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Timor-Leste Country Director

Region: Timor-Leste Location: This position is based in Dili Reports To: Regional Director Closing Date: Tuesday 3rd January, 2012 5 year contract The salary range for this role will be US$60–80,000 per annum depending on experience. This is an accompanied position and full expat benefits will be available.

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 Timor-Leste’s Country Strategic Plan has four key focus areas: •Right to a Healthy Start in Life •Right to Protection •Right to Access to Education •Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development The key challenges for the Timor-Leste Country Office are to develop and run cost effective and high impact programmes in a post conflict environment while actively contributing to the capacity development of Timorese civil society i.e. within both Plan and its partners.

Dimensions of Role: •Managing the Country Office Budget. Presently about 85% of total budget spent comes from grants with an increase in Sponsorship funding projected over the next 5 years. Currently the annual budget is approximately 2.2 million USD but it is expected to increase to over 5 million USD per year over the next five years. •Managing Plan’s programmes. Ensuring that the objectives of the Country Strategic Plan (CSPII) are met. Over the next five years, Plan intends to concentrate its interventions in 36 sucos in 4 sub districts with a total population of 71,000 people, including up to 14,000 sponsored children and their families. •Overseeing Plan’s Sponsorship – Plan started Sponsorship activities in 2010 and currently works with approximately 4,000 sponsored children across Timor-Leste but is projected to reach 10,000 additional children by 2016. •Expansion of Plan program in poorer regions of the country and undertaking advocacy work for the rights of Timor-Leste children. •Managing the grant portfolio and relationships with the key donors, including AUSAID, EU, framework agreements with SIDA through Plan Sweden and Ministry of Foreign Affairs through Plan Finland.
•Leadership, management and development of Timor-Leste team comprising of over 80 staff. Staff reporting directly to the CD are the country management team (7) (see organogram at the end of the document). •The post is responsible for all work that takes place for Plan in Timor-Leste including responsibility for the delivery of work and as Plan’s in-country representative to government and non-government partners. Key Government offices that Plan liaises with in Timor-Leste include the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Solidarity, Ministry of Justice and also the National Child Rights Commissioner. The Country Director is also responsible for managing relationships with the donors and beneficiaries. •As a member of the Regional Leadership Team, the Country Director of Timor-Leste is expected to contribute to the overall learning and strategic direction within the Asia region. This includes sharing experience of program development and learning and working in a post-conflict environment.

Typical Responsibilities - Key End Results of Position:

Plan’s work will be relevant to the needs of the most vulnerable children and youth in Timor-Leste •Country Strategic Planning analysis is ongoing and very well informed using locally and internationally available sources of information, with input from children and youth; •Emergency preparedness ensures Plan is ready to respond to predictable emergency conditions, including both natural and man-made disasters; •The location of programme work is regularly reviewed to ensure new communities are reached and existing communities are phased-out from in a responsible, transparent and sustainable way when appropriate; •The programme is registered with the relevant authorities and compliant with local law and MoUs exist with concerned ministries giving due recognition to Plan and its work in Timor-Leste; •Country leadership and staff are well aware of the country security situation and programmes are developed and implemented giving due consideration to security sensitivities.

Plan’s work in Timor-Leste 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, Regional 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 and efficient; •Work environments will be monitored to mitigate risk from health, safety and security hazards; •Creation of budgets and disbursement of all resources will be efficient and compliant with relevant internal and external policies and procedures.

Plan’s work will be well funded and growing •Identification and exploitation of funding opportunities in partnership with NOs and in line with agreed Resource Mobilisation strategy; •Delivery of programs, grant and sponsorship responsibilities on time with clear measurable impact on children and youth and in full compliance with donorrequirements.

Plan’s work in Timor-Leste will be recognised locally and internationally as effective and relevant to the needs of highly vulnerable children and youth •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 and youth in Timor-Leste; •Sharing Timor-Leste’s experience with other countries in the region/globally regarding programming in post-conflict environments.

Dealing with Problems:
•Complexity of Plan – organisational structures and decision-making; •Dealing with security/emergency conditions – the Country Director has to be actively involved in having security information and providing clear guidance for the safety and security of staff, assets and programmes; •Flexibility to support other Country Offices; •Sponsorship requests – this includes finding out new ways of managing sponsorship, retention of sponsors and children.

Communications and Working Relationships Internal: •Other Country Directors, especially in Regional Management Team •Programme Department in International Headquarters •National Office program depts. Presently, there are three framework agreements in place (Australia, Finland and Sweden) and others in the pipeline. In addition we develop proposals for major donors that require engagement of the NO programme teams.

External: •Other INGO leaders and networks, currently Plan Timor-Leste is a member of the Timor-Leste Humanitarian Country Team and the INGO Forum which is a network of 30+ INGOs operating in the country. •Cluster group members – Plan is currently a principal contributor to the Protection and WASH and is the Co-Lead of the Education Cluster in Timor-Leste. •Government, UN and donor representatives •Plan Timor-Leste is working with 12+ local, national and international NGOs. In addition, Plan Timor-Leste has strong partnership with districts government and line departments.

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 and emergency response methods and effectiveness; •Knowledge of Timor-Leste; the geopolitical factors affecting child-poverty and the situation of youth 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 in post-conflict environments with good understanding and appreciation of the historical, security context, political environment, economic, social/religious and humanitarian context in Timor-Leste or a comparable environment.

Skills •Proven skills in the development and management of effective and motivated teams, including distance management and capacity development of national staff; •Effective working with and through partners; •Communications, comfortable with the media, presenting and arguing a case; •Proven analytical skills in identifying any significant issues, communicating and addressing them; •Ability to establish robust operational systems and structures; •Excellent written skills in English for the development of proposals and the review of reports. Tetun, Portuguese or Bahasa Indonesian language skills are an advantage. •A post graduate degree in relevant field •Proven senior management experience in leading the development of and ensuring successful delivery of programme strategy within a humanitarian and/or development context

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

Physical Environment: •Based in the country office located in Dili, with extensive local and some international travel •Ability to live and work in a hardship country i.e. security risks; unstable electricity and water systems; limited access to health care; etc •Ability to travel to remote areas

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.

How to apply:

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter detailing your salary requirements and quoting reference AR026 to recadmin@plan-international.org