Country Representative at Management Sciences For Health - MSH

Job ID: 13-9878
Location: Abuja
Reports To:  Vice President, Health Programs Group

Overview

• The Country Representative (CR) is the primary contact for (non-project specific) external relations with key in-country stakeholders such as donors, government officials, clients and other partner organizations.
  The CR leads the development and execution of the Country Business Development Strategy and proactively coordinates MSH in-country activities. 
• The CR promotes technical awareness, coordination, collaboration, and synergy of MSH activities. 
• The CR ensures that all projects and staff in-country safeguard MSH’s financial, contractual, technical, and political integrity and reputation.  The CR has supervisory responsibility for the COMU Director.

Specific Responsibilities
Operations Management (40%):

• Provide equitable, effective, timely, cost-effective, and highâ€quality operations and administrative support to all MSH in-country projects within local laws and available resources.
• Develop and promote an environment with adequate internal controls, adherence to contracts regulations, MSH policies, and standard operating procedures.
• Facilitate/ensure timely resolution of issues, constraints, and problems affecting MSH in-country performance, efficiency, and effectiveness and work environment.
• Facilitate execution of internal/external financial, operations, and program reviews or audits, with timely follow up to reviews or audits conclusions and recommendations.
• Ensure that MSH activities and management operations in country are implemented as per MSH mission, values, policies and standards, and local laws and regulations.

Strategic Management of In- country Presence and New Business Development (30%):

• Drive the development and execution of the Country Business Development Strategy and the annual country plans; ensure appropriate and coordinated support from home office.
• Lead country-based business development and strategic communication activities (including positioning, intelligence gathering, and proposal development) that contribute to the sustainability or expansion of MSH’s programs.

People Management (20%):

• Provide support, coaching and mentoring to COMU Director and is accountable for (COMU Director) performance management (including regular check-ins, formal appraisals, supportive supervision, rewards, training, coaching and career development support).
• Facilitate resolution of differences or conflicts among Leadership Team (LT) members and their staff.
• Serve as Chair of the inâ€country LT and ensure accountability and appropriate follow up actions for decisions made at the meetings.
• Assist Project Directors in-country as needed and applicable, especially in scanning and navigating local environment and managing local relationships.

Client/Donor Management (10%):

• Provide support, coaching and mentoring to COMU Director and is accountable for (COMU Director) performance management (including regular check-ins, formal appraisals, supportive supervision, rewards, training, coaching and career development support).

Qualifications and Experience
Education:

• Required: Postgraduate education in a field of study closely related to the assigned responsibilities
• Preferred: MPH or MBA desirable

Experience:

• Required:Ten (10) years of progressively responsible, related experience in international development work is required.
• Successful track record in managing activities in low-resource settings and prior experience and success in directing international donor-funded projects.
• Preferred:Previous operations management experience is a plus.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated leadership and management abilities leading a diverse team of national professionals.
• Demonstrated strategic planning and visioning skills are required.
• Familiarity with USG regulations, administrative, and operations procedures in the implementation of donor assisted projects.
• Proven record of aligning diverse, multi-level teams with project mission and vision.
• Track record of strong commitment to sharing knowledge, documenting experiences, supporting creative initiatives, and sharing credit.
• Demonstrated strategic agility, diplomacy, conflict management, team building, cross cultural communication, active listening, and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with senior-level colleagues, particularly interacting productively, proactively, and comfortably with government agencies, NGOs, private sector groups, USAID, CAs, and donor organizations.
• Fluency in English and dominant language of Nigeria required.

Competencies
Navigating the Environment:

• Organizational Agility, Interpersonal Savvy, Peer Relationships, Political Savvy and Strategic Agility

Ensuring Delivery of Results:

• Action Oriented, Business Acumen, Drive for Results, Client Focus, Innovation Management, Managing and Measuring work, Negotiating, Process Management, Priority Setting, Problem Solving and Timely Decision Making

Personal Skills:

• Building Effective Teams, Conflict Management, Delegation, Dealing with Paradox, Decision Quality, Managing Vision and Purpose, Managerial Courage, Time Management, Planning.

Core Personal Competencies:

• Ethics and Values, Integrity and Trust, Listening.

Core MSH Competencies:

• Adaptability, Communication, Problem Solving, Creativity and Innovation, Quality, Quality and Timeliness of Work, Quality of work and Team Relationships, Resource Utilization