Country Director Bolivia

Working in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas, Plan aims to reach as many children as possible, particularly those who are excluded or marginalised with high quality programs that deliver long lasting benefits by increasing its income, working in partnership with others and operating effectively

http://plan-international.org/about-plan/how-we-work/strategy

Each Country Program is led by a Country Director (CD) who must develop strategies at country level that align with Plan’s global vision and purpose within the prevailing context of that country as it impacts on children. The CD is the sole representative and leader of Plan in this country and carries the responsibility for Plan’s reputation there as a legally compliant, effective and responsible organization, unafraid to challenge injustice and discrimination against the poorest and most vulnerable children
Plan Bolivia is one of the largest international NGOs in the country, operating in Bolivia since 1969. Over 60% of its 10 million inhabitants are indigenous and more than half its population is under 25 years of age. It is one of the countries with the highest rates of income concentration in the continent, with some 60% of its population living below the poverty line. Its recently approved third Country Strategic Plan (CSP III) establishes 7 strategic programs for 2010 – 2014, with an operating budget of over 65 million for that period, half of it expected to come from grants and other diversified sources. Plan Bolivia has a stable caseload of 48,500 sponsored children and works in 51 municipalities in 6 Departments of the country, in over 1.100 communities.

Dimensions of Role:

• The Country Director is accountable for the total operations and results for Plan Bolivia in the country in a complex political, institutional and legal/labour environment.
• S/he will both grow and ensure the proper disbursement of funds for use in Bolivia (USD 65,000,000 for the period 2010 - 2014). Grant sponsorship budget ratio is expected to be in the region of 50:50.
• Responsible for managing Plan’s programmes. Plan currently works with approximately 48,500 sponsored children across Bolivia.
• Plan Bolivia has presence in 51 municipalities, in 6 departments in the country, in over 1100 communities.
• S/he will provide strategic management and leadership of Plan Bolivia staff (currently 220 local staff)

Typical Responsibilities - Key End Results of Position:

Plan’s work will be relevant to the needs of the most vulnerable children in Bolivia

• Country Strategic Plan implementation according to the plan of action approved.
• Emergency preparedness analysis ensures Plan is ready to respond to predictable emergency conditions.
• The location of programme work is regularly reviewed to ensure new communities are reached when appropriate.
• Administration and support the decentralized implementation of 7 rights-based cross sector programs, through a stronger emphasis on achieving measurable results and impacts;
• Effective sponsorship services, development education, communications, advocacy and public incidence; risk management and humanitarian response;
• Facilitation approach that strengthens duty bearer’s, duty holders’ and civil society’s capabilities for advancing child and youth rights at the local, national and international levels
• Managing and implementing a growing portfolio of integrated grants and diversified resources of over 30 million for the next 4 years, in collaboration with more than 20 international and national partners, consortium and alliances
• As a member of the Regional Leadership Team, the Country Director of Bolivia is expected to contribute to the overall learning and strategic direction within the Americas region.

Plan’s work in Bolivia will be delivered by a cost-effective and efficient team, skilled in their area of expertise and compliant with the expectation Plan has of all staff:

• Creation and management of high performance teams delivering excellent technical work, using child-centred and gender-sensitive approaches in line with Global and Country Strategic Plans.
• Management of individuals across the team to ensure full development of potential through induction, performance management and compliance in all core policy areas.
• Staff numbers and structures will be designed and kept at a level that is cost effective.
• Work environments will be managed to reduce risk from health and safety and security hazards.
• Creation of budgets and disbursement of all resources will be efficient and compliant.
• Leadership of country staff, fostering capacity building, knowledge management, and collaborative work in a safe and secure working environment that enables them to achieve high performance results according to international human rights standards and the objectives, principles and values of the organization

Plan’s work will be well funded and growing

• Identification and exploitation of funding opportunities in partnership with NOs and in line with agreed strategy.
• Delivery of grant and sponsorship work on time with clear measurable impact on children and in full compliance with donor requirements.

Plan’s work in Bolivia will be recognised locally and internationally as effective and relevant to the needs of highly vulnerable children

• Representation of the work to all key stakeholders (advisory group, local leaders, workshops, cluster groups, INGOs locally and internationally etc) regularly promotes the issues being addressed and the work addressing them.
• Timely communications work keeps Plan at the forefront of the issues affecting children in Bolivia.

Dealing with Problems

• Complexity of Plan – organisational structures and decision-making.
• Flexibility to support other Country Offices.
• Sponsorship requests – this includes finding out new ways of managing sponsorship, retention of sponsors and children.
• Take decisions based on the correct applications of global policies in the country

Communications and Working Relationships

Internal:

• Regional Director
• Regional Office Management Team members
• Other Country Directors, especially those in the Region.
• Programme Department in IH.
• National Offices program departments.

External:

• Nation and Local authorities (Government, municipalities, etc)
• Community leaders in the areas of Plan Operations
• Civil society members of partner organization and alliances
• Media at local and national level
• Grants donors: National Offices, Corporate, and National Institutions
• Partners
• Other INGO leaders and networks.
• Cluster group members in Bolivia.
• UN and donor representatives
• Partnerships with national and international NGOs, civil society and local government organisations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours Required to Achieve Role’s Objectives

Knowledge

• Demonstrable knowledge as a result of study, training or practical experience on the key debates in development
• Knowledge of Bolivia; the geopolitical factors affecting child-poverty in the country and the political, social and environmental opportunities for change is an advantage
• Knowledge of the requirements of donor compliance and financial management
• Knowledge of programming
• Child-rights development and emergency programming theory
• Fluent in English and Spanish. High standard of French would be a plus.

Skills

• Proven skills in the development and management of effective and motivated teams, including distance management
• Effective working with and through partners
• Communications, comfortable with the media, presenting and arguing a case
• Proven analytical skills in isolating priorities and tackling them
• All aspects of team management in complex environments
• Representational skills in using media and other outlets for programme promotion

Behaviours

Striving for high performance

• Strongly drives performance forward in area of the business for which they are responsible
• Involves others in setting and achieving goals
• Creates strong sense of purpose within own part of the business and with stakeholders
• Holds self and others to account to deliver on agreed goals and standards of behaviour

Strategic thinking and innovation

• Sets strong strategy in own part of organisation
• Makes a strong contribution to wider strategy
• Sees contribution of own part of the organisation in wider Plan and external context
• Balances future vision with practical delivery
• Interrogates work effectiveness and searches for finds better ways of working

Decision making and risk management

• Alert to risks inside and outside the organisation ready to make judgements to manage risk and take responsibility for judgements

Influence and communication

• Effective communicator using clear messages drawn from Plan’s work
• Cross-culturally adept
• Ready to work to influence leaders in governments, international bodies, partners and communities
• Can reach out and influence large groups of people
• Can communicate with children and young people

Building effective teams and partnerships

• Collegiate, acting as a team player in the country and across the region even if this results in adjustment of own priorities
• Develops mutual trusting relationships with complex partnerships that have excellent business outcomes

Developing people

• Supports learning and a sense of mutual purpose in diverse teams
• Sets a strong learning culture in their part of the organisation
• Uses opportunities across Plan to develop others

Self awareness and resilience

• Remains calm and positive under pressure and in difficult situations
• Plans own learning and development
• Aware of impact on others and adjusting own behaviour accordingly
• Has a positive impact on those around them
• Leads major change while keeping staff and partners on board

Qualifications and Experience

• A post graduate degree in relevant field or equivalent experience
• Proven senior management experience in leading the development of and ensuring successful delivery of programme strategy within a humanitarian and/or development context

Physical Environment

• Based in the country office located in La Paz, with extensive local and some international travel
• Ability to travel to remote areas

How to Apply

Please submit a full CV and a comprehensive cover letter setting out your reasons for applying for the post and outlining the qualifications experience knowledge and skills that you feel you can bring to the role to:- recadmin@plan-international.org
The closing date for applications is Tuesday 3rd January 2012

Please quote reference number RA005

Reference and background checks will be carried out in conformity with Plans Child Protection Policy. Plan operates an equal opportunities policy and actively encourages diversity, welcoming applications from all areas of the international community.