South Sudan: Country Director

Role and Responsibilities
Leading a diverse team who are committed to serve the world’s most vulnerable with practical and compassionate care, the Country Director oversees all programme and support activities in-country. Representing Medair in all issues relating to the country programme, the Country Director plays a key role in donor relations and grant management, external representation, legal compliance and manages the country strategy and the project implementation and evaluation in conjunction with senior field managers.

Project Overview
Multi-sector relief programme including: provision of Emergency Health and Nutrition Care, Health and Hygiene Promotion, Water and Sanitation and NFI and Emergency Shelter distributions across fixed and emergency response locations. Goal is to assist in improving health and water and sanitation conditions for vulnerable people in South Sudan.

Medair
Medair is a humanitarian organisation inspired by Christian faith to relieve human suffering in some of the world’s most remote and devastated places. We bring relief and recovery to people in crisis, regardless of race, creed or nationality. As signatories of the Red Cross Code of Conduct, we believe that aid should be given to everyone who is in need, regardless of political, social or religious viewpoint. We save lives in emergencies and then stay to help people recover from crisis with dignity—working side by side with communities to leave a lasting impact. We provide a range of emergency relief and recovery services: health care and nutrition; safe water, sanitation, and hygiene; shelter and infrastructure.

Workplace
Juba, South Sudan with frequent travel to field locations

Starting Date
May 2017

Initial Contract Details
Full time, 24 months

Key Activity Areas
Programme Leadership
• Design, update and evaluate the country strategy, in conjunction with the relevant senior field managers and HQ staff. Take into account community needs, donor criteria and strategies and an exit strategy in order to facilitate the long-term planning and development of the projects in the country.
• Manage the monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the implementation of the planned activities in accordance with the project proposals and logical frameworks and institutional donor policies and guidelines.
• Manage the overall programme and support functions, including reviewing and refining the management structures and overseeing the development and maintenance of operational procedures for individual projects and support functions.
• Analyse humanitarian needs, trends and political developments in the country of operation and the surrounding region in order to anticipate new projects and initiatives.
• Ensure all programme activities and support functions comply with applicable national and international laws and regulations, including in-country registration.

Operations Management
• Oversee programme implementation in consultation with the relevant senior field managers (programme and programme support) and in accordance with the project proposals, ensure objectives are met within the required time frames and budgets. Where necessary ensure preventative and corrective action is taken.
• Facilitate cross cutting communications with all country teams implementing and supporting the programme plans.
• Support field managers in all aspects of finance, administrative, human resource and logistics management, ensuring knowledge of and adherence to applicable operational systems, donor requirements and country programme strategy.
• Prepare and implement policies, procedures and guidelines, as appropriate and with the relevant field managers and HQ staff, so as to enhance the smooth running of the programmes through standardised procedures and improved support.
• Manage a comprehensive activity plan for the programme, including resource needs analysis, covering the time frames of the project proposals.
• Represent Medair at relevant national and local meetings with government officials, contractors, donors, UN and other NGOs, etc., reporting back as applicable to staff, field managers and HQ.

Financial Management
• Supervise the project budget management and expenditure, in collaboration with field managers and HQ staff, ensuring budgets are spent according to donor proposals and regulations.
• Ensure the management of spending within the programme is in-line with the approved budgets. Analyse projected cash flow, decide on the timing of major procurements, oversee audits and anticipate where over or under spending may occur and ensure necessary action is taken.
• Ensure sufficient and appropriate controls are in place to prevent fraud and that relevant staff receive the required information and training to minimise the risk of occurrence within the country programme.

Security Management
• Oversee the updating and implementation of country location security plans, guidelines and manuals.
• Ensure appropriate security procedures and awareness are maintained throughout the country programme.
• Take the lead on decision making and contingency planning during security incidents or threats.

Staff Management
• Line manage designated staff, including direct supervision and development.
• Hold regular team meetings and, through a consultative leadership style and a transparent, honest and supportive communication structure, develop and build an effective team.
• Oversee all HR related issues within the programme including job descriptions, recruitment, performance management, development and training, health and safety, team structures, capability disciplinary action, etc. in collaboration with the relevant staff and managers.
• Reflect the vision and values of Medair when interacting with team members and provide them with leadership, advice, support and appropriate communication.

Quality Management
• Review, develop and implement (as applicable) systems to improve transparency and to detect and ultimately prevent loss or fraud.
• Ensure country programmes are implemented in line with donor proposals and requirements and in accordance with Medair, donor, country and international standards e.g. Sphere, CHS, and other applicable guidelines, standards and recommendations etc.

Field - Team Spiritual Life
• Reflect the vision and values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Live, work and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings.
• Instigate and contribute to prayer times within internationally recruited staff and HQ teams.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international programmes and HQ prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks and conveys the spirit of the sort of tasks that are anticipated proactively from staff. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary according to organisational needs.

Qualifications
• University degree in a relevant subject such as Management / Development Studies / Business Administration or in a relevant technical subject.
• Post-graduate degree in the humanitarian sector desirable.
• Security management and/or leadership training desirable.

Languages
• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written).

Experience / Competencies
• 5 years post-qualification experience in a management position.
• 3 year post-qualification experience in a complex humanitarian emergency.
• Experience in dealing with donors and government officials.
• Knowledge of Humanitarian Essentials, Sphere and CHS.
• Advanced planning, assessment and analytical skills.
• Advanced leadership and management skills; ability to build trust and enforce procedures.
• Experience and willingness in training/mentoring staff.
• Team-player with good inter-personal skills; committed to team-building and able to develop and support other team members.
• Self-motivated, energetic, hard-working, servant-hearted.
• Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels.

Profiles sought for Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS) roles in the field
Relief experience
• Professionals with 12 months or more relevant relief or development experience (Experienced Relief Workers).
• Professionals with less than 12 months relevant relief or development experience (New Relief Workers).
Professional
• Experienced professionals in a relevant Medair sector of expertise.
• Overseas intercultural experience.
Values
• Fully committed to the Medair values; to reflect the vision and values of Medair with team members, local staff, and external contacts.
Personal qualities
• Able to live and work in a multicultural team under difficult conditions.
• Strong character traits, including emotional stability, adaptability, ability to handle stress, cultural and gender sensitivity, honesty, and physically fit.
Availability
• Single or married (with no children under 18). If married, your spouse must also apply.
Final selection.
• All potential candidates for field positions must successfully complete the Medair Relief & Recovery Orientation Course (ROC). Information, dates and related costs can be found via this link.

Benefits Package provided to all Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS)
• Comprehensive briefing at our Swiss Headquarters, as well as an in-country briefing.
• Security training for those going to insecure environments.
• Accommodation, food, and transportation in-country.
• Return flights to and from the country programme (one return flight for every year of service).
• Rest and recuperation (R&R) leave (including travel, accommodation, and food).
• Annual leave.
• Comprehensive medical and emergency rescue insurance, with up to 60 days post-assignment coverage, including debriefing.
• Disability insurance.

Specific benefits for Experienced Relief Workers (IRS)
(Applicants with 12 months or more relevant relief or development experience)
• A salary based upon the grade of the position and experience of the position-holder, starting from USD 1,700 per month.
• Contribution matching programme for retirement savings.
• Additional contract benefit allowance for those who commit to longer contracts.
• Highly subsidised contribution to Medair ROC travel and accommodation costs.

Working Conditions
• This is a field-based position and working and living conditions may be very different to that previously experienced.

Application Process
Before you apply, please ensure you are fully aware of the:
a) Medair organisational values.
b) Medair Relief & Recovery Orientation Course (ROC) (which forms part of the recruitment selection process for field positions).

Then to apply, go to http://relief.medair.org/en/jobs/positions/country-director-sds-juba then:
c) apply for this vacancy (or another position that matches your profile), or
d) apply for a Medair ROC (where we can try and match your competencies to our vacancy needs).

Please do not make multiple applications. We will not review email applications. Only English-language applications / CVs will be reviewed. Medair does not set closing / deadline dates for applications; recruitment is on-going until the position is filled.

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