Friday, June 26, 2009

CONCERN, Country Director, Deadline 15 July 2009

Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

Closing date: 15 Jul 2009

Location: Timor-Leste

Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries. We are recruiting for a:

Country Director in East Timor

Location: East Timor, Dili with frequent travel to the field locations in Manufahi & Los Palos
Reference No: NG/ET/CD
Contract Terms: Accompanied with partner only
Language Requirements: Excellent written and spoken English including report writing skills; Tetun, Indonesian or Portuguese would be an advantage
Contract Length: 14 months
Start Date: mid-September 2009

Job Purpose:

The Country Director will be responsible for implementing the Country Exit Plan and effectively managing the Concern Timor Leste country programme in line with Concern Worldwide’s organisational and country specific strategies, policies and procedures. S/he will lead the country management team and represent the organisation with Government, partners, donors and other international organisations during the phase out period.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Leadership:
- Oversee the country exit strategy which contributes to achieving Concern’s global strategy and objectives
- Deliver on a time-bound, sustainable and transparent phase out process from Timor Leste by December 2010, and ensure all contractual and legal requirements are met
- Ensure all stakeholders, partners and staff are working towards an agreed end point
- Develop and provide sensitive guidance and leadership through the Timor-Leste exit process
- Ensure that responsibility for the clear communication of the exit strategy to stakeholders is clearly assigned to appropriate senior managers and staff.
- Apply the principles of the exit implementation plan vision to maximise impact, transparency, accountability, and good stewardship beyond Concern’s mandate through forging and developing links between government and NGO partners (international and national).

Country Programme Management:
- Review and update the exit plan in the implementation of a staggered phase out of program activities
- Oversee the successful implementation and completion of the Strengthening, Consolidation and Learning of DRR (Scale up DRR) DIPECHO programme (Lautem) and the Options for Food Security Transformation (OFFSET) (Lautem and Manufahi) according to programme contract, agreed plans and budget. This will also involve the preparation of terms of reference and planning for programme evaluations.
- Ensure effective and targeted support is provided to partners based on their individual needs towards ensuring the success of the exit process and longer-term sustainability of programme impact.
- Maintain productive working relationships with donors (EC & HIVOS) and be responsible for undertaking country level negotiations related to procedural requirements, programme contracts, final reports and evaluations.
- Continue to strengthen and develop synergies and new working modalities with HIVOS
- Oversee a phased handover of assets and elements of the PROSPER programme to HIVOS should their EC Food Security proposal be successful and/or a decision is taken by HIVOS to maintain a presence in Timor Leste after October 2010
- Ensure that effective monitoring and evaluation systems are implemented in line with Concern policies and tools to measure impact and efficiency
- Ensure that departure from rented residential properties, office spaces and storage facilities is in accordance with lease and rental agreements and MoUs.
- As necessary, establish a strong working relationship with an in-Country Lawyer.
- Provide leadership and management support to programme and support function managers and staff.
- Maintain effective communication and liaise with Concern head office in Dublin
- Ensure that high quality internal and donor reports are produced and submitted in timely manner
- Oversee the documentation and sharing of lessons learned through Concern Timor Leste’s exit process.

Human Resources Management:
- Line-manage senior management staff (ACD Systems, Country Accountant, Livelihoods Programme Coordinator, Area Managers)
- Oversee the management and development of national and international staff of Concern Timor Leste.
- Ensure that there is an adequate human resource structure in place to facilitate the exit strategy.
- Line manage the HIVOS liaison officer who report to the Hivos regional director based in Jakarta
- Ensure that the Staff Performance and Development Review (PDR) system is undertaken for all staff.
- Review and implement Human Resources policies and procedures in accordance with Concern global policies and procedures and the labour law of Timor Leste
- Maintain regular forums for key staff and partner to discuss the exit issues, to coordinate planning and implementation of activities, and ensure information sharing.

Financial Management:
- To be responsible for overall financial management of Concern Timor Leste, including participatory budget preparation, revision and monitoring.
- Ensure that the Concern organisational and country specific financial guidelines and procedures are adhered to.
- Develop and implement work and expenditure plans and ensure that the country programmes are implemented within agreed and approved budgets through undertaking regular budget monitoring of expenditure against budget.
- Ensure that internal and donor financial reports are submitted in a timely manner to a high standard.
- Ensure that project and programme audits are prepared and conducted according to the exit implementation plan
- Oversee the management of the allocation and donation of resources and assets, ensuring that appropriate monitoring and controls mechanisms are in place and that these are maintained at all levels.
- Ensure logistical processes for the office closure are in place and implemented according to organisational policy.

Policies and procedures:
- To ensure consistent implementation of Concern organisational and country specific policies and procedures
- Ensure that support systems are in place and functioning in accordance with best practice in order to ensure transparency and accountability to programme participants, donors, government, and other relevant stakeholder. - Be responsible for security and safety of Concern personnel and resources in Timor Leste including participatory review and implementation of Country Security Management Plan

Representation and Networking:
- To represent Concern in Timor Leste and maintain coordination and networking relationships with the government, donors and other national and international development actors in the country.
- Ensure that relationships and formal agreements with the government are maintained and the government institutions are fully aware and involved in the exit plans

Person Specification

Essential:
- Third level education in a relevant discipline or appropriate field.
- At least five years (overseas) experience in similar or related senior management position – including programme implementation, HR and financial management in an NGO environment.
- Proven experience of programme development, management and participatory planning and methodologies.
- Proven experience of phasing out or closure of projects/programmes in an NGO environment
- Understanding and proven application of advocacy and mainstreaming programmes, including management of partnerships, and integrating gender and HIV&AIDS
- Experience of staff management and development including managing teams based in multiple locations as well as a sensitive approach to advising and mentoring staff and to dealing with critical issues
- Good communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to represent Concern in Timor Leste proven networking skills
- Ability to organize and plan effectively
- Strong leadership skills and ability to manage change effectively.
- Strong team building and networking skills
- Delegation, time management and prioritising skills and coping with broad range of demands.
- Ability and willingness to work as part of a multi-cultural team.
- Dynamic and willing to take initiatives to complete assigned tasks.
- Excellent written and spoken English language skills including report writing skills.
- Good security management skills.
- Full driving licence from the country of origin is useful if wishing to have access to transport
- Familiarity with IT software and basic hardware systems

Desirable:
- Additional training or qualification in development issues or technical areas
Publish Post
such as, strategic programme development and management, organisational/institutional development, community development, etc.
- Previous work experience with Concern Worldwide
- Previous work experience in the Asian context, preferably in Timor Leste
- Experience working with partners
- Language skills in Indonesian, Tetun or Portuguese

Concern has a Staff Code of Conduct and Programme Participant Protection Policy which has been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organizations, and the standards of behaviour expected of them.

Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions in these two documents.
How to apply
Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

Please submit your application in English with the reference code NG/ET/CD via our jobs website at https://jobs.concern.net

Successful applicants will be invited to a first round phone interview after the application deadline

Reference Code: RW_7TBE4N-18

Didi Tjiptohadi and Patners, Driver

The Embassy of the USA, GSO Supervisor, Deadline 07 July 2009