Head of Programs

JOB Summary

 Reporting to the Senior Director of International Programs, this position is one of a global team of 3 Heads of Programs (HoPs) who lead our work in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. The HoP for the Africa, will lead, inspire and manage the Deputy HoP, Country Representatives and Project Directors so they deliver the planning, development, delivery, administration and funding of high quality, high impact Cuso International programs and operations. The current program priorities are Economic and Enterprise Development, Health, and Gender Equity & Social Inclusion.  The HoP will also ensure Cuso International maintains a high profile in relevant networks and will seek to establish, and ensure relationships are built, with government, private sector, civil society and donors. A key task of the role will be linking up with Cuso’s Ottawa based staff so they are able to understand and represent programs to potential and actual North American partners and donors.

The Africa programme currently has programme offices in DRC, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ethiopia. Cuso delivers programmes through partners in Benin and Tanzania but is considering opening its own offices in both of these countries. We run four significant programs in Africa; VOICE, our core global programme which funds work in all our programme offices; T led, which is a $CAD15 million enterprise development initiative in Tanzania; You lead which is a CAD$15 million enterprise development initiative in Nigeria; and Midwives Save Lives which is a $CAD 13 million maternal health programme implemented in Benin, Cameroon, Tanzania and Ethiopia.  You can find our program on the following link http://www.cusointernational.org/programs/projects.  Given the size and diversity of the Africa region, a Deputy HoP will be based in West Africa to coordinate and manage work in that region.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DELIVERABLES

 Program Development and Funding

 Deliverables:

Existing country program offices (CPO’s) and projects have developed relevant and ambitious gender sensitive, high quality high impact  strategic plans in line with Cuso International’s global strategic framework and are proactively implementing, monitoring and evaluating them. Opportunities for developing potential country programs are explored and acted on as required in a timely and effective manner.

Cuso International is well networked and perceived to be a credible and respected development agency in Africa.

A proactive funding strategy is in place and regularly reviewed, ensuring all opportunities are actively pursued and existing donor/supporter contractual terms and conditions are fulfilled in line with donor and Cuso International’s grant management procedures.

CPOs actively seek to develop partnerships with private sector and are seeking to deliver programs in partnership with private sector, government and civil society.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Maintain a strong understanding of the social, political and economic context within the African nations, as well as issues and challenges pertaining to our partners and communities.


• Build links with a variety of funding sources within Africa and inspire and support teams to develop concept notes, partnerships and alliances that will enable them to win new sources of funding.


• Lead the ongoing gender sensitive monitoring and evaluation of the relevance of Cuso International programs in the region, and raise/share successes, issues or concerns with the Senior Director of International Programs.


• Represent Cuso International and network actively with other regional stakeholders, staying abreast of the work of other organizations, government initiatives and policies, and actively participate in key events, workshops and forums where important development-related dialogue is taking place and shaping the regional development sector.


• Work closely with Ottawa based staff in order to develop new donor and private sector working relationships.

Staff Management and Team Work

 Deliverables 

• Effective line management of all direct reports in line with the performance management policy.


• Ensure effective line management and support by the Deputy HoP, Project Directors and Country Representatives of their teams, in line with the performance management policy.


• Individual and collective staff development, training and support needs are being identified and met.


• The Africa staff work collaboratively and supportively with each other and as part of a global team.

Specific responsibilities

• Carry out annual performance appraisals for all direct reports and ensure all have a clear professional work plan and a personal development plan. Review and monitor these on a quarterly basis.


• Provide direct reports with regular and appropriate supervision through calls and visits.


• Develop and implement plans to respond to collective staff development and training needs.


• Deal with underperformance in line with relevant Cuso international procedures and local employment law.


• Recruit and induct staff.


• Ensure all HR policies are understood and implemented effectively across the region, with the support of HR as necessary.


• Demonstrate, encourage and support effective team and collaborative working within the region and globally.

Administration, finance and volunteer support

 Deliverables

The Cuso International budget, volunteer planning and delivery cycle is understood and implemented by each CPO and Project.

Each CPO understands and delivers on all relevant volunteer journey baselines, administration, IT, health and safety, risk management and logistical systems and policies.

All CPO’s are aware of any external funding source’s contractual and reporting obligations and they are adhered to.

The Africa team maintain a strong culture of partnership between volunteers and the Program Office.

Specific responsibilities

• Coordinate and oversee the budget cycle process for CPO’s within the region.


• Coordinate and oversee the volunteer-number planning cycle within the region.


• Carry out, or oversee, regular and ad hoc checks to ensure policies, systems and procedures are being effectively applied.


• Regularly seek feedback from volunteers (through meeting and visits) about support/relations issues; advise CPOs and Ottawa staff as appropriate and ensure any issues are addressed.


• Coordinate and oversee the annual quality framework exercise and ensure CPO’s maintain effectiveness and address any areas of underperformance.


• Liaise, as required, with Cuso International Ottawa based staff and departments.

 Other responsibilities

•  Deputize for the Senior Director of International Programs or other colleagues as required.


• Carry out any other duties as required by the Senior Director of International Programs, from time to time.

Reports to: Senior Director of International Programs

Contract type: Fixed term, until 30th March 2020

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Development Knowledge:

• Significant (at least 7 years) practical, analytical and theoretical knowledge and experience of international development work in at least 2 countries, including:


• an appreciation of the contribution volunteering in its many forms can bring to development


• a strong awareness of gender and equity issues and knowledge of issues affecting young people and women (key target groups for Cuso International)


• an appreciation of the contribution that the private sector and business development approaches can bring to development and/or maternal health issues


• proven ongoing commitment to staying abreast of current development thinking

Strategic thinking, leadership and project management:

•  Proven practical experience of developing and managing project cycles from initial idea, through development and implementation to monitoring and evaluation.


• Ability to think and plan strategically and proven ability to lead and inspire teams to so the same, and develop project ideas.

Funding

•  Proven track record of developing and winning funding from variety of funding sources including private sector.

 Communication, representation and networking

•  Excellent communication skills with proven ability to work fluently in English


•  Ability to present and represent Cuso International in a variety of media to a variety of audiences including government, private sector, donors and civil society.


• Strong networking skills and the ability to build relationships, alliances and networks in a fast paced ever changing work dynamic.

 Staff management 

• Ability to manage and support staff at distance


• Proven ability to lead, inspire, manage, coach and mentor staff at both an individual and collective level


• Practical knowledge and experience of creating a high performance teams; a results orientated work culture and dealing effectively with under performance

 Budget management

•  Proven experience of developing, phasing, managing and revising complex budgets from a variety of funding sources in line with all internal and external contractual obligations.

Team work 

• Proven ability to work effectively in a number of teams, in a multi-cultural context and where teams may be geographically dispersed

 IT

•  Proven ability to be self serving in IT ( 365,Outlook, Email, databases, basic excel, Powerpoint) and willingness to develop IT skills in order to improve effectiveness at work.

 Travel

•  Willingness and ability to travel away from home for up to three months a year.

Closing date: April 29, 2016

with the competition number:  Head of Program, Africa – 2016-10 clearly marked as the subject. Applications consisting of a four (4) page cv and one (1) page application letter should be received no later than April 29

.  No late application will be considered.

To be considered, your résumé and cover letter should demonstrate that

of the essential qualifications are met.  Failure to demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the position will result in not being considered.

Only those candidates who meet all requirements of the position will be considered.