Country Director Uganda

Location: Kampala, Uganda

Reports To: Regional Director

Closing Date: 1st March 2012

5 year contract

The salary range for this role will be US $60,000-75,000 per annum depending on experience. This is an accompanied position and full expat benefits will be available.

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter detailing your salary requirements and quoting reference RE025 to recadmin@plan-international.org

Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. We work in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. Plan's vision is of a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies that respect people's rights and dignity, our aim is to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children in developing countries. Plan is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations.

Each Country Program is led by a Country Director (CD) who must develop strategies at country level that align with Plan’s global vision and purpose within the prevailing context of that country as it impacts on children. The CD is the sole representative and leader of Plan in this country and carries the responsibility for Plan’s reputation there as a legally compliant, effective and responsible organistion, unafraid to challenge injustice and discrimination against the poorest and most vulnerable children.

The Country Strategic Plan (CSP) represents a life-cycle approach to programming and is structured on the basis of the life-cycle of the child recognizing the unique challenges facing children at the successive stages of their lives: Challenges relating to survival, protection, development and participation. The country programs build on the progress made to date and represent a continuum of core and support for children and youth that will better equip them to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty and actively engage in democratic processes.

Dimensions of Role:

• Leadership, management and development of Uganda team comprising of over 240 staff in full compliance with local law and Plan policies and standards in development and emergency responses.
• Direct reports: a team of 10 senior managers
• Accurate and timely disbursement of the agreed Country Office budget including all donor commitments. Presently about 50% of total budget spent comes from grants.
• Handling caseload of 39 961 sponsored children in 5 Programme Units
• Annual budget currently of $15 million
• Currently key partnerships exist with the following donors EU/EC, USAID, NORAD, SIDA, AUSAID, DFID, Finnish Government, Dutch Government and some private donors.
• As a member of the Regional Leadership Team, the Country Director of Uganda is expected to contribute to the overall learning and strategic direction within the RESA region.

Typical Responsibilities - Key End Results of Position:

• The post holder will be responsible for ensuring that:
  Plan’s work in Uganda will be delivered by a cost-effective and efficient team, skilled in their area of expertise and compliant with the expectation Plan has of all staff
• Plan’s work will be guided by accurate and timely work plans and budgets that can be used to create impact and efficiency
• Plan’s work will be relevant to the needs of the most vulnerable children in Uganda
• Plan’s work will be well funded and growing
• Plan’s work in Uganda will be recognised locally and internationally as effective and relevant to the needs of highly vulnerable children

Dealing with Problems

• Quick ability to understand the complexity of Plan’s business model, organisational structures and decision-making processes.
• Dealing with security/emergency conditions – the Country Director has to be actively involved in having security information and providing clear guidance for the safety and security of staff, assets and programmes.
• Flexibility to support other Country Offices across the Region.
• Sponsorship requests – this includes finding out new ways of managing sponsorship, retention of sponsors and sponsored children.

Communications and Working Relationships

Internal:

• Regular contact with other Country Directors, especially in the Regional Leadership Team

• Programme Department at International Headquarters who may guide and advise on Programme Standards
• National Office program departments. Develop proposals for major donors (UNICEF, DFID, EU, ECHO) that require engagement of the National Office programme teams

External:

• Other INGO leaders and networks in Uganda
• Government, UN and donor representatives
• Civil society organizations
• EU/EC, USAID, NORAD, SIDA, AUSAID, DFID,
• Finnish Government, Dutch Government
• Corporate and private sector organization

Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives

Knowledge

• Demonstrable knowledge as a result of study, training or practical experience on the key debates in development and emergency response methods and effectiveness

• Knowledge of Uganda; the geopolitical factors affecting child-poverty in the country and the political, social and environmental opportunities for change is an advantage
• Knowledge of the requirements of donor compliance and financial management
• Knowledge of programming in volatile environments with good understanding and appreciation of the historical, security context, political environment, economic, social/religious and humanitarian context in Uganda or a comparable environment.

Skills

• Proven skills in the development and management of effective and motivated teams, including distance management
• Effective working with and through partners
• Communications, comfortable with the media, presenting and arguing a case
• Proven analytical skills in isolating priorities and tackling them
• Excellent written skills in English for the development of proposals and the review of reports.

Behaviours

• Self motivated leader with the passion for social justice
• Person of strong integrity that is an example to others
• Even tempered and with a sense of humour is highly desirable
• Creativity and innovation
• Motivating and influencing others
• Problem analysis, judgement, handling ambiguity and decision making based on fact and figures
• Commitment to continuous improvement with the overall aim of optimising the quality and impact of Plan’s programmes in Uganda.

Physical Environment

Based in the country office located in Kampala with extensive local and some international travel
Ability to travel frequently to remote areas required.

Languages

Excellent written and spoken English required.

References will be taken and background and anti-terrorism checks will be carried out in conformity with Plans Child Protection Policy. Plan operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all areas of the international community.