Director, Country Programs

Position description

The primary function of the Country Programs Director is to support the Country Director in providing technical oversight to all projects and operational support to the country field sites to the development of programming. As part of the senior leadership team, the Country Programs Director also plays an active role in providing strategic leadership in the development, technical guidance, execution, and evaluation of programs in country. The Country Programs Director will execute the implementation of country programs by ensuring alignment and technical proficient of projects to donor specifications, and coordination with operational support units. S/he is expected to provide development programming that is evidence based, aligned with national protocols, and supports the international community’s strategies to ensure that IMC’s role and mandate in the country are appropriate to the programming context. The Country Program Director will conduct frequent visits to the various program sites to support the field sites.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation:

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Management
• Manage the programs in ensuring their objectives and achieving impact are met;
• Proactively oversees all projects in country through all components of the project management cycle, identifies needed areas for quality improvement and facilitates communication between technical, Operations and finances leads in country and with global International Medical Corps departments (e.g. technical units, finance, logistics and operations),
• Lead the development of concept notes, project proposals, budgets, and donor reports to expand the program portfolio of the mission
• Lead internal and external project planning and reporting, including annual work planning with IMC country office and field teams including sub award partners
• Provide policy guidance, training and ongoing guidance to the Program Coordinators, Field Site Coordinators and their respective teams.
• Ensure all activities are conducted in a timely, cost and quality effective manner
• Ensure that meetings between all Field Site Coordinators and their respective teams are held on a regular basis
• Ensure both the field offices and field sub-offices are running efficiently, with frequent visits to them
• Review and assist in the maintenance of field site Operating Budgets
• Provide program support and oversight to all project staff and site managers
• Ensure donor compliance in implementation of projects and with donor contract requirements/ reporting deadlines
• Oversee the collection and timely reporting of project data and statistics for all programs (including objective, indicators and outcomes of health programs) according to internal and donor requirements
• Support the selection, recruitment, and training of program staff
• Technically Supervise, orient, monitor, and evaluate program staff of the mission in close collaboration with EPC/Head of base;

Training/ Capacity Building
• Determine training needs for Program staff and facilitate the participation of these staff in necessary trainings in order to build capacity and increase job responsibilities
• Advocate and plan for professional development for Program staff
• Guide and support curriculum development and training program for staff and local NGO partners, if any

Working Relationship
• Maintain regular communication with Country Director, other Senior Leadership Team members and Field senior staffs to ensure program activities and objectives are achieved
• Work with Country Director, Logistics, and Finance to ensure the coordination of timely delivery of program supplies and expenses are within budget
• Maintain working relationship with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), agency health advisors, and relevant clusters and interface with them on a regular basis.
• Ensure there is active coordination between departments at the field level of operations

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
• Ensure new program proposals adhere to donor requirements and expectations regarding MEAL, demonstrating the country mission’s commitment to quality, accountability, and continual improvement.
• Ensure the allocation of necessary budget and human resources for implementation of MEAL activities across all grants.
• Ensure the implementation of MEAL activities in line with donors’ requirements and IMC’s minimum standards.
• Ensure formal design, implementation, training, and monitoring of community-based feedback and response mechanisms (CBFRM) to capture, monitor, respond to and act on feedback and complaints from communities.
• Ensures findings, lessons, feedback and evidences from the previous project cycles inform future program strategy, planning and design.
• Ensures partner level activities/training pertaining to MEAL are resourced.
• Ensure MEAL staff and findings are incorporated into program review and planning meetings.
• Regularly check on the complaints handling to ensure local guidelines are followed with respect to documentation, referrals, reporting pathways, and feedback loop.
• Ensure effective use and implementation of MEAL minimum standards across program management.
• Provide technical support to MEAL department while developing MEAL strategy for the country mission.
• Ensure Managers at all levels are aware of their roles and responsibilities related to CBFRM staff training and handling feedback/complaints referred by MEAL.

Security
• Collaborate with Security Manager and CD in order to ensure staff and reputation of the organization are safe and secure at all time
• Ensures application and compliance of security protocols and policies

Representation
• Attend coordination meetings relevant to country programs
• Attend sector working group meetings including (but not limited to) health, nutrition, Protection, Food security and Wash
• Represent the organization at any task force meetings, UN coordination meetings, INGO coordination meetings, as appropriate
• Ensure maximum visibility of the organization amongst the INGO/UN community

Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily all inclusive.

Qualifications

• Typically, a Master’s Degree in related field is preferred. Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate;
• Typically, 12+ years of relevant and progressive experience in development field, NGO project and personnel management experience, inclusive of minimum 8 years of international work experience in an operations management role;
• Knowledge of IMC procedures and policies and donors’ regulations (ECHO), UNHCR, BPRM, OFDA, etc.) preferred;
• Familiarity with project management cycle.
• Familiarity with international humanitarian operations, coordination structures and the mandates of donors, UN agencies and NGO’s;
• Excellent write and oral communications skills;
• Solid organizational skills, ability to be flexible and with well under pressure in a fast paces multi task team environment;
• Profound cross-cultural awareness;
• Fluent in written and spoken English is essential;
• Previous experience working in emergency and conflict situations.

Additional Technical or Language Requirements

• Strong strategic knowledge, ensuring that the programs align with the organization’s goals and donors requirement.
• Responsible for budgeting, staffing, evaluating program performance, and report to higher management and donors.
• At least 5 years of experience in programs management, this experience includes projects management, leadership roles, and a proven track record of successfully managing complex projects or programs.
• Key skills include leadership, strategic planning, budgeting, stakeholder management, communication, and problem-solving, the candidate must also be adept at handling multiple projects simultaneously and working under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Familial with KRG and Federal Iraq areas.

Code of Conduct 

As applicable to this position, an individual must promote and encourage a culture of compliance and ethics throughout the organization and maintain a clear understanding of International Medical Corps’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards. Staff are also responsible for preventing violations to our Code of Conduct and Ethics, which may involve Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption or Harassment. If you see, hear or are made aware of any violations to the Code of Conduct and Ethics or Safeguarding Policy, you have an obligation to report. If this is a supervisory position, one must set an example of ethical behavior through one’s own conduct and oversight of the work of others; ensure that those who report to you have sufficient knowledge and resources to follow the standards outlined in the Code of Conduct & Ethics; monitor compliance of the people you supervise; enforce the Code of Conduct & Ethics and International Medical Corps’ policies, including the Safeguarding Policy and the Protection from Harassment, Bullying and Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace Policy, consistently and fairly; support employees who in good faith raise questions or concerns.

Safeguarding 

It is all staff shared responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect populations with whom we work, including adults who may be particularly vulnerable and children. This includes safeguarding from the following conduct by our staff or partners: sexual exploitation and abuse; exploitation, neglect, or abuse of children, adults at risk, or LGBTI individuals; and any form of trafficking in persons.

Equal Opportunities 

International Medical Corps is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.

Misconduct Disclosure Scheme 

All offers of employment at International Medical Corps are subject to satisfactory references and background checks. International Medical Corps participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme from the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR). In accordance with this, we will request information from an applicant’s previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Application instructions

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