Country Director - Kenya, ACTED

Background on ACTED

ACTED is a French humanitarian NGO, founded in 1993, which supports vulnerable populations, affected by humanitarian crises worldwide. ACTED provides continued support to vulnerable communities by ensuring the sustainability of post-crisis interventions and engaging long-term challenges facing our target populations, in order to break the poverty cycle, foster development and reduce vulnerability to disasters. Our interventions seek to cover the multiple aspects of humanitarian and development crises through a multidisciplinary approach which is both global and local, and adapted to each context. Our 3,300 staff is committed in to responding to emergencies worldwide, to supporting recovery and rehabilitation, towards sustainable development.
Our teams in the field implement some 340 projects in 34 countries covering the following sectors emergency relief, food security, access to health, education and training, economic development, microfinance, advocacy, institutional support, and regional dialogue, cultural promotion.
Based on considerable experience addressing the needs and situations of vulnerable communities, ACTED contributes to the international agenda towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals, through a wide range of partnerships, innovative initiatives, and campaigns.

Country profile

Capital Office : Nairobi
National Staff : 105
Areas : Kenya, Uganda (Pokot, Middle Juba, Northern Uganda, Karamoja)
On-going programmes : 19
Budget : 4.2 M
ACTED launched its Kenya mission in January of 2008 with an emergency assistance program for residents in Nairobi slums affected by the post election violence. Since 2009, Nairobi has been the home base of ACTED’s relief operation in Southern Somalia aimed at supporting vulnerable famers affected by recurrent droughts.
In 2010, ACTED’s mission in Kenya/Somalia sought to address the needs of pastoralist and farmer communities of North Central Kenya and South Somalia arising from multiple shocks such as adverse climatic conditions and disease outbreaks, through emergency food and non-food items distribution. In the wake of this emergency context, ACTED also promoted the adoption of sustainable community-based solutions, emphasizing livelihood strengthening and diversification, natural resource rehabilitation and management, good hygiene practices and access to sanitation facilities.
ACTED is developing its programs in South Somalia, focusing on building capacity to respond to emergency outbreaks, as well as ensuring local populations are integrated into longer term projects aiming at improving their livelihoods. This will occur in the form of food, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and livelihood support to vulnerable agro-pastoral and riverine communities.
Today, ACTED's teams and resources are mobilized on the front of dire needs in our areas of intervention in Somalia and Kenya, as well as other areas in the Horn of Africa.

Position profile

Under the authority of the General Delegate, the Country Director is responsible for the implementation of ACTED’s global mandate in the relevant country, and for the scope of activities developed within this mandate.
Responsibilities:
1. Ensure ACTED Representation in-Country
Representation vis-à-vis national authorities:
Ensure the official and effective registration of the Agency;
Identify relevant coordinating institutions (Ministries, Agencies etc) ;
Participate in official meetings to ensure maximum visibility vis-à-vis national authorities.
Representation vis-à-vis Donors:
Establish and update contact details of potential Donors in-country;
Participate in Donor meetings and communicate relevant information to HQ;
Circulate the Annual Report.
Representation amongst other international organisations:
Participate in inter-NGO Coordination meetings and those of UN Agencies (OCHA, UNDP, UNICEF, FAO, etc.), and any other relevant inter-governmental institution;
Ensure maximum visibility of the Agency amongst the NGO community;
Lead the production of reports and ensure the timeliness and accuracy of information provided, as well ensuring confidentiality of sensitive information.
2. Develop a global intervention strategy and support its implementation
Analyse the context and develop strategic plans, in consultation with the Director of Operations and/or the General Delegate:
Gather and analyse information regarding opportunities and risk;
Define an operational strategy for finances and HR.
Implement the financial strategy:
Oversee drafting of projects and budget development;
Lead fund-raising and negotiations with Donors;
On authority of the General Delegate, sign contracts negotiated in-country;
Lead the application and adherence to contract terms and requirements;
Supervise overall financial commitments and financial risk.
Implement the operational strategy:
Supervise Area Coordinators and Project Managers in project implementation;
Help the various teams in negotiations with provincial/local authorities and partners;
Ensure global coordination and complementarity amongst projects and areas of intervention;
Assess activities and ensure efficient use of resources.
Oversee reporting procedures:
Develop a reporting schedule with regard to Donor deadlines;
Plan and supervise the development of narrative and financial reports;
Ensure adherence to FLAT procedures.
More generally, communicate systematically to both Director of Operations and HQ the development of the country strategy and its implementation.
3. Oversee Staff and Security
Guide and direct the staff of the mission:
Organise and lead coordination meetings;
Prepare and follow work plans;
Ensure a positive working environment and good team dynamics (solve out potential conflicts);
Promote team working conditions in the limit of private life;
Adapt the organigramme and ToRs of personnel according to the mission development;
Undertake regular appraisals of directly supervised colleagues and pass appraisal forms to the Country Administrator with recommendations (new positions, changes to contract or salary etc.);
Ensure a building of capacity amongst technical staff in the relevant sectors.
Contribute to the recruitment of expatriate staff:
Follow recruitment procedures: plan recruitment needs in advance; draft ToRs for open vacancies; if necessary undertake phone interviews with candidates;
When requested by HQ, undertake interviews of expatriate candidates living in the country.
Oversee staff security:
In cooperation with the Country Security Officer, monitor the country security situation and inform the HQ Security Officer through regular written reports;
Update the country security guidelines (in countries at risk);
Ensure that security procedures are respected by the whole staff

Qualifications

- Master Level education in a relevant field such as International Relations or Development
- Extensive project management experience (management, planning, staff development and training skills) in emergency and/or development programmes
- At least four years of previous work experience in a high management position
- Proven capabilities in leadership and management required
- Excellent skills in written and spoken English
- Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills, and flexibility in cultural and organizational terms
- Knowledge of local language and/or regional experience an asset
- Ability to work well and punctually under pressure

Conditions

- Salary defined by the ACTED salary grid; educational level, expertise, hardship, security, and performance are considered for pay bonus
- Additional monthly living allowance
- Free food and lodging provided at the organisation’s guesthouse/or housing allowance (depending on contract length and country of assignment)
- Transportation costs covered, including additional return ticket + luggage allowance
- Provision of medical, life, and repatriation insurance + retirement package

Submission of applications

Please send, in English, your cover letter, CV, and three references to jobs@acted.org
Ref: CD/KEN/SA
ACTED
Att: Human Resources Department
33, rue Godot de Mauroy
75009 Paris
FRANCE
Fax. + 33 (0) 1 42 65 33 46
For more information, visit us at http://www.acted.org

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