Country Director at Helen Keller International

The CD reports directly to the Regional Director for Eastern, Southern and Central Africa, and leads the Country Management Team (CMT). They directly supervise a team of professional level staff, work closely with colleagues at all levels of Helen Keller's global management structure and may be called upon to participate in global working groups or steering committees.
Key Responsibilities
Overall Management and Leadership

• Provide strategic vision and direction for overall program design, implementation, and proposal development; work closely with the country team to accomplish the strategic goals.
• Lead and oversee all aspects of the implementation of country programs and the management of the country office.
• Represent Helen Keller in formal and informal meetings with government officials, international donor agencies, and national technical advisory groups pertinent to Helen Keller project activities.
• Identify opportunities and generate funding from international and bilateral agencies, and donor agencies.
• Develop and nurture in-country donor relationships and identify potential partners to participate in joint proposals.
• Lead and prepare concept papers and proposals and provide other information as needed for submission to donors and others for fundraising and marketing purposes.
• Model collaboration for your matrixed team: effectively consult and inform colleagues to maximize efficiency and knowledge sharing and integrate guidance and direction from subject matter experts in your office and elsewhere in the global organization to maximize performance.
• Build a highly effective Country Management Team, recruiting, supervising, mentoring, and evaluating staff, and engaging in frequent performance conversations with team members.
• Delegate authority, consult with, and guide staff to achieve goals and contribute to an atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development.
• Ensure accountability to beneficiaries, partners, colleagues, and donors by providing ongoing feedback in a context of mutual respect.
• As a senior leader in the organization, participate in global working groups, the recruitment process of global colleagues and other activities, as requested.

Programmatic

• Oversee and coordinate the program portfolio to ensure the highest level of project quality and accountability, while fostering continuity through building local capacity. Provide technical input to the government, international donors, and technical advisory groups pertinent to Helen Keller project activities.
• Ensure implementation of strong program monitoring, evaluation and learning functions.
• Oversee research design, methodology and dissemination of information needed to monitor and evaluate project activities and/or advance programmatic and policy changes.
• Disseminate findings from Helen Keller projects that are of importance to decision-makers in a position to fund or implement projects in Kenya and internationally.
• Keep the national partners and others informed about progress of the projects, plans for the development of new programs/projects/activities and donor involvement in the overall program.
• Ensure safeguarding measures are integrated into program design and implementation at all levels.

Operations and Finance

• Provide oversight to finance and administrative services including procurement, property management, human resources management, vehicle and facilities management, and staff safety and security.
• Supervise all aspects of people management in the country office; including hiring and managing staff, leading initiatives to develop staff capacity, and cultivating a positive culture to promote team morale and retention.
• Work with global colleagues to manage the development and implementation of annual country budgets.
• Authorize expenditures for grant or contract allocations and ensure compliance with procedures required by grant or contract agreements. Ensure the accurate and timely submission of financial and narrative reports that comply with grant or contract agreements and ensure compliance with all aspects of donor funding and Helen Keller policies.

Required Qualifications and Competencies

• Minimum ten years of field experience in global/public health and/or nutrition programs including demonstrated  experience in program management, including design, implementation, and evaluation, plus a minimum master's degree in public health, nutrition, development or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Technical knowledge in an area related to Helen Keller's mission and programs.