Country Director at Oxfam

Job ID: 1746
Internal Job Grade: CD B1
Contract Type: Fixed-term 4 years
Reporting to: Regional Director, West Africa
Staff reporting directly to this post: Country Leadership Team of approximately 8 staff.
Total Workforce: 80+ including a core team, and project funded staff.
Annual Budget: €14 million per annum on average.

Job Purpose

• The Country Director will be responsible, with support from the Country Governance Groups and the Regional Director, to deliver the new and exciting Oxfam Strategic Framework (2020-30) which aims to create a stronger but humble Oxfam that is part of a diversified and globally balanced network.
• He/she will lead in positioning Oxfam in Nigeria as an effective and partner led  agency of influence that is meaningfully connected to the struggles of the  Nigerians and that of the ECOWAS region and African continent to reduce the injustice of poverty.

The Role

• Oxfam International Secretariat is looking for a Country Director who will be responsible to implement Oxfam Vision which aims to create a stronger Oxfam that is globally coordinated and relevant in every country in which we work. With support from the Country Governance Groups and the Regional Director, the Country Director will deliver the new and exciting Oxfam Strategic Framework (2020-30) which aims to create a stronger but humble Oxfam that is part of a diversified and globally balanced network.
• He/she will lead in positioning Oxfam in Nigeria as an effective and partner led agency of influence that is meaningfully connected to the struggles of the Nigerians and that of the ECOWAS region and African continent to reduce the injustice of poverty.

Who we're looking for

• In order to help drive and deliver this ambitious vision in Nigeria we are currently seeking an outstanding and distinctive Country Director. This leader will have demonstrable strategic and creative leadership, management and coordination skills in a network setting, a multi-cultural worldview and understand the systemic challenges and strengths of being a global organization. Excellent communication skills, with fluency in written and spoken English are essential.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Accountability, Risk Management and Safe Programming:

• Accountable to the West Africa Regional Director, for the delivery, effective management (which includes budgets and plan), monitoring and evaluation,  learning from the programme, contract compliance, office administration and financial management.
• Ensure the financial viability of the country office, optimal use of financial and other resources; managed in a transparent and accountable manner, consistent with Oxfam’s and donor policies, systems and procedures, delivering quality results and demonstrating value for money.
• Prevent fraud and respond robustly to any suspicions or reports of fraud, code of conduct abuses or other misdemeanors, and adhering to Oxfam’s policy and procedures on investigations
• Ensure Oxfam complies with all relevant national legal and administrative requirements
• Identify all risks and implementing mitigating measures in conjunction with the Country Leadership team
• Ensure a functioning Complaints Response Mechanism within all programmes
• Ensure that all programmes are delivered in line with the expectations of Oxfam’s safe programming protocols.
• Accountable for ensuring that appropriate tools and technology are in place to allow a strong flow of positive and consistent programme content to influence and communicate with internal audiences and external stakeholders including but not limitedto government, media, donors, nongovernmental sector and supporters.

Strategy Development and Implementation:

• To be responsible fortheperiodic revisionof the country strategic plan with thesupport of the Regional Director, the Regional Leadership Teamand Country Governance Group (CGG), having taken on board their views and feedback.
• Provide strategic leadership and management of Oxfam’s programme in country  including all development, advocacy, and humanitarian programming ensuring strong gender justice, and MEL across programmesto maximise our influence and impact.
• Successfully lead thedesign, communication and implementation of the transition as part of the Country Mapping review for Oxfam in Nigeria to become an Influencing country program.
• Lead in political economy analysis as basis for choices on issues Oxfam should engage inNigeria.

People Management:

• Line manage the Country Leadership Team and manage the work in the country which will include: staff, budgets,  funding  and  programme,  ensuring  that managers in country are in accordance with Oxfam’s policies and procedures, including but not limited toto Oxfam’s gender justice policy and procedures, the Code of Conduct, Performance Management, Security, Health and Safety,safeguarding policiesand local legislation.
• Support, create, build and embed a culture ofprogramming forinfluencing within the organization to deliver on the mandate.
• Creates and supports an environment which results in a safe environment for staff to contribute to strategic thinking,  planning  and  implementation  in  a  challenging  external  environment, strong  partnerships, influence, knowledge sharing and innovation.
• Responsible for Talent management and development of Oxfam staff.
• Ensure  an  effective  engagement  process  is  put  in  place  for  staff  &  partners  to  engage  in  the  change process of Oxfam in Senegal becoming  an influencing country program.

Technical Skills, Experience & Knowledge

Management and Leadership:

• Proven track record of leading and motivating multi-disciplinary, geographically remote teams and operations across a number of locations
• Significant senior leadership and management experience in the development and delivery of high quality program, influencing and humanitarian strategy, with and through partners or directly, in one or more challenging locations.
• At least 5 years of experience of managing complex change processes and relationships involving a wide range of both internal and external multi-cultural stakeholders across a variety of disciplines and geographical areas.
• A high degree of self-awareness and an understanding of how to drive and support excellent team performance and individual development in line with Oxfam’s values and policies.
• Proven track record of leading strategic processes including in complex and fast paced contexts.
• Experience in leading complex organizational change processes with appreciable outcomes and keeping the team motivated and engaged even in unstable contexts.

Representation and Communication:

• Proven track record of success in representing an organization with partners, government agencies, private sector organizations, media and donors at senior level: nationally and globally.
• Proven track record of success in advocacy and influencing.
• Demonstrable experience of working with the media and an ability to represent the organisation in the media if required.
• Demonstrable ability to convey complex messages in an appropriate manner to broad and diverse audiences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to motivate, influence and negotiate.

Finance and Funding:

• Ability to maximise fundraising from diverse institutions, both local and international
• High level financial and asset management skills to steer and efficiently manage budget of €14 million across a number of locations
• Coordinate overall country budget funded by major bilateral donors; manage budget within approved spending levels and establish an annual cash flow plan to ensure a steady and adequate supply of funds for programme activities.
• Ensure programme implementation is on time, target and budget by leading the monthly budget monitoring process, ensuring that staff receive training on the budget management process and holding staff accountable for accurate forecasting.
• Build and maintain operational structures that ensure proper segregation of duties between finance, administration and logistics.
• Ensure major bilateral donors contract and budget compliance with appropriate control and reporting measures.

Key Attributes:

• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as the commitment to equal opportunities.
• Ability to demonstrate an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender mainstreaming, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work.
• Commitment to Oxfam’s safeguarding policies to ensure all people who come into contact with Oxfam are as safe as possible.

Organisational Values:

• Equality- We believe everyone has the right to be treated fairly and to have the same rights and opportunities.
• Empowerment - We acknowledge and seek to expand people’s agency over their lives and the decisions that impact them.
• Solidarity - We join hands, support, and collaborate across boundaries in working towards a just and sustainable world.
• Inclusiveness - We embrace diversity and difference and value the perspectives and contributions of all people and communities in their fight against poverty and injustice.
• Accountability - We take responsibility for our actions and inaction and hold ourselves accountable to the people we work with and for
• Courage - We speak truth to power and act with conviction on the justice of our causes.

Travel:

• Ability to travel away from home, often to remote programmatic sites within the country for several weeks per annum, and periodic travel aboard for global meetings.

Languages:

• Fluent in written and spoken English. Ideally the ability to also work in an additional local dialect.

What We offer:

• At Oxfam, we believe that every aspect of our work can lead to a positive outcome. If you have the same opinion, together with the ability to meet the challenges involved, this role offers scope for immense personal fulfilment - as well as outstanding opportunities to develop your career. Oxfam is committed to providing a fair compensation package and a flexible working environment.