The IRC began operations in Cameroon in 2016 to address the growing concerns of people affected by Boko Haram-related violence in the Far North region of the country. Assistance to displaced populations extends across the Far North, primarily in Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga, and Logone & Chari. Teams implement lifesaving programs to improve access to water and hygiene practices in vulnerable displaced and host communities, cash-based programs to enable families to meet basic needs and improve food security, and protection programs, including prevention and response to gender-based violence. Longer-term resilience programs are also developed to bridge the gap between humanitarian and longer-term development needs, including livelihoods and social cohesion. The IRC has its main base in Maroua.
Following the escalation of the crisis in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions of the North West and South West, the IRC began operations in 2018 by opening an office and presence in Buea (SW) and then in 2019 in Bamenda (NW). Today, the IRC’s work in these regions includes basic needs programming (water, food, livelihoods) as well as protection services for internally displaced populations and vulnerable host communities. The IRC works primarily through its local partners in the North West and South West, with a main base in Buea and secondary offices in Kumba and Mamfe.
Area of Work
Reporting to the Regional Vice President based in Nairobi, the Country Director will provide strategic vision and leadership for the Cameroon country program. He/she is responsible for designing and implementing quality programs, donor and government relations, fundraising and budget management, security and operations management, and developing a motivated and professional team. He/she will work closely with and benefit from the support of the regional and headquarters program technical units, the measurement unit, the safety and security unit, regional finance and operations staff.
The IRC Country Director is responsible for the overall direction and supervision of IRC staff, programs and operations in the country, including resource management, staff safety and security, program quality and accountability, and performance management; he/she is the principal representative of the IRC to representatives of the Cameroonian government, donors, international organizations, Cameroonian civil society and other NGOs (national and international). The Country Director leads the national program staff in developing and implementing the strategic action plan and in pursuing the results and objectives identified in the IRC’s overall strategy.Currently, the IRC Country Director in Cameroon directly manages 8 people within a national program of approximately 160 people. Specifically, he/she oversees the following roles and leads the Senior Management Team (SMT):
– 1 Field Coordinator based in Maroua
– 1 Field Coordinator based in Buea
– 1 Deputy Director for Finance (DDF) based in Yaoundé
– 1 Deputy Director for Programs (DDP) based in Yaoundé
– 1 Security and Access Coordinator based in Buea
– 1 Compliance Coordinator based in Yaoundé
– 1 Operations Coordinator based in Yaoundé
– 1 People & Culture (HR) Coordinator based in Yaoundé
Specific Responsibilities Strategic Planning and Management • In close collaboration with the Regional Vice President and the regional team, implement and adapt, as necessary, the strategic action plan for IRC Cameroon. • Ensure that structures and systems are in line with IRC standards, and that they support program delivery and promote coordination and management effectiveness across the country program
• Participate in and help lead IRC’s current program planning processes in the Far North and North West regions of Cameroon to ensure that IRC’s technical skills, contextual knowledge, and partnerships with national partners, community groups, governments, donors, and civil society are leveraged to deliver new and innovative programs in a changing environment
Program Quality and Development
• Working closely with the DDP and the Regional Program Support Unit, develop program strategies in line with the IRC mission and results and evidence framework.
• Ensure consistent use of well-managed assessment, design, and proposal development processes.
• Promote a team approach and a positive learning environment by leveraging staff from headquarters, country programs and operations as well as partners to continually improve the quality of design and implementation.
Key Partner, Donor Relations and Local Partnership Building
• Working closely with the Awards Management Unit, position the IRC as a partner of choice for major international donors.
• Develop and maintain a high level of understanding of donor priorities, national plans and planned funding initiatives.
• Maintain and broaden engagement with major donors, the host government, local partners and relevant policy and coordination bodies.
• Represent the IRC to Cameroonian authorities and work to reduce bureaucratic and operational barriers to our humanitarian work.
• Lead the IRC’s efforts to develop a network of local partners from civil society, government and the private sector, empowering these entities to make key decisions and deliver quality services to clients; establish mechanisms for strategic visits or exchanges with partners, while positioning the IRC as a partner of choice.
• Ensure accountability of the SMT (Senior Management Team) to deliver on the partnership ambition, setting the tone by promoting a transformative, localization-focused partnership culture, engaging the program and country staff.
• Ensure that IRC’s structuring, recruitment, staff development and performance management processes for key partnership roles are guided by PEERS based on the partner portfolio, as well as IRC’s partnership principles, competencies and approaches.
• Ensure that an appropriate partnership organizational structure is in place, with formalization of R&R in the form of RASCI and integration of priority tasks into the JD of senior management team members and key staff, including the establishment of a partnership working group.
Fundraising and Budget Management
• Work closely with the DDF and the extended management team, as well as regional and headquarters finance teams, to ensure the submission of appropriate and timely quality proposals and conduct necessary negotiations with donors.
• Oversee and identify appropriate sources for matching fund requirements and coverage of funding gaps.
• In close collaboration with the DDF, ensure effective and timely monitoring of the financial status of the country program, including identifying and implementing necessary changes to counterpart funding levels.
• In close collaboration with the DDP and DDF, maintain effective and coordinated budget monitoring processes for both grant and discretionary funds.
Security and Operations Management
• In close collaboration with the Security and Access Coordinator, ensure that the security management plan for the country program is regularly updated and ensure consistent monitoring and analysis of the security environment and adherence by all staff to IRC security protocols and procedures.
• In collaboration with the Access Team and Field Coordinators, continuously assess access constraints and strive to improve the quality of access to IRC clients in the field.
• In collaboration with the country management team, ensure the development, implementation and monitoring of financial and operational policy and procedures to ensure alignment with IRC and donor policies across the program.
People Management and Culture, Employee Development and Retention
• In close collaboration with P&C teams, create a positive work environment for all staff through an appropriate operational structure.
• Provide leading support for the successful implementation and compliance of the organization’s HR policies and operational procedures, both at global and country levels.
• Model the “IRC Way” – the global standards of professional conduct, through the demonstrable implementation of the values: Integrity, Accountability, Service and Equality.
• Champion the IRC’s approach to gender equality, diversity, equality and inclusion and safeguarding, ensuring that all staff and clients are protected and respected.
• Support any strategy to ensure staff wellbeing, in line with IRC’s internal duty of care policies.
Qualifications
• University degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience
• A strategic and people-oriented leader, able to adapt to changing contexts and prioritise tasks, resources and time.
• At least ten (10) years of international professional experience at senior management levels, covering both humanitarian and development programmes.
• Extensive experience in programme development and fundraising, prior experience with European, US and international donors.
• Proven success in project management
• Extensive experience in budget and fiscal control
• Ability to work and live in a complex environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office package, in particular Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• In-depth knowledge of the political complexities of Central and West Africa, as they relate to post-conflict recovery. Knowledge of Cameroon is an asset.
Proven management and leadership skills:
Proven experience in leadership and people management in multi-disciplinary and multi-faceted teams in cross-cultural contexts, including active mentoring and coaching and actively promoting inclusion at all levels. This position requires strong leadership and interpersonal skills, the ability to deploy strong communication optimally, both internally and externally; enjoy developing networks to build partnerships and diversify program resources.
Required/Preferred Languages:
Fluency in French and English, both oral and written, is required, as Cameroon is a bilingual country. Please note that members of the management team speak both French and English and all communications to staff must be in both languages.
Apply online via the link https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/job/req53443/Country-Director
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