PiN: Country director in Afghanistan

PEOPLE IN NEED IS SEEKING A COUNTRY DIRECTOR IN AFGHANISTAN

Starting date:  May 1^st 2015

Contract Length: 24 months

Exact Job Location: Mazar-e Sharif; Kabul; occasional field visits

Reports To: Regional Desk officer

 Job overview

As a member of the Senior Management Team (together with the Head of Programs, Finance Officer and Head of Systems & Operations) the Country Director ensures the management and development of the mission and the country programme. The Country Director (CD) is responsible for overall management of the mission, communication with partners (donors, NGOs, Afghan government) and fundraising.  Furthermore, the CD supervises financial management of the mission including issues of cost efficiency and effective administration.. Together with Regional Desk officer and HQ HR manager,  the CD is also involved in recruitment.

Organisation context 

PIN has been active in Afghanistan since 2001, responding to humanitarian needs and through targeted development programmes. Today PIN activities are conducted from provincial offices in Paktya, Nangarhar, Balkh, Samangan and Jowzjan as well as two central offices in Kabul and Mazar-e Sharif, with 8 expatriate staff and approximately 240 national staff members.

PIN programming in Afghanistan focuses on emergency relief, social and economic integration in urban areas, rural development, and education, with funding from a variety of donorsincluding the European Union (ECHO and DEVCO), EU member states, and the Czech Development Agency.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Senior Management

• Responsible for management of the country team
• Consult with the HQ Desk officer on major decisions impacting the mission
• Guides the design, management and implementation of PIN activities in country, ensuring  they conform to People in Need policies and strategy
• Sets priorities for, and supervises, the Country  Management Team (Head of Programmes, Head of Systems and Operations, Finance Officer)

Programme Management

• Responsible for developing and maintaining relations with partners, donors and local authorities
• Responsible together with Head of Programmes for project development
• Support the Head of Programmes in mainstreaming the cross-cutting themes of gender, WASH, nutrition and staff capacity building
• Supervise timely and high quality reporting both internal and external
• Undertake monitoring visits to program areas

Human Resource Management

• In consultation with HQ, plan HR needs of the mission, identify positions needed and directly engage in recruitment
• Ensure appropriate capacity building for senior staff

Security

• Ensure that appropriate security structures are in place and adequate measures to minimize the risks for PIN employees are followed
• With support of the Security Officer ensures that security measures are adequate to situation on the ground
• Maintain awareness of political and security developments

Representation & Communications & Networking

• Ensures that PIN is well represented and visible in the donor community, among key partners, and within coordination clusters
• Ensures that good relations with key local authorities are maintained and national regulations are followed
• Seeks new funding opportunities
• Engages in advocacy and policy dialogues where appropriate, ensuring PIN represents the needs of its beneficiaries campaigns for priority policies and donor committments
• Ensure that PIN is part of and well represented at relevant fora (such as ACBAR, AHF, etc), and its views and experience are incorporated into NGO dialogue

Financial management

• Together with the Finance Officer, supervise financial management – sustainability, budgeting, strategic financial decisions
• Supervise functioning and cost-effective administrative and logistic support to programs

Requirements for Applicants

Education and Experience

• Third level qualification (Diploma / Degree)
• Five years of relevant managerial experience
• Three years relevant overseas experience in development and humanitarian sectors
• Experience with working in insecure environments – Desirable

Aptitude or Personality Requirements

• Empathy with the organisation Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives
• Ability to work under pressure often to strict deadlines
• Ability to find problems and recommend solutions
• Strong budget management skills
• Ability to motivate and develop skills of others
• Analytical and problem solving skills
• Ability to work both as part of a team & independently
• Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity (esp. gender and ethnicity)
• Tolerance and acceptance of diversity

PIN offers

• Flexible and challenging working environment with room for personal growth
• Starting salary defined by PIN salary scale (3,500 USD, including per diem)
• 8 weeks leave per year, with flights home paid 2x per year, and 2 regional flights per year
• In country accommodation

Interested candidates are requested to submit their CVs and cover letter to Ms. Barbora Jančová, via email HR@clovekvtisni.cz. The closing date for the applications is March 22nd, 2015. Please note only  shortlisted candidates will be contacted, thank you.