Country Director – Zimbabwe

 Trócaire is one of Ireland’s leading agencies working for global justice and promoting human development. The International Department is responsible for Trócaire’s programme work on several countries worldwide.

Background to the Role: The purpose of the country unit in Trócaire’s structure is to deliver results for poor people, achieving change through development, humanitarian and advocacy work which empowers poor and marginalised people to take increased control over decisions that affect their lives and to improve the quality of their lives. The country is also responsible for contributing to the achievement of Trócaire’s overarching goals in relation to international advocacy, campaigns, communications, fundraising and marketing.

Reporting to: Head of Region Managing: (Individuals/Team) Finance & Admin Manager and Programme Manager

Contract Type: Fixed term Contract Duration: 3 years

Grade and Scale: Country Director Location of Position Harare, Zimbabwe with regular travel in country, and internationally including to Head Office in Maynooth, Ireland.

Purpose of the Role The Country Director is responsible for strategic development and effective management of Trócaire’s country programme, in line with Trócaire’s organisational and country specific strategies, policies and procedures.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Provide vision and direction for the country programme.

• Create and maintain a shared vision among staff of Trócaire’s country and organisational objectives and their role in achieving these.

• Develop the Country Strategic Plan and review annually against key country and organisational level objectives, indicators and targets; report annually on programme, non-programme and financial management to the Head of Division.

• Input into organisational strategy through strategic planning and monitoring processes.

• Ensure that the Partnership Policy is effectively implemented at country level and that Trócaire’s partnerships are effective and diverse.

Representation, Communications and Advocacy:

• Represent Trócaire with the host government, the Catholic Church, national NGO and INGO networks, donors and other key strategic stakeholders.

• Lead on ensuring that Trócaire is actively present at relevant working groups, donor fora, learning events and working groups in country.
• Play a lead role in management level dialogue with donors and other INGOs on accessing and managing institutional funding

Programme Development and Management:

• Support the Programme Manager to ensure that high quality programmes in line with Trócaire’s country and strategic objectives are developed in country.

• Ensure that the country team is working effectively with HQ-based teams on: programme quality and learning; research, policy & advocacy; and management of institutional funding.

Humanitarian Programme Management:

• Develop a humanitarian strategy at country level including preparedness and contingency plans.

• Lead on Emergency Responses in co-ordination with the Humanitarian unit at HQ and the Head of Region.

Human Resource Management:

• Ensure that Trócaire attracts and retains high calibre national and international staff by providing: a sense of clear purpose to all staff, development opportunities and competitive packages, in line with Trócaire policy and in coordination with HR.
• Line manage the Country Management Team (FAM and Programme Manager where the role exists) and other staff as necessary.

• Ensure effective implementation of HR policies and procedures at country level, in line with Trócaire’s HR Policies, Procedures and Guidelines in coordination with HR and with all local labour laws.

• Ensure that there are regular staff forums and meetings for discussion and coordination of strategic, operational and administrative initiatives, as well as for taking forward Trócaire’s internal initiatives on HIV, gender equality etc.

Financial and Admin Management

• Take responsibility for overall financial management in the country and ensure that there is optimal use of financial resources, managed in a transparent and accountable manner in line with Trócaire’s systems and procedures;

• Ensure that all host government requirements in relation to registration, taxation, labour law, auditing, fraud etc., are complied with;

• Take responsibility for ensuring that internal and external audits are fulfilled in a timely and efficient manner, in line with Trócaire policy and back donor and host government requirements.

• Ensure full compliance with Trócaire’s fraud policy and related back donor or host government requirements;

Institutional Funding

• Lead on the development, implementation and regular review of a Country Institutional Funding Strategy.

• Ensure optimal cost recovery, based on sound systems for budgeting, monitoring and compliance reporting.

Security Management

• Take full responsibility for the management of security at country level.

• Develop and manage in-country security plans and procedures and ensure that the country team adhere to all Trócaire security policies

The ideal candidate will have:

Qualification

• Third level qualification in Development, Humanitarian or related field of study.

• Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area, or significant experience beyond that outlined below.

Experience

• A minimum of five years’ experience in the management of development programmes of substantial scale; • A minimum of three years’ experience in running a country office (admin, finance, HR management, security management etc.);

• In-depth understanding of programming in a partnership model, based on at least five years’ experience working in a partnership-based NGO;

• Sound and up to date knowledge of development concepts, methodologies and techniques, including results based management, rights based approach and participatory methodologies;

• Demonstrable experience of working to attract institutional donor funding and of managing large and complex donor grants.

• Solid experience of managing teams in a multi-cultural environment and playing a leadership role in ensuring cohesiveness, inclusion and development of staff at all levels.

Skills

• Excellent leadership skills;

• Ability to motivate staff to align behind a shared vision and objectives;

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to develop and implement a clear country level strategy

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills and demonstrated ability in using these with stakeholders

• Demonstrated ability to meet corporate governance and accountability requirements of host governments, the organisation and donors;

• Demonstrated ability to manage security in challenging environments;

• Highly organised, with excellent planning, prioritisation and problem-solving skills;

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including ability to: make highly effective presentations to groups; communicate well on the media; develop succinct reports for management or other internal purposes; and produce analysis and articles for internal and external use

Qualities

• Understanding of, an empathy with , the role of the Catholic Church in development

• A strong commitment to the work of justice and an empathy with the ethos and work of Trócaire.

Other

• Ability and willingness to travel within country and internationally including travel to HQ in Ireland.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested applicants can apply via the Trócaire website - http://www.trocaire.org/jobs

Closing date for applicants is Tuesday 21st July 2015.

Trócaire is an equal opportunities employer.