Nicaragua: Country Director (Nicaragua)

Position Summary:

The Country Director (CD) is the leader for LWR’s staff, offices, and programs in the assigned country. The CD directly supervises the country team which can range in size from 3 to 20 or more staff depending on funding. The CD’s primary responsibility is to represent and promote LWR as a leader in innovative, values-based, international relief and development to external networks and audiences and generate external funding for LWR programs in the country that align with LWR’s short-term and long-term strategies for sustainable development. The Country Director will also provide direction to office staff and coordinate with peer international NGOs in alignment with LWR’s vision, values, and strategy. S/he plays a key role, working with other LWR Departments, to link programs and partners to donors and constituents. The CD also has overall responsibility for ensuring that the office is efficiently and effectively managed according to policies and local laws, ensuring safety and security of staff. S/he develops and manages average annual budgets of approximately $1 million to $2.5 million for the country with the expectation of growing the portfolio, and ensures compliance with donor, host government, and LWR rules and regulations.

Requirements:

• Deep commitment to LWR’s core values and ability to model those values in relationships with colleagues and partners.

• At least 10 years’ experience in international development with increased level of responsibility.

• Post-graduate degree in relevant field or Bachelor’s degree and 8 or more years of experience.

• Significant experience in rural development sector and/or humanitarian response.

• Successful track record in developing, submitting and negotiating proposals for different donor agencies such as USAID, US State Department, UN agencies, bilateral or multilateral donors, foundations, or corporations.

• Prior supervisory experience.

• Experience developing and managing budgets from both restricted and unrestricted revenue sources.

• At least 5 years of direct program and financial management experience from multiple funding sources.

• Proven track record on effective leadership and management of diverse teams.

• Practical and intellectual familiarity and experience in country of work required.

• Sound practical experience with country level strategy planning.

• Experience addressing key development, economic and social justice issues at a practical and policy level.

• Demonstrated experience in the design, management, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of emergency and sustainable development projects.

• Fluency in English with excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Fluency in Spanish or French for positions in Latin America or West Africa.

• Excellent interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities:

Representation:

• Identify and develop relationships with people, organizations, and institutions that can enrich country programs and help achieve LWR’s strategy.

• Participate in relevant networks, forums, and other coordination and learning spaces.

• Represent the country program to host government authorities, U.S. Embassy and USAID, peer agencies, representatives of the ELCA, LCMS; to national Lutheran church bodies; and to ecumenical forums (e.g. ACT)

New Business Development:

• Help identify and pursue new funding opportunities with institutional donors including U.S. Government or other bilateral or multilateral donors, foundations, and corporate philanthropies.

• Work with the Country & Regional team to develop an annual grant-seeking strategy and facilitate contacts between partners and funders based in country

• Support and/or lead the development of proposals to donors in coordination with the Regional team and NBD unit

• Coordinate with External Relations on organization-wide fundraising efforts, constituent engagement efforts, and related information.

Strategy, Planning & Program Oversight:

• Provide leadership in developing and managing a program that is consistent with LWR’s country strategies.

• Contribute to development of Annual Operating Plans

• Develop pipelines of potential partners and projects for future opportunities

• Ensure technical assistance is available to country staff in designing, implementing, and evaluating relief and development programs.

• Serve as LWR’s in-country lead in assessing and proposing/ developing humanitarian response to emergencies in coordination with Emergency Operations unit.

• Guide LWR’s accompaniment work and program staff in identifying, building, maintaining, and evaluating partner relationships.

• Work with country staff to ensure the timely submission of complete, high-quality concept papers, proposals, progress, financial, audit and evaluation reports in accordance with LWR’s guidelines.

• Lead country team on distilling lessons learned from project and program implementation and the use of that information to improve practice.

Human Resources Management:

• Oversee and develop a strong country team; ensure team learning and individual and team performance standards and accountability; provide frequent feedback to and support for regional team.

• Supervise and conduct regular performance reviews for country team

• Oversee hiring and termination of country staff and performance management plans as necessary, under supervision of the Regional Rep or Regional Director.

Safety and Security Oversight

• Ensure familiarity and compliance with LWR’s safety and security procedures and protocols.

• Oversee country office safety security policy compliance and updates.

Financial / Office Management & Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with LWR policies and procedures

• Oversee the development and/or updating of country program specific policies for personnel, finance, administration and security and assure compliance with local law

• Develop annual budgets in line with guidance provided by F&A and Regional Directors.

• Monitor the implementation of budgets and cash flows.

• Commission audits of partners as necessary.

• Coordinate with F&A on country office financial and budget management and monitoring, and address audit findings

• Ensure that all restricted fund requirements are met in regard to compliance and allowable costs. Ensure that country offices are in compliance with host government rules and regulations regarding registration, taxation, payroll/human resources, and reporting.

• Ensure that staff comply with donor regulations for all projects funded by restricted grants.

• Ensure the smooth functioning and security of the country office.

Communications:

• Maintain fluid communications with Country, Regional team and other HQ staff.

• Inform Regional Representative/Director or delegate of all changes in operating environment (risks, opportunities, etc.) that may affect staff security, operations, approved projects, annual operating plan, or strategy.

Professional Development:

• Engage in ongoing professional development.

Other:

• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Interested applicant should apply through the following link: http://lwr.iapplicants.com/searchjobs.php