Country Manager at Terre des Hommes Netherlands

Objective of the function

As Country Manager, you will be TdH-NL’s representative in Kenya reporting to the Head of Africa for general direction. You will be accountable for managing and supervising TdH-NL’s development and emergency projects in Kenya, ensuring delivery of quality results in line with our strategy plans, performance and accountability frameworks. As Country Manager you will be responsible for managing and growing the grant portfolio as well as provide strategic leadership to Kenya country office staff, in alignment with TdH-NL’s organisational values and practices.

Result areas

• Realise and develop department policy

Result: Country annual strategic plan is developed and implemented so that clear and explicit objectives are formulated and realised for the country.

• Work professionally within TdH-NL’s policies and codes of conduct, including those related to child protection/safeguarding, confidentiality, safety and security and ethical practice.
• Ensure that the country office and project partners follow the policies, processes and protocol regarding child safeguarding,
• Communicate incidents and violations of the policies in line with the established protocol.
• Develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies and in line with budgets.
• Work closely with the Head of Africa to ensure goals and objectives are aligned with strategies.
• Identify priority activities and assignments; adjust priorities as required.
• Foresee risks and allow for contingencies when planning.
• Possess a strong commitment to social justice and development of quality services within the field of child sexual abuse, exploitation and violence.
• Keep up to date with the political economic social and technical situation of the country as well as programme related developments and incorporate these developments into annual reports and annual and strategic plans.
• Keep the programme database up to date, analyse the outputs of each programme and reflect on the outcome in terms of planned versus achieved in annual reports and annual plans.
• In case of own implementation of programmes, manage the implementation of programmes efficiently and effectively to create maximum results at beneficiary level.
• Collaborate with donors that support TdH-NL’s project partners and see to it that there is a common understanding on project outputs/outcome.
• As a member of the programmes team advise the programme development manager, whether solicited or unsolicited.
• Work together closely with the other country managers and exchange ideas and experiences.
• Organise the Kenya country team and coordinate with the Regional Office technical team to undertake fundraising / resource mobilisation to operationalise the Kenya country plan.
• Finance and administration

Result: The finance and administration of the country office is done in line with TdH-NL’s finance and administration policies.

• Ensure that TdH-NL’s finance and administration policies are being implemented at the country office.
• Approve and ensure timely submission of quarterly funds requests/ disbursements to partners after receipt of quality signed off reports
• Monitor in close collaboration with the regional office, the annual budget spending in relation to the approved annual budget.
• Monitor with the support of the country finance staff, financial management practices and provide immediate backstopping where policies are not followed as expected.
• Manage employees

Result: Employees are guided and instructed so that they are motivated to execute their tasks efficiently and effectively.

• Manage country team to ensure project goals and objectives are achieved.
• Provide leadership and take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Empower staff to translate vision into results.
• Regularly discuss performance and provide feedback and coaching to staff.
• Facilitate internal management processes

Result: Internal management processes are facilitated so that the tasks and activities are efficiently aligned and quality is guaranteed.

• Delegate the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority.
• Anticipate and resolve conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions.
• Accurately judge the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and match tasks to skills.
• Monitor progress against milestones and deadlines.
• Make sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member.
• Resource mobilisation and networking

Result: Network is maintained so that cooperation is improved and all parties and individuals involved are correctly and fully informed.

• Ensure strong engagement in resource mobilisation, including positioning and support to grant acquisition efforts to raise additional resources and diversify TdH-NL’s portfolio in Kenya.
• Recognise fundraising opportunities for TdH-NL, take initiative to anticipate on them and develop proposals in conjunction with the Regional and Head Offices.
• Establish and maintain relationships with a broad range of groups (government, CSOs, private sector and beneficiaries) to understand project needs and gain support.
• Represent TdH-NL in Kenya, engage and build strategic alliances with government, major donors, other NGOs and media.
• Represent TdH-NL by participating in networks related to its mission and vision, and share and learn.

Education, experience and skills required

• MA degree in the Social Sciences or related fields.
• Minimum of 10 year professional work experience that combines managerial and technical leadership in development cooperation or executive management. Professional experience with an INGO, NGO, or governmental organisation, in the related field of child protection and safeguarding is an asset.
• At least three years of leadership experience including supervising teams and managing budgets.
• Proficiency in written and oral English is required.

Personal profile

• Strong management skills and track record at national level
• Strong people management skills
• Proven efficient management of financial resources
• Proven capacity to lead, motivate and develop a team
• Exhibits composure and professionalism. Ability to represent TdH-NL in Kenya to donors, government officials, other NGOs, other external stakeholders in a self assured manner
• Excellent negotiating and communication skills
• Strong ability to direct and foster strategic partnerships and position for grants
• Excellent grant acquisition experience, including experience with a diverse set of donors

Competency profile

Analytical capacity

Understanding the essence of complex issues by logical reasoning, investigation of potential causes, separation of key messages from the mass of detail and acknowledgment of their interdependence.

Level 2: Collects and examines information from various sources independently and on own initiative. Acquires insight by doing so and draws conclusions from their interdependence.

Leadership

Can mobilise and inspire others by providing guidance and direction in the attainment of clear and challenging objectives related to results and personal development. Is able to adapt the style of leadership to different employees and situations.

Level 3: Encourages others to develop themselves and to achieve maximum results and demonstrates exemplary behaviour.

Result orientation

Focused on setting objectives and actively achieving results.

Level 3: Is determined in achieving results and encourages and supports others in doing so.

Responsibility

Accepting the consequences of your own actions and/or agreements.

Level 3: Takes potential consequences into account when making risky agreements within his or her own area of responsibility – such as a team or department, or a policy area. Can make a realistic assessment of the impact of one’s own actions as well as those taken by others, and bases agreements on this.