Mali: Deputy Country Director, Programs-Mali

Established in 1915 with Helen Keller as a founding trustee, Helen Keller International (HKI) is dedicated to saving the sight and lives of the world’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Headquartered in New York City, HKI has an operating budget of some $70 million and currently conducts programs in 21 countries in Africa and Asia, as well as in the United States. Renowned for its reliability, efficiency and high level of technical expertise, HKI promotes the development of sustainable, large-scale programs that deliver effective preventative and curative services for nutrition, eye health and neglected tropical diseases. The hallmark of the organization’s work is its proven success in developing, testing and scaling-up health interventions, and integrating them within government and community structures to support and build local capacity and sustainable solutions.

Country Program Overview

HKI started its programs in Mali in 1998 with an initial focus on nutrition. Currently, HKI implements a large and complex program focused on nutrition and the control of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). The nutrition program works to prevent malnutrition through a behavior change approach focused on essential nutrition and hygiene actions in addition to strengthening the capacity of health centers to manage acute malnutrition. HKI also provides technical assistance and financial support to the national NTD control program, including an integrated program to control or eliminate lymphatic filariasis, trachoma, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis and soil transmitted helminths through mass drug administration at the community level as well as studies to determine impact of the campaigns. In addition, HKI supports interventions aimed at managing morbidity and prevention disability linked to NTDs, in particular trachoma and lymphatic filariasis morbidity.

Current donors include USAID, the government of Canada, the END Fund, the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. HKI Mali has approximately 75 staff with 22 based in the Bamako office and the others in Ségou, Mopti and Kayes regions. Sub-offices are located in Ségou and Sevaré.

HKI is seeking a Deputy Country Director (Deputy CD) - Programs to back up the responsibilities of the Country Director and to oversee the nutrition and NTD programs.

Functional Relationships

Reporting to the Country Director, the Deputy CD serves on the country management team and leads and directly supervises two program managers (for nutrition and NTDs), with a total program staff of around 45 employees. The position works in close collaboration with other program and operations staff based in the region and in the US.

HKI has a matrixed reporting structure that respects both the line management and authority within country office and regional hierarchies; and the accountability and oversight duties of subject matter experts and multi-country program managers at the regional and headquarters level. Regular communication and a spirit of team work among colleagues, both hierarchically and laterally are essential to make this structure thrive.

HKI’s programs require close relations with the host government, partner NGOs, donors and UN agencies. The Deputy CD plays a key role in nurturing some of these cooperative relationships, and representing HKI-Mali to donors and partners.

Scope of the Position

The primary responsibilities of the Deputy CD are project planning/design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting to ensure timely, effective and compliant programming in accordance with HKI programming principles and donor requirements. S/he manages a portfolio of projects totaling around $4 million per year. As an evidence-based organization, HKI places great importance on operational research and impact evaluation. The DCD plays a key role in overseeing research and evaluation, usually in partnership with qualified institutions.

This position is based at the country office in Bamako, with regular supervision and support visits to project sites as well as to periodically attend project staff meetings in the different sub-offices.

Key Responsibilities

Project Development

· Participate in operational and strategic planning of the country management team; support the development of the Annual Program Plan, including ensuring its alignment with the agency’s strategic plan, and budget.

· Coordinate and develop terms of reference for consultancies, participate in the selection of consultants, supervise consultants and other technical support resources needed for program-related activities.

• Contribute to project design and proposal development processes in close collaboration with the CD.
• Strengthen staff and partner capacity in project development.
• Play an active role in identifying and obtaining financial support for new initiatives that support the country program objectives and strategic plan.

Program Oversight

• Oversee the design and implementation of effective work plans that allow for timely and ongoing progress review of all key outputs of the programs.
• Facilitate integration with other projects and activities within HKI as well as with other partners and government entities.
• Ensure that project implementation is in accordance with HKI established plans, policies, procedures and core values.
• Work with staff and partners to ensure strong M&E systems are in place for the development of regular project monitoring systems, the agency’s shared indicator system, as well as for special studies and project evaluations, including baseline, mid-term and end-of-project.
• Oversee research and special studies design and implementation with project staff and ensure dissemination of information with a particular focus on publications of major findings.
• Conduct field-level monitoring for quality assurance; provide timely and constructive feedback and support to HKI and partner project staff.

• Work with project and/or finance staff to:

• review expenses related to program implementation on a monthly basis to identify over or under spending trends, and alert the CD for appropriate action if significant trends are noted.

• ensure all narrative and financial reports are submitted to donors and Regional and HQ office (as required) in a timely and compliant manner;

• prepare and submit annual reports to headquarters on program metrics and standards.

• ensure the proper maintenance of all files, records and documents relating to HKI program activities

· Work closely with the CD to address all issues raised by HKI staff, donors or partners (including ministries) regarding program implementation.

Team and Performance Management

· Mentor, supervise and evaluate program coordinators and contribute to an atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development.

· Cultivate an atmosphere conducive to sharing of lessons-learned and to mutual learning among HKI staff and among partners.

· Consult with and guide program staff to achieve goals and ensure accountability to beneficiaries, partners, colleagues and donors by providing ongoing feedback in a context of mutual respect.

· Provide guidance to program coordinators in supervising their project teams to ensure:

o Sound planning, implementation and evaluation of programs and operations.

o High-quality financial planning, management, reporting and auditing of programs, including thorough budget oversight.

o Compliance with HKI standards, policies and procedures, and processes, including performance management.

o Compliance with donor requirements, including timely information on changes in key personnel, procurement and reporting.

Coordination with Partners

• Work with project staff to ensure partners are knowledgeable about HKI’s technical and financial policies and procedures as well as donor compliance requirements.
• Ensure that project staff have the skills and tools necessary to build partner capacity.
• Collaborate with respective line ministries and other organizations’ technical staff working in sectors of interest to HKI to build partnerships.
• Ensure that HKI programs are recognized/promoted and implemented in accordance with national agendas.
• Participate in meetings and seminars within HKI, nationally, and internationally as requested by the CD.

Financial and Administrative

• The Deputy CD will support and back up the finance and administrative duties of the CD, including but not limited to:

• Working with the HKI Regional Office and Headquarters to manage the development and implementation of annual country budgets;

• Regular monitoring of program expenditures and appropriate action to ensure that expenses are on-track and within allowed line item variations;

• Authorizing expenditures for grant or contract allocations and ensure compliance with procedures required by grant or contract agreements;

• Hiring and managing personnel for projects in compliance with HKI policies and lead initiatives to develop staff capacity; and

• Managing the safety and security of staff, reporting incidents, and responding promptly to emergent issues.

Qualifications

· Masters’ degree or equivalent in public health, program management, international development or other relevant field, plus minimum seven years working in project/program management for an international organization in the area of public health, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

· Experience in implementation of nutrition and/or neglected tropical disease programs a strong advantage

· Excellent interpersonal skills, including an ability to effectively lead a team, communicate a vision, make timely and transparent decisions, exercise diplomacy, and manage conflict.

· Excellent oral and written English and French language skills, including the ability to synthesize complex technical and programmatic issues.

· Ability to work in challenging and changing environments and to see through challenges to find solutions.

· Demonstrated ability to develop budgets, monitor financial status and manage administrative and financial activities of complex programs.

· Knowledge of USAID rules and regulations strongly preferred. Substantial experience with a variety of other donors an advantage.

· Demonstrated ability in project design and proposal writing.

· Experience with monitoring and evaluation tools and systems.

· Proven track record for institutional strengthening and partnership building.

· Computer literate and proficient; including knowledge of data management and analysis.

· Demonstrated respect for all persons regardless of religion, ethnicity, class or gender.

· Ability and willingness to travel to project sites in Mali’s challenging security environment.

The initial contract is for two years with possibility of renewal.

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to HKI.Recruitment@hki.org noting the job title in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.