Country Director, Sierra Leone- Role Profile

Role purpose

To provide strategic leadership to Christian Aid’s work in Sierra Leone, ensuring the country programme and staff contribute to and are supported by Christian Aid corporate strategy, ‘Standing Together’. To manage, develop and empower staff working for Christian Aid in Sierra Leone to take responsibility within a devolved and decentralized region or continent, working within the corporate framework, agreed annual plans, budgets and defined delegations of authority. To be the senior representative of Christian Aid in-country and to develop and promote the country and programme profile within the region or continent and across the wider organisation. To contribute to the strategic direction and representation of the division, to proactively engage in networks and learning groups and to review and evaluate other programmes and grants across the region or continent as required.




Key outcomes

• Deliver robust country policy and country strategy built within Christian Aid’s strategic framework and delivered via a portfolio of partners and encompassing humanitarian and development programming, advocacy, campaigns and communications.
• Provide robust and dynamic leadership for the Sierra Leone team, motivating staff and ensuring that they are valued
• Emergencies well responded to by capable staff and partners and risk reduction strategies in place. Security of employees, visitors and assets maintained through effective and continuous research and sharing of communication.
• Staff recruited, managed, developed, performing to a high standard and meeting their objectives.
• Strong leadership on creating and developing links with international ecumenical networks particularly through ACT Alliance
• Promotion of the Christian Aid brand and enhancement of its reputation through positive relationships with all other stakeholders including churches, donors, governments and embassies.
• Lead on using programme evidence to develop national advocacy and policy work
• Effective delivery of work through and with partners, strong dedication and familiarity with the partnership approach to working.
• Leadership in all Christian Aid legal, financial and compliance requirements including responsibility for security management, quarterly reporting and monthly country returns, finance, HR and IT.

Role agilitySurge capacity for emergency responses NoIn order to respond to ever changing demands within the environment, Christian Aid operates within an agile framework (both in workforce and operational) that requires from all employees, a high level of responsiveness and adaptiveness to processes and structures making flexibility and a project based working approach the norm. To sustain this system, managers may/will agree further details of specific tasks and duties as part of the performance agreement. Any reasonable duty may be assigned that is consistent with the nature of the job and its level of responsibility, and employees may be required to change the focus of their role from time to time.

Further details of specific tasks and duties will be agreed with the line manager as part of the performance agreement. Any reasonable duty may be assigned that is consistent with the nature of the job and its level of responsibility.This role profile is not prescriptive; it merely outlines the key behaviours the role-holder requires to be successful in the role; the key behaviours and responsibilities are subject to change. Any changes will be made in consultation with the role-holder.You will be expected to abide by the Code of Conduct, policies and procedures within Christian Aid which may be updated from time to time.You must empathize with the aims, beliefs and values of Christian Aid as it seeks to work on relief, development and advocacy for poverty eradication.

How to apply For more information on application procedures, visit Christian Aid website (christianaid.org/jobs) and follow the steps to apply online.  Please note: Hard copies of application will not be accepted. Please forward any queries you have regarding this vacancy on email to

sierra-leone-info@christian-aid.org

Closing date for application is 14th October 2022.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.Successful candidates will be given a provisional offer. Contracting into role will be conditional on Christian Aid SL being awarded the contract.Owing to the urgency of this recruitment, the process of shortlisting and interviewing will be ongoing during the period of the advert until a successful candidate is appointed.

LocationFreetownDepartmentInternational
Reports to (Job Title) Head of Operations – AfricaSalary BandB
Matrix manager (if applicable) N/ACompetency level3
Role definition
Expected travel per annumUp to 40 daysOn call/unsocial hours Yes

Role context 

Role requirements

Relationships  

External – Country Directors manage and develop external networks, building strong working relationships with partners, donors, the private sector and other members of civil society 

Internal – Country Directors are members of the Divisional Management Group.  Country Director Sierra Leone reports to and is accompanied and supported by the Head of Operations, Africa, as part of a flat, networked structure. All Country Directors work closely within the organisation to lead and shape Christian Aid’s programme and to ensure integration with other organizational departments and teams. Authority is delegated to the Country Director by the Head of Division within a Framework of Delegation. The role liaises with assigned functional leaders such as humanitarian response, advocacy and policy, and fundraising.

Decision making

Budgetary/savings responsibility  yes

The Country Director- Sierra Leone is responsible for the overall finance function, including budget setting, monitoring and expenditure reporting for all sources of funding. A core responsibility is to ensure the programme works within the financial framework of the organisation and achieves the targets for savings that may be set, whilst developing short to medium strategies for financial resilience and sustainability Authority is delegated to the Country Director by the Head of Division within the Framework of Delegation. Emanating from this framework, the Country Director- Sierra Leone is accountable for the efficiency and effectiveness of Country Programmes. This includes responsibility for overall management of programme to ensure strategy and annual plan objectives are met through quality programmes and partnerships and a sustainable funding base, direct line management of staff within a framework of delegation and empowered working, responsibility for overall financial management, including budget setting, monitoring and expenditure reporting for all sources of funding, responsibility to represent Christian Aid externally and internally and to communicate Christian Aid’s work internally and externally.

Analytical skills

Highly complex work involving a number of different factors or facets that relate both to own area of work and is likely to have with cross-functional implications. Expected to take account of the wider and longer-term consequences of own and others’ ideas, recommendations and decisions.

Developing self and others

Typically has direct responsibility for developing, coaching and motivating colleagues/project team members, including those who report in through others and may include more than one team. May monitor performance review and development planning and activities within a function/across major projects to ensure that best practice is being met. Able to share knowledge and best practice across the organisation. Induction and basic supervision of staff, enabling and supporting them to assist the workgroup in its functions.

Role related checks  

Child protection clearance Standard  Counter terrorism screening Required

Person specification

Applied skills/knowledge and expertise

Essential

• The post holder must hold a minimum of a tertiary degree at ‘Masters’ level or equivalent. Ideally the focus in education will be on international development and social sciences, a related certification in management is desirable
• 5 to10 years’ experience of leadership or senior management. Managing large and complex overseas, multi-partner development programmes, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Considerable experience of international development work including project management. Experience of working with organizations in the global south, working in challenging political contexts, developing strong partnerships with local organizations and churches, and fundraising and liaising with donors.
• A strong understanding of the drivers of poverty and its eradication are important to the role
• Familiarity and dedication to the partnership way of working
• Sound knowledge of Office programmes including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Excel.  Knowledge of relevant database systems
• Written and spoken ability of English and any local language(s)
• Must be dependable and trustworthy

Desirable

• First hand understanding of Sierra Leone social, political and economic context.
• Certificate in Management

Digital/IT competencies required