Deputy Country Representative job at Impact Initiative

FUNCTIONS

Under the management of IMPACT’s Country Representative (CR), the Deputy Country Representative is responsible for representing IMPACT and managing and developing IMPACT’s programs in Ethiopia. He/she leads the IMPACT team to achieve program excellence and ensure the highest level of impact and accountability, while ensuring compliance to IMPACT guidelines, policies and standards across the mission. She/he will promote organizational vision and core values across the mission and will actively link with HQ to contribute to the implementation of IMPACT’s global strategies.

The Deputy Country Representative will be hosted by ACTED and will fall under the direct responsibility of ACTED’s Country Director and his/her delegates for all Administrative, Security, Logistics and Finance issues. S/he will therefore fully abide by ACTED’s Security, HR, Administration and Logistics rules and regulations, and, in coordination with ACTED, will ensure that all IMPACT staff abide by them.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Deputy Country Representative responsibilities include the following:

PROGRAMME PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION

• Provide technical oversight to all mission research cycles, advising on research techniques, ensuring quality, and adhering to IMPACT global research standards.
• Ensure that all IMPACT programs are aligned with IMPACT global and country strategies, are conducted in coordination with and, when relevant, undergo the validation by IMPACT HQ, and are planned in line with relevant project objectives and with IMPACT’s research cycle and other relevant guidelines/standards.
• Supervise all stages of program implementation, updating senior management team of progress and delays, by receiving regular updates from team members, and providing inputs when required.
• Maintain regular link with ACTED (as relevant) to facilitate the provision of logistic and administrative support to facilitate program implementation, as well as ensuring that IMPACT teams comply to ACTED’s security and other relevant FLAT regulations during program implementation.

STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT & IMPLEMENTATION

• Context analysis: maintain an up-to-date understanding of the aid/humanitarian situation, the impact of a crisis and the aid/humanitarian planning, coordination and response mechanisms, as well as key aid/humanitarian stakeholders in Ethiopia.
• Support the CR in the development of a detailed mission strategy for IMPACT (specifically the continuity of the strategy to expand and maintain established workcyles). Ensure the implementation of this strategy and take a lead role in identifying strategic opportunities for strengthening IMPACT’s work in the his/her countries.
• Develop, with the senior management team, unit strategies and opportunities appropriate to IMPACT’s mission strategy and areas of opportunity and value added to the humanitarian context.

FUNDRAISING

• In close coordination with the Country Representative, Programme Development & Fundraising Officer (PFO), and the Research Managers, the DCC will engage and approach donors to identify funding to support IMPACT’s programs (including, as relevant, REACH, PANDA and, with ACTED, AGORA).
• In close coordination with the PPSO and Research Managers, oversee project proposal conceptualization (problem statement, logframe, project budgets, etc.) within the framework of the country, regional and global strategy, review with ACTED and/or other relevant country partners.

KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND LEARNING PROCESS

• Ensure the application of the M&E framework for each program, in line with IMPACT’s M&E guidelines.
• Ensure learning and knowledge is shared across units and country programmes.
• Ensure timely production and  dissemination of products and datasets with key stakeholders in the response, as well as current/future donors and partners.

PROJECT CYCLE MANAGEMENT

• Grant Management: Monitor output achievement and ensure a timely completion of projects. Ensure that contractual obligations are met in terms of deliverables as well as narrative and financial reporting requirements.
• Finance Management: Support Research Managers to accurately share with the Senior Finance Officer budget expenditure tracking and forecasting to anticipate financial risks and avoid under/over spending on programmatic lines in close coordination with the Senior Finance Officer, the CR, PFO  and (as relevant) with the IMPACT Finance Control Unit and ACTED PD and finance departments.
• Assets and IT Management: Ensure proper asset management in collaboration with the Senior Operations Officer and ACTED logistics and IT departments.

TEAM MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

• Leadership: Provides leadership across the mission, as well as within the Senior Management Team.
• Staff Management: Directly line manage and support the capacity building and technical growth of the Research Managers and Field Manager, and if appropriate Assistant RM and Senior Field Officers. Ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their roles and responsibilities. Ensure that all staff have clear and regularly updated TORs, workplans and Key Performance Indicators against which their performance will be appraised. Promote team building, productivity and staff welfare. Mentor and support the team to build capacities, and improve efficiency and performance, and follow career management of international and national staff working in IMPACT programs.
• Unit Model: In close collaboration with the Country Representative and Research Managers ensure, organizational units are established within overall mission and regional set-up. Ensure all staff within a given a unit is provided clarity on their roles and responsibilities.
• Administration and HR management: Ensure timely recruitment of staff working in IMPACT programs (in coordination with ACTED where relevant) and contribute to international staff recruitment upon HQ identification; proactively adapt the staffing structure to needs and funding. Ensure timely attendance sheets, leave plans, surge requests, as well as exit forms for departing staff.

INTERNAL COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION

• Internal communication: Facilitate internal communication within the team and information sharing for a positive working environment. Foster an environment for learning and growth, while providing high level technical oversight and understanding of the context. Ensure that any risk to IMPACT programming, projects or staff is as soon as possible communicated to and understood by Country Representative and relevant HQ head of departments. Be mindful and cognizant of staff welfare living in hardship locations and communicate regularly with the Country Representative on the status of individual and group wellbeing.
• Coordination with ACTED: Regularly coordinate with ACTED’s Addis-based Senior Management Team. Ensure regular coordination with ACTED’s Project Development, Finance and other FLAT departments as relevant. Ensure compliance of all staff to ACTED FLAT, HR and security procedures. Stay abreast of the Security context in Ethiopia, with regular communication channels to the Acted Country Security Manager and the IMPACT Country Representative.

EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

• Establish, maintain and improve active and regular working relationships with coordination and aid decision-making forums (clusters, sectors, working groups, NGO forum, HCT, etc), UN agencies, donors, NGOs, consortia, academia, etc. Ensure that IMPACT and its programs are well understood by key aid stakeholders and that potential partnership options have been explored when relevant.
• Capitalize and strengthen relationships with key IMPACT global partners at country level; ensure any issues that may impact on global partnerships are communicated to and understood by Country Representative, and IMPACT.

DISSEMINATION OF PRODUCTS AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION

• Support the Research Managers and Assessment Officers in the dissemination of research/program products/outputs, including through in country presentations, website articles, journal articles, IMPACT social media contents, targeted e-mails, meetings, etc, in line with IMPACT Dissemination and External Communication guidelines;
• Support IMPACT HQ in global-level dissemination related to the country mission, including through provision of updated information for website and social media, organization/attendance to HQ level events, briefings and panel discussions;

ACCOUNTABILITY TO COMMUNITIES AND BENEFICIARIES

• The staff member is responsible for ensuring that all relations with the communities we work are conducted in a respectful and consultative manner. Due attention must be paid to ensuring that communities are adequately consulted and informed about IMPACT’s programme objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies. This is the responsibility of every IMPACT staff member.

DATA CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION

• The IMPACT DCC will maintain the strictest confidentiality on all data collected and related processes. He/she will actively take measures to prevent the unauthorized sharing of any information and data belonging to IMPACT and its partners, or collected during his/her assignment with IMPACT.

REQUIREMENTS

• Academic Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (International Relations, Political Sciences, Social Research, Economics, Development Studies, or similar)
• Management experience Previous experience in a senior management role in a INGO at field level . Proven track record in successful management of international and national teams in humanitarian contexts
• Familiarity aid system Familiarity with the aid system, and the research community;
• Communication/reporting skills Excellent communication and drafting skills for effective reporting, including proven experience in contributing to high level presentations/briefings.
• Years of work experience At least 5 years of relevant working experience or proven progression within IMPACT
• Research skills: Excellent research and analytical skills an asset. Experience in assessments. M&E, field research, evaluations an asset.
• Software skills: Proven knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Familiarity with R, SPSS and/or STATA or other statistical analysis software an asset
• Multi-tasking skills Ability to multitask with tight deadlines, on numerous research cycles in complex environment;
• Level of independence A self-starter with a proven ability to work independently;
• Cross-cultural work environment Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility and excellent interpersonal skills;
• Experience in geographical region Past experience in the region is desirable;
• Language skills Fluency in English required;
• Security environment Ability to operate in a complex and challenging security environment.

• Provide technical oversight to all mission research cycles, advising on research techniques, ensuring quality, and adhering to IMPACT global research standards.
• Ensure that all IMPACT programs are aligned with IMPACT global and country strategies, are conducted in coordination with and, when relevant, undergo the validation by IMPACT HQ, and are planned in line with relevant project objectives and with IMPACT’s research cycle and other relevant guidelines/standards.
• Supervise all stages of program implementation, updating senior management team of progress and delays, by receiving regular updates from team members, and providing inputs when required.
• Maintain regular link with ACTED (as relevant) to facilitate the provision of logistic and administrative support to facilitate program implementation, as well as ensuring that IMPACT teams comply to ACTED’s security and other relevant FLAT regulations during program implementation.
• Context analysis: maintain an up-to-date understanding of the aid/humanitarian situation, the impact of a crisis and the aid/humanitarian planning, coordination and response mechanisms, as well as key aid/humanitarian stakeholders in Ethiopia.
• Support the CR in the development of a detailed mission strategy for IMPACT (specifically the continuity of the strategy to expand and maintain established workcyles). Ensure the implementation of this strategy and take a lead role in identifying strategic opportunities for strengthening IMPACT’s work in the his/her countries.
• Develop, with the senior management team, unit strategies and opportunities appropriate to IMPACT’s mission strategy and areas of opportunity and value added to the humanitarian context.
• In close coordination with the Country Representative, Programme Development & Fundraising Officer (PFO), and the Research Managers, the DCC will engage and approach donors to identify funding to support IMPACT’s programs (including, as relevant, REACH, PANDA and, with ACTED, AGORA).
• In close coordination with the PPSO and Research Managers, oversee project proposal conceptualization (problem statement, logframe, project budgets, etc.) within the framework of the country, regional and global strategy, review with ACTED and/or other relevant country partners.
• Ensure the application of the M&E framework for each program, in line with IMPACT’s M&E guidelines.
• Ensure learning and knowledge is shared across units and country programmes.
• Ensure timely production and dissemination of products and datasets with key stakeholders in the response, as well as current/future donors and partners.
• Grant Management: Monitor output achievement and ensure a timely completion of projects. Ensure that contractual obligations are met in terms of deliverables as well as narrative and financial reporting requirements.
• Finance Management: Support Research Managers to accurately share with the Senior Finance Officer budget expenditure tracking and forecasting to anticipate financial risks and avoid under/over spending on programmatic lines in close coordination with the Senior Finance Officer, the CR, PFO and (as relevant) with the IMPACT Finance Control Unit and ACTED PD and finance departments.
• Assets and IT Management: Ensure proper asset management in collaboration with the Senior Operations Officer and ACTED logistics and IT departments.
• Leadership: Provides leadership across the mission, as well as within the Senior Management Team.
• Staff Management: Directly line manage and support the capacity building and technical growth of the Research Managers and Field Manager, and if appropriate Assistant RM and Senior Field Officers. Ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their roles and responsibilities. Ensure that all staff have clear and regularly updated TORs, workplans and Key Performance Indicators against which their performance will be appraised. Promote team building, productivity and staff welfare. Mentor and support the team to build capacities, and improve efficiency and performance, and follow career management of international and national staff working in IMPACT programs.
• Unit Model: In close collaboration with the Country Representative and Research Managers ensure, organizational units are established within overall mission and regional set-up. Ensure all staff within a given a unit is provided clarity on their roles and responsibilities.
• Administration and HR management: Ensure timely recruitment of staff working in IMPACT programs (in coordination with ACTED where relevant) and contribute to international staff recruitment upon HQ identification; proactively adapt the staffing structure to needs and funding.