Country Director – Premiere Urgence International (PUI)

Job Description

Duty Station : PUI Country Office in Lilongwe

Contract length : Five (5) Years (Renewable)

Premiere Urgence International (PUI)

CONTEXT

Premiere Urgence International (PUI) is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-political and non-religious international aid organization. Our teams are committed to supporting civilians’ victims of marginalization and exclusion, or hit by natural disasters, wars and economic collapses, by answering their fundamental needs. Our aim is to provide emergency relief to uprooted people in order to help them recover their dignity and regain self-sufficiency. The association leads in average 200 projects by year in the following sectors of intervention: food security, health, nutrition, construction and rehabilitation of infrastructures, water, sanitation, hygiene and economic recovery. PUI is providing assistance to around 6 million people in 20 countries – in Africa, Asia, Middle East and Europe.

Reporting to Program, Operation and Advocacy Director, Premiere Urgence International (PUI) is looking for the Country Director (CD) for Malawi, who has the overall responsibility for the effective management of PUI operations in the country, consistent with vision and mission, core values and program principals, global program strategy and operational code.

JOB SUMMARY

The Country Director has overall responsibility and leadership of the Country Office’s performance, s/he represents PUI in the country, guiding a relevant program strategy development and implementation consistent with Premiere Urgence International’s global strategy, ensuring effective and timely humanitarian response capacity, leading strategy development, change management, operational planning, and overseeing financial, operations and human resource management, including the safety and security of all Country Office and visiting PUI staff.

The Country Director models and ensures systematic practice of PUI values and new ways of working by fostering innovation, helping to build effective teams, coalitions and networks and encouraging on-going staff development to motivate and strengthen the organization’s resilience in the face of change. S/he promotes gender equality and diversity among Country Office staff and in programming.

In doing so, s/he:

• Ensures that PUI’s role in the country is aligned with its global program strategy and continuously evolves to achieve the greatest impact and relevance in the operating context;
• Positions PUI as a partner of choice and an influential voice in reducing poverty and social injustice;
• Leads the organizational changes required to align to the Country Office’s Country Presence Review outcomes and PUI’s global vision and strategy;
• Leads, promotes and oversees mainstreaming of gender issues in the Country program policies, strategy and program development

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

1. Representation and Communications

• Negotiates with the host government and ensure that the Country Office has the legal agreement needed to operate transparently, such as, an updated mutually recognized country agreement as well as program related agreements with the relevant line ministries
• Ensures that accurate and updated host government relations information is disseminated to PUI Malawi, and relevant Premiere Urgence International members
• Ensures that the image of Premiere Urgence Internationalin the country is consistent with PUI’s mission, vision and values and protects PUI’s interests and assets
• Builds effective organizational relationships and networks with public, private and NGO partners; liaise with host government/donor government and other lead agency representatives
• Maintains effective communications and relationships with Premiere Urgence International members regarding program development, funding agreements and staffing
• Provides regular reports to HQ on the affairs of the Country Office, including security
• Provides periodic reports to PUI members managing donor contracts in the Country Office according to the specific agreements

2. Program Development and Implementation

• Guided by the PUI program strategy, donor and host government priorities, provide support and guidance to the Country Office program staff in the identification of new programming opportunities
• Supported by PUI Member Partners (PMPs), develop and maintain a proposal development capacity, quality control system, and up-to-date pipeline tracking and reporting system
• Provides assistance to PUI members in contract negotiation with donors at the country level to ensure that PUI program and financial objectives are attained
• Explores possibilities for diversifying program funding consistent with Premiere Urgence International’s Global Program Strategy through non-traditional partners, donors and approaches
• Ensures effective project implementation monitoring and evaluation system that allows for accurate donor reporting, timely course corrections, and learning and innovation;

3. Emergency Preparedness & Response; Safety & Security

• Ensures that country office emergency preparedness plan is in place and reviewed regularly in collaboration with HQ, the PUI Emergency Group, PUI Member Partners and relevant in country partners
• Sets the tone for mature safety and security management, leading by example
• Ensures that lapses in S&S SOPs are followed up at the appropriate levels of management
• Communicates S&S info regularly to HQ
• Provides leadership, guidance, and Lead Crisis Management Team in emergency situations, liaising with Country Governments PUI members, donors and media
• Authorizes and manage staff evacuations as necessary (for health or other reasons).

4. Country Office Strategic and Operational Planning and Implementation

• Leads regular and participatory senior management team (SMT) meetings to review the overall financial and operational performance of the country office.
• Plans and oversee at least two Country Office Leadership Team meetings per year; and monthly SLT, ensure staff engagement in the planning and program support elements
• Provides leadership and strategic support on the development/strengthening of the Country Office (CO)’s role as an innovator and catalyzer including developing genuine partnerships with local organizations and institutions and building evidence of PUI’s impact to influence policy and practice
• Ensures the CO has an effective impact measurement, learning, knowledge management and communication system

5. Country Office Financial, Budget and Administration Management

• Oversees and provide support to program support and finance staff in the development of the CO’s annual budget as per PUI policies and procedures
• Ensures the financial viability of the CO to ensure that project budgets are able to cover the running costs of the CO and generate adequate indirect cost recovery (ICR) from existing and new projects; monitor and analyze the CO cost structure, particularly in anticipation of changes in the program portfolio
• Ensures timely preparation of contracts (IPIAs) and amendments for all projects as required between the CO and PUI Member Partner
• Ensures full compliance with donor regulations and terms of signed contracts; ensure the application of PUI financial procedures
• Ensures that the CO performance and audit results are satisfactory, recommendations from previous evaluations and audits are addressed and show an overall improving trend
• Ensures the submission of on-time CO financial reports, achievement of at least 85% annual budget utilization rate, and near to 100% life of projects budget utilization
• Ensures that financial exposure reports are maintained and reviewed on monthly basis and communicated to HQ
• Ensures monthly balance sheet reviews, the completion of scorecards and that recommendations are acted upon accordingly, and submits other reports to HQ as requested.

6. Human Resources Development and Management

• Leads by example, communicate clear vision to staff, leadership and inspiration to CO, counterpart and partners, show accountability and hold staff accountable for demonstrating PUI core values
• Ensures the completion of an annual staffing plan and provide support or lead recruitment efforts (with active support from HQ when appropriate) for national and international hires
• Ensures that the CO structure and the organization of units and workflows reflects ongoing needs of CO operations
• Ensures that all HR policies and procedures are established in accordance with host country laws and legislation and reviewed on a regular basis; ensure that HR policies are respected for expatriate personnel
• Ensures that the total compensation (salary and benefits) for national employees remains competitive with the local market and that voluntary turnover rates are kept to the minimum possible
• Adopts and lead by example effective employee relations and performance management systems, including timely and clear communication of expectations through updated job descriptions and operating plans, regular performance feedback and annual performance appraisals, coaching and mentoring staff in decision-making, consistency and coherence in the recognition of merit
• Promotes staff development and the maximization of local talent, through coaching and mentoring and active career development
• Creates and maintain an inclusive team environment, including regularly established management team meetings and ad hoc committee structures in which input on key issues is sought from colleagues in open discussion

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Typically, a Master’s Degree in Business Admin, Health, Social Service, Development Management or related field or equivalent. The equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate. PhD holders are highly preferred.
• Typically, 12+ years proven progressive and significant experience in humanitarian programs and/or emergency repose, mainly in the health or related field (Health policy, health reforms); including 10+ years of project management experience (management, planning, staff development and training), skills in emergency/ development programs; including 5+ years of experience in a senior-level management position in a field-based post.
• Comprehensive knowledge and working experience with USAID, CDC, UN, World Bank, EU, DFID and other key donors
• Financial management intelligence, including managing budgets, banking activities, contracts and negotiations.
• Experience in managing procurement and logistical procedures and policies
• Knowledge in program sustainability and capacity building, public private partnerships and project monitoring and evaluation (both quantitative and qualitative methods)
• Proven abilities in decision-making and problem-solving including in emergency contexts
• Experience in security management
• Flexibility and willingness to undertake local, regional and international travel.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your resume and cover letter in either English or French to puimalawi@gmail.com. Remember to attach clear original copies of certificates, national ID and updated certificates of registration with relevant professional regulatory bodies if applicable. Deadline for submission is 4^th November, 2024. Only complete applications will be processed.

We would like to inform applicants that in view of the regulation about data protection, in the event of an unsuccessful application, we will not keep application file or any personal information about the applicant. Everything will be destroyed. We will request information from successful applicant’s previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.