Country Manager – Sudan

We are seeking to recruit a Country Manager to oversee our offices based in Sudan.

Landell Mills has been working continuously across almost all Sudanese states since April 2013 and our current portfolio of projects includes support to international aid programming, environmental governance, improving data for decision-making, improved livestock value chains through public private partnerships, provision of communications and visibility services, and monitoring and evaluation.

The specific tasks of the role are to manage the company’s activities in Sudan, although support to business development and projects outside of Sudan may be envisaged also.

Management of the Sudan country office will include the following tasks:

• Represent Landell Mills in Sudan to our clients and stakeholders, attending public (inc. government) or private sector meetings or fora where relevant to Landell Mills projects or interests.
• Seek new business opportunities, e.g. through meetings with donors and attending donor-run events; and present to external stakeholders on Landell Mills’ work, using and updating periodically our Sudan-specific marketing materials.
• Prepare expressions of interest and proposals, including identifying and recruiting technical experts.
• Provide backstopping to projects in Sudan: managing contracts and client relationships, financial and technical reporting, invoicing, and ensuring effective knowledge sharing with Head Office.
• Oversee support to our international consultants travelling to Sudan, e.g. support on visas and permits, briefing consultants before and upon arrival on our facilities and working practices in Sudan, and addressing any issues that may arise during their visit.
• Optimise our resources in Sudan, including by effectively managing:

– the Khartoum office;

– in-country staff;

– the Sudan bank account: allocating funds, budgeting and managing cashflow across the projects.

• Support the finalisation of the company registration process in Sudan.
• Undertake checks to ensure projects are in line with internal and external policies and procedures, e.g.:

– Conduct due diligence and other anti-corruption actions to ensure we meet our ISO 37001 obligations;

– Conduct country and project risk assessments, in alignment with our Duty of Care procedures.

• Monitor security in all areas of operation in country, using Sudan Government, UK FCDO, security service provider (Healix), and other external security advice when needed, and support the Company’s in-country duty of care.

This description is a brief synopsis of the role and is not designed to be restrictive. Depending on your skills and experience, and the current portfolio, you may focus on one aspect more than another. In doing the above, you will be expected to contribute positively to the company’s profitable portfolio of work and its reputation for successful project acquisition and implementation. You will also be expected to contribute to internal knowledge sharing and communication. You will report to the UK-based Director of the Governance Division.

Candidates must have a right to work in the UK or Ireland or be permanently based in Sudan.

Essential skills, abilities and experience*

• Organised with the ability to work to a high standard, with demonstrable experience in prioritising multiple tasks and meeting deadlines
• Business orientated and numerate, with proven ability to reach financial targets on existing contracts
• Good communication skills, comfortable and experienced in representing a company in front of senior clients and government
• Flexible and willing to adapt to uncertain situations and shifting priorities
• Co-operative and supportive team player, with a proven ability to manage staff performance
• Perfect fluency in written and spoken English
• Fully IT literate – Excel and Word
• Ability to produce accurate work to tight deadlines under pressure
• Experience in managing and delivering project contracts, which may have multiple clients/beneficiaries and involve management of expert inputs

Desirable skills, abilities and experience*

• A graduate degree in a subject of relevance to the company’s work
• Proficiency in Arabic
• Experience in the preparation and submission of project proposals
• Experience of working in comparable international contexts

*Essential attributes (E): Those without which a candidate would struggle to do the job. Desirable attributes (D): Those that would be useful, but are not essential, for the post-holder to possess.