Assistant Country Director

Assistant Country Director
GOAL
Location: Malawi ( Nsanje with regular travel to Blantyre, Balaka and Lilongwe )
Closing date: 22 Aug 2007
Job Description

GOAL JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Assistant Country Director - Programmes
Job Location: Nsanje with regular travel to Blantyre, Balaka and Lilongwe
Reporting To: Country Director
Contract Length:12 months
Start Date: August 2007

OVERALL DESCRIPTION

General Description of GOAL Programme
The Assistant Country Director – Programmes is a member of GOAL Malawi’s senior management team and has overall responsibility for a) the development and implementation of GOAL’s programmes in Nsanje, Blantyre and Balaka Districts and b) the management of GOAL’s Field Office in Nsanje. The role encompasses programme planning, proposal writing, reporting, and programme monitoring, evaluation and capacity building, as well as coordination with relevant National and District level authorities, UN agencies and other NGOs.

General Description of the Programme:
GOAL has been implementing programmes in Malawi since 2002. These have included the promotion of winter cropping during the dry season and growing techniques designed to increase crop diversification such as community gardens; small-scale irrigation; soil and water conservation; compost-making and 40 tree nurseries producing over 500,000 saplings.

The combination of chronic poverty, bad weather, a bad harvest, and a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS left almost 5 million people in Malawi in need of food aid in the early part of 2006. GOAL distributed maize, oil and beans to over 34,000 households/month in Nsanje district. GOAL also provided technical support to Ministry of Health Supplementary Feeding Programmes in Nsanje and Blantyre districts.

In September 2006, GOAL Malawi commenced the Nsanje Education, Water and Sanitation (NEWS) Programme to improve education facilities, increase access to water and sanitation in primary schools, and raise awareness of healthy behaviour and practices in targeted communities and schools. GOAL Malawi is also currently implementing HIV/AIDS, nutrition and livelihoods programmes as well as small-scale, community-driven construction activities.

GOAL Malawi is based in Blantyre with a large Field Office in Nsanje and a small Office in Balaka.

Key Responsibilities & Duties:

Programmes

* Ensure all GOAL Malawi programmes are implemented to high quality standards which are in line with GOAL Malawi’s Country Strategy, relevant donor requirements, international best practice and the Codes of Conduct and agreements to which GOAL is a signatory;
* Develop, review and/or revise the strategic objectives for GOAL Malawi’s programmes to ensure continual improvement throughout the Country Programme;
* Prepare project/programme proposals in accordance with donor tender documentation and requirements;
* Oversee donor and internal reporting;
* Support the development and utilisation of appropriate M&E and programme management tools and systems;
* Develop and implement internal mechanisms for institutional learning and programme integration;
* Improve the quality of programming through support supervision of key staff, analysis and dissemination of M&E data and lessons learned, and the review of GOAL and other best practice guidelines;
* Represent GOAL Malawi in meetings with donors, coordination bodies and Government representatives, as required;
* Travel frequently to all areas of operation to monitor implementation and ensure that beneficiaries, local authorities, and local staff are represented in programme planning and evaluation;
* Regularly and accurately report the status and progress of GOAL Malawi programmes to the Country Director;
* Liaise with the Country Director, Financial Controller, Logistics Coordinator and Human Resource Manager to ensure that the Nsanje Office has the appropriate staffing and resources required for appropriate, effective and efficient programme delivery.


Personnel

* Ensure appropriate HR planning, training and resource allocation as required for the successful implementation of programme objectives including appropriate support personnel at GOAL’s Nsanje Office;
* Line manage GOAL Malawi’s HIV/AIDS, Nsanje Education, Water and Sanitation (NEWS), and Nutrition Programme Coordinators and Wat/San Engineer;
* Support and mentor Nsanje staff as required.


Finance

* Ensure finance protocols are followed by all programme and Nsanje support staff;
* Liaise with the Financial Controller to ensure continuous oversight and involvement at all stage of the programme cycle.


Requirements For The Position:

Essential

* A minimum of three years overseas experience with development programmes at a senior management level;
* Masters Degree in Health, International Development, or other relevant discipline;
* Experience managing projects and programmes funded by major institutional donors and agencies such as the EC, the UN, WFP, DFID and Irish Aid.
* Strong demonstrable experience in project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, including financial management and the utilisation of appropriate project management tools;
* Excellent interpersonal, motivational and management skills with extensive experience mentoring staff;
* Exceptional communication, analysis and writing skills;
* Strong experience liaising with governmental/local authorities and other NGOs.


Desirable

* Technical background in one or more of GOAL Malawi’s areas of operation;
* Experience managing organisational change, in particular from humanitarian relief to development.


This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available. GOAL reserves the right to change this document. Interviews will be held in Dublin or London. Unfortunately GOAL cannot contribute to any financial costs incurred when attending interview. Interviews may be held in London, Dublin or Nairobi.
Vacancies Contact
applications@goal.ie