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Job Specification

Job Title:Country Director- Somalia

Location:Nairobi, Kenya

Department:International

Date:June 2013

Ref No:13-ID- 018

Description of the unit / department: / The International Department is responsible for designing and delivering high quality programmes in 17 countries around the world. Trócaire seeks to manage country programmes through a light regional structure, the Somalia Country Director (CD) being responsible for one of 5 countries in the Horn and East Africa Region
Background to the Role: / The purpose of the country unit in Trócaire’s structure is to deliver results for poor people, achieving change through development, humanitarian and advocacy work which empowers poor and marginalised people to take increased control over decisions to improve the quality of their lives. The country is also responsible for contributing to the achievement of Trócaire’s broader organisational goals in relation to international advocacy, campaigns, communications, fundraising and marketing.
The Somalia CD will lead a team of 30-40 people to deliver against a country strategy already in place. Due to security reasons the Somalia team, including the CD,isbased in Nairobi until security in Somalia improves to a point which is deemed to warrant the moving of the office inside Somalia at a location to be determined.
Reporting to: / Head of Region– Horn and East Africa
Managing: (Individuals/Team) / Assistant Country Director – Programme Support
Health Programme Manager
Others
Contract Type: / Fixed term
Contract Duration: / 3 years
Grade and Scale: / Country Director (11 point scale).
Location of Position / Nairobi, Kenya with regular travel to Somalia (security permitting) and to Head Office in Maynooth, Ireland.
Status: / This is an accompanied position.
Purpose of the Role / This role is responsible for all strategic development and effective management of Trócaire’s Somalia country programme. This is to be undertaken in full compliance both with the laws of the countries in which Trócaire is operating and with Trócaire’s organisational and country specific strategies, policies and procedures.
Furthermore the Somalia CD role also has responsibility for contributing to the broader objectives of the organisation.
Key Duties & Responsibilities /
  1. Strategic Leadership
  • Provide vision and direction for the Somalia country programme
  • Take responsibility for the leadership and management of Trócaire’s staff and programme in Somalia
  • Ensure ongoing, current analysis of the national socio-economic , security and political situation
  • Develop the Country Strategic Plan (CSP) when required and ensure ongoing review progress against key country and organisational level objectives, indicators and targets;
  • Input into organisational strategy through strategic planning and monitoring processes
  • Model the behaviours and values expected of Trócaire staff and expressed in our Strategic Framework.
  1. Human Resource Management
  • Ensure that Trócaire attracts and retains high calibre staff in line with Trócaire policy and in coordination with HR.
  • Ensure effective implementation of HR policies and procedures at country level, in line with Trócaire’s HR policies, procedures and guidelines in coordination with HR and with all local labour laws.
  • Ensure consistent implementation of strong performance management systems throughout the country team
  • Foster a collegial, supportive and respectful culture within the Somalia team
  1. Programme Development and Management
  • Ensure programme interventions are in line with technical best practice and emerging national policies on health and education for Somalia as well as with Trócaire’s country and strategic objectives, strategies, policies and approaches.
  • Ensure that effective monitoring and evaluation systems are implemented in line with Trócaire policies, systems and guidelines.
  • Ensure that programme learning is effectively captured and communicated
  • Ensure that internal and external reporting is carried out in a timely manner, to a high standard and in line with agreed objectives
  • Provide leadership and foster collaboration with other actors in order increase programme quality and maximise impact.
  • Develop and ensure implementation of a humanitarian strategy and preparedness plan at country level.
  • Jointly lead on the first response phase of large scale emergencies with the Humanitarian Programme Manager.
  1. Financial and Admin Management
  • Ensure that budgets are prepared, reviewed and monitored regularly, and that resources are strategically allocated as appropriate on the basis of need or programme quality
  • Ensure effective financial budgeting and management systems, processes and controls are in place and are fully compliant with Trócaire’s operating standards and local legal requirements
  • Ensure effective Trócaire and donor compliant procurement and asset management systems, processes and controls are in place
  • Ensure that partner organisations are assessed in relation to financial management and governance standards and are supported to address capacity weaknesses
  1. Audit and Corporate Governance compliance
  • Ensure compliance with all host government requirements in relation to registration, taxation, labour law, auditing, fraud etc.
  • Ensure that internal and external audits are undertaken in a timely and efficient manner in line with Trócaire policy and back donor and host government requirements
  • Ensure follow-up on recommendations arising out of audits of Trócaire’s operations and take appropriate actions where necessary
  1. Institutional Funding
  • Lead the development and ensure implementation and regular review of the Somalia Funding Strategy
  • Ensure full compliance with donor requirements in relation to Institutional Funding secured for the country programme
  • Network actively and play a lead role in management level dialogue with donors and other INGOs on accessing and managing institutional funding
  1. Security Management
  • Develop, establish and manage Somalia programme security plans and proceduresin line with Trócaire policies, systems and guidelines
  • Maintain, document and communicate up to date analyses of the changing security context
  • Ensure all staff adhere to security guidelines
  1. Representation, Communications and Advocacy:
  • Represent Trócaire’s interests in Somalia, in particular, liaising with Government Institutions, UN agencies, EU and donor delegations, community groups and elders, international & local NGOs
  • Represent Trócaire in its relationship with local partner organisations, sister agencies including those from the Caritas/ CIDSE networks
  • Support the development and delivery of well-documented and evidence based advocacy strategies and lead on their delivery at country level
  • Ensure the timely provision of internal and external communications material as required
  1. Other
  • Any other duties as assigned by the Head of Region

The successful candidate will have: Essential and Desirable
Qualification /
  • Third level qualification in Development, Humanitarian, Public Health or related field of study (E)
  • Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area, or significant experience beyond that outlined below (D).

Experience /
  • Significant demonstrable experience in the management of operational humanitarian programmes of a substantial scale (E)
  • Demonstrable experience of managing health and community development programmes (E)
  • Sound and up to date knowledge of development concepts, methodologies and techniques, including results based management, rights based approach and participatory methodologies (E)
  • Experience of managing advocacy work in complex and politically sensitive environments(E)
  • Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and financial systems on a significant scale, in humanitarian contexts (E)
  • Demonstrated ability to manage security in challenging environments Demonstrable experience of promoting gender equity through programming and within an international organisation (E)
  • Demonstrable experience of securing institutional donor funding and of managing large and complex donor grants(E)
  • Experience of successfully managing and leading diverse programme teams in a multi-cultural environment (D)
  • Knowledge of Somalia working environment. (D)

Skills /
  • Excellent leadership skills. (E)
  • Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to develop and implement a clear country level strategy (E)
  • Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills (E)
  • Highly organised, with excellent planning, prioritisation and problem-solving skills (E)
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills (E)
  • Competent in Microsoft packages (E)
  • Fluency (written and spoken) in English (E)
  • Demonstrated ability to remotely support and manage multi-cultural teams (D)
  • Demonstrated ability to meet corporate governance and accountability requirements of host government, the organisation and donors (D)

Qualities /
  • A strong commitment to the work of justice and an empathy with the ethos and work of Trócaire (E).
  • Innovative, flexible and able to work in stressful and insecure environments (E)
  • Understanding of, an empathy with, the role of the Catholic Church in development (D)

Other /
  • Ability and willingness to work outside of normal working hours and to travel regularly within Kenya, Somalia (when security allows) and internationally including travel to HQ in Ireland.

Job Spec created by (Initials): / RH/GC
Job Spec reviewed by HR Officer:
Job Spec edited by (Initials):
Job Spec approved by (Initials):
Date:

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