Country Director, Haiti

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Job Purpose:

The Country Director will provide the strategic vision and leadership for the country program with a primary objective to ensure CORE’s Haiti programs meet the expressed needs of the beneficiaries we serve. S/he is responsible for the delivery of quality programs, expanding/maintaining donor and government relations, fundraising and budget management, security and operations management, and developing a motivated and professional team. Reporting to the Senior Director of Global Programs, the Country Director will work closely with and receive support from headquarters (HQ) senior management, and programs, partnerships, operations, and communications staff.

Main Responsibilities:

Strategy, Leadership and Management

• Working closely with the HQ senior leadership and programs and partnerships team, manage annual review and implementation of CORE Haiti’s Market and Strategy Plans.

• Ensure that structures and systems are in compliance with CORE standards and donor requirements, and that they support quality program delivery and promote management coordination and efficiency throughout the country program;

• Lead a cohesive and effective management team, promoting collegiality and professionalism among peers and conduct

regular senior management team meetings and communicate decisions to CORE Haiti staff.

• Coordinate effectively and communicate regularly with HQ senior management and support staff.

• Lead, manage, and develop multidisciplinary country teams, setting clear objectives and performance expectations, monitoring delivery against targets, and providing timely, constructive feedback and coaching to drive accountability, learning, and results.

Program Quality & Development

• In coordination with HQ and Haiti grants and program staff, ensure that all CORE Haiti programs are developed according to CORE’s program design quality standards

• Ensure the consistent use of well managed assessment, design and proposal development processes, prioritizing beneficiary engagement in design and ensuring gender equity issues are highlighted.

• Promote a team approach and positive learning environment utilizing headquarters, country program and operations staff and partners to consistently enhance the quality of design and implementation.

• Commit to improving CORE Haiti’s ability to effectively collect, analyze, and utilize program measurement data to achieve our organizational mission and goals.

• Establish and empower a team environment focused on developing effective and innovative solutions to address priority issues guided by evidence and identified by the communities CORE serves and broader humanitarian and development frameworks.

Key Partner & Donor Relations, and Organizational Representation

• In coordination with HQ, cultivate and empower a “full team” effort related to business development and donor/partner relations. Strengthen program and support staff’s understanding of partnership principles and stakeholder relationship management.

• Actively position CORE as a partner of choice for major local and international donors.

• Working with CORE HQ, develop and maintain a high level of understanding of donor priorities, country strategies, and planned funding initiatives.

• Expand and maintain active and meaningful engagement with key donors, host government, peer INGOs, local stakeholders and relevant policy and coordinating bodies; Ensure that program activities and their impact are reported upon in a timely, accurate and professional manner aligned with CORE and major donor guidelines and quality standards

• Lead strategic engagement with UN OCHA and the humanitarian coordination system, including securing and managing Country-Based Pooled Fund (CBPF) and other institutional donor funding, and ensuring compliant, high-quality program design, implementation, and reporting in complex operating environments.

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders in Haiti - including community leaders, NGOs, government ministries/authorities, UN agencies, to enhance cooperation and coordination;

Fundraising and Budget Management

• Provide timely and effective oversight of the financial position of the country program including identification and implementation of required changes to match funding levels.

• Maintain effective and coordinated budget monitoring processes for grant funds and discretionary funds.

• Pro-actively seek appropriate funding opportunities and act as country program representative in discussions with HQ senior staff and external parties on strategic opportunities.

• Work with finance and compliance staff to ensure good financial forward planning and deal with audit requirements.

Program Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Ensure that robust design, monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning and quality assurance and control (QAC) systems are in place with support from the MEAL and Compliance Teams, are adhered to and used as a decision-making tool, encouraging consistency and best practice across programs.

• Ensure that clear systems of accountability are in place to protect the beneficiaries and provide them with accessible feedback mechanisms.

• Provide ongoing training and guidance to staff on M&E best practices.

Security and Operations Management

• In coordination with the Security Manager, ensure that the security management plan for the country program is updated and ensure the consistent monitoring and analysis of the security environment.

• Ensure the development and regular maintenance of risk assessment, analysis, and mitigation plans in line with major institutional donor requirements

Scope and Travel:

• Manage in country senior leadership team including but not limited to Program, Administration, Finance and Technical teams.

• Travel throughout Haiti for program implementation oversight, partnerships engagement and donor stewardship.

Qualifications:

• University degree in related field or equivalent program management and development experience at senior level

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience.

• Proven experience in new business development, including donor identification, donor relationship management, and successful proposal development with major institutional donors.

• Experience working with local stakeholders -demonstrated ability to collaborate with peer agencies, local government and community leaders to work effectively towards a common and agreed upon results.

• Experience in preparing/pre-positioning for and managing rapid emergency response programs in areas affected by conflict and insecurity.

• Experience managing development programs in areas affected by conflict and insecurity.

• Demonstrable experience in the identification and systematic capacity strengthening of local partners (civil society, public and/or private sectors);

• Previous experience working in Haiti.

• Proven skills in financial management

Skills & Competencies:

• Ability to work in a highly volatile environment and make rapid decisions.

• Proven abilities in all aspects of project design and implementation.

• Strong understanding of major donor requirements and compliance issues.

• Strong management skills with good understanding of relevant cross-cultural issues;

• Fluent written and oral communication in French and English is critical and required.

• Written and oral communication skills in Haitian Creole are an advantage.