Key Responsibilities
Leading a Country Management Team, made up of Deputy Country Director- Head of Programmes, Head of Finance and Compliance, and Head of Operations and supported by a Human Resources Officer and Business Development Advisor, the responsibilities of the Ethiopia Country Director are as follows:
Strategic Leadership
• Provide vision and direction for the Ethiopia country programme in line with CAFOD, SCIAF and Trócaire’s organisational strategies.
• Develop and implement the Ethiopia Country Strategic Plan (CSP) and review the CSP annually.
• Report quarterly on programme, non-programme, and financial management to the Joint Agency Governance Group (JAGG).
• Input into CAFOD, SCIAF and Trócaire’s organisational strategies through strategic planning and annual review processes.
• Model the behaviours and values expected of CST staff.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of CST’s work, inputting into regional and Africa-wide processes and policies, and providing ideas, initiatives and information for development education, fundraising, campaigning, and advocacy work of the 3 organisations.
Programme development and overview of country programme
• Provide leadership and direction in the strategic development and implementation of development and humanitarian programmes at country level, in line with CAFOD, SCIAF and Trócaire’s strategic objectives, and strategies.
• Ensure that effective results-based monitoring and evaluation systems are implemented in line with Trócaire (as lead agency) policies and procedures.
• Take forward capacity strengthening processes and develop opportunities for more systematic learning and sharing amongst partners and within CST itself.
• Ensure that programme learning is captured and feeds into programme development and sharing across programmes and across the three agencies.
• Ensure that programme staff work together to build synergies between programme areas, where this adds to programme impact.
• Ensure that internal and external reporting is carried out in a timely manner, to a high standard and in line with agreed objectives and targets.
• Maintain direct communication with managers in the three HQ (e.g. Head of Programmes, Head of Institutional Funding), and ensure that the country team is
working effectively with other teams on programme quality and learning; research, policy & advocacy; and management of institutional funding.
• Provide leadership and foster collaboration with other actors (NGOs, INGOs, networks, host government etc.) in order increase programme quality and maximise impact.
• Ensure that CST responds appropriately to requests for humanitarian and development support, and that appraisal, monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian and development programmes takes place in line with Core Humanitarian Standards.
• Lead on advocacy at a country level and on defining advocacy messages for use internationally.
• Facilitate fundraising and communications work on an emergency response.
• Lead wider cross organisational teams/initiatives relating to the programme, such as media and communications work, advocacy, co-financing initiatives, humanitarian response.
Human Resource Management
• Ensure that CST attracts and retains high calibre national and international staff by providing; a sense of clear purpose to all staff, (ensuring staff understand CST’s objectives and their roles in achieving those objectives) and development opportunities, in line with Trócaire (as lead agency) policies and procedures.
• Lead on recruitment and management of staff according to Trócaire (as lead agency) management standards, so that staff are empowered, and the effectiveness of the team is maximised.
• Lead, manage and support direct reports, including setting objectives, conducting annual performance development reviews, providing coaching, and ensuring team members have individual development plans.
• Ensure effective and appropriate systems and processes for team learning and
development.
• Ensure consistent implementation of strong performance management systems throughout the country team, in line with CST policy.
• Foster a culture and efficient and effective practices of team-working in pursuit of greater programme impact and organisational effectiveness.
• Ensure that there are regular staff forums and meetings for discussion and coordination of strategic, operational, and administrative initiatives.
Financial and Admin Management
• Take responsibility for overall financial management in the country and ensure that there is optimal use of financial resources, managed in a transparent and accountable manner in line with CST’s systems and procedures.
• Plan, manage, and review budgets (programme budget, office overheads budget, back-donor funded programmes), in line with CST’s financial policies and guidelines and according to the requirements and deadlines set by the Head of Portfolio and the JAGG.
• Manage the core costs budget and the country staffing budget.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting in accordance with CST’s finance guidelines.
• Ensure that partner organisations are assessed in relation to financial management and governance standards and are supported to address capacity weaknesses.
Country office management and governance compliance
• Ensure that all host government requirements in relation to registration, taxation, labour law, auditing, fraud etc., are complied with.

Qualifications 

Third-level qualifications in a relevant field (e.g., International Development, Business Administration, Economics, Social / Political Sciences, Law).
• Qualification by experience may be considered in lieu of formal qualifications

Experience 

Significant demonstrable experience in the management of development and humanitarian programmes of substantial scale in a fragile and conflict affected
context.
• Demonstrable experience in running a country office (admin, finance, HR management, security management etc.).
• In-depth understanding of programming in a partnership model, working in a partnership-based NGO.
• Sound and up to date knowledge of development concepts, methodologies, and techniques, including results-based management, rights-based approach and participatory methodologies.
• Demonstrable experience or knowledge of one or more of the programme areas: sustainable livelihoods and natural resource management, women’s empowerment, emergency prevention and response and civil society strengthening.
• Demonstrable experience of promoting gender equity through programming and within an international organisation.

Demonstrable experience of working to attract institutional donor funding and of anaging large and complex donor grants.
• Solid experience of managing teams in a multi-cultural environment and playing a leadership role in ensuring cohesiveness, inclusion, and development of staff at all levels.
• Open to working with faith-based organizations.
• Experience of working with management information system

Skills

Excellent leadership skills.
• Ability to motivate staff to align behind a shared vision and objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and to develop and implement a clear country level strategy in the context of organisational strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-cultural teams of national and international staff well, and to implement performance management effectively.
• Ability to coach and help others develop in their professional lives.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills and demonstrated ability in using these with internal stakeholders and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and financial systems on a significant scale, in development and humanitarian contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to meet corporate governance and accountability requirements of host governments, CST and donors.
• Demonstrated ability to manage security in challenging environments.
• Highly organised, with excellent planning, prioritisation, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including ability to make highly effective presentations to groups; communicate well to the media; develop succinct reports for management or other internal purposes; and produce analysis and articles for internal and external use.
• Competent in Microsoft packages (Word, Excel) and in the effective use of ICT.
• Fluency (written and spoken) in English.
• A full valid driving licence