Guinea: DEPUTY COUNTRY DIRECTOR

Established in 1915 with Helen Keller as a founding trustee, Helen Keller International (HKI) is dedicated to saving the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Head-quartered 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. HKI is recruiting a Deputy Country Director for Guinea.

****Country Program Overview****

HKI started its programs in Guinea in 2000 with an initial focus on nutrition. Currently, HKI’s work in Guinea includes nationwide programs for nutrition (vitamin A supplementation - VAS) and control of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). HKI also has two other projects based in Kankan region: a community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) project and a prevention and control of Ebola virus disease project.

Current donors are USAID/OFDA, the government of Canada (DFATD), Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, and UNICEF. The country program currently has 26 staff based in the main office in Conakry, and11 staff based in the sub office in Kankan. (This number is expected to reach 40 after additional field staff are recruited.)

HKI-Guinea works closely with the Ministry of Health’s nutrition division and immunization program, as well as UNICEF, for the implementation of a VAS program. In the area of NTDs and blindness prevention, HKI works closely with the PNLOC (national NTD control program) for the control of trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, and intestinal worms, providing technical and financial assistance for strategy, planning, mass drug distribution, and prevalence studies and monitoring. For the prevention and the control of Ebola virus disease project, HKI works closely with prefectural committee of the fight against Ebola virus disease.

****Scope of the Position****

Under the supervision of the Country Director (CD), 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. The position requires close cooperation with the host government, partner NGOs, donors and UN agencies. As an evidence-based organization, HKI places great importance on operational research and impact evaluation. The Deputy CD plays a key role in overseeing research and evaluation, usually in partnership with qualified institutions. S/he supervises a team of 4 (or more) program managers, with a total program staff of around 37 employees and manages a portfolio of projects amounting to about $4 million/year.

****Specific Responsibilities****

The Deputy CD leads and directly supervises the program team, and is a member of the country management team, along with the Finance Manager, the Manager for Administration and Human Resources. Field travel includes visits to project sites working from sub-offices.

Project Development

• Assist the CD in identification of funding opportunities that support the country program objectives.
• Participate in operational and strategic planning of the country senior management team; support the development of the Annual Program Plan, including ensuring this is in alignment with the organization’s strategic plan, and budget.
• Coordinate and develop terms of reference, and supervise consultants and other technical support resources needed for program-related activities.
• Strengthen staff and partner capacity in project development.
• Contribute to project design and proposal development processes in close collaboration with the CD.
• Play an active role in identifying and obtaining support for new initiatives that foster and improve the strategic objectives of the country office.

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 the 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 and procedures and HKI 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 organization’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 insurance; providing timely and constructive feedback and support to HKI and partner project staff.
• Work with project and/or finance staff to:
• review expenses related to programs implementation on a monthly basis to identify either over or under spending trends, and if significant trends are noted to alert the CD for appropriate action;
• ensure all narrative 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; and
• ensure the proper maintenance of all files, records and documents relating to HKI activities of the project.
• Work closely with the CD to address all issues raised by HKI staff, donors or respective line ministries regarding program implementation.

****Team and Performance Management****

• Mentor, supervise and evaluate project coordinators (NTDs, Nutrition, and Ebola prevention) 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 project 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:
• Sound planning, implementation and evaluation of programs and operations;
• High-quality financial planning, management, reporting and auditing of programs, including thorough budget oversight;
• Compliance with HKI standards, policies and procedures, and processes across the portfolio, including performance management; and
• Compliance with donor requirements, including timely and accurate reporting of results and expenditures, and required interim and final reports.

Coordination with partners

• Work with project staff to ensure partners are knowledgeable of HKI’s technical and financial policies and procedures, and 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 the 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 CD.

Financial and Administrative

• The Deputy CD will support and back up the Finance & Administrative duties of the CD including but not limited to:
• Working with HKI Regional Office and Headquarters to manage the development and implementation of annual country budgets;
• Ensuring timely submission of financial reports within the guidelines established by the Accounting and Grants & Contracts units of the Finance department;
• 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 and responding promptly to emergent issues.

****Qualifications****

• Masters’ degree or equivalent in development, public health, program management, international development or other relevant field, plus minimum seven years working in project management for an international organization in the area of public health, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including an ability to effectively lead a team, communicate a vision, make timely and transparent decisions, and manage conflict.
• Excellent oral and written English and French language skills, including the ability to synthesize complex technical and programmatic issues.
• An ability to work in challenging and changing environments.
• Demonstrated ability to develop budgets, monitor financial status and manage administrative and financial activities of complex programs.
• Substantial experience with a variety of donors including USAID/OFDA, Canada, European Commission and UNICEF an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability in project design and proposal writing.
• Experience with monitoring and evaluation tools and systems.
• Proven track record with institutional strengthening and partnership building.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to exercise diplomacy and tact as demonstrated in previous roles that required communication with a broad and diverse set of partners.
• Computer literate and proficient; including knowledge of data management and analysis.
• Demonstrable respect for all persons regardless of religion, ethnicity, class or gender.
• Willingness to travel within the country to project sites.

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 position title in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.