Vacancy title:
Country Program Director

Jobs at:
African Initiatives for Relief and Development (AIRD)

Deadline of this Job:
20th February, 2017

Duty Station:
Uganda

Job details:
Reports to: Director of Operations (DOO)

About US:
African Initiatives for Relief and Development (AIRD) is a non-governmental, non-political, non-religious and non-profit making organization with the main aim of protecting and seeking durable solutions for Refugees and IDPs in Africa in partnership with UNHCR the UN refugee agency.

Job Summary: The Country Program Director has the overall responsibility for the strategic leadership and direction of the Program to achieve the organizational vision, mission and objectives. The incumbent will represent AIRD with government, local and international NGOs. The jobholder will also take a leading role in developing, overseeing implementation, reviewing and monitoring of the operation strategy. The CPD is responsible for developing new programming initiatives, new partnerships and maintaining existing partnerships and actively lead key phases of ongoing programs including phase out. The CPD must work in line with AIRDs strategic plan.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:
• Represents AIRD in country
• Represent AIRD in meetings with relevant partners in consultation with the Country Management Team (CMT) and/or the Director of Operations
• Ensures that a strong and functional participatory management system is in place.
• Ensure the full and proper implementation of AIRDs 7 SOPs are being followed
• Works in liaison with CEO and DOO to implement strategic plan including but not limited to the diversification of partners and sectors
• Takes all necessary measures to motivate staffs and build strong team spirit at all levels
• Manages and supervises directly the works of the CMT including the Finance and Administration Manager along with Operations Manager and train all AIRD staff on the code of conduct
• Prepares project proposals and budgets with CMT for the entire operations and upon approval by the CEO, negotiate with the relevant financing partners
• Build and maintain strong relationships with all partners and potential donors in the area of operation
• Develop proposals to different donors and financiers to acquire additional projects within and out of the country of operations in consultation with and approval by the CEO
• Ensure all operations reports are submitted to the relevant donors/financiers in time and in line with the sub agreements signed
• Manage all project activities and be the main contact point for the donor and the field staff
• Ensure project activities comply with the policies and regulations of the donor organization
• Responsible for overseeing the development and execution of project deliverables, lead project planning, budgeting, action plans and monitoring processes
• Responsible for submitting activity reports, meeting minutes and financial reports on regular basis to the donor
• Oversee the preparation and submission of annual activity-based project budgets as well as monthly and quarterly financial reports and sending of new funding requests
• Lead and motivate the project team and monitor project activities and project expenditure and coordinate work with consultants and volunteers in the project
• Ensures close collaboration and coordination with cooperating partners to guarantee smooth implementation of activities and achievement of results as specified in grant agreements
• Employs resourcefulness in project design, implementation and monitoring. Trouble shoots project problems. Identifies and implements creative solutions
• Ensuring that standard procedures are maintained in accordance with the project regulations, the staff contracts and the labor laws of the country
• Supervising the work of the different sector heads via the Operations and Admin/Finance Managers
• Ensuring that the necessary national manpower, in line with the allocated budgets and in consultation with the CMT, is placed in time
• Ensure that all national staffs are issued timely with letters of appointments, contracts, job descriptions & ID cards
• Approving In consultation with the CMT and Sub-Office Managers, leave applications for expats
• Ensuring that staff performance evaluations are conducted annually before end of December each year
• Ensuring all staff salaries and benefits are cleared in time
• Ensuring that the Finance and Admin Director (FAD) and the DOO has timely and accurate information regarding the budget utilizations and balances of the project
• Ensuring that regular financial reports are submitted to UNHCR after an endorsement by the FAD and as per the UNHCR regulations
• Tasked with monitoring the operations cash flow and the budget utilization
• Ensuring Staff salaries and all other staff taxes are paid in accordance with the countries labor law (i.e. Uganda NSSF, PAYE), Group Accident insurance, medical insurance and security etc are paid timely and in accordance to the provisions of the budgets and the contracts
• Ensuring all financial payments are as stipulated in the project documents
• Approve financial documents before payment to a limit of 40,000 USD or equivalent per payment or seek the approval of the CEO if more
• Ensure that internal audits are carried out regularly are confirm that external audit requirements are fulfilled at all times
• Counter checking are verifying Bank reconciliations every month.
• Ensure that the trial balances for both local and foreign currencies are made every month
• Tasked with the preparation of Project work plans and follow up executions in the field in coordination with the CMT
• Coordinate and lead preparation of project documents and budgets and negotiations with funding organizations upon approval by the CEO
• Preparing and analyzing Project Proposals and consulting the DOO with recommendations
• Ensure that routine and extraordinary Reports are prepared and submitted intime to the AIRD Head Office and UNHCR and all other partners as required
• Participation in preparation of Country Operations Plans
• Work in close cooperation with CMT, ensuring expenditures are for the intended purposes inthe project documents only and are within the allocated budgets
• Write reports on the program for management and for funders
• Communicate with funders as outlined in funding agreements
• Ensure that the program operate within the approved budget
• Monitor and approve all budgeted program expenditures
• Monitor cash flow projections and report actual cash flow and variance to the FAD and DOO on a regular basis (monthly/bimonthly)
• Manage all project funds according to established accounting policies and procedures
• Ensure that all financial records for the program are up to date
• Ensure financial reports and supporting documentation for funders are prepared as outlined in funding agreements
• Identify and evaluate the risks associated with program activities and take appropriate action to control the risks
• Monitor the program activities on a regular basis and conduct an annual evaluation according to the program evaluation framework
• Report evaluation findings to the DOO and recommend changes to enhance the program, as appropriate
• Fluent in both English and French (written and spoken)

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
• The ideal candidate must hold a University degree in a related subject
• At least three to five years of experience in a related field
• Demonstrate ability to work with multiple partners and collaborate on projects together
• Knowledge of project management, client/groups related to the program’s needs
• Proficiency in the use of computers for: Word, excel, power point other reporting tools, Simple accounting (packages knowledge asset), Databases, Spreadsheets, E-mail, and Internet
• to use MS Office suite of applications and other IT systems
• Significant experience in promoting strategic planning
• Ability to write clearly articulate proposals, reports, and correspondence
• Excellent analytical, communication and problem solving skills is necessary along with capacity to identify and articulate potential problems and provide possible solutions in concise and clear manner
• Previous exposure and experience working with international development partners, international nongovernmental organization (INGOs) and donors (in particular UNHCR experience) is an asset
• Knowledge of program management
• Knowledge of donor groups and/or issues related to the program area

Personal Characteristics:
• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behaviour and practices, and ensure that own and the behaviour of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write clearly using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques
• Creativity/Innovation: Develop new and unique ways to improve operations of the organization and to create new opportunities
• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness
• Leadership Positively: Influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization
• Decision making: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization as authorized
• Organizing: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, deploy the right resources and monitor progress towards goals
• Plan: Determine strategies to move the organization forward, set goals, create and implement actions plans, and evaluate the process and results
• Ensuring value for money i.e. program/project monitoring
• Ability to work under hardship environment and with minimum supervision

Job application procedure
All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send an application letter stating qualifications and experience, and their suitability together with latest updated C.V. by email to hr@airdinternational.org  with the subject line “Application for CPD post”