Room to Read Country Director – Laos

Vacancy Notice

Position : Country Director – Laos

Duty Station : Vientiane Capital, Laos

Deadline for application : 27 July 2012

Date of Issue : 6 July 2012

Open for : Lao citizen only

Organization profile:

Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Working in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments, we develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills to succeed in school and beyond.

We are non-governmental, non-religious and work with many local NGOs and community based organizations to implement our programs. We currently work in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Zambia – countries with a desperate lack of resources to educate their children. Since our inception, Room to Read’s worldwide team has impacted over 6 million children by constructing more than 1,500 schools, establishing over 13,000 libraries, publishing 700 new children’s book titles in 11 local languages, and rewarding over 16,000 girls with long-term, holistic scholarships.

Room to Read has an annual budget of approximately US$44 million and our global staff numbers over 600. Our global headquarters is located in San Francisco, and we have smaller fundraising offices in Delhi, New York, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, Sydney, and Tokyo. We have an Asia Regional Office located in New Delhi, a Southern Africa Regional Office in Pretoria, and program offices in Colombo, Dar es Salaam, Dhaka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Lusaka, New Delhi, Pretoria, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane.

Room to Read Laos was established in 2005 and has worked with disadvantaged communities to improve educational opportunities as well as strengthened the Government’s efforts to meet its goal of universalizing quality elementary education for all children. We currently operate the following programs: School library, Literacy Instruction, Book Publishing, Girls Education & School Construction Program which are operating in the provinces of Oudomxay, Phongsaly, Xaiyabouly, Salavan, Vientiane province and Savannakhet.

Position Overview:

The country Director (CD) is the highest position in Room to Read Laos. CD will steer the in-country senior management team and is ultimately responsible for all aspects of Room to Read’s in country programs. This position requires ability to lead and oversee the in-country staff in strategic and tactical evaluation of implementation, coordination, development, expansion, monitoring and evaluation of current and prospective work. The duties will include staff management, organizational development, developing and maintaining relationships with key partners, government, and community building, compiling various program, financial, and donor reports, and managing the country funds in accordance with the organization’s procedures. Travel to all provinces where Room to Read works will be required as needed. This position will report directly to Regional Director.

Duties and Responsibilities:

· Assume overall management, development and implementation activities of all programs;

· Direct the management team and supervise appropriate staff providing them with all the necessary assistance to ensure that program activities are carried out in accordance with headquarter requirement and in timely manner with attention to quality;

· Conduct regular senior management and staff meetings to asses organizational progress and communicate updates and developments as needed;

· Communicate all country-related activities, issues, and updates to the Regional Office and seek approval for budget activities and any related program developments;

· Oversee recruitment and training of staff;

· Conduct staff appraisals and identify and ensure support for staff capacity building needs;

· Visit project sites as needed to supervise the site and organize discussions with the school management team and local authorities. Gather feedback and ensure that they deliver on their portion of the challenge grant and on all terms of agreement with Room to Read;

· Oversee organizational and logistical support of program related activities;

· Develop ideas that address organizational priorities and conduct strategic and operational planning exercises;

· Work with relevant in country and headquarter staff to strengthen and improve program impact and sustainability;

· Work with the Operation Director to manage the organization’s legal compliance in Laos;

· Provide management expertise and leadership to a technically diverse tam and create a work environment that promotes high performing teams;

· Participate in any other activities which may be required to be undertaken to fulfill the objectives of the organization.

Meeting/Networking

· Explore opportunities for partnerships and knowledge sharing with NGOs, experts and institutions involved in related education initiatives;

· Develop and manage relationships with other NGO’s, government officials and appropriate educational facilities/authorities; schedule and attend meetings with them as needed to coordinate planning and implementation of projects;

· Represent Room to Read at relevant meetings and assist in planning and hosting donor visits;

· Provide regular updates on program activities and plans at weekly meetings with Program Director;

· Submit Quarterly management progress reports to Regional Director and to government counterpart.

Qualifications:

· Master Degree in Business or Public Administration/Management/Education;

· Minimum ten years of work experience of leadership or in senior management level (preferably in INGO sector or UN);

· Ability to communicate, negotiate and maintain relations with all stakeholders;

· Strong planning, supervising and program development skills;

· Ability to travel frequently to provinces throughout the country;

· Strong verbal and written communication skill in English and Lao;

· Proven track record of achieving results;

· Experience developing and/or implementing large-scale literacy initiatives.

To be successful as a member of the Room to Read team, you will also:

· High energy level, comfortable performing multifaceted projects in conjunction with day to day activities,

· Superior interpersonal abilities. Ability to get along with diverse personalities, tactful, mature, flexible

· Good reasoning abilities, sound judgment,

· Good communication and negotiation skills,

· Resourceful and well organized,

· Participative management style-advocate of team concept,

· Ability to establish credibility and be decisive- but be able to recognize and support the organization’s preference and priorities,

· Results and people oriented, but have sound judgment and an ability to balance other business considerations. Service oriented but assertive/persuasive.

Compensation:

The salary range for this position will be determined based upon the experience of the candidate hired. The no-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful and rapidly growing organization that is changing the world through the lifelong gift of education.

Application procedure:

If you think you are qualified in any of these posts, please write down a position that you applied, submit your cover letter and CV through email: sathaphone.chanthavong@roomtoread.org.

In case, you cannot reach us through email, you mail your applications to

Mail address: Room to Read, P.O Box 11607, Ban Sibounheuang 314, Unit 25 Chanthabouly District, Vientiane Lao PDR.

You also can visit the INGO web site: http://www.directoryofngos.org

Female candidates are encouraged to apply

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Last date for application: 27 July 2012