Country Director

Responsible for strategic leadership and oversight of Water for Good operations in the assigned country office, including program direction, country strategy development, program quality, innovation and impact, emergency preparedness and response, human resource management and talent development, financial and organization’s assets stewardship, resource acquisition, stakeholder representation, and administrative operations.

The Country Director is expected to demonstrate progress in achieving the measures of the operational objectives. S/He plays the leading role in managing the program and operations in the Central African Republic and continuously evolving them to become relevant, more effective and efficient, and innovative. S/he will function as the most senior representative of Water for Good in the country and is accountable to ensure that its profile and reputation with stakeholders are strong and reflect organizational Values, Operating Principles, and Mission. The Country Director is the interlocutor connecting global priorities with country specific plans. S/He is expected to work in close consultation and coordination with regional and global teams to fulfill the duties/responsibilities of the position.

Responsibilities & Duties Overview:

• Ensure the organization is recognized by stakeholders (relevant government authorities, donors, other NGOs, media etc.) as a development actor and credible reference point and leader on issues related to sustainable water.
• Lead the development and execution of high-quality country strategic and operational plans relevant to the local context and reflecting the global priorities
• Oversee the recruitment, orientation, and performance of senior staff and development of middle management staff; demonstrating healthy engagement, strong senior management teams, culture of innovation, and effective talent management.
• Strengthen the financial sustainability of programs and operations through vibrant resource development effort, striking healthy financial ratios, and effective budget administration.
• Oversee the grants acquisition and management effort in the country ensuring long-term health of the portfolio and achievement of annual targets.
• Lead program quality in the country; ensuring quality execution of program strategy that integrates child protection, timely and quality completion of M&E processes, adoption of quality standards and guidelines, and efficient use of global and regional program resources.
• Develop Water for Good’s reputation and brand among government and other stakeholders to pre-position, advocate, network and raise the profile and reputation among key influencers important to advance the sustainable water agenda.
• Ensure proper use of Water for Good’s financial, human and physical resources in pursuit of quality programs for sustainable water, and ensure that adequate internal controls are in place to protect Water for Good’s financial and non-monetary assets and that they are used in accordance with organizational policies/procedures and donor terms and conditions.
• Oversee the development and lead execution of effective disaster risk management (DRM) strategy and plans in the country.
• Interact with and steward relationships with key donors and volunteers when they visit the country.

Work Experience & Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• 6 years’ experience in a senior management position in international development; previous country director experience, head of mission, or equivalent experience highly valued.
• Experience in responding to natural disasters and man-made emergencies
• Experience managing programs supported by large institutional grants preferred
• Proven track record of strong management skills with complex programs and a large number of staff.
• Experience in WaSH programming.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and French
• Demonstrated high-level interpersonal and cross-cultural skills including the ability to build collaborative relationships internally and externally with sensitivity to cultural, ethnic, social and political issues.
• Ability to pragmatically solve problems, plan a course of action using analytical, conceptual, strategic and forward-thinking abilities to achieve an effective resolution.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in such areas as: project, budget and resource management.
• Strong leadership skills in such areas as: fostering teamwork; developing and motivating others; managing change; conflict resolution; initiative and flexibility.
• Strong visioning, strategic planning, implementation and effectiveness under pressure, results oriented and proactive with the ability to multitask.
• Ability to demonstrate support for innovation and organizational changes needed to improve the organization’s effectiveness; helping others to successfully manage organizational change.

Education/Certification:

Bachelor degree in related field of Development/Social Science, Organizational Management, Leadership, Logistics, Strategic Planning or related disciplines. An additional qualification in Resource Mobilization would be a plus. Master degree is preferred.

Preferred Qualification: Sango fluency is a plus.

Keywords

Country DirectorWater for GoodOperationsProgram DirectionStrategy DevelopmentHuman Resource ManagementFinancial StewardshipResource AcquisitionStakeholder RepresentationAdministrative OperationsSustainable WaterStrategic PlansTalent ManagementFinancial SustainabilityProgram QualityDisaster Risk ManagementWaSH ProgrammingLeadership Skills