Afghanistan: Country Director - Afghanistan (220053-927)

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Mercy Corps has been working in Afghanistan continuously since 1986. Presently, Mercy Corps is working in nine provinces in Afghanistan with a portfolio of programmes aimed at promoting sustainable, agriculture and natural resource-based livelihoods, increasing food security, micro-finance and strengthening private sector, civil society and government institutions. Donors include the United States State Department, the Asia Development Bank, the German Government and the Department for International Development of the British Government (DFID).

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

Are you open to changing the way you think about the world The Afghanistan Country Director role is that opportunity. It’s an incredibly challenging role, stressful, with long hours and high expectations. You will be expected to utilise every dollar to promote innovation in your programs, lead amazing new initiatives that will harness technology, use your formidable communications skills to influence government, donors and the media and above all, ensure that Mercy Corps is truly making a difference to the people of Afghanistan. You will be responsible for a diverse team that operates in extremely dangerous places, and you will need to set an example at all times with patience, fortitude, enthusiasm and humility. Our Afghanistan team is truly amazing and is supported by our HQ teams that are talented and 100% committed to ensuring that you have the tools and support needed to deliver incredible results. Our global agency is constantly reinventing itself as it responds to complex crises across the world, and you will receive nothing but encouragement as you strive to meet those challenges. You will change the lives of millions of people and you will be more proud than you can possibly imagine of the people that you work with. If you are passionate about Afghanistan, and committed to leading the best team you will ever work with, then this just might be the job for you. You will receive a competitive salary with healthcare, evacuation plan plus travel and medical insurance together with R&R plus home leaves and relocation costs.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Strategy and Vision

• Formulate and plan, in consultation with key stakeholders, a clear vision of present and future program goals and strategies, which can be clearly communicated to team members, local beneficiaries, international partners, governmental counterparts, and donors.


• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve program and agency objectives.


• Evaluate program priorities within the country and participate in regional prioritization.


• Explore, evaluate and present new country and project funding opportunities that leverage impact and integrate initiatives and activities; support and direct related fund-raising activities with both institutional and private donors.

Team Management

• Develop and maintain an excellent human resource plan consistent with Mercy Corps policies, including current position descriptions for all positions, personnel orientation and professional development plans, personnel evaluation system, field personnel policy manual, and personnel grievance procedure system.


• Institute a disciplined culture of performance management and regular feedback between supervisors and their direct reports.


• Recruit, manage, motivate, and on-board an informed, skilled and efficient team with an emphasis on excellence and achievement.


• Encourage a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, incorporating staff development strategies and performance management systems into the team building process.


• Establish leadership and personal credibility with the Mercy Corps team, and implement and create an organizational culture of accountability, responsibility and quality of services.

Personal Leadership

• Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.


• Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.


• Demonstrate awareness of their own strengths and development needs.

Program Impact, Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning

• Oversee program quality and impact by ensuring programs are based on sound design principles and utilize Mercy Corps and donor required M&E systems.


• Gather evidence of program impact through robust agency standard procedures for data gathering, reporting, and evaluating program outputs and outcomes.


• Lead country team to strive for impact at country and regional level leading to sustained change based on solid systems and incorporation of learning into programs.


• Fulfil Mercy Corps Program Management Minimum Standards based on the organization-wide guide.


• Establish mechanisms to link reporting, monitoring and advocacy for internal and external purposes supporting regional or agency wide thought leadership efforts.


• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

Representation & Influence

• Represent Mercy Corps programs with national and international media and participate in community activities as appropriate.


• Maintain productive relationships with internal and external constituents such as private partners, local governments, foundations, the private sector, etc.


• Anticipate needs, understand donor pool and contribute to shaping donor’s views on humanitarian and development strategies.


• Explore, evaluate and present innovative funding opportunities that support the objectives for the country as a whole.

Program Operations and Compliance

• Coordinate overall country budget; manage budget within approved spending levels and establish an annual cash flow plan to ensure a steady and adequate supply of funds for program activities.


• Build and maintain operational structures that ensure proper segregation of duties between finance, administration and logistics and fully support field programs.


• Build and maintain an environment of collaboration among program, finance, operations and human resource team members resulting in optimal support for program activities.


• Ensure program implementation is on time, target and budget, using effective M&E systems to reach desired impacts.


• Create and maintain systems ensuring effective and transparent use of financial resources for timely and informative reporting in line with donor and Mercy Corps policies and procedures.

Security

• Manage security and safety of the entire country team and Mercy Corps assets according to best practices, MC operating standards and field realities.


• Liaise with the Global Security Advisor, Strategic Response and Global Emergencies Director and Regional Program Director on crucial events, high-risk periods, incident reporting or security policy changes.

Organizational Learning

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve – we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries:

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts towards accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: All team members in Afghanistan.

ACCOUNTABILITY

REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Regional Program Director

WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: HQ-based Program Operations, Finance and Technical Support Unit

Talents and Experience

• We don’t mind what you did before – just show us how it has prepared you to do this.


• Masters/Bachelors Degree in Economics, Development, or anything at all – we don’t really mind what you studied, we are much more interested with what you have done since.


• Fluent in English – being able to speak Dari or Pashto would be great, but we are happy to help you learn.


• Strong track record as a leader with excellent team building skills.


• Dedicated to leading and supporting your team to be the very best that they can be.


• Proven ability to innovate and transform a portfolio or organisation.


• Demonstrable track record raising funds from institutional donors.


• Top notch communication skills – verbally and in writing.


• Desperate to live and work in Afghanistan.


• Capable of travel frequently, often on short notice and to places with very limited infrastructure.


• A solid grounding in development, South Asian geo-politics, and economics preferred.


• A non-traditional approach to development – we are not too interested in textbook answers.


• Exceptional references

SUCCESS FACTORS

Afghanistan is a very challenging yet equally rewarding place to work and Mercy Corps recognises that it requires a unique set of skills and interests in the successful candidate. Academic background and previous experience, though valuable are not the driving criteria for selection. A personality that enjoys working in difficult locations, can accommodate the insecurity that defines Afghanistan and can cope with periods of intense activity as well as periods of isolation and potentially loneliness is imperative. The Mercy Corps Afghanistan team is extremely close knit and welcomes new members who are equally committed to our strategic aims. The ability to both live and work together defines our success, and new team members are strongly encouraged to consider this aspect of the role.

LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The Country Director will be based in Kabul, with regular travel to the rest of the country, and occasionally to the US, the UK and the Middle East. Kabul is an unaccompanied location. Throughout Afghanistan, the security situation is extremely volatile, particularly in the South, and may spike into situations requiring hibernation or evacuation. The Country Director is responsible for implementing all security protocols including limited movement when necessary. Afghanistan is an extremely conservative Islamic Republic and therefore the lifestyle of international team members must reflect this. Sensitivity to cultural norms is imperative and achieving comfort in a challenging environment should be an early achievement.

Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and Mercy Corps’ policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.