Job Title: Country director, Kampala
Closing Date: Tuesday, 10 July 2012
GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:
The Mercy Corps Uganda Country Director is an innovative and visionary leader responsible for resourcefully managing all programming in Uganda, resulting in lasting improvement in the lives of over a half a million Ugandans. S/He has held senior roles in formulating strategic direction within an international development context. The CD has supervisory responsibility for the country team and implementation of all security protocols. The Country Program enjoys a budget of approximately 40 million with the generous support from the United States Government, the European Commission, and the Swiss. The CD develops sustainable, multi-sector programming and is accountable to beneficiaries and donors, placing a high value on innovative solutions to development issues and creative partnerships in tough environments.
PROGRAM/ DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:
Since the Country Office opened in 2005, Mercy Corps Uganda has experienced significant growth that has resulted in geographic expansion and the development of new sub-grant alliances with international and national NGOs. Working in transitional environments, Mercy Corps is integrating well-targeted assistance with a large focus on market facilitation that is embedding a mindset of sustainability among all programmatic staff and unifying Mercy Corps approach across all programs. By addressing a number of overlapping and associated needs within a wide range of activities (livelihoods, peace building, agriculture, water and sanitation, health and nutrition, and economic development) Mercy Corps is taking a very integrated approach to ensure the greatest possible impact. The Districts in which Mercy Corps works are generally the most marginalized, poverty stricken, and conflict prone.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Strategy and Vision
Communicate a clear vision of present and future program goals and strategies to team members and stakeholders that translates into concrete programs and work plans.
Lead the annual country planning process and provide strategic updates.
Use technical support teams collaboratively.
Personal Leadership
Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
Demonstrate awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs.
Representation
Represent Mercy Corps programs with national and international media and participate in community activities as appropriate.
Maintain productive relationships with internal and external constituents such as private partners, local governments, foundations, the private sector, etc.
Anticipate needs, understand donor pool and contribute to shaping donor's views on development.
Explore, evaluate and present innovative funding opportunities that support the objectives for the country as a whole.
Team Management
Create a sustainable work environment of mutual respect that attracts motivated, skilled and effective team members and enables them individually and collectively to strive to achieve excellence.
Supervise and provide leadership to a diverse team of direct and indirect reports in field offices.
Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
Operations Management
Apply Mercy Corps' Design M&E principles and framework to programs and ensure the country's overall strategy includes effective, timely reporting systems for all donors.
Ensure effective, transparent use of resources in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor policies/procedures.
Oversee budget management of sub-grantees/sub-contractors, if applicable.
Build and maintain operational systems that ensure proper administrative support for programs, as well as segregation of duties between finance and operations.
Security
Liaise with the VP of Operations and Regional Program Director on crucial events, high-risk periods, incident reporting and security policy changes.
Organizational Learning: As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve - we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries: Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: Program Director (1), Chief of Party (2), Program Manager (1) Finance Director, (1), Deputy Director (1) (Total of 6 direct and 187 indirect staff).-->
ACCOUNTABILITY:
REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Regional Program Director
WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Senior Program Officer, Assistant Program Officer, TSU, Regional Finance Officer and Africa Security Advisor.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
BA/S or equivalent in relevant field required; MA/S preferred.
7-10 years of field experience in international relief and development programs, including demonstrable success in managing large complex development programs.
5 years of senior-level leadership, capacity building and field management experience.
Demonstrated success working effectively and respectfully with host country government, private sector, INGO, NGO partners and other stakeholders in complex environments.
Proven skills in financial and grants management; prior experience with USAID and experience with EC funding desirable.
Successful and proven negotiation, communication and organization skills.
Excellent oral and written English skillsrequired.
Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
Previous working experience in Africa, with Multi-Year Assistance Programs (MYAPs), and in insecure environments preferred.
SUCCESS FACTORS:
The successful Uganda CD will skillfully represent programmatic priorities of the agency to donors and regional partners while providing effective leadership to the Mercy Corps program team. S/he will have high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building and will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. Successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority.
LIVING /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:
The CD is based in Kampala. The location is accompanied and secure. Housing is individual accommodation with unlimited freedom of movement beyond the house/office. There are three main International schools in Uganda. Staff have access to services – medical, electricity, water, etc. This position requires thirty-five percent travel by road and air to field offices in secure and insecure environments.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
How to apply:
Please apply directly at:
http://mercycorps.silkroad.com/epostings/submit.cfm?fuseaction=app.dspjob&jobid=218055&company_id=15927&jobboardid=479
Deadline: 10th July 2012
12:22 AM
Harriet