United Purpose (UP) is an international development organisation with an
innovative community led approach to eradicating global poverty and
inequality. We lift people up out of poverty by creating solutions that
last. Our unique approach combines ground-breaking innovation with
decades of deep personal relationships and community-driven solutions to
solve the problems faced by those furthest left behind and most
marginalised.
In Nigeria, we are improving the quality of health by increasing access
to basic services including access to safe water, increased sanitation,
and improved hygiene practices. We focus on Better Health because
without health there can be no development. Good primary healthcare
starts with the basics of access to clean water and sanitation
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Country Director
Location: Based in Calabar - Cross River with travel to Abuja and Lagos or based in Abuja with frequent travel to Calabar and Lagos
Responsible To: Chief Operations Officer
Contract Type: Permanent
Responsible for: Programmes Staff; Finance and Administration staff;
Support and Office staff (approximately 20 staff and others as
recruited) all based in Nigeria
Job Description
- United Purpose seeks a Country Director to manage and further develop an existing substantial programme
- The post offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced and
dynamic individual to make a significant contribution to the
organisation’s work
- We seek exceptional interpersonal and strong strategic planning skills, and experience in advocacy for policy change
- Working within a motivated team of staff and alongside local
partners, government and private sector, the candidate will have several
years representational and project management experience, ideally with a
WASH focus and familiarity with participatory/community-led development
approaches. A positive disposition, can-do attitude, strategic,
analytical and leadership skills are essential.
Job Purpose
- The Country Director will provide strategic leadership and management in developing the United Purpose programme in Nigeria
- They will have responsibility for ensuring that all aspects of
the programme are managed effectively, to ensure that United Purpose
continues to play a valuable and influential role in the fight against
poverty & the strengthening of civil society.
- The following duties & responsibilities will in part be
delegated or managed by other staff – however, overall responsibility
for ensuring performance at all levels will rest with the Country
Director.
Duties and Responsibilities
Programme Direction, Management and Development:
- To develop the programme based on the existing country strategy
and Organisational Strategy and to carry out structured strategic
reviews to respond to changing circumstances.
- To proactively seek new opportunities for funding of projects
through in-country and external relationship building with donors and
the submission of programme initiatives.
- To support the continued development of Organisational Learning and Knowledge Management.
- To ensure continued funding for the programme through well-researched proposal preparation and clear operational plans.
- To ensure that adequate assessments are carried out in accordance with good working practice.
- To ensure systems are in place for monitoring and evaluating impact of programme activities.
- To prepare reports for donors, both financial and narrative, in accordance with donor requirements.
- To write reports as required for organisational information & risk management processes.
- To build and maintain positive and professional relationships
with existing and possible new partners; meaning actively communicating
and working with government, private and civil society partners and
communities on programme development, proposal articulation and report
writing.
- To identify areas for capacity building with sub-grantees, such
as results-based management, project cycle management, strategy
development, organisational development, human resource management,
financial management, governance, etc.
- To ensure MOUs and funding-specific sub-contracts are in place with all partners for all projects.
- To ensure systems, procedures, compliance and risk management are maintained to the highest standard.
Representation:
- To ensure that relationships are developed with government,
corporate partners NGOs, and civil society to enable the appropriate
development of the programme.
- To represent United Purpose to government, Embassies/
Delegations, the UN and other international agencies, donors and
partners and other bodies including the media and the public.
- To be cognisant of advocacy opportunities and, following
internal discussion and agreement, to develop these as appropriate
through the media, government, the UN, international agencies, donors
and diplomatic missions in close consultation with the Chief Operations
Officer.
- To contribute to the promotion of effective co-ordination
between United Purpose, Government, UN, NGO and where appropriate, other
bodies.
Staff Management and Development:
- To provide solid leadership and direct line management support to core staff.
- To encourage staff involvement and commitment to the running of
the programme through regular meetings and visits and a participatory
team approach to decision making.
- To assist in the further development and implementation of the
operational structure and staffing requirement for the effective
implementation of United Purpose’s activities.
- To recruit and induct staff according to in-country and
international guidelines and United Purpose policy, including equal
opportunities.
- To ensure the Employee Handbook and other relevant policies,
code of conduct and ethics for national staff is reviewed on a regular
basis, along with all related organisational policies and procedures.
- To ensure that all staff have well defined and understood contracts and job descriptions.
- To ensure that all staff participate in annual appraisals.
- To identify the training needs of staff and ensure processes are
in place to support and encourage appropriate personal and professional
development of staff within the context of the organisational
objectives.
- To conduct exit interviews for line-managed staff before they leave United Purpose.
Resources and Financial Management:
- To outline the resource requirements for the programme and
ensure that systems are in place for the effective management of
resources in relation to finance, transport, supplies and capital
assets, including maintenance of assets register and vehicle logbooks.
- To ensure that effective and secure budgetary control of the
programme’s finances and expenditures are established and maintained, in
line with United Purpose’s financial procedures & guidelines.
- To monitor project finances on a monthly basis and liaise with
donors if necessary regarding projected under or over-expenditure.
- To provide financial reports on a monthly basis to the UK office.
- To monitor the funds transferred to partner organisations and to ensure partners have adequate financial systems and controls.
- To prepare an annual budget for core costs and identify where funding will come from to cover these expenses.
- Ensure all staff understand the cyber security guidelines and the disaster recovery plan.
Security and Health & Safety:
- To maintain an overview of the political and security context, noting how developments may affect programme work.
- To ensure that robust and effective security and evacuation
plans and procedures are in place and regularly reviewed and updated in
order to secure the safety of all staff at all times.
- To ensure that the health and safety policy is regularly
reviewed and all staff are aware of this policy and follow its
guidelines.
- To ensure all staff, volunteers and visitors are aware of and follow United Purpose’s security procedures.
Other:
- To comply with United Purpose’s policies and practice with
respect to protection of children and vulnerable adults and other
relevant policies and procedures.
- To make recommendations with regards to enhancing collaboration
between the work of United Purpose in Nigeria and Cameroon, as well as
other Country Programmes where appropriate.
Person Specification
Qualification:
- Relevant Master's level qualification or similar academic achievement.
Key Skills and Competencies:
- Commitment to the values and mission of United Purpose
- Commitment to the capacity building of local institutions based on mutual respect and a partnership approach
- Positive outlook and stand-alone disposition
- Determined hard worker, capable of rapid and quality turn around on a high workload and multiple tasks.
- Proactive approach to problem solving in difficult and isolated locations.
- Outgoing personality with solid interpersonal and diplomatic skills.
- Self-starter, capable of innovatively developing the programme.
- Adaptable and responsive disposition relative to the demands and development of the programme.
- Attention to detail and a flexible approach to work.
- Excellent communication and team-working skills, with the ability to build good relations, both internally and externally.
- Numeric skills, including proven understanding of financial management.
- Excellent planning, co-ordination and prioritisation skills.
- Experience of grant design, management and reporting to major donors.
Preferred Experience:
- Interpersonal and relationship building.
- Working with the corporate sector.
- Evidence-based advocacy for policy change and campaigning.
- Minimum of five years overseas experience, mainly in senior management roles, with some in a project management capacity.
- Specific WASH experience.
- Security management experience.
- Finance experience and relevant qualifications desirable.
Languages:
- Fluency in spoken and written English.
- Some French would be desirable, but not essential.
Salary
- Competitive with comprehensive benefits package.
Application Closing Date
8th April, 2018.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Applications,
which should include a CV, our "Equal Opportunities form" (voluntary)
and a short Covering Letter to:
applications@united-purpose.org
