Country director Nigeria job description - Vso

Job Description: VSO Country Director, Nigeria Responsible to: Regional Director West & Central Africa
No. of direct reports: Programme Managers, Administration Managers Country, Group & Function: Country Office, Africa/Asia Pacific Group
Role purpose:
To lead the strategic development and implementation of VSO’s programmes in country, effectively managing Country Office staff, volunteers, funding, finances, brand and risk, in order to
maximize VSO’s impact on ending poverty.
Responsibilities Key Performance Indicators Competencies Skills, Experience, Knowledge
Strategic Planning Lead the design and management of the
Programme Plan, engaging all stakeholders. Assess and
respond to a changing external environment.
Strategic Leadership
Ensure employees and volunteers are continuously
engaged and aligned with VSO’s global vision, mission,
values, strategic directions and business plan. Foster
effective ongoing communication between employees and
volunteers in country and the rest of the Global VSO
network. Work collegiately with peers across VSO to share
knowledge, skills, resources and networks.
External Analysis and Influencing
Act as guardian of the VSO brand in country. Contribute to
raising the profile of VSO in country, networking with key
people/bodies.
Country Office has up-to-date and relevant strategies in place and
are able to articulate these to external audiences. Office has
operational plans in place which are relevant and appropriate for
the delivery of the programme. Country plans demonstrate
organisational, regional and global interdependencies.
Country Office is well-networked and engaging in sector networks,
International Non-Government Organisations in country and
national Governments where possible; is monitoring national and
international media on country and sector developments and is
responsive to changes in social, economic and political context.
Working together - Strength
Successfully leads teams and develops
others’ team-working skills
Communication & Influencing - Expert
Builds mutually beneficial alliances and
networks at senior levels within and outside
VSO and is a well known thought leader
Managing Knowledge - Strength
Leads initiatives that improve knowledge
management; develops others’ knowledge
management skills
Striving for excellence -Strength
Essential:
Significant experience in an equivalent
position in a development or humanitarian
organisation.
Proven leadership skills and experience of
line managing large and complex teams;
Experience of managing change and
leading people through it.
Practical experience of applying
development issues at a project or
community level coupled with impact
assessment and evaluation of poverty
reduction and social change.
Internal and External Reporting Review Internal and Internal and External reports are timely, high quality and accurate. Leads initiatives to improve monitoring,
External reports produced by Country Finance team to
evaluation and learning; is a role model for Substantial experience of the financial
ensure accurate monitoring, management and use to
inform decision making.
Governance and Compliance
Ensure legal compliance in all areas (Non Government
Organisation) tax, employment law, health and safety,
insurance and internal requirements to limit legal liability
of VSO.
continuous learning and improvement.
Managing Resources - Strength
Leads others to pursue significant or
innovative funding opportunities; finds
creative ways to allocate funds and people
on complex or inter-related projects.
management of significant budgets,
including preparing financial projections,
general financial management and
reporting.
Risk Management
Be fully accountable at country level for emergency and
risk management, developing a plan and ensuring
employee and volunteer awareness and compliance.
Partnership Development and Management
Programme Development and Delivery
Coach team members to develop coherent, strategic
programme plans. Effectively implement planning and
review systems to ensure delivery against plans, and
appropriate reporting and monitoring.
Resource Mobilisation
Donor Identification and Engagement
1088559-1 Review date 04/2012
Legal liability of VSO is limited and legal issues arising are addressed
promptly and appropriately. Country Office is legally registered in
country and compliant with UK and local laws and reporting
requirements.
Memorandum of Understanding is in place between VSO and
country Government. Legal status reflects agreed country scope.
Office is fully compliant with laws applying to its operations and key
VSO policies.
Security risk management plans and evacuation plans relevant to
the country’s main security risks are in place and tested regularly.
Risk assessment is conducted for new areas. Compliance to Duty of
Care and Code of Conduct.
Partnership portfolio is reviewed regularly and is appropriate.
Review / feedback mechanism, in place to determine quality of
partnership. Continuous improvement in partnerships. Partners are
actively involved in programme development and review.
Relevant and ambitious strategic programme area plans are evolved
and successfully delivered responding to unfulfilled rights of poor
and disadvantaged communities and raising VSO’s credibility as a
development agency, in the context of VSO’s corporate strategic
intent. Country Office has a Monitoring and Evaluation framework in
place and provides relevant information to VSO International to
feed into global aggregation, Body of Evidence processes and
support reporting to global donors.
Resources are used effectively and efficiently to deliver the
objectives of all Programme Areas Plans and overarching objectives
Country Office is networking with appropriate donors and mapping
opportunities within and outside the country to support funding
needs. Office is representing and promoting VSO professionally and
in line with brand and policy guidelines. Office is communicating
with VSO funding teams and supporting global fundraising efforts.
PGMS system is up-to-date with projects in need of funding, current
contracts and proposals. Donors are identified in line with VSO’s
Managing People -Strength
Builds a high performing team that meets
challenging objectives linked to corporate
objectives; ensures own team works
efficiently with other teams.
Developing People - Strength
Is a role model for coaching, mentoring and
developing others, and for effective use of
VSO’s staff development processes and
opportunities
Leading for the Future – Expert
Represents VSO at major forums; works
with leaders in the private, public and notfor-profit
sectors to progress the
International Development agenda.
Thinking Strategically – Expert
Drives forward VSO’s corporate strategy;
helps to set the future direction in response
to anticipated changes in the external
environment.
Delivering Results - Strength
Effectively leads large teams or complex
projects, generating a goal-oriented,
Proven expertise of leading in fundraising,
seeking and securing new donors,
successful proposal writing, management
of large and complex grants, a rate of
average 90% independence from
organisational/core funds)
Evidence of understanding the challenges
of donor and contract management and
the implications for programme
management
Experience of working effectively as a
team with regional colleagues based
outside the country
Information Technology skills (Microsoft
and finance packages)
Experience in security risk management.
Desirable:
International experience gained within a
volunteering/Non Government
Organisation context.

Securing Funding/Resources
Grant Management and Closure
Logistics and Facilities
Information Technology
Procurement
Volunteer Management
Ensure volunteer duty of care and support; maintain a
culture of partnership between volunteers and the Country
Office, including appropriate feedback mechanisms and
adherence to VSO standards.
Performance Management
Effectively lead the Country Office team within the
performance management framework and coach line
managers. Ensure ways of working and behaviours are in
line with VSO value, policies and legal compliance.
Programme Funding
Maintain a funding plan that maximises and increases
VSO’s external funding base and ensures compliance with
funding and donor requirements.
Budgeting and Forecasting
Be accountable for budget, resources and assets, ensuring
financial controls and cost effectiveness are paramount
and finances are managed within global financial
management policies.
1088559-1 Review date 04/2012
ethical policy. Office is engaging with relevant Donor Managers to
ensure global learning and coordination in donor approaches. Office
does not submit to global donors if submission may have
detrimental impact on VSO global relationship with them.
Country Office submits high quality proposals that represent VSO
well and have been coordinated with internal teams to ensure all
risks are adequately considered, including feasible volunteer
delivery. Office ensures secure match funding plan is in place for all
proposals submitted. Proposals are coordinated to ensure global
consistency and coordination. Learning from Donor Managers is
incorporated into all proposals. Contracts are checked and
organisational impacts identified and checked with relevant teams
prior to signing.
Grants are managed in line with donor terms and conditions
outlined in contracts. Grant closure guidelines followed and PGMS
updated when grant closed.
Operating premises are fit for purpose, accessible, adhere to health
and safety baselines for employees, volunteers and visitors, in line
with VSO’s values, and represent good value-for-money. Adequate
insurance is in place for all VSO assets and operating premises.
Self-audit process is undertaken every two years and actions
identified are addressed.
Global Information Technology policies and procedures are
understood by all employees and adhered to.
Global procurement policies and procedures are adhered to.
A vibrant and positive volunteer community is established which is
empowered and supported by the Country Office to work effectively
with local partners and actively engage in ongoing programme
development. Volunteer support, duty of care, safety and security
baselines are being met by the Country Office and partners are
supported to manage volunteers. Country Office celebrates
volunteer achievement, responds to volunteer problems effectively
and encourages the development of effective and accountable
volunteer groups. Volunteers are operating legally with appropriate
work permits/visas.
Employees are working effectively as a team to meet Country
Strategic objectives, and individual performance and satisfaction are
maximized through efficient support structures and procedures
within the legal framework of the country and within VSO policies
and guidelines. Performance management policies, procedures and
systems are being actively implemented, including regular 1-1s and
performance reviews. Performance issues are addressed quickly
and in line with policies, procedures and local legislation.
Funding plan is delivered in line with Key Performance Indicators.
All donor/supporter contractual terms and conditions are fulfilled in
line with VSO’s project funding management guidance and
procedures.
Country Office operates as a single “business unit” with
responsibility for financial management.
Country Office finances are monitored and managed within global
financial management policies and procedures are strictly applied.
Internal controls are in place, in line with global financial
management policies and procedures.
problem-solving team mentality and
ensuring timely, high quality results.

1088559-1 Review date 04/2012