Oxfam International Country Director – Sierra Leone

Oxfam International Country Director – Sierra Leone

Freetown, Sierra Leone

$50,800 - $63,500 net p.a.

 Provides strategic leadership of Oxfam GB’s programme in country in accordance with Oxfam International strategy and relevant Oxfam GB policies, processes and standards

 Provides leadership to ensure that the Oxfam International Single Management Structure change activity is implemented successfully

 Takes the lead in managing, setting & communicating overall country direction for Oxfam International and is accountable for providing leadership as the managing affiliate to, and ensuring teamwork between, all Oxfam implementing affiliates operating within country (country leadership team)

 Ensures the delivery of programme quality by all implementing affiliates including donor requirements and delivery of outcomes, either directly or through partners, in line with country strategy and operational plan.

 Represents Oxfam International & the Country Programme at the highest levels in country, with partners, within the region and globally.

 Coordinates the Country Leadership Team of the implementing affiliates in Sierra Leone, and links-up to the OGB-regional centre for the Oxfam GB program, to establish, build, represent and lead all aspects of the Country programme

Role & Responsibilities

 Provide leadership in the developing of the long term vision and undertake strategic analysis and planning for the Country program, and organises regular updates consistent with the political, social and economic realities and Oxfam’s expectations that its joint program will bring more impact and can be managed more efficiently.

 Ensure that Oxfam International joint country analysis and strategy is developed, implemented, monitored and reviewed; consistent with Oxfam International policy cycle, including programme, people and financial management policies, standards and requirements

 Be accountable for all aspects of Oxfam GB’s financial and people management in Country, and to ensuring systems are in place and implemented to meet programme management standards by the other implementing affiliates.

 Build effective, collaborative and accountable relationships between Oxfam affiliates and with their partners to identify joint opportunities, developing strategies and implementing programmes and related campaigns, influencing significant and high profile external relationships in country and / or globally, taking into account the Southern Campaigning Principles.

 Work with, and be accountable to, the Oxfam Regional Governing Council (no fixed name yet) in terms of providing annual plans and reports related to the delivery of country programme through implementing Oxfam’s operating within country

 Provide leadership and people management expertise in managing complex change initiatives within Country, bridging different ways of working and divers working cultures amongst affiliates.

 Represent and demonstrate accountability for Oxfam corporately in accordance with Oxfam brand

 Develop & maintain professional networks and relations with partners, national and international agencies, government entities, civil society organisations and other relevant private sector or public organisations, ensuring that Oxfam develops and maintains a positive profile including ongoing access to relevant information.

 Ensure high standards of communication (internal & external), programme management, partner and community engagement and accountability to Oxfam’s stakeholders in country.

 Ensure the implementation, monitoring and assessment of programmes (country, regional, thematic) and embed gender sensitive Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) principles as an important way of working

 Identify new funding sources and negotiate funding opportunities within Country to support programme implementation

 Ensure overall leadership of disaster preparedness, mitigation and management including partner organisations capacity building and Oxfam humanitarian response activities for Category 1 / 2 / 3 emergencies*

 Develop and maintain internal and external relationships and networks to build, coordinate and implement long-term advocacy and campaign strategies, delivering changes in policy and practice, and contributing to regional and global campaigns

 Actively participate in Regional Programme initiatives, staying informed of relevant programme issues in the Region and to contribute to wider programme learning.

Skills, Experience & Knowledge

 Senior management experience in leading the development, and ensuring the delivery, of programme strategy, either through partners or directly, in one or more challenging locations

 Proven analytical skills and ability to think strategically, including the ability to think beyond the country programme context and to act within a regional and global framework

 Ability to manage the development of, and contribute to, the high level analysis of factors driving poverty, marginalisation and vulnerability in developing country contexts, including the ability to ‘think politically’ by understanding motivations, pressures and challenges faced by colleagues, partners and other actors

 Experience in leading and motivating multi disciplinary, multi-cultural, geographically remote people & teams in the delivery of the programme strategy*; a high degree of self awareness and an understanding of how to drive and support excellent team performance and individual development & coaching capacity

 Experience of managing complex change processes and relationships involving a wide range of both internal and external multi-cultural stakeholders across a variety of disciplines & geographical areas bridging the affiliates different ways of working and organisational cultures.

 Experience in representing Oxfam with partners, government agencies, private sector organisations, and donors at senior level: locally, regionally and globally

 An active commitment to promoting gender equity and the interests of marginalised people in all aspects of an organisations work

 High level financial management skills to steer the operational budget

 Experience of fundraising from diverse institutions, both local and international

 Understanding of managing security and risk within an INGO context

 Substantial knowledge or appreciation of the country in the Sub- region in terms of its political, economic and social trends and an understanding of the key development, policy and humanitarian issues in the Region

 Good level of IT literacy and an understanding of how new developments in technology can positively contribute to the aims of an INGO

 Excellent written and verbal communication skills to motivate, influence, and negotiate

 Fluency in both written and spoken English; ideally a working knowledge of the local language

 Masters degree in a relevant discipline (preferably, development, economics, politics, sociology, humanities) OR

 Minimum of 4 years proven experience of programme development and advocacy work including some experience of humanitarian work. This should include a mature understanding of relevant issues derived from field experience, preferably both in campaigns and development.

To find out more about this role and to apply, please visit www.oxfam.org.uk/jobs and quote ref: INT4647.

Closing date: 21 July 2011.