Country Director

Helen Keller International

Recrute

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 disadvant-aged. 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. HKI is recruiting a 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 supplemen-tation - VAS) and control of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Funding is anticipated from a private source for a new project to start in September in the Kankan region that will work to combat malnutrition through prevention activities at the community and health center levels as well as capacity-building for treatment of acute malnutrition. Current donors are USAID and the government of Canada (DFATD). There are currently 19 staff based in the HKI Guinea office in Conakry. Once funding is secured for the new nutrition project, a sub-office will be opened in Kankan and additional staff recruited for the implementation of that project.

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, prevalence studies and monitoring.

Scope of the Position

The CD has overall responsibility for supervising the implementation of HKI-Guinea programs 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 Guinea; developing and implementing strategic and annual plans to further HKI s mission in Guinea; program design, proposal development, implementation and reporting; financial and grants management; operations, security, and human resource management. This position is based in Conakry, Guinea, with travel to field sites. The CD reports to the Regional Director for West Africa (based in Dakar) and works closely with other staff members at HKI s Africa regional office and headquarters. The CD leads and directly supervises the country management team, including the finance manager and the manager for administration and human resources.

Specific Responsibilities

Overall Management and Leadership

• Implement and periodically update HKI-Guinea strategic plan
• Generate funding from international and bilateral agencies, donor agencies, corporations, and individuals in collaboration with national, regional and headquarters staff in alignment with the country office s strategic plan.
• Manage financial resources and provide oversight for grants.
• Manage key project personnel including supporting their ongoing professional development.
• Provide vision and direction for overall program design and proposal development; program implementation and reporting; grant management; financial planning; and human resource planning and management.
• Represent HKI in formal and informal meetings with government officials, international donor agencies, and national technical advisory groups pertinent to HKI project activities.

Programmatic

• Provide technical input to the government, international donor agencies and technical advisory groups pertinent to project activities.
• Oversee research design, dissemination of information gathered and advocacy to advance programmatic and policy changes.
• Oversee and coordinate the program portfolio to ensure the highest level of project quality and accountability, while fostering continuity through building local capacity.
• Ensure implementation of strong program monitoring, evaluation and learning functions.
• Disseminate findings from HKI projects that are of importance to decision-makers in a position to fund or implement projects in Guinea and internationally.
• Keep national partners and others informed about progress of the projects, plans for the development of new programs/projects/activities and donor involvement in the overall program.

Financial and Administrative

• Work with regional office and headquarters to manage the development and implementation of annual country budgets.
• Prepare financial reports that comply with grant or contract agreements.
• Ensure timely submission of financial reports within the guidelines established by the HKI Finance and Accounting department and the Grants and Contracts Management unit.
• Authorize expenditures for grant or contract allocations and ensure compliance with procedures required by grant or contract agreements.
• Hire and manage personnel for Guinea projects in compliance with HKI policies and Guinea labor laws and lead initiatives to develop staff capacity.

Qualifications

• Minimum seven years of field experience in international public health or nutrition programs including demonstrated experience in program development, implementation and evaluation, plusa minimum master s degree in public health, nutrition, agriculture, development, management or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in, or willingness to learn, about nutrition and NTD control necessary.
• Experience working in challenging environments and in managing ambiguity.
• Demonstrated ability to undertake high-level representation and advocacy.
• Demonstrated capacity to mobilize program funding including donor cultivation and grants writing.
• Demonstrated ability to manage staff and other administrative and financial activities in developing country programs five years experience in a management position.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including an ability to lead a team, communicate a vision, make timely and transparent decisions, and manage conflict.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and create budgets and monitor financial status.
• Experience in managing USAID projects and familiarity with USAID policies and regulations.
• Computer literacy, including use of Internet, word processing and spreadsheets. Experience data management and analysis.
• Fluent English and French: Excellent oral and written English language skills, good oral and written French language skills, including the ability to quickly synthesize complex technical and programmatic issues into concise communications.
• An ability to maintain balance when under stress.

The initial contract is for two years with possibility of renewal.

How to apply:

To Apply:

Country: Guinea
Closing date: 29 Aug 2014

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.