Regional Director, East and Central Africa at TradeMark East Africa (TMEA)

Roles and responsibilities

Strategy development and implementation at the Senior Leadership & Management Team level (20%)

• Work effectively and closely with the CEO, CoP and SLMT in developing and managing TMA’s development and strategy.
• Actively participate in the continued implementation of TMA’s Strategy 3 Programme and in future programme development, including potential geographical expansion with the CEO, CoP and SLMT.
• Contribute actively to regular SLMT meetings, highlighting key country programme portfolio issues for senior engagement.
• Lead Country Directors and programme leads in developing annual business plans for capacity development, policy reforms, systems and infrastructure development for regional trade and integration in East and Central Africa in support of the broad TMA goals and objectives, for approval by the National Oversight Committees (NOCs), Board and Council.
• Oversee and direct the development of regional and national programmes as a central part of TMA’s overall activities and impact.
• Liaise with the Chief of Programmes in the development of Project Appraisal Reports (PARs) outlining inputs, activities and outputs required to achieve TMA’s strategy and business plan, for approval by NOCs, Board and Council.
• Integrate ongoing Development Partners’ support for regional trade and integration activities, where aligned to TMA’s goals and objectives.
• With the CEO and CoP, take a leading role in developing/ refining TMA’s long-term strategy and developing greater learning and accountability practices across the organisation.
• Work with SLMT on strategic analysis, portfolio analysis and stakeholder perceptions to inform future programming, and for reporting to the NOCs, Board and Council.

Political, stakeholder and diplomatic engagement, fundraising and partnership development (15%)

• Oversee and shape TMA’s strategic political, stakeholder and diplomatic engagement at the regional (EAC Secretariat) and country level in East and Central Africa.
• Examine opportunities for strategic partnerships to enable TMA to achieve its objectives with the CEO and CoP.
• Highlight opportunities for increased funding and co-manage fundraising with the CEO and other members of SLMT, as agreed with the CEO and CoP. This will include supporting funding applications, responding to requests for information, etc.
• Coordinate regional and country-level political management with CoP and SLMT. This will include undertaking regular ministerial-level operational engagement with country-based stakeholders.
• Actively represent and promote TMA’s work and profile and deputise in national and international public events and fora for the CEO and CoP, particularly those related to TMA operations.
• Provide strategic input and engage with stakeholders and partners on regional trade and integration involving EAC institutions, Partner States and development partners.
• Lead inter- REC coordination and engagement in collaboration with the Directo, Trade Policy
• Promote local procurement of all proposed, direct or indirect, TMA sub-contracts and related opportunities in order to develop the East Africa-based service provider capacity.

Programme development and delivery (30%)

• Work closely with the CoP, Regional Technical Directors and Country Heads to coordinate implementation of TMA’s operations across regional and country programmes.
• Lead on (and be held accountable for) development and delivery of coherent multi-country operational strategy, delivery and allied budgeting, business planning, forecasting & expenditure reviews.
• Ensure robust regional and country risk management frameworks are in place in all countries of operation.
• Co-manage political risk and engagement at country and regional levels with the CEO and SLT.
• Ensure full compliance with TMA regulations across operations (1st Line of Defence).
• Actively manage the smooth introduction of TMA’s enhanced matrix management approaches to ensure harmonious co-working and ensure compliance of all teams to TMA procedures and policies.
• Lead on coordination of annual reviews across the EAC Secretariat and countries.
• Provide ongoing strategic input and quality assurance support to country portfolios in order to maximise results impact.
• Ensure a comprehensive dashboard of key programme performance indicators (KPIs) is regularly monitored and managed across countries to ensure 80% plus levels of performance attainment.
• Manage a series of effective performance meetings of country teams and regular monthly KPPI meetings with the CoP.
• Liaise with the Programme Delivery Department to ensure that portfolios and projects are regularly monitored through the implementation of robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms by all country programme teams.
• Liaise with the Programme Delivery Hub Department to ensure proactive communication of TMA’s results streams to stakeholders and partners.
• Ensure programme implementation of key cross-cutting themes and strategies for gender, poverty, safeguards, extractives and climate change.
• Oversee efficient and effective operation of regional and country programmes in line with funding agreements with donors and defined TMA policies and procedures.
• Prepare periodic management reports for submission to the Board and Council.
• Ensure that programme teams have high-calibre financial management with90% of disbursements/payments made in line with forecasts, and that TMA manages its financial resources with minimal risk or incidence of fraud or misappropriation.

Team management (15%)

• Provide excellent strategic leadership and management of direct reports in order to obtain the optimal performance from TMA’s key assets, its staff.
• Invest significant time in mentoring and coaching direct reports to ensure smooth implementation of TMA’s succession plan. This will include overseeing and supporting professional training and inter-personal development of programme teams, and promotion of the most able staff.
• Ensure close coordination, harmonisation and strong integration between countries.
• Ensure strong performance management and monitoring of staff in key regional and country programmes, and develop/ implement appropriate staff development and remedial plans

Support TMA’s governance and oversight structures (10%)

• Lead regional coordination efforts for the EAC Secretariat governance structures, working together with the Director, Trade Policy
• Support Country Heads in the provision of support to the NOCs.
• Support the CEO and CoP in the provision of support to the Board of Directors (including Board Committees) and Council, including drafting high-quality Board and Council papers.
• Contribute programme inputs to the Programmes Committee of the Board.

Academic and professional qualifications

• Undergraduate or Master’s degree preferably in Economics, Development Studies, International Trade, Planning, Finance or Management.

Work experience

• Undergraduate degree holders will have at least 15 years of working experience, including seven years of leadership and management experience. Postgraduate degree holders will require at least 13 years’ experience, including seven years of leadership and management experience.
• Minimum of ten years’ experience in managing business units or development programmes, particularly in areas related to TMA’s core focus areas.
• Demonstrable knowledge, skills, and experience in programme cycle management and programme delivery, political economy analysis, donor management and fundraising.
• Three years of senior-level experience within East Africa or other developing economies are essential for this role.