Country Director, South Sudan

Overview:

Women for Women International works in some of the most dangerous places to be a woman. We serve women survivors of war in conflict and post-conflict areas around the world in 8 countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, DR Congo, Nigeria, and South Sudan. Our core belief is that stronger women build stronger nations; and with access to knowledge, resources, and a support network, a woman rebuilds her life and improves her community.

Our model works and we have the data to prove it. In our 26-year history, Women for Women International has reached over half a million women. The women we work with across 3 continents earn just $0.81 a day when we enroll them. At graduation, it’s $2.11, nearly tripled.

Our impact goes beyond income. The number of women who say at least one household member went to sleep hungry in the last four weeks has gone from 18% to 5%. And more women say they speak out against women’s abuse: 26% report having publicly spoken in the last 6 months against physically abusing women.

When women have the right tools, they realize the power within themselves to transform their lives, their families, their communities, and finally their entire nations.**

Summary:

The Country Director is the official representative and leader of Women for Women International in South Sudan. The Country Director shapes the vision and strategy for the Country Office, providing high level oversight over all areas of program implementation and operations. S/he will have demonstrated ability to build the capacity of and counsel Country Office employees as well as manage team members. S/he will need to have a strong commitment to women’s empowerment, excellent leadership and management skills, the ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally, and to operate successfully in unstable and challenging environments.

As the official representative and leader of WfWI-South Sudan, the Country Director will represent the organizational, advocacy and programmatic priorities of the organization to donors and partners. S/he will lead WfWI’s efforts to maintain and strengthen WfWI’s reputation as a highly capable organization by cultivating and maintaining close, productive relationships with strategic partners and continually identifying new opportunities for WfWI to add value and maximize impact.

Women for Women International began working in South Sudan in 2006, first in Rumbek, Lakes State, and since 2013 in Yei, Central Equatoria. More than 14,000 marginalized women have graduated from our 12-month signature program of social and economic empowerment. Following a 2-year suspension of program activities in 2017-2018 due to heightened levels of insecurity across Yei River County, we reestablished our presence and programming in Yei in 2019 and have designed an ambitious strategic plan for expanding our work and impact, both directly and through local partners, for the coming years.

Duties and Responsibilities:

*Financial, Operational and Human Resources Management***

· Responsible for the development, management and oversight of South Sudan Country Office’s annual program plan and budget, in collaboration with program staff, and ensuring robust financial management and accountability of the country program budgets and fulfilment of annual targets.

· Approve financial transactions ensuring the accuracy of budget coding and supporting documents.

· Ensure that costs are managed in line with approved budgets.

· Performance manage direct reports in line with WfWI’s performance management framework, including setting of annual performance objectives, development plans, appraisals throughout the year, and regular one-on-one meetings.

· Ensure WfWI South Sudan teams across programmatic, administrative, and technical functions operate at an exceptional standard of performance, achieve maximum impact while delivering the programs and establish and maintain the systems and processes necessary to ensure compliance and value-for-money while creating an entrepreneurial environment that drives toward action, fosters resourceful problem solving, and ensures accountability for results.

· Lead recruitment of new staff according to programmatic and operational needs to grow a highly effective and capable team to pursue WfWI’s strategic vision in South Sudan.

· Responsible for ensuring proper safety & security measures are taken to safeguard staff, participants, visitors and assets.

· Adhere to WfWI’s Global Ethics Policies and follow up and address Code of Conduct or Safeguarding issues appropriately.

Programmatic Leadership and Development

· Provide strategic and management oversight to the design and successful implementation of all programs offered by WfWI including community assessments, rights and life skills training, cash transfers, business and vocational skills training, men’s engagement and advocacy work at all levels.

· Ensure that data collection, monitoring, evaluation and reporting on any aspect of the program is conducted in a timely manner and in line with WfWI and donor policies, procedures and grant agreements.

· Identify interventions that require additional monitoring and evaluation and inspire the program team to analyse program process and impact through surveys, qualitative research, and other mechanisms.

· Work closely with senior staff on all aspects of programming to ensure efficiency and accountability and to develop innovative programmatic approaches to help marginalized women improve their lives.

· Monitor the performance of any local partner grantees receiving funds from WfWI in South Sudan to ensure compliance with grant agreement and programmatic best practice and principles.

· Ensure country office compliance with all organizational policies, procedures and program guidelines as well as the local laws.

· Participate in rolling three-year strategy development for the organization as a whole and lead country office strategy processes within the broader global framework.

· Accountable to deliver annual plans and budgets aligned with the rolling strategy within the broader global framework.

Fundraising, Representation & Partnerships

· Work with fundraising offices to develop a business development strategy for South Sudan that will guide local and global fundraising plans.

· Oversee the drafting of quality funding proposals and ensure accountable grant management in line with organizational and donor requirements.

· Develop fundraising opportunities and cultivate new donor relationships; ensure visibility of the WfWI South Sudan program in country and regionally.

· Identify and develop strategic partnerships with local women’s organizations in South Sudan to jointly develop program proposals and engage in collective advocacy work.

· Develop and maintain good working relationships with local and international partners, donors, grantees, and relevant government agencies and community leaders.

· Lead and represent the organization to external audiences and stakeholders.

· Translate these program ideas into proposals, complete with budgets and log frames, in collaboration with the fundraising team in our HQ and UK offices.

Skills and Qualifications:

· Minimum of 10 years work experience ideally in the INGO/NGO sector, of which at least 5 years at a managerial level.

· Master’s Degree or equivalent post-graduate qualification in relevant field (or 15+ years’ relevant work experience in lieu of the advanced degree).

· Excellent leadership and management skills and demonstrated experience of managing diverse teams of 10 or more staff members in a participatory and enabling style.

· Experience and ability in mentoring, coaching and managing staff members within a diverse and global organization.

· Inspiring and motivational advocate for women’s empowerment programming a strong advantage.

· Demonstrable understanding and experience of gender issues and proven commitment to addressing gender inequalities in all key areas of responsibility.

· Experience working in conflict-affected contexts.

· Proven ability to raise and manage grants from major foundations, corporations, multi-lateral institutions and governments (including US Government).

· Familiarity with managing budgets, financial reporting and proposal writing.

· Excellent administrative and organizational skills.

· Strong interpersonal, communication and teambuilding skills.

· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

· Strong operational and logistical management skills.

· Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time efficiently.

· High level of maturity and cultural sensitivity.

· Knowledge of the political, economic and social context of South Sudan

· Strong computer skills in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Email applications.

· Fluency in written and spoken English and local language(s) is required.

· Ability to travel as required.

· Ability to have flexible work schedule which may include early mornings, evenings and weekends. May be required to occasionally work beyond normally scheduled hours.

· Commitment to and respect for Women for Women International’s mission and values.