Helen Keller International
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Deputy Regional Director for Eastern, Southern, and Central Africa
Nairobi, Kenya
Established in 1915 with Helen Keller as a founding trustee, Helen Keller International (HKI) works to save the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Headquartered in New York City, HKI currently conducts programs in 21 countries in Africa and Asia as well as in the United States. HKI is known for sustainability, reliability, efficiency and the highest level of technical expertise in fighting and treating blindness and malnutrition. To accomplish its work, HKI builds the capacity of local governmental, civil society and private sector systems and infrastructure, and promotes the development of sustained, large-scale programs that deliver effective preventative and curative services for nutrition, eye health and neglected tropical diseases. The hallmark of the organization’s work is its proven effectiveness in developing, testing and scaling-up health interventions, and integrating them within government and community structures. HKI works with partners around the world to help meet key provisions of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), selected by all 191 United Nations member states, as well as VISION2020, The Right to Sight. With over 700 staff and an annual cash operating budget of over $45 million, HKI is seeking a Deputy Regional Director to lead and manage our programs in Eastern, Southern and Central and Africa (ESCA).
Scope of the Position:
Since the creation of the Regional Office for Africa in 1997, HKI has expanded programs greatly, from an initial 4 country offices and approximately $500,000 in annual budget to 13 country programs with an annual budget of approximately $35 million (excluding Gifts-in-Kind) and over 420 staff. In order to improve support to country programs, HKI created positions of Deputy Regional Directors in 2006. These positions ensure overall supervision of country directors and report to the Vice President-Regional Director for Africa for programmatic issues and to the Africa Regional Director for Operations (ARDO) for operational issues.
The Deputy Regional Director, ESCA supervises HKI country programs in: Cameroon, DR Congo, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe and program work that has started in Kenya in response to the current food and nutrition crisis. The position also supervises staff working on an orange-fleshed sweetpotato initiative with the International Potato Center and the regional micronutrient advisor (all based in Nairobi).
The Deputy Regional Director, ESCA position moved to Nairobi, Kenya in 2010 and has forged strategic regional partnerships and initiatives. The position will be expected to continue to build on those relationships and guide our regional engagement.
Key Responsibilities:
- Strategic Planning and Vision: Provide leadership and direction to the long term, medium, and short term planning processes in specified countries and for Regional Initiatives in accordance with the overall agency strategic plan and program strategy. Provides leadership and direction for regional partnerships and initiatives. Identifies and prioritizes countries for any future expansion in the Region to bring to the Regional Management Team with recommendations.
- Facilitation and Control: Serve as the gatekeeper and advocate for designated country programs with the rest of HKI, including regional office, headquarters and HKI-Europe. Ensure compliance with HKI and programmatic and operations performance and reporting requirements. Identify issues and ensure prompt corrective action. Facilitate access by country offices to required programmatic and operational support. Represent and advocate country program needs and perspectives within the Regional Management Team.
- Management and Operations: Accountable for overall management of the designated country offices as well as the sub-regional office. Within the mission, policies and guidelines of HKI, provide the leadership and oversight of all operations in designated countries. Through direct oversight of the Country Directors in specified countries, have direct accountability for planning, implementation and evaluation of these country operations, including programs, finance and budget, human resources, information systems and administration. Ensure compliance with HKI and donor standards, policies and procedures and processes. Is accountable to the Regional Director for program performance and to the Regional Director for Operations for operational performance. Ensure overall coordination of regional grants where appropriate. Participate in regional staff meetings (in person or via teleconference).
- Program Quality Assurance: Collaborate closely with the technical leadership of HKI to support programs in specified countries and ensure that the quality, impact, scale and cost-effectiveness of these programs meet HKI standards. Assure the accurate and timely reporting of program results including for multi-country projects, and the development and implementation of appropriate monitoring and evaluation tools.
- Program Development: In collaboration with Regional Director, SVP Programs and other senior technical staff, lead in the identification and pursuit of new program initiatives that are consistent with HKI mission and strategic plan. Work with Regional Director, SVP Programs, other Program Directors, Country Directors and technical advisors to define partnership possibilities and to identify and prioritize the use of local regional, and/or centrally based technical resources to ensure the development of programs of the highest quality.
- Marketing/Fundraising: Collaborate with the President, SVP of Programs, VP Development and Communications, Regional Director, Regional technical team, Country Directors, and other Program Directors to develop and implement strategies to meet long term restricted and unrestricted funding needs. Identify and pursue funding opportunities with donors based in the region. Support the solicitation of major gifts and overall marketing initiatives by identifying and meeting with key donors during travel regionally and internationally. Will play a strong leadership role in drafting, reviewing and finalizing proposals for prospective institutional donors.
- Representation: Build-on and expand partnerships with regional institutions, country government officials, international and local donors, international and local NGOs, universities and other resource institutions and other colleagues that support HKI programs. A major motivation for relocation of the position is to enhance regional partnerships. Priority will be given to building/strengthening partnerships with UNICEF Eastern & Southern Africa, USAID REDSO/ESA and regional economic communities. Work with Regional Director, other Deputy Regional Director, regional coordinators and advisors to ensure HKI representation at key regional meetings.
- Internal Capacity Development: Collaborate with Regional Director, Regional Director for Operations and appropriate headquarters and regional staff, to establish a staff training, orientation, and development plan for assigned countries within the context of available resources. Assist in the recruitment process for all expatriate and senior field positions in designated countries (and regional program coordinators/managers as assigned). Approve recruitment of senior program positions in assigned countries, proactively seeking out advice of members of the technical team as required.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Manage Country Directors in assigned countries, as described above (with potentially additional offices in the future). Manage regional program coordinators/managers as assigned (who provide oversight and coordination of multi-country projects and initiatives). Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of these units. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include managing process of interviewing, hiring, and training/orienting country directors; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining supervisees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. Approve recruitment of senior program staff in assigned country offices, seeking out input from technical team as required.
Qualifications:
- At least a Master’s Degree in Public Health, Nutrition, or related field with relevant program experience. At least ten years related experience, ideally including management of complex country programs.
- Demonstrated ability in managing complex international operations, including development and monitoring project and operational budgets.
- Strong background and experience with fundraising, both with an ability to support country programs and regional staff in proposal development and to directly lead proposal development.
- Strong technical skills in one or more of HKI’s program areas including a history of publications and presentation at international conferences. Passionate about ongoing learning in HKI’s technical areas. Ability to forge strong working relationship with technical leadership internal and external to HKI.
- Ability to undertake extensive field travel (approximately 35%-50%).
- Communication and language skills:
- Strong interpersonal skills in dealing with external contacts, as well as internal colleagues.
- Excellent oral and written English skills. Ability to read, analyze and interpret the most complex documents, and to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management and public groups.
- Proficiency in French and/or Portuguese is a major advantage (manages a portfolio of Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone countries).
- Demonstrated knowledge of the application of information technologies to HKI program areas. Knowledge of various software to be able to prepare presentations and other work documents.
How to Apply:
- Interested candidates should submit: (1) cover letter; (2) current curriculum vitae in English; and (3) a short writing sample (2-3 pages) in English to hkihr@hki.org. All correspondence should include physical and e-mail addresses as well as contact telephone number(s).
- Recruitment begins immediately and will remain open until a suitable candidate has been found, with an anticipated start date in early 2012.
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