Country Director at Helen Keller International

Overall Management and Leadership

• Provide strategic vision and direction for overall program design, implementation, and proposal development; work closely with the country team to accomplish the strategic goals.
• Lead and oversee all aspects of the implementation of country programs and the management of the country office.
• Represent Helen Keller in formal and informal meetings with government officials, international donor agencies, and national technical advisory groups pertinent to Helen Keller project activities.
• Identify opportunities and generate funding from international and bilateral agencies, and donor agencies.
• Develop and nurture in-country donor relationships and identify potential partners to participate in joint proposals.
• Lead and prepare concept papers and proposals and provide other information as needed for submission to donors and others for fundraising and marketing purposes.
• Model collaboration for your matrixed team: effectively consult and inform colleagues to maximize efficiency and knowledge sharing and integrate guidance and direction from subject matter experts in your office and elsewhere in the global organization to maximize performance.
• Build a highly effective Country Management Team, recruiting, supervising, mentoring, and evaluating staff, and engaging in frequent performance conversations with team members.
• Delegate authority, consult with, and guide staff to achieve goals and contribute to an atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development.
• Ensure accountability to beneficiaries, partners, colleagues, and donors by providing ongoing feedback in a context of mutual respect.
• As a senior leader in the organization, participate in global working groups, the recruitment process of global colleagues and other activities, as requested.

Programmatic

• Oversee and coordinate the program portfolio to ensure the highest level of project quality and accountability, while fostering continuity through building local capacity.
• Provide technical input to the government, international donors, and technical advisory groups pertinent to Helen Keller project activities.
• Ensure implementation of strong program monitoring, evaluation and learning functions.
• Oversee research design, methodology and dissemination of information needed to monitor and evaluate project activities and/or advance programmatic and policy changes.
• Disseminate findings from Helen Keller projects that are of importance to decision-makers in a position to fund or implement projects in Kenya and internationally.
• Keep the national partners and others informed about progress of the projects, plans for the development of new programs/projects/activities and donor involvement in the overall program.
• Ensure safeguarding measures are integrated into program design and implementation at all levels.

Required Qualifications and Competencies

• Minimum ten years of field experience in global/public health and/or nutrition programs including demonstrated experience in program management, including design, implementation, and evaluation, plus a minimum master’s degree in public health, nutrition, development or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Technical knowledge in an area related tHelen Keller’s mission and programs.
• Experience managing all aspects of program and operations management with demonstrated experience and ability to:
• lead program development and management, and strategic planning;
• supervise key administrative, procurement, and logistics functions;
• supervise financial management, develop and create budgets monitor
• financial status, and hold budget owners accountable;
• manage compliance with diverse donor requirements;
• integrate safeguarding measures;
• supervise safety and security in a challenging operating environment; and lead and manage people.
• Demonstrated ability to:
• undertake high-level representation and advocacy; and mobilize program funding including donor cultivation and write proposals.
• Experience working in Kenya, with Ministries, international and local NGOs, and donors based locally, is a substantial asset.
• Familiarity with and experience promoting health systems strengthening and ensuring the sustainability of program activities in developing contexts is strongly desired.
• Experience in designing and implementing workshops, seminars, surveys,
• monitoring systems, and evaluations.
• Experience in research design, data analysis, and interpretation.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including an ability teffectively lead a team, communicate a vision, make timely and transparent decisions, and manage conflict.
• Very good oral and written English language skills, including the ability tquickly synthesize complex technical and programmatic issues intconcise communications.