Deputy Regional Director, Programs – Asia Pacific

Helen Keller International

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Deputy Regional Director, Programs – Asia Pacific

(Phnom Penh, Cambodia)

Established in 1915 with Helen Keller as a founding trustee, Helen Keller International (HKI) works to save the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.  We implement programs based on evidence and research in vision, health and nutrition. Headquartered in New York City, HKI currently has offices in 21 countries in Africa and Asia as well as in the United States.  HKI is known for sustainability, reliability, efficiency and the highest level of technical expertise in fighting and treating blindness and malnutrition.  To accomplish its work, HKI builds the capacity of local governmental, civil society and private sector systems, and promotes the development of sustained, large-scale programs that deliver effective preventative and curative services for nutrition, eye health and neglected tropical diseases.  The hallmark of the organization’s work is its proven effectiveness in developing, testing and scaling-up health interventions, and integrating them within government and community structures.  HKI works with partners around the world to help meet key provisions of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as well as VISION2020 : The Right to Sight. With over 700 staff and an annual cash operating budget of over $50 million, HKI is seeking a Deputy Regional Director, Programs to work as an integral member of the regional team and lead development and oversight of our programs in the Asia Pacific Region.

Asia Pacific Regional Overview

HKI’s programs in Asia Pacific have a long history, going back more than 40 years.  Programming in the current eight countries in the region (Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar, Philippines, and Vietnam) includes both eye health and nutrition; and has recently diversified and expanded in scope.  The regional office also directly oversees several research or multi-country projects.  Funding for the programs is generated through country, regional and headquarters fundraising efforts, as well as through HKI’s affiliate, HKI Europe.  With about 300 staff and an annual operating budget of over $16 million, HKI’s programs in Asia Pacific are funded by a mix of government, corporate and foundation donors, including, USAID, Kraft/Mondelez , Irish Aid, IDRC, the Starr Foundation, the BMGF and Standard Chartered Bank. The funding situation is solid in all but one country at present, with several exciting country office and regional initiatives underway and in the pipeline.  The country offices are supervised and supported directly by the Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO) team, most of whom are based at the regional office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 

Scope of the Position

In response to programmatic expansion, and to ensure continued high quality support to country programs, the APRO office is adding a Deputy Regional Director, Programs (DRD-P) to complement the existing position of Deputy Regional Director, Operations (DRD-O). Together, these positions will ensure overall supervision of country directors (who oversee the country office operations and programs) and provide technical and operational support and oversight to country offices.  Each Deputy will lead regional initiatives in their area of expertise; each will have direct supervisory responsibility for four countries, and provide support in their area of expertise to the other four countries; both will report to the Vice President, Regional Director for Asia Pacific (RD), and be members of the regional management team, along with the RD, DRD-O, Finance Manager, and Technical Advisors.  The DRD-P may be called upon to serve as acting regional director when the RD is absent.

The DRD-Programs will take the lead on ensuring technical quality of program and proposal development; develop new projects; and provide guidance, input and oversight to ensure that country office programs are implemented and reported on at the highest standards.  Field travel includes visits to country offices and project sites as well as international meetings, as needed.

HKI’s programs require close cooperation with governments, partner NGOs, food industries, donors and UN agencies. The DCD-P plays a key role in nurturing and overseeing these cooperative relationships, and representing HKI-APRO to donors and the international community. 

Key Responsibilities

• Program Development and Promotion/Fundraising:  In collaboration with colleagues, lead in the identification and pursuit of new program initiatives that are consistent with HKI mission and strategic plan. Lead and contribute heavily to the development of concept papers and proposals for submission to various donors. Identify and implement strategies to meet longer term country and regional office funding needs including identifying and pursuing funding opportunities with donors based in the region.

• Strategic Planning and Vision:  Provide direction and guidance to the long term, medium, and short term planning processes in countries and for Regional Initiatives in accordance with the overall agency strategic plan and program strategy.   (Note: The current strategic plan goes through 2015 ; a new planning process will begin in 2014.)

• Facilitation and Control:  Serve as the gatekeeper and advocate for country programs with the rest of HKI, including regional office, headquarters and HKI-Europe. Ensure compliance with HKI and country office programmatic performance and reporting requirements. Identify issues and ensure prompt corrective action. Facilitate access by country offices to required programmatic support. Represent and advocate country program needs and perspectives within the Regional Management Team.

• Program Quality Assurance:  Collaborate closely with the technical leadership of HKI to support programs in countries and ensure that the quality, impact, scale and cost-effectiveness of these programs, including the cross-cutting areas, meet HKI standards through implementation of appropriate planning, monitoring and evaluation.  Assure the accurate and timely reporting of program results including supporting country directors on their annual reporting on HKI’s strategic metrics related to programs.  May be asked to take a technical lead to ensure that strategic programmatic cross-cutting areas important to HKI such as gender equity, behavior change communication, capacity building and/or monitoring and evaluation, are state of the art and integrated effectively into all HKI programs in the region.

• Partnerships and Representation:  Work with colleagues to define partnership possibilities and to identify and prioritize the use of local regional, and/or centrally based technical resources to ensure the development of programs of the highest quality, and to ensure HKI representation at key regional meetings. Build-on and expand partnerships with regional institutions, country government officials, international and local donors, international and local NGOs, universities and other resource institutions and other colleagues that support HKI programs.

• Internal Capacity Development:  Collaborate with relevant colleagues to establish staff training, orientation, and development plans for assigned countries within the context of available resources. Assist in the recruitment process for all expatriate and senior field positions in designated countries (and regional program coordinators/managers, as assigned). Approve recruitment of senior program positions in region, proactively seeking out advice of members of the technical team as required.

• Supervisory Responsibilities:  In close collaboration with the DRD-O, manage Country Directors in APRO countries. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include managing process of interviewing, hiring, and training/orienting country directors; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining supervisees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Qualifications

• At least a Master’s Degree in Public Health (or related field), with eye health or nutrition training or program experience plus at least ten years international public health work experience, ideally including at least five years managing complex country programs, or equivalent combination of skills and experience.  Work experience as a Country Director for a non-governmental organization preferable.
• Demonstrated ability in managing complex international operations, including development and monitoring project and operational budgets. 
• Strong background, experience and demonstrated success with fundraising, both with an ability to support country programs and regional staff in proposal development and to directly lead proposal development.
• Strong technical skills in one or more of HKI’s program areas including a history of publications and presentation at international conferences. Passionate about ongoing learning in HKI’s technical areas. Ability to forge strong working relationship with technical leadership internal and external to HKI.
• Ability and willingness to undertake extensive field travel (approx. 35%-50%).
• Communication and language skills:
  • Strong interpersonal skills in dealing with external contacts, as well as internal colleagues.
  • Excellent oral and written English skills. Ability to read, analyze and interpret the most complex documents, and to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management and public groups.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the application of information technologies to HKI program areas. Knowledge of various software to be able to prepare presentations and other work documents.

To Apply 

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to hkihr@hki.org noting the position title in the sublect line.  

Application will be accepted until the position is filled.