International Medical Corps was established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses to address the critical need for medical care in war-torn Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation. Some 35 years later, we are still there, delivering healthcare, healthcare-related services and training as Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most complex humanitarian emergencies. An estimated 2.6 million Afghans are displaced within their own country, with 6.3 million in need of some form of humanitarian or protection assistance in 2019—almost double that of the previous year.
Job Purpose
The Country Director is directly responsible for the overall strategic planning, human resources, program design and implementation, program support operations, finance, administration, monitoring and evaluation supervision, expansion/development, and required reporting for the country program. The Country Director plays a strong leadership role through a high level of strategic leadership and effective advocacy. The Country Director sets direction, leads, maintains team morale, safety and welfare, and manages resources while maintaining oversight and accountability. S/he is ultimately accountable for all aspects of the country projects and ensuring that the financial management and organizational setup is adapted to the operational context.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function with or without reasonable accommodation:
Main Responsibilities
Perform other duties as assigned. The duties and responsibilities listed in this document are representative of the nature and level of work assigned and not necessarily all inclusive.
1. Program Management
- Develop country specific strategic plan and proposals for programs that will successfully transition our relief programs to early recovery and transition to more long-term development programs.
- Work closely with the MoH to identify a strategy for the strengthening the health care system
- Represent the organization and liaise with local and national authorities, UN, NGO, and donor agencies to promote the organizations programs, facilitate successful coordination of activities and ensure transparency and accountability to all stakeholders
- Participate in writing and reviewing proposal applications
- Provide technical inputs and assistance to programs with particular reference to financial management and reporting systems
- Participate in UN health, Nutrition and WASH Cluster coordination to ensure programs playing a vital role and to secure required support from the cluster coordination mechanism and the UN funding instruments such as CERF, CHF et
2. Compliance
- Oversee program operations and reporting, ensuring compliance with agency policies and procedures, Donor regulations and local laws
- Monitor, evaluate and report on all program activities and progress to the central office and Donors
- Oversee the preparation of annual work plans and budgets
- Report regularly to headquarters, providing timely updates of all situational and project developments
3. Program Development
- Primarily responsible for expanding country portfolio
- Pursue new sources of donor funding and maintain adequate donor funding levels to sustain identified program and support activities
- Drafting and editing proposals
- Remaining aware of donor funding intention.
4. Human Resources
- Oversee the recruitment and selection of qualified program field staff, recommend promotions, disciplinary action and termination of staff in consultation with supervisors
- Collaborate with security staff to maintain security of staff in the field locations
- Make frequent site visits to facilities to ensure that appropriate care and training are being conducted and to offer support to field staff
- Maintain open lines of communications with all field staff
5. Training/ Capacity Building
- • Determine training needs for the field staff
- • Train senior national staff to increase their responsibilities in order to build capacity and ensure sustainability of programs
- • Advocate and plan for professional development for expat and national staff
6. Working Relationships
- • Maintain frequent communication with Regional Coordinator to ensure program activities and objectives are communicated
- • Work with Deputy Country Director, Medical Director, Finance Director, Security and Logistics staff to ensure the coordination of programs
- • Represent the organization at task force meetings, assessment missions, camp coordination meetings, UN coordination meetings, INGO coordination meetings
- Interface with national government and relevant agencies to ensure mutual understanding of programs and maximize resource distribution and allocation of available funds
7. Representation
- • Serve as the principal liaison with Donors on matters related to the program to ensure financial and programmatic accountability to Donors
- • Establish and update contact details of potential Donors in-country
- • Participate in Donor meetings and communicate relevant information to HQ
- • Work with key Donor Staff to develop and maintain optimum financial and programmatic relationship
- • Ensure maximum visibility of the Agency amongst the NGO community
- • Lead the production of reports and ensure the timeliness and accuracy of information provided, as well ensuring confidentiality of sensitive information.
- • Contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organization, notably through the application of the organizations Code of Conduct, ethics, values and standpoint with regard to internal and external actors
8. Security
- • The Country Director is ultimately responsible for the security management of staff, operations, assets and directs country-specific response to security threats and incidents, up to and including management of evacuation
- • Monitor security level and consult with the Director of Global Security to upgrade or downgrade level
- • Responsible for ensuring that Incident Report Forms are completed and submitted to HQ Security in a timely manner (within 12 hours)
- • Responsible for ensuring all staff are given a security briefing, and required documentation upon entry into the country
- • Ensure application and compliance of security protocols and policies
- • In cooperation with the Security Coordinator, monitor the security situation and inform the HQ Security Office through weekly security reports
- • Ensure that country security guidelines, SOP’s and policies are updated twice annually (July 31 and January 31) including contingency planning for evacuation, in accordance with agency protocols and respected by all staff
- • Ensure adequate security funding is budgeted
- • Nominate security focal points at each operational site in country
- • Collect and document local security related information (social & political context, external players, presence/reasons for conflict, military developments, political economy of armed groups), and communicates to the Director of Global Security at HQ DC office
- • Establish a reliable communication chain to disperse important information, whereby once the CD communicates a message, it is systematically passed on from one person to the next, with each person knowing who they are responsible for informing. (phone tree)
- • Collaborate with local agencies to aid with security management
Code of Conduct
As applicable to this position, an individual must promote and encourage a culture of compliance and ethics throughout the organization and maintain a clear understanding of International Medical Corps’ and donor compliance and ethics standards and adheres to those standards.
If this is a supervisory position, one must set an example of ethical behavior through one’s own conduct and oversight of the work of others; ensure that those who report to you have sufficient knowledge and resources to follow the standards outlined in the Code of Conduct & Ethics; monitor compliance of the people you supervise; enforce the Code of Conduct & Ethics and International Medical Corps’ policies, including the Safeguarding Policy and the Protection from Harassment, Bullying and Sexual Misconduct in the Workplace Policy, consistently and fairly; support employees who in good faith raise questions or concerns.
It is all staff shared responsibility and obligation to safeguard and protect populations with whom we work, including adults who may be particularly vulnerable and children. This includes safeguarding from the following conduct by our staff or partners: sexual exploitation and abuse; exploitation, neglect, or abuse of children, adults at risk, or LGBTI individuals; and any form of trafficking in persons. Staff are also responsible for preventing violations to our Code of Conduct and Ethics, which may involve Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption or Harassment. If you see, hear or are made aware of any violations to the Code of Conduct and Ethics or Safeguarding Policy, you have an obligation to report.
Qualifications
- Typically, a Master’s degree in public health preferred, or social service related field will be considered. Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
- Proven progressive and significant experience (12+ years) in development programs, mainly in the health 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/OFDA, CDC, UN, World Bank, EU, DFID and other key donors;
- Minimum financial management including preparing and managing budgets, banking activities, contracts and negotiations
- Experience in developing and managing procurement and logistical procedures and policies
- Skills and knowledge in program sustainability and capacity building, public private partnerships and project monitoring and evaluation (both quantitative and qualitative methods
- Strong writing, presentation and program development skills;
- Extensive fundraising and representational experience
- Proven capabilities in leadership required
- Strong negotiation, interpersonal and organization skills
Equal Opportunities
International Medical Corps is proud to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or status as a veteran.
