (SOMALIA)
Applications not including all of the above information will not be reviewed. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.
No comments: