Country Director Job at Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)

The Country Director (CD) provides the strategic vision and leadership for the Country Office and is responsible for representing GAIN and for establishing and sustaining productive relationships and political influence with government officials, donors and strategic partners. Furthermore, the CD is responsible for ensuring the design and implementation of quality programs, fundraising, financial management and for attracting and retaining a motivated and professional team. S/he also contributes to GAIN’s global strategy, organisational management and supports the generation of evidence to strengthen the global evidence base.

Key Areas of Accountability

Strategic Leadership:

• Provide vision and direction for the Kenya country programme and ensure ongoing review of progress against key country and organisational level objectives, indicators and targets
• Lead a high performing team to deliver against GAIN’s strategy
• Ensure ongoing analysis of the national nutrition, socio-economic and political situation in-country
• Build and maintain strategic alliances with multiple stakeholders, including the private sector, to strengthen their contribution to resolving nutrition challenges
• Contribute to global organisational efforts, knowledge and learning

Representation, Communication and Advocacy:

• Network actively and play a lead role in representing GAIN’s interests with Government, Private Sector, Academia, Donors, UN Agencies, international and local NGOs
• Develop and maintain strong working relations with influential stakeholders to strengthen GAIN’s reputation and position us as a partner of choice to further GAIN’s influence and impact
• Participate in high level forums to influence the nutrition agenda and drive policy change
• Actively engage with social media and in-country media and link with the Head Quarters (HQ) Communications Team on other relevant media issues

Resource Mobilization:

• Act as the principal point of contact for in-country Donors to ensure strong working relationships and to secure programme funding locally where possible
• Lead in-country resource mobilisation efforts through developing and maintaining a high level of understanding of Government and Donor priorities and regular coordination with HQ
• Explore the feasibility of developing potential partnerships and/or alliances

Programme Design and Implementation:

• Be accountable for in-country programmes and ensure that they are in line with technical best practice and national policies

• Support high-quality project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in line with policies, systems and guidelines. Ensure projects are managed in a timely and cost-effective manner, according to pre-determined plans and budgets. Identify areas for HQ support

• Promote a team approach and positive learning environment utilising GAIN staff and partners to consistently enhance the quality of design and implementation.

• Identify and document best practices and lessons learned that can be successfully replicated and ensure program staff integrate them into their work

Human Resource Management:

• Ensure that GAIN attracts and retains high calibre staff

• Foster a collegial, transparent, supportive and respectful culture within the country team

• Pro-actively develop and mentor staff to optimise their potential in pursuit of GAIN’s objectives

• Ensure effective implementation of HR policies and procedures at country level, in line with HR policies, procedures and guidelines and local labour law

Financial Management and Corporate Governance:

• Ensure effective financial management systems, processes and controls are in place and are fully compliant with GAIN, donor and host government requirements

• Provide timely and effective oversight of the financial position of the country program including identification and implementation of required changes to manage funding levels

• Ensure that partner organisations are assessed in relation to financial management and governance standards and are supported to address any capacity weaknesses

• Ensure that audits are undertaken in a timely and efficient manner in line with policy, donor and local government requirements and follow-up on recommendations arising out of audits taking appropriate actions where necessary

• Ensure adherence with all local government requirements in relation to registration, taxation, labour law, auditing, fraud etc.

Security Management:

• Develop and manage country security plans and procedures in line with policies, systems and guidelines

• Ensure all staff adhere to security guidelines

Key Organizational Relationships:

• Reports to the Director, Country Program Operations

• Kenya country team

• GAIN Strategic Management Team Senior Management Forum, HQ Technical, Resource Mobilisation and Corporate Services Teams

• Government, Donors, NGOs, Private Sector, Academia and others

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 to 15 years of experience leading and developing projects in a multi-cultural environment in the private sector, food industry or international development, with at least three years in a senior management position
• Experience of working in Kenya with a sound knowledge of the country context and key government and civil society stakeholders
• Broad understanding of the nutrition-food systems nexus, public health and community development
• Demonstrated in‐epth understanding of program issues and policy work at national and international levels
• Entrepreneurial with a track record of business development and successful fundraising including experience liaising with in-country donors and working with large, complex donors
• Experience in successfully building and managing various forms of partnerships and/or alliances
• Experience of building effective personal networks at a senior level including collaborative relationships with donors, business leaders and government counterparts
• Demonstrated success in building and managing multi-disciplinary teams
• Excellent understanding and experience of risk, programme, financial and operational management

Education:

• Masters in agricultural science, food science, public health, nutrition, economics, business administration or equivalent