Afghanistan: Deputy Country Director

Swedish Committee for Afghanistan is looking for Deputy Country Director

Posted at Kabul Management Office (KMO), Kabul, Afghanistan

Background

Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) has been working in Afghanistan since 1982 and is presently managing development programmes linked to five Strategic Objectives– Health, Education, Rural Livelihoods and Community Governance with a total annual budget of roughly USD 40 million. The total number of staff is more than 6,000 of whom 15 are non-Afghans. The SCA presence in Afghanistan consists of the Kabul Management Office (KMO), five Project Offices and four Field Offices. In Sweden SCA has 20 staff working at the Stockholm Management Office (SMO) and around 4 000 members organized in local chapters all over the country.

In the last 10 years SCA has undertaken a change process moving from a primarily humanitarian service delivery approach towards more of a developmental role, putting increasing emphasis on capacity development, rights-based programming and outcome orientation. The mission of SCA is to empower individuals, communities and local organizations, primarily in rural areas and with particular focus on women, girls, boys and vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, so that they may participate fully in society and influence their own development.

A Country Director is leading the operation in Afghanistan, ensuring that policies, strategic plan, work plan and budget and donor obligations are progressed, fulfilled and adhered to. The CD, who reports to the Secretary General, also ensures that relevant directives from the Board of SCA is met, that planning and reporting, internal control, relations with authorities and other stakeholders are maintained and that a healthy collaboration and internal communication is ensured within the whole operation in Afghanistan and vis-à-vis the office and members in Sweden. The Country Director is also line manager for six units; Security Advisory, Communication, Planning and Reporting, Monitoring and Evaluation, Advocacy and Internal Audit.

SCA is now strengthening its organization in Afghanistan with a designated Deputy Country Director, with the task to support the Country Director.

Scope of Work

The Deputy Country Director is based at the SCA Management Office in Kabul and reports to the Country Director. The position works closely with the Country Director and the senior management at the Kabul office, including Finance Director/Deputy Country Director, Administration Director and Programme Director. The position is part of the Country Director’s Advisory Group, as well as, the Senior Management Team of SCA, the body advising the Secretary General and coordinating SCAs activities in Sweden and Afghanistan.

The role of the position will in much of its content be a shared and delegated responsibilities of the Country Director and in her/his direct supervision, which is foreseen to contain, but not limited to: the daily supervision of some of the units directly under the Country Director, performance appraisal of senior staff reporting the CD, external networking and contacts with relevant stakeholders; donors, NGOs and government authorities, inputs to reports and development of follow-up and positions papers.

The Deputy Country Director will also be able and ready to be acting Country Director during periods of leave or out of country assignments by the CD.

A more detailed description of responsibilities and tasks will be elaborated and agreed upon when the Deputy Country Director is in place.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications

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  Academic degree, or equivalent, in relevant professional field such as Political Sciences, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Communications, International Relations or Management

  
  


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  At least five years of relevant work experience in managerial positions in international development context within government, NGOs and/or UN agencies

  
  

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Essential competence **

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  Leadership/management skills including staff and budget responsibilities

  
  


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  Aptitude to promote an organizational culture of trust, transparency, respect, partnership and gender equality

  
  


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  A solid understanding of rights-based approach and results-based management

  
  


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  Good understanding of programme, financial and operational management processes and an interest and grasp of international development trends in the non-governmental sector

  
  


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  Ability to work well in unstable and frequently changing security environments including manage emotions and stress positively, build rapport and resolve conflicts constructively

  
  


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  Experience of building personal networks at a senior level, resulting in securing new opportunities for the organisation

  
  


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  Experience from international assignments abroad in development countries

  
  


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  Excellent command of spoken and written English

  
  

Desirable competence

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  Facilitation and presentation skills

  
  


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  Work experience in any of the following fields; communication, planning and reporting, monitoring and evaluation, advocacy

  
  


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  Previous experience from Afghanistan or a similar environment

  
  


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  Knowledge of Swedish, Dari and/or Pashtu

  
  

  Application information

  
  

  Contract period: 2 years with an initial 6 months probationary period

  
  

  Conditions: Non family posting. SCA offers a competitive salary, free housing, insurances and other benefits.

  
  

  Duties to begin: August 2016 or as soon as possible

  
  

  Last date for application: 24 April, 2016