Country Director

Job Description

The Country Director coordinates, manages and increases visibility and funding for Country office programs. S/he prominently positions the organization as a leader in the field of pollution identification and mitigation as well as engagement with private sector and the cost-effective implementation of a diverse portfolio of donor-funded programs. The Country Director hires, manages, and works closely with in-country and headquarters staff to conceptualize and plan program development activities, diversify funding resources, and build on country and international best practices.

The Country Director also provides strategic leadership and managerial oversight of the administrative, programmatic, technical, financial and operational aspects of the portfolio of projects in the country including technical leadership; team management and mentoring; donor, government and partner liaising; new business development; and oversight of programmatic and financial management and reporting.

S/he ensures that systems are in place and being properly implemented, ensuring that all activities and programs are in alignment with set policies and guidelines.

The Country Director oversees the proper stewardship of resources as well as the well-being and safety of in-country staff.

S/he ensures that program objectives are met, all activities are responsive to the needs of the host country and donors, and the program continues to advance and play a key role in contributing to the development environment.

The Country Director reports to the Regional Director and supervises all in-country staff and active programs and represents Pure Earth to local partners, government, and donors.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee country office programming to ensure the effective and efficient delivery and implementation of projects and ensure that they are in line with the organization and donors’ standards for program quality.
• Supervise Project Managers charged with the day-to-day execution of the program; undertake the timely deployment of financial and human resources for program success and attainment of desired results/indicators. Ensure that all project deliverables are met in a high quality, cost effective and timely fashion.
• Ensure that proper program monitoring and evaluation systems are in place.
• Promote a learning environment within the country office that facilitates two-way learning with various stakeholders. Facilitate and/or participate in learning communities and task forces.
• Document and disseminate methodologies and results that can inform the wider organizational community (such as evaluation documents, consultant reports, workshop reports, etc.). Share and promote these resources through a variety of means (including e-mail, brown bags, the Intranet, etc.).
• Make periodic visits to field sites, to monitor the status of projects.
• Liaise directly with donors to ensure continued alignment and responsiveness.
• Participate in strategic planning processes.
• Lead the preparation and implementation of a high-quality country-office strategic plan appropriate for the local and regional context, complementary to government & donor development plans and in line with the organization’s overall vision and mission. Develop the plan in an inclusive and participatory process.
• Ensure that the organization continues to develop and strengthen programs based on strategic analysis of the local country context.
• Ensure understanding of strategic plan and approaches by all staff and key stakeholders.
• Coordinate in-country marketing and promotion of the organization. Ensure strategic growth for the organization in line with strategic plan and/or theory of change.
• Ensure strong cooperation and collaboration with partners, donors, government, and other key stakeholders as a base for building/maintaining/expanding a sustainable country and regional program.
• Coordinate and collaborate with head office and the organization’s regional staff.
• Contribute strategically, through participation, in relevant, existing forums in building a vibrant civil society sector and influencing policy.
• Maintain and expand senior external relations with government, private sector community, civil society, and international stakeholders.
• Represent country office operations to the organization’s head office.
• Assure smooth flow of information from head office to staff and vice versa.
• Generate financially viable program pipeline in line with the organization’s strategy and assist in identifying and securing funding for those programs.
• Involve relevant Country office and head office programs, grants, management and other staff in identifying and pursuing new business opportunities.
• Provide in-country leadership as well as collaborate with head office in pursuing new business opportunities and partnerships with bilateral donors, multilateral donors, foundations, private sector, and others.
• Provide oversight for all administrative and financial operations to support the programs.
• Consistently monitor the country office’s financial position and ensure the best use of available resources. • This includes overseeing the development and review of country office annual budget and project budgets, oversight of financial transactions and reports, maximizing cost recovery from restricted grants.
• Maintain up to date understanding and adherence to the organization’s policies and procedures amongst all country office staff.
• Ensure adequate internal controls are in place to protect the country office’s financial and non-monetary assets and to ensure the resources are used in accordance with donor terms and conditions.
• Review and follow-up on internal and external audit recommendations.
• Ensure the country office operations are conducted in accordance with all statutory and tax requirements.
• Oversee an efficient, transparent grant making process under the program; assure timely and high-quality monitoring of and reporting by sub grantees.
• In coordination with head office, negotiate contracts, grants, cooperative agreements and their modifications or extensions.
• Oversee the work of the implementing partners and monitor for compliance with sub agreements or subcontracts.
• In cooperation with human resources department, oversee the management and development of country office human resources to ensure a diverse, skilled and productive workforce and promote an organizational culture where the organization’s values are practiced.
• Provide proper supervision and management for all direct reports and oversee the establishment and functioning of a strong, effective senior leadership team. Ensure timely and quality inputs by staff and consultants.
• Ensure strong human resource strategies and systems are in place and are properly implemented in areas such as recruitment, staff development, and performance management.
• Ensure appropriate workplace policies to ensure fairness and equity are developed and used (e.g. policies related to HIV/AIDS, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, etc.)
• In cooperation with human resources department, oversee the establishment and regular review of compensation package to ensure competitiveness.
• Actively promote staff wellness by monitoring country office organizational health and taking corrective actions as needed.
• Ensure the proper implementation of the organization’s performance management system for direct reports. • This can include: proactively addressing performance issues through regular, constructive and honest feedback and coaching and identifying necessary staff development for direct reports.
• Oversee the recruitment and orientation of new senior staff.
• Support continued growth of local staff through strategic, deliberate internal capacity building.
• Ensure levels of authority and responsibility are clearly defined, understood and followed within the country office.
• Invest in consistent team building to increase cohesion between staff in all geographic areas of the country.
• Lead the management of Security and Safety Administration by developing and updating a staff and asset security plan in line with the local context and in alignment with head office security guidance; keeping key staff abreast of any security issues, as they arise.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume/CV, a cover letter, and a writing sample to: