Company Description
SNV is a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where we operate. We are driven by a vision of a better world: A world where across every society all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably. To make this vision a reality, we need transformations in vital agri-food, energy, and water systems. SNV contributes by strengthening capacities and catalysing partnerships in and across these sectors. We help strengthen institutions and governance, reduce gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion, and enable adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises.
Building on 60 years of experience we support our partners with technical and process expertise and methodological rigour. We do this in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia with a team of approximately 1,600 colleagues. By being adaptable and tailoring our approaches to these different contexts, we can contribute to impact at scale, resulting in more equitable lives for all.
SNV finds itself at a crossroad of its 2030 strategy, needing to further deepen the country-led model with partners and stakeholders, efficiently stewarding resources within a ‘one global organisation structure’ as well as developing next level capability to deliver our ambition.
Job Description
We are currently looking for a:
Deputy Director Country Programmes West Africa and Asia
Fulltime- duty station in Nairobi or a country where SNV is registered
Reporting to Director of Country Programmes
In this new position you are part of the global country programme structure led by (a newly appointed) Director Country Programmes. In the Country Programmes team you are, together with the second Deputy Director Country Programmes, responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of country programmes and strategies, within an overall coherent framework. The DCP team is further strengthened with a Global Security Advisor and Operations & Programmes Officer.
SNV’s country offices are led by in-country Country Directors and represent our core locally led footprint; embedded in and comprised of mostly national and/or regional citizens. You will be responsible for SNV’s contextual strategy, and together with the Country Directors, you will unlock operational opportunities and driving synergies and partnerships across the country programmes in West Africa and Asia.
Your role
You will lead group +/-12 Country Directors that deliver SNV’s programmes and operations in West Africa and Asia. You are responsible for our geographical strategy, unlocking opportunities and driving synergies and partnerships. You enable operational synergies and mitigate risks across countries, thereby reinforcing SNV’s local presence within a ‘ONE SNV’ footprint. You ensure optimal flows of information and expertise between and from country to global teams and vice versa.
In your role you ensure a safe and secure working environment, especially in fragile, conflict and violence affected countries, enabling our teams to thrive. You are supporting and driving talent management and career development across countries. In addition, you support place-led development of pipeline opportunities in cooperation with the Global Business Development team and you strengthen partner relations at multiple levels, representing SNV in key regional networks and sharing insights across countries thus strengthening SNV’s geographical footprint.
In this role you will also be responsible for the following:
- Guide, inspire, develop and motivate country teams, particularly the Country Management Teams, actively promoting talent growth career development of senior leaders in country. You serve as a champion for the organisation and overall culture, both internally and externally and you ensure countries are compliant to the SNV Code of Conduct/integrity.
- Define operational expectations, monitoring progress in achieving those expectations, providing a work environment supportive of organisational accomplishments and individual growth, and drive performance measures for the operation.
- Ensures efficient and effective country management, including proper management of resources, fit-for-purpose team composition, in-country safety and security,
- Country registration (“license to operate”) and organisational set-up with and through approval of country annual plans and budgets and consistent implementation of the Country Logistics Policy and Security and Safety Policy.
- With Country Directors, ensures country operations and associated systems are utilised and perform efficiently with the ability to have high level oversight of optimum operational performance and structures for procurement, finance, logistics.
- Responsible for implementing country start-up and close-out.
- In cooperation with global Technical Expertise team stimulate knowledge development and assures lessons learned are shared, used and applied in and across country programmes. As well as stimulating and facilitating innovation within the country and across countries, in line with knowledge networking strategies.
- Represent SNV in geographical networks and amongst key stakeholders in the regions and countries where SNV operates (including, but not limited to the following: knowledge organisations, private companies, impact investors, development banks, venture philanthropists, foundations and bilateral and multilateral donors).
Qualifications
Your background
You are a seasoned, committed and inspirational leader, able to navigate between global and country teams, strategic and operational issues, with excellent leadership skills, and a strong ability to influence various stakeholders. The ideal candidate brings 10+ years of working in development cooperation in Africa and/or Asia with experience in having managed country teams. You have in-depth understanding of country contexts and the opportunities, challenges and realities of country operations and implementing development activities; you have a proven track record of bringing context-sensitive strategies forward based on impact evidence. You bring strong strategic leadership skills and experience in managing larger, diverse teams, showing evidence of an adaptive leadership style, navigating organic change and team development in complex environments. You excel in forging positive, trusting dynamics across peers and amongst those teams being managed, building alignment around approaches and methodologies, whilst enabling new ideas and innovations to emerge.
You have the ability to multi-task, to feel comfortable with ambiguity and to handling complex issues. With your critical thinking ability you analyse and solve problems at hand with innovative, creative solutions, serving different audiences. You have strong financial acumen, you understand proposal writing and your data, insights and scenario planning leads solid decision making on continuous improvement of SNV’s impact targets as well as organisational effectiveness.
You enjoy establishing relationships with key stakeholders and a strong ability to influence and foster collaboration and you have a track record of cooperation with governments and the private sector as well as institutional donor relations. You have experience in senior leadership platforms and you flourish in social and networking opportunities, not shying away from public speaking.
Excellence in both written and spoken French and English is essential.
Additional Information
Our offer
This role will be a full time (40 hours per week) position with an expected travel of approximately 40%. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package in a stimulating work environment, considerable flexibility, opportunities to lead and innovate, and a commitment to growing your skills in a fulfilling international working environment. For more information, please visit our website: www.snv.org.
Working at SNV
SNV offers a stimulating role, with the ability to shape the organisation’s future.
We are home to 57 nationalities working in +/-22 countries. Our global working language is English, albeit our country offices using a mixture of languages on a day-to-day basis. We promote (international) career development, with a reinforced commitment to diversity and inclusion in the fullest senses. Our team is comprised of a mix of both people with longstanding tenure, willing to share their institutional knowledge, and people with other backgrounds and experience. All with an inquisitive view and united in ‘ONE SNV’ working towards our purpose. SNV is an equal opportunities employer.
Additional information
Contract Type: Full time (40 hours per week)
Contract Duration: 3 years initial assignment, with the possibility to extend
Expected Start Date: May 2025
Duty Station: Nairobi or one of the countries where SNV is registered, with good travel possibilities and is a strategic hub
How to apply
If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by uploading your CV and letter of motivation by 19 March 2025.
Reference and vetting check
We will require that you provide us with the full details of three people willing to act as a reference. We will not contact these references without your explicit permission.
SNV carries out rigorous background and reference checks concerning possible safeguarding incidents for all candidates applying for International determined positions. As SNV participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, all reference checks include a request to past employers to fill in a questionnaire regarding Misconduct (sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment), the “Statement of Conduct”. This Statement of Conduct adopts the definitions used in the Scheme.
*We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement.
How to apply
Please apply online at: https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/SNV/744000046197855-deputy-director-country-programmes-west-africa-and-asia-