Size of the Team to Be Managed

Last update August 2012

COUNTRY/PROGRAMME DIRECTOR

Country

City/site

Size of the team to be managed

N+1

N+2

Budget responsibility

Contract

Basic salary

Expected date of arrival

Duration of the mission

International travel

Travel between sites

China

Beijing

6 persons at coordination level

ASENE Desk Officer (COB)

Director of DAD

Yes

Fixed-term contract, full time, with trial period

To be confirmed

November 19 2012

12 months renewable

Yes

Yes between Beijing main office and project

sites in Guangxi, Yunnan Beijing, Tibet (and

previously in Sichuan &

Qinghai)

+

participation to conferences in other provinces

Possibility of a couple

Possibility of children

Donor

Yes

Yes

Belgian Cooperation (DGD), EU and others

Description of the programme and the projects

Handicap International has been working in China for more than 14 years. Our objective

is to promote more inclusive development policies and implement projects that improve

the socio-economic inclusion and quality of life of persons with disabilities, especially in

rural areas. HI runs his projects in close cooperation with governmental partners, civil

society and associations of people with disabilities.

Disability is a cross-cutting issue and each organization or community has responsibilities

to provide barrier-free environments for persons with disabilities so that they can enjoy

their basic rights for participation and access to services.

There are more than 83 million people with disabilities in China (equivalent to the entire

population of Germany) and more than 75% of them are living in rural areas. In these

areas, access to services for people with disabilities is still challenging as the following

facts show:

-

-

Only 33% of people with disabilities needing rehabilitation services receive them;

Only 20% of people with disabilities needing assistive devices have access to such

devices;

- The illiteracy rate of persons with disabilities aged 15 or above is more than 40%;

As a consequence, the average annual income per person with disabilities is less than

half of the average national annual income per person.

We currently operate in 4 provinces/regions of China (Tibet, Yunnan, Beijing and

Guangxi) with a small head office located in Beijing. The following projects are ongoing:

1. Detection, prevention and early rehabilitation of childhood disabilities

2. Physical rehabilitation

3. Social inclusion (Inclusive community development, Education for all, Economic

inclusion, Support to civil society)

4. and sometimes: Emergency support

1

Last update August 2012

We also advocate for more quality services and better inclusion of persons with

disabilities in rural areas via close contacts with different Ministries, the China Disabled

Persons Federation, the media and the academic sector.

Background, context and evolution of the post

The country director is in charge of developing and implementing the strategy of HI in

China. S/he is also in charge of developing the representation of the entire federation in

China.

For more information concerning the context of work in this country, please consult our

internet site

Interaction with HI Operational Centre in Brussels (COB)

Since January 2012, Handicap International Belgium integrated HI Federation. As a

consequence, an OperationalCenter (in French “Centre d’Opérations de Bruxelles – COB)

was created in Brussels and HI China refers to the Desk Officer (DO) belonging to the

COB.

Responsibilities

Mission

–

–

Put into effect the mandate of HI Federation in the country of mission

Contribute to the development of the Federation’s know-how, based on the

experience in his programme

Representation

The Programme Director represents the Federation in every way, including:

–

–

–

–

–

Represent the Federation vis-à-vis the authorities of the country

Defend the interests of the Federation

Promote an apolitical, non-confessional image, respectful of the national culture and

structures

Ensuring respect for the mandate, ethics and image of Handicap International

On requests of the CD of HI DPRK, represent HI vis-à-vis the Representatives of

KFDO (partner of HI in DPRK) based in Beijing

Strategy (annual and long-term)

-

-

-

–

Initiate and lead participatory teamwork that allows an assessment of the current

situation and a balance of the activities undertaken

Lead and coordinate the definition of the new Country Strategy Framework

Analyse the potential opportunities and risks for the programme, linked to the

evolution of its context

After validation by the DO, consolidate and put into effect strategies covering :

▪ operations

▪

▪

▪

▪

communication

human resources

financial resources

fundraising

–

–

–

Elaborate, with the team, forecasts for financial and human resources

Work out and/or implement, with the DO, annual management tools for the

programme (new and existing)

Ensure strategic and geo-political monitoring of the country and the region.

Regional strategy

Together with DO and his/her PD counterparts in the region, he/she will contribute to the

development and consolidation of synergies and networks in the South East Asia region.

This is mainly carried through HI Federation annual regional meetings and the

2

Last update August 2012

development of regional projects, but also by linking with HI Federation programmes in

the region.

Annual Planning

In close collaboration with the Field Operations Coordinator (FOC) and the Tibet Program

Manager:

–

–

–

–

–

–

Direct the planning and implementation of projects, evaluate activities, and ensure

adequacy of means

Evaluate the application of technical orientations recommended by the DRT (Technical

Resources Department) referent

Manage and encourage dialogue and coordination among the different projects, levels

of activity and locations

Manage internal and/or external evaluations and the application of the endorsed

recommendations

Stimulate the knowledge management of the experience of previous activities,

working together with the DO and Field Operations Coordinator, Tibet Program

Manager, Project Managers and advisors/technical coordinators

Elaborate, in collaboration with partners and operational managers, partnership

conventions, and validate the direction the activities take.

Human Resource management

–

–

–

–

–

–

Review the team structure in relation to the new strategy, consider the implications

on the HR programme strategy: organisation chart, definition of functions, job

descriptions.

Ensure the responsibility of the employer towards national HI staff, and the

representation of the employer towards international HI staff.

Manage and stimulate the programme team, and more specifically the management

team (FOC, Finance Manager, Communication and Fundraising Manager, Tibet

Program Manager, Disability Technical Coordinator)

Lead HR management: recruitment decisions and end-of-contracts for national staff,

decisions related to the attribution or ending of expatriate missions (compulsory head

office endorsement before communication of the decision), planning of training,

management of conflicts

Concerning the team under his/her direct responsibility, the Director endorses the

IAPs (Individual Action Plans) and undertakes the final and intermediary balance (if

necessary in collaboration with the employee’s functional link). S/he also ensures that

these activities are done for all the other members of the team, by their managers

Lead the set-up and application of the social & salary policy based on national

legislation, as well as internal rules and procedures guaranteeing good working

conditions and safety. Ensure respect of these at all levels

Stimulate team life while respect of private life

Financial Management (including Institutional Funds)

The Country Director has the final responsibility for the financial management of his

programme. In close collaboration with the Finance Manager, s/he ensures the reliability

of the accounting and financial organisation, and its consistency with the Federation’s

justification constraints, and with local legal requirements.

–

–

–

–

–

Direct the annual budget set-up in line with the programme’s objectives

Ensure optimal use of institutional funds and private funds granted to cover financial

risks

Ensure optimal use of financial control data and of the programme’s budget follow-up,

analyse the gaps and anticipate evolution

Manage fundraising and the negotiations with funding agencies at national and

regional level, and send all necessary fundraising documents at international level to

the Desk Projects officer

Sign, by mandate, financial contracts negotiated locally

3

Last update August 2012

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Manage the application and respect of the terms of all financing contracts

In coordination with the Desk Projects officer, ensure updating and distribution of the

donor’s deadlines, endorsed by the Desk Projects officer

Ensure the distribution of the funding agency rules in general, and the terms of all

financing contracts, to the Project Manager, FOC and the Finance manager

Manage production and quality (in both substance and form) of narrative and

financial reports and respect deadlines

Manage the implementation of audit and internal control procedures on an

administrative and financial level

Ensure that the accounting and financial organisation is accurate, reliable and

rigorous

Ensure a monthly check of the cash boxes and their consistency with accounting

Ensure the correct management and periodical transfer of accounts, respecting

deadlines

Important note:

The program/country director is expected to write proposals to donors. He/she will be

one of the only persons in the team with strong English editorial skills.

Management of communication

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

In close collaboration with the headquarters’ department of communication and the

China Communication and Fundraising Manager, develop communications aimed at

promoting the Federation’s activities, in the country or the region

Identify potential national and international partners and develop regular

collaboration (associations, NGOs, institutions, international agencies)

Inform institutional partners in the areas of activities that have been developed

Direct the production of information by her/himself and the team, guarantee the

regularity and reliability of this information, as well as confidentiality

Direct the fluidity of communication between the field and headquarters and vice

versa

For important subjects : request from or define with headquarters the HI position, in

order to ensure consistency in communication

Prepare a monthly and/or weekly report (following coordination meetings) intended

for headquarters which presents the general state of affairs of the different services

and projects/programmes. This report is based on structured monthly input, from

each of the Project Managers

The PD will check that all confidential information, or information aimed at a limited

public, is communicated in a discreet way (by referring to other sources of

information or by using another channel of communication).

Management of local fundraising

-

-

-

-

In collaboration with the Communication and Fundraising Manager and the rest of the

management team, develop and implement a strategy to raise funds locally, for

Chinese projects as well as projects in other countries.

Identify new types of donors.

Support the team in developing links with local donors in provincial sites.

Develop links with donors in other provinces and in the Region.

Logistics management

The Director has the final responsibility for:

–

–

–

–

–

–

Making sure that there is the logistical support necessary for operations

Validating or vetoing orders at field level, after technical discussion with the

concerned people

Watching over the implementation of tools and procedures for the management of

the car fleet, IT, stocks, etc.

Ensuring the creation of a detailed monthly logistics budget follow-up

Ensuring archive management

Supervising the management of service contracts with suppliers

4

Last update August 2012

–

Supervising the transport and customs activity (cost study)

Security and general functioning

The Director has ultimate responsibility for the management of security within the

mission, as well as for the running of a crisis plan in case of security problems. This

work is undertaken in close collaboration with headquarters

–

–

–

–

–

Work out and apply (or have applied) the security guidelines for people and goods

Ensure the transmission of collected security information to relevant people

(identified in the guidelines) in order to anticipate choices

Update context analyses as well as representation of HI in humanitarian coordination

places

Carry out an analysis of the specific risks linked to the context

Direct the implementation of the programme’s functioning rules and procedures in

line with the association’s reference documents.

Knowledge Management and Lessons learnt

Knowledge management and lessons learnt is a process of enhancing knowledge and

practices allowing the association to respond to its mandate in the most pertinent and

efficient way.

The PD will make sure that this process is implemented in each of the developed areas,

particularly with the support of the Disability Technical Coordinator, and senior

Operations staff. This includes:

–

–

–

–

Identification of priority holding subjects for knowledge management

Definition of a structural and organisational framework of knowledge management

Organisation and centralisation of key documentation relating to projects

Drawing up end of mission reports.

Travel

–

–

–

1 « regional meeting » per year if relevant

1 « annual meeting » (at headquarters)

Other travel depending of needs

Profile required for the job

Knowledge

–

–

–

–

University degree and/or equivalent professional experience

Languages: excellent knowledge of English (written and spoken) is required.

Knowledge of Mandarin Chinese is highly desirable. French is an asset

Knowledge of subjects related to Handicap International’s mandate

Knowledge of financing through public aid/private donors for development and/or

emergency

Skills

–

–

–

–

–

–

Minimum of 3 years field experience, and at least 2 in a similar position. Experience

in the region or the country is highly preferable

Solid team management experience

Experience in programme management (setting up and managing projects, project

cycles, logical frameworks)

Strategic vision and capacity to transform identified needs into projects

Editorial skills in the required languages

Experience of managing in an ambiguous / politically sensitive environment

5

Last update August 2012

Personal qualities

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–
Strong leadership skills, ability to mobilise his/her team

Strong diplomatic skills and respect of other cultures. Openness and interest in the

Chinese culture.

Able to transmit skills and to delegate responsibility

Structured and organised

Good communicator

Open-minded, respectful of others, mature

Feeling for public relations

Ability to listen, and independent thinking in decision-making

Patient and stress-resistant

Motivation for the associative sector

Adheres to Handicap International’s vision: a world in which all forms of disabilities

can be prevented, cared for or integrated, and in which the rights of people with

disabilities are respected and applied

Submission requests

Candidates can apply directly to by sending their cover letter and CV to Valérie Dalimier.

People with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Only short listed candidates will be contacted for test and interviews.

Application deadline: September 9th, 2012.

6