Deputy Country Director at SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

Job Description

• The Deputy Country Director (DCD) is based at the country office in Nairobi, Kenya with flexibility to travel and operate in all areas covered by SNV in its Kenya and Burundi Programme. The DCD is a member of the Country Management Team (CMT) that is charged with the responsibility of strategic leadership of SNV in Kenya and Burundi.

Job Description

• SNV in Kenya is recruiting a Deputy Country Director (DCD). The DCD will provide leadership and guidance to continuously improve the operational effectiveness and efficiency of critical functions (Operations, Procurement, Logistics, ICT & Communications, Security and Compliance) in Kenya and Burundi in order to respond to programme needs and provide high quality services to staff and external stakeholders at different levels. The support functions comprise approximately 23 staff in total (18 based in Kenya and 5 in Burundi) and includes the efficient operation of three (3) core field offices in Kenya in addition to the country offices in Nairobi (Kenya) and Bujumbura (Burundi). Depending on project implementation needs and design, it is possible to have satellite offices that emerge and close ad hoc with projects that they support. The DCD will also deputise the Country Director at events and functions where the CD is not available.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

Support Functions Leadership (80%)

• Providing leadership and oversight of SNV in Kenya’s day-to-day administration, including operations management, procurement, logistics and ICT.
• Ensuring an effective set-up and organisation of SNV in Kenya at Country office and field office level, aimed at representation, functional administration and operational systems in place, as well as efficient links between the main country office and the field offices.
• Contributing to enhancing cost efficiency throughout SNV Kenya’s operations.
• Providing guidance on matters related to insurance, immigration procedures for expats and business processes.
• Overseeing capacity building in processes and systems, specifically overhead cost budgeting and budget monitoring.
• Ensuring high quality reporting that allows for proper tracing and tracking of inventory and assets.
• Improving operational effectiveness by optimizing systems and processes in procurement, logistics, IT, security, and communications.
• Performing periodic systems checks in administration, logistics, procurement, Security, and fleet management in Nairobi and sub-offices to ensure compliance with SNV and donor standards and requirements, and ensuring responsive support to staff, programs, and partners.
• Effectively managing and supervising a diverse team by managing team dynamics, development, and well-being.
• Ensuring implementation of the country security plan and ensuring adherence to health and safety standards per law in Kenya and Burundi.
• Supporting Program/Project Managers in their general management of support functions (Operations, Logistics, Procurement, IT, and Communications).
• Regular travelling to each field office to assess, determine and provide on-site support, supervision, and mentoring.

Representation & Overall Country Director support (20%)

• Representing SNV Kenya in workshops etcetera in the absence of the Country Director.
• Standing in for the Country Director during the time of absence.
• Liaising with relevant government offices in Kenya and the SNV Head Office team in The Hague via direct contact or SNV Intranet to assure alignment with statutory and corporate policies and guidelines.

Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in business administration/Management or related field.
• Professional training and certification in management related field(s).

Experience:

• Proven track record of achieving results in a development or relevant private sector context in the areas of operations, procurement, IT and communications and security in developing countries.
• Very good appreciation/grasp of administration and finance.
• Proven track record with over 10 years of experience in a senior management position, coordinating and managing operations, preferably in international NGO settings.
• Experience in managing multidisciplinary and multicultural people and teams.
• Ability to think strategically, to plan and organise teamwork and work in a network with partners.
• Ability to demonstrate neutrality in a crisis context and to move towards consensus in a sensitive situation.
• Excellent communication, reporting and presentation skills and advanced skills in English.
• Result-oriented and ability to work under pressure.