Country Director - Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Room to Read is a global organization transforming the lives of millions of children in low-income countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, our innovative model focuses on deep, systemic transformation within schools in low-income countries during two time periods which are most critical in a child’s schooling: early primary school for literacy acquisition and secondary school for girls’ education. We work in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children and ensure girls can complete secondary school with the skills necessary to negotiate key life decisions. By focusing on the quality of education provided within the communities and ensuring these outcomes are measured, we have created a model that can be replicated, localized and sustained by governments. Room to Read has benefited 10 million children across 17,000 communities in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam and Zambia, and aims to reach 15 million children by 2020.

Position Overview:

This position is the leader of the Country Management Team (CMT). The Country Director is responsible for country staff in strategic and tactical execution of implementation, coordination, development, expansion, monitoring and evaluation of current and prospective work.  The position will report directly to the Associate Director of Africa. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Assume overall management, development and implementation activities of all programs and country administrative responsibilities
• Direct the Country Management Team and supervise appropriate staff, providing the necessary support and assistance to ensure that program activities are carried out in compliance with headquarter requirements and in a timely manner with attention to quality
• Take lead in identifying and prioritizing opportunities for program development that are relevant to the country context and aligns with the needs and priorities for Literacy and Girls Education.
• Lead and direct stakeholder engagements, ensuring integration as well as linkages with key government programs and initiatives that advance the goals for Literacy and Girls education.
• Initiate/develop viable partnership and stakeholder mobilization strategy and plans, based on clear messaging of Room To read’s value proposition in the Literacy and Girls education sub sectors
• Facilitate partnership and strategic engagement with key stakeholders, working closely with relevant government departments, institutions and NGOs to promote cross sectoral collaborations.
• Forge new relationships, enhancing partnership potentials and building support for our Literacy and Girls Education programs in the country.
• Conduct regular staff meetings, asses organizational progress, communicate updates and developments as needed,
•  Regularly monitor for accountability, keep track of organizational and management performance and take appropriate action/steps to improve program standards and expand the impact of the organization  
• Communicate all program-related activities, issues, and updates to the Associate Director Africa and/or headquarters as appropriate and seek approval for budget activities and any related program developments
• Oversee the recruitment and training of staff, developing a culture for results, transparency, accountability
• In conjunction with HR, write terms of agreement for consultants and oversee their work
• Conduct staff appraisals and identify and ensure support for staff capacity building needs
• Visit project sites as needed to supervise the site and organize discussions with the school management team and local authorities.  Gather feedback and ensure that they deliver on their portion of the challenge grant and on all terms of agreement with Room to Read.
• Oversee organizational and logistical support of program related activities
• Oversee annual Planning and Budgeting process, monitoring and evaluation projects
•  Develop ideas that address organizational priorities and conduct strategic and operational planning
• Lead and participate in fund raising and strategic marketing and communication activities as may be needed
• Work with relevant in-country and Global Office staff to strengthen and improve program impact and sustainability. 
• Work with the Finance/Admin Manager to manage the organization’s legal compliance in Tanzania
• Participate in any other activities, which may be required to be undertaken to fulfill the objectives of the organization.
• Represent Room to Read to external parties in country
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Take lead in identifying and prioritizing opportunities for program development that are relevant to the country context and aligns with the needs and priorities for Literacy and Girls Education.

Qualifications:

Required

• Master’s Degree in Development, Business or Public Administration/Management/Education
• A minimum of ten years of professional experience in the related field, , with a minimum of 5 years in a senior management capacity (preferably in INGO sector in Africa)
• Good knowledge and understanding of education issues, including teaching methodologies and community involvement in schools
• Ability to interact with government ministries, with deep technical skills, strong professional background as well as knowledge and experience in the Tanzania education context
• Ability to communicate internally and externally, build trust, and align RtR’s value proposition with funding priorities
• Ability to mobilize support (donors, government, inter-governmental agencies and NGOs), strengthen the visibility of the Country Office and facilitate cross sectoral partnerships and collaboration
• Strong knowledge and technical skills on proposals development, networking and resource mobilization
• Strong planning, budgetary, supervising, and program development skills
• Ability to travel frequently to regions/ districts throughout Tanzania and internationally
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English
• Proven track record of achieving results
• Strong leadership skills
• Strong organization and people management skills
• Prior success working closely and building relationships with diverse groups of people
• A management style that is outcome-oriented, flexible, which respects the capabilities and independence of staff, while providing them with a clear sense of direction and enabling their success
• Excellent interpersonal skills – a capacity to listen well and inspire trust
• Ability to communicate, negotiate and maintain relations with all stakeholders
• Strong planning, supervising and program development skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skill
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously and take initiative
• Experience developing and/or implementing large-scale literacy; girls education; or other community development initiatives
• Legally eligible to work in Tanzania; no sponsorship provided

Preferred

• Prior experience working with schools, teachers, administrators and government officials
• Knowledge of Kiswahili language
• Experience in successful implementation of a wide range of tasks as well as developing and implementing improvements in a prior position
• Experience developing and/or implementing large-scale literacy initiatives in Africa

To be successful as a member of the Room to Read team, you will also:

• Have passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact a dynamic nonprofit organization
• Be an innovative and creative thinker that tries new things and inspires others to do so
• Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
• Have a strong work ethic and require minimal direction
• Work well independently as well as part of a team
• Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment

Compensation:

Room to Read offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits. Benefits including 13^thmonth bonus, provident fund, medical allowance and check-up, health and accidental insurances for staff and their family; leaves and staff professional development. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, fun, and rapidly growing organization that is changing, transforming the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education.

Application Procedure:

Please send a cover letter and resume by email, with Country Director in the subject line, totz.info@roomtoread.org or send by post to Associate Director Africa, Room to Read Tanzania, Post Box 105459, Ileje Street, Mikocheni B, Plot No 36, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. If you do not hear from Room to Read within one month of the closing date, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Please note that late applications will not be considered and correspondence will be limited to short-listed candidates only. 

Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing
the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.