Uganda: Country Director

Requisition ID: req1149

Job Title: Country Director

Sector: Program Administration

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: Uganda-Kampala

Job Description

BACKGROUND The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The IRC has worked in Uganda since 1998, implementing highly effective programs in livelihoods, food security, women's empowerment, integrated healthcare, education and protection. The IRC in Uganda has a head office in Kampala, field offices in Kiryandongo, Kitgum, Lamwo, Arua, Yumbe, Adjumani, Nakapiripirit, Moroto and Kotido Districts.

SCOPE OF WORK The IRC Country Director is responsible for overall leadership and supervisory management of IRC offices and operations in the country, including stewardship of resources, staff safety and security, program quality and accountability, partnerships with Uganda civil society organizations, and performance management. The Country Director is IRC's principal representative to the Uganda government, donors, international organizations, other NGOs and the media. The Country Director will lead country program staff in pursuing the outcomes identified in the strategy action plan for 2016-2020, bringing them together to deliver high-quality, cost-effective programming results.

Based in Kampala, the Country Director oversees all IRC operations in Uganda. Reporting to the Regional Director for Horn and East Africa, this position receives support from regional and headquarters staff in the areas of program quality, new business development, advocacy and communications, safety and security management, finance, operations management, and external affairs. The Country Director is additionally expected to actively participate in defining the IRC's public advocacy positions. The Country Director manages a team of approximately 600 national staff, 6 International staff and directly supervises the Deputy Director of Operations, the Deputy Director of Programs and the Finance Controller.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES Leadership and Representation

• Lead the country program by maintaining open and professional relations with colleagues, promoting a strong team spirit and providing guidance, oversight and resources to enable staff to perform successfully.
• Develop and carry out strategies that result in strong representation with: Government authorities at various levels; donors; UN and other international organizations; international and local NGOs.
• Ensure that the IRC remains a partner of choice for major international donors
• Develop and maintain a high level of understanding of donor priorities and planned funding.
• Initiate and sustain strong, mutually beneficial and authentic partnerships with Ugandan organizations.
• Seek out and pursue opportunities to raise the profile of the work of the IRC in Uganda, as well as the lives and the needs of the people the IRC seeks to serve.
• Maintain an excellent contextual and geopolitical understanding, allowing for the early identification of new developments and trends.

Strategic Direction, Program Quality and Growth:

• Lead the implementation of the country program's strategy action plan to achieve IRC's ambitions in Uganda and contribute to IRC's strategic objectives globally.
• Ensure high-quality programming through the country program's consistent use of: rigorous assessment, design, and proposal development and review processes; comprehensive monitoring and evaluation, accountability and learning systems; staff development investments; and partner organization capacity strengthening.
• Remain current on national and regional issues impacting the people IRC serves, and develop responsive strategies to ensure the IRC mission can be carried out appropriately.
• Identify opportunities for appropriate expansion and growth of programs, supported by the acquisition and investment of human resources.
• Ensure timely submission of competitive, responsive and high-quality proposals, and support colleagues in negotiations with donors.

Stewardship and Operational Management:

• Drive operational excellence to achieve optimal efficiency and cost-effectiveness in all functions and operations of the country program.
• Oversee the development, deployment and utilization of financial and operational policies, procedures, and systems to deliver compliance with IRC and donor requirements.
• Drive effective implementation of IRC's Sub-Award Partnership Management System, including by ensuring all departments collaborate effectively to deliver a coherent, joined up approach and decision-making with respect to IRC's partnerships.
• Ensure responsiveness and appropriate levels of in-person and remote support to all offices, especially in the areas of HR, finance and supply chain.
• Provide timely and effective oversight of the Uganda country program's financial position.
• Maintain effective and coordinated budget monitoring processes for grant funds and discretionary funds.
• Seek opportunities to introduce efficiencies and eliminate redundancies in existing business processes.

Staff Performance Management and Development:

• Supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback, and leading documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Provide constructive feedback and counsel on appropriate career paths and professional development for IRC staff.
• Oversee the management, coaching and development of national and international staff to build a cadre of skilled, committed and motivated personnel.
• Continue to pursue nationalization of senior management positions.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
• Offer leadership support for successful adherence by all staff to IRC's Global HR Operating Policies and Procedures.
• Work with regional HR staff to identify and implement recruitment and retention strategies.
• Undertake regular reviews of labor and salary markets in Uganda for the purpose of enhancing the competitiveness of the IRC's overall compensation package for national staff.

Safety and Security Management:

• Take primary responsibility for overall management of safety and security for the country program.
• Oversee management of all security issues, including appropriate response to emergency situations as they arise.
• Create and maintain a culture of safety and security throughout the country program, including trainings and briefings that prepare all country program staff for security incident prevention and response
• Keep security, evacuation and contingency plans current and accessible to country program staff.
• Maintain close coordination and communication with the Regional Safety and Security Director on safety and security concerns and evolving issues that could adversely affect IRC staff or operations.

Communications:

• Model and encourage active practice of the principles of the "IRC Way - Global Standards for Professional Conduct" throughout the country program
• Maintain a healthy and empowering office environment that encourages open, honest and productive communication among IRC staff and with partner organizations
• Maintain open communications with regional management staff, regional technical advisors, and HQ departmental staff

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Graduate degree in a relevant field
• At least ten years of progressively responsible international work experience, including at least three years in a leadership role at the Country Director level of multi-site, multi-sectoral operations in a humanitarian operating environment
• Experience of building personal networks at a senior level, resulting in securing new opportunities for the organization
• Demonstrated successful leadership and management experience with a multi-disciplinary team in a cross-cultural setting, including active mentoring and coaching
• Proven experience delivering appropriate levels oversight of a portfolio consisting of a variety of complex, high-value donor-funded projects
• Extensive representation and fundraising success, including prior experience with European, US and international donors
• Experience of managing security in a complex and rapidly changing security context
• Proven ability to foster strong, collaborative, principled partner relationships.
• Strong budget and fiscal oversight capacities
• Established capacity to deal with ambiguity in stressful situations
• Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way - Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

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