Position: Country Director – Somalia

Location: Mogadishu, with travel to office locations and Nairobi, Kenya

Reports to: Regional Director – Africa

ABOUT RI:

Relief International is a leading non-profit organization working in 17 countries to relieve poverty, ensure well-being and advance dignity. We specialize in fragile settings, responding to natural disasters, humanitarian crises and chronic poverty.

Relief International combines humanitarian and development approaches to provide immediate services while laying the groundwork for long-term impact. Our signature approach — which we call the RI Way—emphasizes local participation, an integration of services, strategic partnerships and a focus on civic skills. In this way, we empower communities to find, design and implement the solutions that work best for them.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Country Director, Somalia (CD) is responsible for the overall management and development of Relief International’s (RI) country program in Somalia. This involves ensuring that all programmes are delivered to the highest quality and achieve the intended impact. He/she will play a significant role in program and proposal development, taking the lead in representing the organization with donors, obtaining funding, and identifying and pursuing new program opportunities. He/she will also manage the mobilization and effective scale up of innovative emergency and development programs, supervise program and support staff, as well as ensure that all relevant RI policies and procedures with respect to HR, safety and security, code of conduct, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures are in place, implemented and adhered to.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Networking and Business Development

· Maintain effective communications with donors and key ministries by tracking trends, identifying gaps, and anticipating the likelihood of funding opportunities.

· Develop relationships with current and potential donors to aggressively pursue new opportunities for program growth and start-up including conducting needs assessments, in coordination with regional and global Programs and Program Development team members.

· Position RI for new opportunities including partnerships in consortia.

· Represent RI in forums and meetings in the NGO sector where a strategic benefit for the organization exists.

· Negotiate contracts and agreements with donors and partners, in coordination with regional and global programs, program development and Grants and Contracts teams.

· Maintain effective communications with RI’s regional and global support departments, regarding program development, funding agreements, security, human resources and other operational issues.

· Facilitate the development of technical and financial proposals, ensuring adequate technical input and oversight.

Program Management

· Oversee project implementation, including allocation of resources and ensuring that appropriate controls are maintained at all levels.

· Ensure that team members are effective and efficient and contribute the necessary work to ensure their programs are a success. Provide feedback to staff to ensure optimal performance.

· Ensure all programs are completed within time, on budget, and achieve their objectives.

· Provide adequate support to each program, including but not limited to strategic vision, technical input and advice, and hands on support with assessments, reporting, budget follow-up and problem solving.

· Monitor project implementation, communication and report both internally and externally.

· Serve as a link between RI and all project counterparts through sector coordination.

· Initiate RI’s response to disasters and emergencies when appropriate

Personnel Management

· Directly supervise the Program Coordinator, Finance Manager, HR Manager, and Field Coordinators.

· Provide leadership and management of national and expatriate staff ensuring a participatory management style that empowers national staff.

· Provide briefings to all incoming expatriate staff covering RI goals and objectives, country and program background, vision and future plans, and operational policies and procedures.

· Ensure that the all HR procedures are in accordance with local laws and practice and RI’s policies.

Security Management

· Serve as country security focal point or designate someone for that position;

· Ensure security guidelines and key documents are up-to-date and fully implemented;

· Make security policy and recommendations based on all available information in conjunction with senior national staff;

· Participate in relevant security coordination meetings;

· Regularly report to GSO regarding safety and security;

· Ensure Incident Management procedures are in place and team assigned and familiar with roles in case of critical incident.

Reporting and Control

· Provide program reports and regular situation reports that are timely, meet information requirements and professionally written as needed by RI and as required by donors;

· Evaluate and monitor all country programs to determine the extent to which they are meeting goals and determine action needed to improve achievements;

· Conduct monthly Budget versus Actual (BVA) and Spending Plan meetings with senior program and operations staff to ensure grants spending is on track and issues addressed immediately to avoid under/over spending and disallowed costs.

Financial Management

· Ensure overall audit compliance, financial transparency though supervision and direction of financial and administrative staff.

· County budget preparation and monitoring;

· Ensure that cost share is adequately booked and monitored;

· Ensure that the national office and sub-offices maintain accurate and up-to-date financial records;

· Ensure equitable allocation of shared national office operating costs to the various projects and donors as per an agreed formula;

· Ensure the timely preparation and accuracy of financial reports by working with financial accounting staff as required by RI and donors

Other

· Act as liaison between the regional and global staff and the country team. Direct all communications up or down, as appropriate.

· Maintain organizational consistency through maintenance of strong, positive relations with field teams, Regional Support Office, and Global Support Office.

· Maintain a suitable image for RI Somalia and protect RI’s interest and assets;

· Assign a deputy in the country office who can represent in the CD’s absence;

· Facilitate donor visits to project sites as appropriate.

· Undertake additional activities as required by regional and/or global staff

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

This position demands a dynamic individual with a demonstrated ability to achieve results in a demanding and fast paced environment.

· Master’s degree in a relevant field or Bachelor’s degree with commensurate work experience, preferably in area of primary business management, international development, education, health and nutrition, or water and sanitation.

· Minimum of ten (10) years professional experience in implementing emergency response programs in a conflict settings with at least 5 years of senior management experience.

· Demonstrated experience developing relationships with donors such as USAID, OFDA, ECHO and DFID.

· Ability and willingness to travel as needed throughout Somalia;

· Solid background and knowledge of Rules and Regulations of USAID, ECHO, EC, DFID;

· Demonstrated record in collaborating with local governments, rural communities, other NGOs U.N. Agencies and other international emergency response and development actors; preferably in Somalia context.

· Excellent interpersonal, communication, public speaking, and strategic planning skills required;

· Strong English and Somali writing and verbal skills required.

· Strong understanding of the Somalia context and donor environment.

· Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, tasks efficiently.

· Excellent time management skills and resourcefulness with strong attention to detail.

· Preference will be given to Somalia nationals. Authorization to work in Somalia required for non-Somalia nationals.

RI Values:

We uphold the Humanitarian Principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence. We affirmatively engage the most vulnerable communities. We value:

· Inclusiveness

· Transparency and Accountability

· Agility and Innovation

· Collaboration

· Sustainability