National Director Job at World Vision

Kenya Country Profile

Kenya enjoys the largest, most diversified economy in the East African region; the country’s location as a transport hub amplifies its importance for much of sub-Saharan Africa.

• Capital: Nairobi
• Area: 580,367 sq km
• Population: 39,002,772
• Life expectancy at birth: 57.86 years
• Ethnic groups: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other: African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%
• Religions: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10%, other 2%
• Languages: English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages

The official language in Kenya is English, which means that English is the main language in offices and also English is the language used in schools; almost all Kenyans speak Kiswahili – which is also an official language but also the national language. There are other numerous indigenous languages with each ethnic group having their own dialect. Literacy levels in Kenya are high, with over 85% of the population being above to read and write.

Conflicts are triggered by political, economic and social factors, which result in violent confrontations and rural/urban insecurity that may lead to internal displacement of people (particularly women and children), influx of refugees, and disruption of lives, reduced capacities for improved livelihoods and acceleration of poverty.

WV Ministry In The Country

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision (WV) began its operations in Kenya in 1974.

World Vision Kenya (WVK) is an intermediate National office with an intermediate Board and has been in operation in Kenya for the last 40 years. Currently WVK works in 35 out of the 47 Counties coordinated in five regions and with 56 Area Development Programs (ADPs) implementing development, relief and advocacy interventions in various parts of the Country. WVK projects and programs are funded through 14 WVI support offices and several bilateral and multilateral donors.

Key Issues that are of paramount significance to the WV Kenya’s 2016-20 Strategy and Programming include:

Increasing Insecurity, Conflict And Violence Against Children And Women

• Increasing Vulnerability for Children, Youth and Families.
• Increasingly a Young Nation where in 2014, with ages 0-5 being 15% and 5-24 years being 48% of total population and almost 500,000 refugees with High Population Growth Rate of 3.2% compared to 2.9% of agricultural sector which the main stay source food, employment, income and GDP.
• High Levels of unemployment at 12.7% of working age with Youth being 80% (2.9 M) of the unemployed in 2014.
• Increasing adverse effects of Climate Change e.g. reduced rainfall, failed seasons, frequent and prolonged droughts, diminishing water resources, floods/flash floods, landslides, severe famine, hunger, and resource use conflicts.
• Increasing Urbanization and its effects including slums (60% of urbanites); by 2050, almost 50% of Kenyans will be urbanites.
• Increasing use / application of ICT in child focused development work e.g. social media, Programming, Business Process etc.
• Heavy Government investments in infrastructure (irrigation, railways, roads, power, etc.) and job creation.
• Shrinking Humanitarian Space through amendments to the PBO Act 2013, Security Bill 2014 and legal / policy instruments`.
• Changing donor landscape & funding trends with focus on local institutions / CBOs and less on INGOs and more private sector involvement in development (PPPs).

Strategic Goal & Focus

By 2020, World Vision Kenya will contribute to increased protection, participation and well-being of 2.6 million most vulnerable children through direct programming and 14 million through policy influence.

To realize our child well-being aspiration, WVK’s strategic focus will be on three key areas:

• Improved livelihoods and strengthening family resilience and their capacity to respond to disasters.
• Increased protection of children by all members of the community and ensuring continued access to quality education.
• Improved health status of the children and their families with nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene as key contributors to the management of diseases and health related issues.

There are crosscutting themes that must be fully integrated in all the strategic objectives for holistic development; the management and conservation of environment and natural resources, gender and disability inclusion, peace building and conflict sensitive programming, Christian commitments as an integral approach to our sharing the love of Christ and lastly, the focus on influencing policies at national and county level through our advocacy efforts.

Purpose Of The Position Of The National Director

• Set a strategic vision for the office and lead, develop and direct the implementation of all aspects of World Vision Kenya Ministry as an effective member of the Partnership in line with ‘Twin Citizenship’ principles to ensure solid ministry quality and high impact in the field; be accountable for all aspects of WV’s work in the country.
• Ensure that WV’s ministry directly aligns with LEAP 3 principles and contributes at scale to the sustained well-being of children and the fulfilment of their rights within families and communities.
• Have a strong external orientation and represent WV with all donors, project partners, WV Partnership Offices and divisions, local government, church representatives and non- governmental organizations, serving according to the Power of Attorney given by the Global Center.
• Ensure alignment with MFI (Vision Fund) through participation in Vision Fund’s Board as Chair of the Board and other Governance structures, and provide appropriate collegial support to MFI Executive Director.
• Appropriately develop national governance through identifying national lay leaders for board membership and leading organizational transition.
• Maintain a strong growth with quality mentality and lead the office to leverage its private resources portfolio to ensure growth in the area of grants.
• Provide leadership, strategic direction and support in the development and implementation of an effective Resource Development Strategy.
• Ensure people issues are front and centre, promoting an office that embraces diversity, interfaith collaboration, gender balance and engagement with all Partnership staff.

Internal

Key Relationships:

• The National board
• East Africa Regional Leader & Leadership Team
• WV Global Center
• WV Support Offices
• Vision Fund (MFI) Board

External

• External donors
• Local Church
• National Government
• UN representation
• World Bank representation
• In-country INGO community

Spiritual Leadership

• Ensure that the office has a strong and integrated Faith and Development strategy that includes staff nurture, integration of program approaches such as Covenant with umbrella church bodies, Celebrating Families, FBFs, etc.
• Model a high standard of personal Christian leadership, ministry and integrity though lifestyle and work relationships, and provide spiritual guidance to staff on the Vision, Mission and WV Core Values.
• Ensure that office leadership is capable to work in interfaith contexts and is familiar with World Vision’s commitments.
• Participate and lead regular devotional meetings.

Ministry Performance

• Ensure high quality ministry approaches that align with LEAP 3 principles and ensure best practice development work at scale.
• Ensure strong ability to measure CWB outcomes and maintain a green rating on the CWB report each year.
• Ensure strong engagement in resource mobilization, including positioning and support to grant acquisition efforts to raise additional resources and diversify WV Kenya’s portfolio.
• Ensure the highest standards of quality and accountability through compliance with World Vision policies and standards and international standards for emergency response, disaster mitigation, rehabilitation and development.
• Ensure all project proposals, reports, integrated audits and ministry evaluations are reviewed at a proper level within the office and appropriate actions are implemented, to ensure impact, accountability and compliance.
• Ensure that a strong national Monitoring & Evaluation strategy is in place and that M&E systems are streamlined to reduce processes and focus on child well-being.
• Ensure accountability for the implementation of effective ministry to all key stakeholders. Ensure a relevant, timely and accurate flow of management and operational reports according to program objectives and standards and to meet reporting requirements from donors, Regional Offices, local partners.

Strategy, Operating Plan And Long And Short Term Targets

• Ensure there is a documented office strategy, Ministry strategies and operating plans, and the latter have been derived from the office strategy and has clear, measurable short-term and long-term targets; Ensure that Ministry strategies are aligned with Regional and Partnership strategic priorities.
• Ensure there are clear strategies for People and Culture, Communications and other main functions, and they are based on the office strategy and operational plan and include main priority areas identified in respective Regional and Partnership Strategies. Facilitate and be accountable for the execution and monitoring of strategies.

Leadership And Management Of WV Kenya

• Promote WV’s Vision, Mission, Core Values and key Partnership Standards and Practices among the staff and partners and ensure these are the core foundation of WV Kenya strategies and work.
• Lead SLT and ensure diverse representation on the leadership team.
• Strong focus on leadership and people management, ensuring the most capable and qualified staff members are in place to implement office strategy and operational plans.
• Lead processes to develop national office governance from advisory status to governing board. Lead processes to transition the office to fully interdependent status.
• Review and approve WV Kenya’s succession plan; ensure that proper capacity is in place and succession plans are updated and executed.
• Promote and participate in leadership development initiatives, including those for staff at management levels in the field and at the NO level.
• Lead and manage WVK’s team in a way that facilitates a high performance culture, open trustworthy relationships and integrity; Promote a culture of learning and development, employee engagement and good stewardship of human capital in the office.
• Ensure implementation and compliance to Partnership Performance Management Standards and Principles, while seeking to implement Performance Management guidelines on reasonable level; Champion WVK’s leadership team in the proper implementation of Performance Evaluations on a mid –term and annual basis for the whole organization.
• Support initiatives for staff care and well-being, both for international and local employees.
• Ensure excellent standards in the management of the human, financial, capital and technical resources of the organization, which includes inspiring and maintaining high standards of work and clear accountability to stakeholders.
• Visit field projects frequently to encourage, build relationships and support WV programs.
• Ensure that initiatives directed to build capacity required to implement local fundraising are included in the office capacity-building plan.

Advocacy And Representation

• Represent WVK and engage and build strategic alliances with the government of the country, WVK board, major donor agencies, WV Partnership, non-governmental agencies, churches and media.
• Develop and implement appropriate advocacy strategies to raise awareness of- and advocate for change in- key issues within Kenya that relate to CWB.
• Lead and facilitate strategies for the promotion of justice that look for the change of unfair structures that oppress those in need; Ensure WV is positioned as a leading NGO in promoting the well-being and rights of children within the country context to develop public and stakeholders’ confidence and trust.
• Strengthen awareness of World Vision’s program both within and outside of the WV Partnership.
• Ensure that the WV brand is respected within the country and that all vehicles and facilities are properly branded with standard WV branding.
• Provide leadership, strategic direction and support to the team for developing and implementing a strong donor experience and acquisition of ministry funds.
• Identify new opportunities and forge alliances that lead to optimization of all resources.

Financial Management And Financial And Operational Audit Compliance

• Ensure efficient and effective organizational practices that result in successful financial and operational audit scores.
• Ensure action planning and execution to resolve audit findings in an agreed and timely manner. Undertake appropriate reporting of audit results and actions.
• Oversee and ensure strong engagement of leadership in monthly FFRs and ensure rapid action on issues raised.
• Ensure strong financial compliance through timeliness and completeness of financial reports.
• Ensure strong operational compliance through timeliness and completeness of program/project reports.
• Provide direction for integrating private and public funds to maximize results and respond to community needs in most effective and efficient way;
• Manage overall financial integrity of the program to WV Support Offices donors, the government and other stakeholders.
• Provide overall strategic leadership and initiative for identifying and securing financial resources to support the program.

Safety And Security, Disaster Mitigation And Preparedness

• Develop and maintain capacity to respond to natural and man-made emergencies.
• Review security and safety plans and protocols (security manual, evacuation plan, Disaster Preparedness Plan, and risk assessments at national Regional and Cluster Office levels) and ensure understanding and compliance by all staff and visitors.
• Oversee relief efforts, as and when they arise and work in partnership with response teams. Build in-country relief response capacity to ensure adequate disaster management and response.
• Liaise with other international organizations to collect information about the security environment and, where appropriate, discuss joint responses to security threats.

Compliance And Country Legal Environment

• Ensure the office complies with local labour law requirements and standards.
• Maintain an external legal counsel that can support WV leadership when required.
• Ensure and oversee proper mechanisms for Child Protection and other WVI standards and principles implementation.
• Ensure that the entity functions in a complementary, cohesive manner where principles of interdependence and twin citizenship guide the contribution made to the Partnership and the use of WV Partnership resources.

Resource Development And Management

• Explore opportunities and facilitate Resource Development business planning. Align with regional GAM team objectives.
• Develop and implement an effective National Resource Development strategy and implementation plan to generate funds locally.
• Execute plan to generate funds from a variety of donors.
• Implement long term and short term programs that create new opportunities for acquisition, retention and transformation of a diverse set of private donors.
• Ensure strong external engagement and visibility of WV Kenya to help promote its work to key donors and acquire greater levels of resource for ministry from a diverse set of donors.
• Ensure strong grants management to create trust and engagement with the donor for accessing future resources and increased credibility.

MFI Strategic Management

• As Chair of the VISION FUND board, ensure that Vision Fund’s micro-finance ministry is integrated with World Vision’s ministry to promote fullness of life for children and their communities.
• Facilitate programmatic integration of VISION FUND and APs/ADPs operations.

Government Grants & Budgets

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Strong knowledge of financial management and accounting principles.
• Strong expertise in grant acquisition and management.
• Manage a budget of almost $60m (Level III position - $41 – 100 million).

Major Ministries

• Experience in technical programming in at least one of the major ministry components.
• (Relief, Development or Advocacy), close familiarity with the other two.
• Knowledge of LEAP 3 processes and Transformational Development preferred.
• Experience and/or understanding of advocacy execution, national advocacy strategy development and leading advocacy efforts as a pillar of a theory of change.

Contexts

• Experience working in African contexts.
• Understanding of political, socio-economic, and cultural contexts within the country achieved within 3 months after assuming the role.
• Experience and/or understanding of working in a large and complex organization with a matrix management structure.
• Leadership/Governance:
• Experience leading diverse executive teams. Experience with boards or advisory councils.
• Ability to present persuasively to a board, Senior Management Team, staff, donors, NGOs, government officials, community leaders and other stakeholders.

Qualifications

Education/Knowledge/Technical Skills and Experience:

• The following may be acquired through a combination of formal or self-education, prior experience or on-the-job training.
• Master’s Degree in a relevant field.
• 15 years relevant experience in international relief and development, with progressively more complex and higher level leadership roles.
• Training in NGO leadership and experience in leading diverse teams that include national and international staff.
• Experience with integrated community development programming, with a diverse knowledge of technical program areas where WV focuses (education, health/nutrition, livelihood/resilience, micro-finance, child protection, etc.).
• Experience managing large and complex operations. Experience in emergency/refugee contexts.
• Excellent grant acquisition experience, including experience with a diverse set of donors, as well as a strong ability to partner and position for complex grants.
• Experience in leading local fundraising, including management responsibilities preferably over the areas of fundraising with major private donors and Governments.
• Experience in Microfinance operations is an advantage.
• Experience in being a member of Board and also understanding of Board mandate
• Significant management experience (general/operational) where there is evidence of both accountability and managerial know-how, and high quality delivery of results.
• Strong ability to engage externally with donors, partners and other stakeholders. Evidence of building coalitions and engaging externally to influence policy and strategic directions.
• Fluency in English/strong written and spoken English language skills and ability to communicate the Mission and Vision of the organization well.
• Experience with World Vision desirable.

Other Competencies/Attributes

• Must exhibit composure and professionalism. Able to represent World Vision to government officials, donors and other external stakeholders in a professional and self-assured manner.
• Have worked in Africa and understand the context and cultures of the continent.
• Able to interact with a variety of individuals and ethnic groups.
• Strong developer of teams and ability to embrace leadership principles and promote staff engagement and well-being.
• Model Christian commitment and integrity while embracing denominational diversity and demonstrating an ability to engage in an interfaith context.
• Strong moral values and convictions. Personal life which is exemplary.

Working Environment/Conditions

• Work environment: Office-based with frequent travel to the field.

Travel

• 25% domestic with occasional international travel required.