Closing date: 26 Dec 2011
Job title: Country Representative Organization: CARE Canada Unit/CO: Cuba Work location: Havana Contract duration: One year (renewable)
Job Summary: The Country Representative has the overall responsibility for the effective management of CARE International in Cuba based on CARE Canada’s mission, vision, and core values. The position encompasses the engagement, oversight and proper coordination with implementing partners, leadership and overall responsibility of the country office performance, in the area of program design and delivery, financial management, Human resources, administration support; improve and representation. As with CARE Canada’s country offices worldwide, the CR reports to CARE Canada’s Vice President for International Operations and receives a degree of support from a team in HQ, in the areas of contract management, finance, human resources, security and emergency response, program development for Canadian-funded programs, and other periodic technical assistance.
Responsibilities:
1- Country Office overall program planning • Lead the development of the Country Office Long term program plan (LRSP), Annual Operating Plans, regular country office performance reviews • Maintain and share an updated operating environment analysis, assess the impact of the environment changes on the performance of the CO and current projects.
2-Program Development and Implementation • Guided by the host government priorities, the CO strategic plan and inspired by donors provide support and guidance to the country office program officers, (all of whom operate as ‘collaborators’ who are formally seconded from local partners) in the identification of new programming opportunities, • Develop and/or oversee the development of new programs, maintain healthy pipeline and maintain proposal development quality controls, • Lead contract negotiation with CI members and donors at the country level to ensure that CARE program and financial objectives are attained, • Explore possibilities of program funding diversification that is sustainable and desirable for the host government, the CO and CARE Canada, including approach by sector and by program, private sector, other institutional donors, and new program implementation approaches; • Ensure, through regular monitoring of activities, effective project implementation, supporting collaborators in their search and use of best programming practices, and by ensuring that CARE’s financial and donor contractual requirements and obligations are met; • Ensure effective implementation of programs and projects through locally established partners; • Ensure the implementation of an effective project implementation monitoring and evaluation system that allows accurate donors reporting and timely course corrections as necessary. • Lead regular and participatory partners and team meetings to review the overall financial and operations performance of the country office.
3-Financial, Budget and Administration Management • Oversee and provide support to the Financial staff in the development of the CO’s annual budget and project budgetary management as per CARE procedures, • Ensure the financial viability of the CO within the constraints of a unique program and limited resources. (e.g. project budgets are able to cover the running costs of the CO and generation of adequate indirect cost recovery (ICR) from existing and new projects; monitor and analyze CO cost structure, particularly in anticipation of changes in program portfolio, • Ensure full compliance with donors’ regulations and terms of signed contracts; ensure the application of CARE financial procedures, • Ensure that the CO performance results in satisfactory audits and that recommendation from previous audits are addressed and subsequent audits show improving trend, • Ensure that the CO submits financial reports on time, achievement of at least 80% budget utilization rate, and accounts receivables less than 10% of the annual budget • Ensure that CI members effectively meet program match requirements, • Ensure that risk register is maintained up to date and issues acted upon in a timely manner, • Ensure financial exposure reports are maintained and reviewed on a monthly basis and communicated to HQ, • In cooperation with HQ, ensure that monthly balance sheet review and scorecards are completed and recommendations acted upon accordingly.
4- Human Resources Development and Management • Develop and seek HQ approval on annual staffing plan for the CO, ensure that the country office structure reflects ongoing needs of annual operations; • Adopt and lead by example an effective performance management system, including timely and clear communication of expectations through updated job descriptions and operating plans, regular performance feedback and annual performance appraisals, coaching and mentoring to collaborators in decision-making, consistency and coherence in the recognition of merit, • Promote staff development, through coaching and mentoring, • Create and maintain a true team environment, in which input on key issues is sought from colleagues in open discussion, • Ensure collaborators (partners) adherence to the CARE Code of Conduct
5-Security and Emergency Response • Ensure that country office security plans are kept up to date and that staff regularly follow mandatory security procedures identified as appropriate to the context, • Ensure that the CO emergency preparedness plan is kept up to date and is effectively communicated to staff at least once a year; • Authorize and manage staff evacuations as necessary (for health or other reasons).
6-Representation and Communications • Negotiate with host governments and ensure that the country office has an updated mutually recognized basic country agreement as well as program related agreements with the relevant line ministries, • Ensure that accurate and updated host government relations information are disseminated to CARE Canada, and relevant CI members, • Ensure access to country office facilities and services to all CI members desirable of programming within the strategic plan and priorities of the host government and CO . • Ensure that the image of CARE International in Cuba is consistent with CARE’s mission, vision and values and protect CARE's interests and assets; • Build effective organizational relationships and networks with partners; liaise with host government/donor government and other lead agency representatives; • Maintain effective communications with CARE International members regarding program development, funding agreements and staffing; • Provide on a biannual basis, a report to CARE Canada for CARE International and its members, on the affairs of the Country Office, including security; • Provide periodic reports directly to CARE organizations and to other project donors according to the specific agreements; • Maintain regular and transparent communication with HQ in a spirit of shared problem-solving.
Reporting lines Reports to: CARE Canada Vice President, International Operations Supervises: Seconded Local NGO collaborators (partners) (2 Program Managers, 1 Financial Controller, 1 Logistics Officer. Communicate and coordinate with: Other CDs, Regional Management Units, donors at the country level, host government, and CARE Canada HQ
Education and Certifications • University degree in a relevant discipline. Master’s degree in relevant discipline would be an asset.
Minimal requirements: • Minimum of ten years of experience in international development or humanitarian assistance; • At least five years of successful experience at the senior management level in overseas postings, in the countries that lived chronic political instability, and in the emergency response context; • Experience in or full understanding of operational environments under current or former communist-led governments; • Superior leadership particularly in support of multi-disciplinary and multi-national teams; • Solid understanding of financial and budget management, and of best practice programming (expertise by sector would be an asset); • Excellent oral and written communication skills both in Spanish and in English; • Proven abilities in decision-making and problem-solving in crisis contexts; • High level of diplomacy; • Flexibility and willingness to undertake extensive travel within the country up to 30-40%.
How to apply:
Notes:
We thank in advance all those who will apply for this position but regret that we will contact only short-listed candidates.
Contact Information: Please apply online at Care Canada or Careers United. Please note that you will need to register before applying for this position.
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