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Senior Country Representative
Position Location: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Assigned countries: Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and the DRC
Reports to: Director of Operations
Supervises: Country Program Managers/Coordinators
Required Languages: French (English is an asset)
Overview:
The Senior Country Representative (SCR) is an important position in Farm Radio International, with overall responsibility for leading and developing the growth of the organization within specified countries. The key expectations of a successful SCR are that they: create a strong reputation and profile for FRI; engage with government partners effectively; position FRI to participate in major rural development initiatives; secure new funding opportunities; lead the development of a strong, capable, high-functioning, well-coordinated and motivated staff team; and oversee the sound administration and management of FRI operations in the appointed countries. The Senior Country Representative will also support team members in working effectively with and fulfilling accountabilities to FRI staff in other teams and offices, including the Regional, Global, and Specialty teams and departments.
Key Responsibilities
- Raise the profile and develop/maintain an excellent reputation for impact, reliability and performance of Farm Radio International within assigned countries.
- Represent FRI at regional, national, and local events
- Maintain regular contact with key decision and policy-makers
- Promote the work of FRI to national and local media resulting in greater media coverage
- Organize profile-raising events including project-related launches and closures
- Maintain an office that is professional and welcoming to visitors2. Build strong relationships
- Convene and/or facilitate the work of a “Country Advisory Board” composed of highly reputable professionals
- Develop and maintain relations with national and regional governments, including line ministries, departments, regulatory authorities and any relevant task forces or special working groups
- Develop and maintain relations with the Canadian High Commission, Embassy and Global Affairs Canada as well as other embassies and bilateral development agencies
- Develop and maintain relations with funding organizations
- Develop and maintain relations with civil society organizations, including media organizations, farmers’ organizations, women’s organizations, NGOs, etc.
- Develop and maintain relations with private sector groups
- Host visits and organize field visits and tours
3. Working closely with FRI’s Program Development Team and systems – Grow the organization within the country by identifying and developing prospects for new projects
- Scan, identify and monitor opportunities
- Contribute to concept notes, proposals and budgets in concert with the Program Managers and regional Program Managers
- Ensure FRI’s prospective role and financial needs are understood and accepted by funders or project collaborators
- Ensure the applications processes, including Farm Radio’s internal processes (e.g. risk analysis and management), are followed and deadlines met
- Advocate for FRI submissions
4. Provide leadership and coordination to the Country Teams in assigned countries
- Lead the recruitment and professional development of all team members, with appropriate participation and input from others in FRI’s Global, Regional and Specialty Teams
- Lead the development of an organizational culture and practices that promote gender equality, is inclusive and participatory, is respectful of diversity, and is a pleasure to be part of with zero tolerance for sexual harassment or misconduct or for fraud or corruption of any kind
- Lead country team contribution to the corporate strategic plan
- Coordinate the development of country-specific annual plans informed by and linked to the overall global strategic intentions (SI) plan for FRI
- Review work plans and monitor progress toward annual objectives on a regular basis
- Convene and chair management meetings
- Convene regular staff-coordination meetings
- Coordinate country participation in quarterly SI Planning and Review Meetings
- Ensure that specialists work effectively with and are accountable to specialty team leads and coordinators
- Ensure that project leads work effectively with the Country team, Regional and global teams and are accountable to their Managers
- Ensure that the Country Finance team works effectively with and meets the accountability expectations of the Field Finance Manager and Regional finance coordinator
- Ensure staff respect all FRI policies, procedures and guidelines
5. Manage assigned country offices and any field or sub-offices
- Ensure office policies and protocols are followed
- Ensure procurement policy is being properly followed
- Ensure all contracts are entered properly, shared with those who need them and filed properly – both physically in a secure cabinet and digitally in Google Drive.
- Negotiate lease agreements and manage sublet agreements for “tenants” in Farm Radio offices
- Equip and maintain the office
- Strive to make the offices “green” in terms of energy and water conservation, cleanliness, comfort, security and surrounded by plants
- Vehicles – ensure they are well-maintained, insured, permitted, stored and that policies are followed.
- Furniture and equipment – ensure that it is well-maintained, insured, stored, inventoried and that all maintenance procedures are followed, etc.
6. Manage HR administration for assigned countries
- Ensure all staff have up-to-date contracts, with job descriptions, and individual work plans (in line with employee performance management (EPM) templates and systems) that are on file, complete and up-to-date
- Lead staff recruitment process with appropriate input from all involved in hiring decisions.
- Oversee work of international volunteers and interns
- Ensure all staff are familiar with and adherent to Personnel, Safety and Security, Harassment, Whistleblowing, and Administration Policies
- Ensure permits and visas are in place for international staff and interns
- Ensure national labour laws and standards are being followed
- Ensure mandatory remittances, including income and VAT taxes are deducted and submitted and that all social security and other benefits are in place and up to date
- Ensure implementation of on-boarding orientation and training for new staff
- Hire and directly supervise: office managers, logistics officers, drivers, office support staff
7. Financial management
- Oversee and monitor country annual budget
- Oversees financial monitoring and quarterly financial systems and reports
- Oversees effective implementation and compliance of finance and procurement manuals/regulations
- Ensures proper filing and safe storage of all financial records
- Arrange for and support required country program financial audits
- Ensure the development, monitoring and revision of project spending plans
- Ensure the smooth operation of annual and project audits
8. Security, safety and welfare
- Carry out risk, vulnerability and threat assessment from time to time
- Liaise with other agencies on security matters
- Update internal safety and security reports and communicate security concerns with affected teams and departments
- Ensure compliance with all country policies and procedures
Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in program management, especially in communication for development
- Excellent French communication skills (written and spoken); English is an asset
- Willing to travel
Knowledge
- Knowledge and experience in terms of project development and implementation, including project management lifecycles and results
- Significant knowledge in the principles of gender equality and women’s rights and experience in the integration of these principles in the cycle of projects
- Experience in and knowledge of media and communication for development
- Experience in broadcast media
- Knowledge of agricultural and health practices in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Knowledge of national and international funding and strategic partnerships in West Africa
Skills and attributes
- Experience in managing operations, including financial and human resources of an organization or department
- Good skills in research, evaluation of data and writing
- Successful track record in seeking and securing project funding
- Excellent intercultural communication skills
- Good capacity in terms of organization and management time; ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines
- At ease working with minimal supervision and limited resources
- Proven experience in the management of international NGOs
How to apply
FRI values diversity and inclusion, and welcomes applications from all candidates that meet the qualifications. Women, people with disabilities and members of other equity-seeking or marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request in all aspects of the recruitment process.
FRI also participates in the inter-agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (https://misconduct-disclosure-scheme.org/). As such, upon hire, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation at the time of departure. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.
If you wish to apply for this position, please send a cover letter and CV to [email protected] indicating the job title “Sr. Country Representative” in the subject line.
Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls please.
