Country: Bangladesh
Closing date: 28 Nov 2016
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 vulnerable and disadvantaged. Headquartered in New York City, HKI 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.
We are currently seeking a Country Director (CD) for Bangladesh to represent HKI and lead the country office and its programs, reflecting HKI’s mission and ensuring technical excellence in the delivery of all activities.
Country Program Overview
HKI Bangladesh has a long history and a large, diverse portfolio of programs and donors. In partnership with the Government of Bangladesh and non-governmental organizations, HKI Bangladesh implements programs focused on improving maternal and child nutrition and eye health, including Homestead Food Production + Essential Nutrition/Hygiene Actions with a Gender sensitive approach, which enables households to increase production and consumption of micronutrient-rich foods and delivers added health and nutritional services to improve household food security and nutrition among women and children, as well as increase income and empower women. HKI also conducts a diabetic retinopathy program, which links diabetics to screening and treatment for diabetes-related eye disease that can cause blindness if left untreated. HKI Bangladesh is also conducting a nutrition-related randomized controlled trial, participating in other RCTs for integrated approached to reducing malnutrition, and conducts other operational research and special studies, including designing and implementing evaluations of food assistance and other programs. HKI is one of the key technical assistance organizations in Bangladesh for nutrition, agriculture, food security and eye health, working closely with the ministries of health, agriculture, fisheries and livestock, and government research institutes.
Functional Relationships
Based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the CD reports to the Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and directs the work of staff and interns/consultants in Bangladesh. S/he collaborates closely with APRO staff including the Regional Director-Programs, the Regional Director-Operations, the Regional Advisors and the Vice President for Asia Pacific; other CDs; and key headquarters (HQ) staff. External collaboration includes representatives of governmental, international, university and non-governmental organizations within Bangladesh, as well as a variety of donors.
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.
Scope of the Position
The CD has overall responsibility for supervising the implementation of HKI programs in Bangladesh and management of the office, including performance management of staff, to achieve the HKI mission and the objectives established in grants. S/he is responsible for representing HKI and securing funding for project activities in Bangladesh; developing and implementing strategic and annual plans to further HKI’s mission in Bangladesh; program design, proposal development, implementation and reporting; financial and grant management; operations, security, and human resource management.
Specific Responsibilities
Overall Management and Leadership
- Provide strategic leadership and develop action plans to further the overall mission and specific programs of HKI that meet the evolving conditions in Bangladesh.
- Manage financial resources and project personnel to achieve the objectives agreed to in grants and contracts for HKI Bangladesh projects.
- Keep APRO and others informed about progress of the projects, plans for the development of new programs/projects/activities and donor involvement in the overall program.
- Stay abreast of security concerns, safeguard the welfare of program staff, and protect HKI assets in a potentially difficult environment.
Programmatic
- Represent HKI and provide technical input to the government, international donor agencies and technical advisory groups pertinent to project activities.
- Oversee research design, methodology and dissemination of information needed to monitor and evaluate project activities.
- Disseminate findings from HKI projects that are of importance to decision-makers in a position to fund or implement projects in Bangladesh and internationally.
- Ensure that narrative reports are submitted to APRO, HQ and donors as required by project agreements.
Financial and Administrative
- Work with APRO and HQ to manage development of annual country and project budgets.
- Authorize expenditures for grant or contract allocations for Bangladesh projects.
- Ensure compliance with procedures required by grant or contract agreements for Bangladesh projects, and oversee the preparation and timely submission of required financial reports.
- Provide oversight to finance and administrative services including procurement, property management, human resources management, vehicle and facilities management, and staff safety and security.
- Hire and manage personnel and lead initiatives to develop staff capacity.
Fundraising and Program Promotion
- Identify funding opportunities from corporations, foundations, governmental organizations, international and bilateral agencies in Bangladesh. Develop and nurture in-country donor relationships and identify potential partners to participate in joint proposals.
- Lead and prepare concept papers and proposals and provide other information as needed for submission to donors and others for fundraising and marketing purposes.
Qualifications
- A minimum of 8-10 years of program related experience, including at least 5 years in an international setting, preferably working with a non-governmental organization, plus a Master’s degree in public health, nutrition, development or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Technical knowledge in an area related to HKI’s mission and programs.
- Demonstrated experience and skills in leadership, staff management, program development and management, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, and public speaking.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including an ability to effectively lead a team, communicate a vision, make timely and transparent decisions, and manage conflict.
- Demonstrated ability to manage administrative and financial activities in a developing country including the ability to develop and create budgets and monitor financial status.
- Excellent oral and written English language skills, including the ability to quickly synthesize complex technical and programmatic issues into concise communications.
- Demonstrated ability to generate program funding, including donor cultivation and grant writing.
- Computer literate in the use of word-processing, spreadsheet and statistical software; experience in data analysis and interpretation is highly desirable.
- Ability to travel within Bangladesh at least 25% of the time and periodically internationally.
- Experience working within the Bangladeshi or Asian development context is a plus.
- Willingness to work in a restricted environment due to security issues.
The initial contract is for two years with the possibility of renewal.
How to apply:
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.