Jobs at War Child Canada in Uganda- Country Director

Job Title: Country Director, Gulu, Uganda
Closing Date: Monday, 19 December 2011
Gulu


Country Director, Uganda

Location:

Based in Gulu with travel to district sites, as required.

Benefits:

Travel to and from duty site, vacation, regular R&R leave, accommodation, and insurance as per War Child Canada contractual standards.

Start Date:

ASAP

Salary:

Circa $50,000 - $55,000 Canadian dollars per year.

Contract:

1 year, provisional on successful performance review, with the possibility for renewal. Reports to:

The Country Director reports to the Director, International Programs at War Child Canada Headquarters (Toronto, Canada) on all result areas.

Background:

Founded in 1999, War Child Canada is dedicated to providing urgently needed humanitarian assistance to war-affected communities around the world. Working cooperatively with local partners and communities, War Child's international projects strive to ease human suffering and to create opportunities in conflict and post-conflict communities through targeted capacity-building in the areas of education, livelihoods and access to justice. WCC is currently working in seven countries: Afghanistan, DRC, Ethiopia, Haiti, Sierra Leone, Sudan (Darfur) and northern Uganda. Our three core programming areas are as follows:

1) Education: school reconstruction; teacher training; literacy; numeracy; accelerated learning; physical safe spaces for learning. 2) Access to Legal Justice: direct legal representation; training and sensitization on rights of women and children. 3) Livelihoods: vocational skills training; food security; micro-finance including small business management and small loans.

A strong component in WCC's overseas programming is the development of strong, respectful partnerships with local communities and organizations. By building sustainable projects through participatory methodologies and through building the capacity of local partners, WCC is able to ensure the delivery of appropriate and effective humanitarian and development projects.

Context:

War Child Canada (WCC) has been present in Northern Uganda (Acholi and Lango regions) since 2005 implementing the "Access to Justice Program for Women and Child Survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence". Through this project WCC seeks to enable women and children survivors to access formal and informal justice systems as well as to address the prevalence of perpetrators' impunity. The program employs a three pronged approach to address the key issues through: awareness raising through educating women and children and their communities; capacity building of local government officers and actors within the legal and justice systems about women's and children's rights, and legal intervention through providing direct legal aid to survivors of SGBV in need of protection. War Child Canada in Uganda operates through two departments: the Outreach Department and the Legal Protection Department. The Outreach department is responsible to plan and undertake prevention activities such as mass awareness campaigns and trainings. Outreach fills the education and communication void between WCC and the communities in providing awareness of SGBV, particularly around the legal aspects and support to the referral network that exists or is perpetuated through its existence. The legal department is charged with ensuring adequate legal intervention to survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.

Position summary:

WCC's Country Director will be based in Gulu with travel to Kampala, Kitgum, Pader, Lira, and Amuru, as required. S/he will report to the Director, International Programs in Toronto. The Country Director will develop and lead the implementation of a WCC country strategy, ensuring all programs and activities are consistent with that strategy, to grow and expand WCC's Uganda program; ensure all programs are implemented, monitored and evaluated appropriately.

Duties:

Management and Oversight of War Child Canada's country program:

Time: 35%

* Overall and final responsibility for the supervision and management of the Uganda country program
* Provide support and direction for implementation and follow-up of workplans and logframes for all project activities in close collaboration with Program Director
* Responsible for providing overall oversight for the monitoring and evaluation of projects
* Overall responsibility for budget and financial management of project
* Fulfill all narrative and financial reporting requirements, as per donor guidelines
* Oversee design and management of country strategy, in close collaboration with HQ and other relevant WCC staff
* Responsible for the oversight of all WCC staff in Uganda
* Produce annual plans and reports

Financial Management:

Time: 15%
* Overall responsibility for in-country financial management, including reporting to headquarters
* Maintain efficient financial controls, accountability standards, procedures and records
* Prepare budget and monitor budget-spending; take appropriate action concerning budget/spending deficiencies or surpluses

Fundraising:

Time: 15%
* Enhance WCC's program through donor engagement and proposal development
* Responsibility for in-country fundraising with institutional donor
* Actively develop and maintain donor relations
* Responsible for the development and completion of funding proposals, in collaboration with HQ

Maintain network of contacts and representation:

Time: 15%
* Extensive collaboration and consultation with local and central authorities, INGOs, national NGOs and local communities
* Ensure appropriate communications, information exchange and sharing with local partners and with headquarters
* Share project 'lessons learned', support communication activities, field visits, etc.
* Represent WCC in meetings and coordination platforms in Gulu and Kampala

Capacity building staff & local partners:

Time: 10%
* Responsible for supervision of national program staff and partner staff
* Assesses training and capacity building needs of WCC staff and local partners
* Ensures adequate means are organized, (e.g. trainings) to meet identified needs of local staff and partners
* Conducts annual performance evaluations of all staff
* Recruits local staff as necessary, in consultation with HQ

Security and Logistics Management:

Time: 10%
* Assist with the day-to-day administration, security and logistics of WCC offices as required
* Maintain internal and external contacts with relevant parties and authorities related to security in order to be well informed about security developments at all times
* Final and direct responsibility for security management
* Monitor the security context of the country to manage and mitigate security risks
* Regularly update and implement WCC's Security procedures and plans in coordination with Operational Manager at HQ
* Any other duties as required by HQ

Education, experience, knowledge, skills:

Knowledge
* Relevant academic background (e.g. Masters Degree or equivalent in International Development, Social Sciences, International Relations, etc.)
* Demonstrable knowledge and experience of gender and diversity issues
* Knowledge of the region and an awareness of local culture

Experience
* Minimum of 5 years experience in project development, implementation, coordination and management, preferably with projects in conflict and post affected areas
* Knowledge of M/E of SGBV programs and/or Child rights a plus
* Experience working with and through, local partners. Specific experience in monitoring and evaluation of gender issues, and legal protection issues an asset
* Demonstrated track record in financial management and HR management, including mentoring of national and international staff
* Previous experience in Uganda an asset

Skills
* Program Management skills including familiarity with logframes, indicators, and workplans
* Team Management skills and experience, including personnel supervision, evaluation, and staff recruitment
* Detail oriented with strong organizational and leadership skills
* Effective time-management skills with the ability to multi-task and manage multiple time-sensitive priorities
* Well-developed analytical and strategic planning skills
* High level of interpersonal skills
* Ability to manage finances, logistics, and operations
* Strong advisory skills to deliver clear and well-considered advice
* Strong writing skills to be able to write strategy, proposals, budgets and reports
* Capability to decide on operational, logistical and strategic issues
* Able to assess social/political situations and act diplomatically in delicate situations
* Capacity building and training skills
* Computer skills: MS Office (esp. Word and Excel) and internet applications

Personal Qualities
* Affinity with War Child Canada's mandate
* Result-focused and persistent to achieve goals
* Creative, energetic, adaptable and flexible
* Stress-resilient to be able to cope with deadlines and complex problems
* Culturally sensitive
* Willingness to travel
* Excellent leadership and organizational skills
* Able to take initiative and work independently

Application process:

INTERESTED APPLICANTS ARE INVITED TO SEND A CURRICULUM VITAE AND AN ACCOMPANYING COVER LETTER ELECTRONICALLY TO:

Email: jobs@warchild.ca

Please ensure your application email has the subject heading of 'Country Director, Uganda – [insert your name]'

Only those applicants selected for an interview will be notified. No phone calls please. For more information about War Child Canada, please visit www.warchild.ca.

Deadline: December 19th, 2011

How to apply:

INTERESTED APPLICANTS ARE INVITED TO SEND A CURRICULUM VITAE AND AN ACCOMPANYING COVER LETTER ELECTRONICALLY TO:

Email: jobs@warchild.ca

Please ensure your application email has the subject heading of 'Country Director, Uganda – [insert your name]'

Only those applicants selected for an interview will be notified. No phone calls please. For more information about War Child Canada, please visit www.warchild.ca.


Deadline: December 19th, 2011