Country Director

Global Communities works at the intersection of humanitarian assistance, sustainable development and financial inclusion to save lives, advance equity and secure strong futures. We support communities at the forefront of their own development in more than 35 countries, partnering with local leaders, governments, civil society and the private sector to achieve a shared vision of a more just, prosperous and equitable global community. 

The Country Director will provide strategic oversight of all programming in the West Bank and Gaza, which includes both humanitarian and development programming. The Country Director will oversee a large-scale, integrated whole-of-country portfolio comprised of multiple projects and funders.  This position will serve as the main representative for Global Communities activities in country, including being accountable for program delivery, advocacy, fostering opportunities for new business development, and providing the strategic vision and leadership for the organization in country. This includes collaborating closely with the Global Communities’ Chiefs of Party/Project/Program Directors to ensure a portfolio-wide approach across humanitarian and development programming to ensure that synergies are fostered and used to the advantage of supporting communities in need.

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibility Area: Management, Leadership, Representation, and Coordination

• Provide vision and strategic leadership of Global Communities in country, including ensuring that country presence and activities are guided by a strategic plan, which incorporates humanitarian and development goals as appropriate.
• Represent Global Communities externally to government officials, UN agencies, donors, international organizations and CSOs.
• Provide management, support, and oversight of Project Director(s)/Chief(s) of Party of humanitarian, stabilization and development projects ensuring cross departmental/cross programmatic coordination and enabling collaboration.
• Build and sustain positive relationships with all relevant stakeholders in country (i.e., donors, UN, NGOs, host country government, and others); ensure effective reporting and communications about programmatic impact.
• Ensure an organizational culture and a work environment in which staff fully understand and apply ethical and safeguarding standards in line with Global Communities’ Code of Conduct, Safeguarding Policy, and Safeguarding Framework.
• Develop and lead fit for purpose leadership groups (e.g., senior management team, extended senior management team, incident management team) with clear membership, TORs, and frequency of meeting.
• Conduct performance appraisals for direct reports, ensure timely and regular feedback and provide mentoring on individual performance.
• Enable a culture of coaching, mentoring, and training of staff and partner staff to ensure learning and adapting.
• Accountable for managing operational and programmatic risk across the country portfolio and ensuring compliance with donor and organizational policies.
• Ensure all program team members understand and carry out their duties in accordance with GC’s values.
• Liaise with and cultivate a collaborative relationship with the Senior Advisor, Country Leadership and Strategy to enable a culture of coaching, mentoring, and training of staff and partner staff to ensure learning and adapting; develop a country strategy; business continuity plans; risk management plans and private sector engagement plans.

Responsibility Area: Program Delivery and Development

• Provide overall leadership and support for management of programs, ensuring project activities are implemented in line with donor policies and procedures, on time, to scope, and on budget.
• Develop and oversee implementation of a country portfolio growth strategy for Global Communities’ work in country in coordination/consultation with relevant internal and external stakeholders, Headquarters, and other Global Communities regional actors, in support of the organization’s Mission.
• Provide strategic leadership of new business development activities in collaboration with Business Development staff.
• Ensure that program specific risks are managed throughout the project life cycle.
• Provide strategic leadership of new business development activities in collaboration with Business Development staff, Senior Advisor, Country Leadership and Strategy and the Senior Regional Director.

Responsibility Area: Operations Support Services (Finance and Administration, Procurement and Supply Chain, Safety and Security and Human Resources Management)

• Accountable for updating all necessary country manuals (policies and procedures), ensuring compliance with local law, donor requirements, and organizational policy and overseeing overall program and operations compliance.
• Ensure that the Global Communities operates within the laws of the country and complies with Global Communities policies and procedures.
• Ensure sound financial management of the program including regular and timely financial reporting against objectives and budgets.
• Ensure compliant procurement action and management of goods and supplies.
• Ensure staff safety, security and access management plans are maintained, that staff are trained and adhere to safety and security policies and rules.
• Provide leadership and decision-making on staff safety and security in consultation with lead access and safety staff in country and at Global Communities headquarters.

Responsibility Area: Communications, Reporting and Knowledge Management

• Accountable for timely delivery of all agreement deliverables.
• Ensure delivery of monthly reporting to HQ.
• Provide the strategic direction for production of quality, consolidated, donor-facing reports and internal lessons learned.
• Ensure delivery of core Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) activities including, but not limited to baseline, endline, evaluation, post distribution monitoring, incorporation of third-party monitoring feedback and lessons learned.

POSITION SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Promote a culture of excellence, inclusion, learning, support, diversity, and innovation.
• Visit project locations and partner activities for appropriate oversight and representation.
• Direct supervision of in-country department leadership.

• Proven ability to work in a fast paced, demanding environment, often working under pressure in insecure environments.
• Management in complex environments skills.
• Ability to process information and synthesize for key decision- makers.
• Knowledge of partnership management best practices, including working with local NGOs, CSOs or national response mechanisms.
• Strong cross cultural communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and representational skills.
• Knowledge of humanitarian response coordination architecture, mechanisms, and standards.

• Undergraduate degree in a related discipline and a minimum of 11 years of related work experience or a minimum of 15 years of related work experience.
• At least 10 years of experience in complex emergencies.
• At least 8 years of experience in a senior leadership capacity in an international post.
• Demonstrated experience delivering or overseeing humanitarian assistance, early recovery, and development programming.
• Demonstrated experience managing large teams and utilizing coaching and mentorship techniques preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing partnerships or locally led projects (through small and large grants), including overseeing capacity assessments, capacity development plans and co-creation with local partners.
• Competent understanding of US government rules and regulations and prior experience working with USAID funding required.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, including ability to effectively communicate across cultures and demonstrated ability to write required documents in a clear, concise, well-organized manner.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills in diverse settings, including with donors, partners, direct reports, supervisor, and colleagues.
• Prior experience in the Middle East and in Palestine preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-sector, multi-donor portfolios; experience with USAID and BHA funding preferred.
• Technical experience in one or more of the following sectors/areas: protection, shelter/NFI, cash, civil society and governance preferred.
• Working proficiency in Arabic is desirable.
• A passion for the mission and values of Global Communities.