Country Leadership / Director at TechnoServe

Requisition Number: COUNT01917
Job Category: Operations

Description

• TechnoServe has immediate openings for Country Leadership/Director positions in our Africa Country Programs. 
• TechnoServe Country Directors are the heart of our organization and must successfully function at many different levels at once.  They are simultaneously diplomats, networkers, salespeople, program managers, finance managers, and people managers, often serving in all of these roles in any one day.  It is one of the most difficult roles in our organization, but also one of the most rewarding for its direct impact on making the world a better place.  
• The Country Director leads all aspects of TechnoServe’s country-level strategic branding, fundraising, and operations to achieve sustainable economic development in a cost-effective manner. This position serves as TechnoServe’s in-country legal representative and provides overall management of a Country Program, including HR, procurement, finance and operations, ensuring efficient and effective and high-quality implementation of programs, compliance with all donor and local legal requirements as well as TechnoServe policies and regulations.
• Country Directors also serve as an important link between the country office and our headquarters in the US.  They provide context-rich communications and are critical advocates for building and maintaining a culture in line with our strategy and values.
• Country Directors generally have knowledge or expertise in a particular technical area--so that they can credibly represent the organization--but often focuses his/her time much more on business development, program management, and people management than on serving as a technical advisor.

Primary Functions & Responsibilities
The Country Director is expected to effectively manage all aspects of country operations including:  

• Program Oversight: Coaching and supervising leaders and managers of programs for successful delivery of results; ensuring timely submission of internal reports and corporate measurement; ensuring timely submission of high quality donor reports with support of the divisional back-stopping team; supporting country-level adaptation and use of program management tools; and working with program staff to identify and address technical assistance needs.
• Program Development: In collaboration with regional leadership and program development teams, executing a business strategy aligned with TechnoServe’s global and regional strategies, maintaining and building strong relationships with a wide range of donors, and proactively developing and delivering upon a robust pipeline of new program opportunities to grow the country platform and scale TechnoServe’s impact.
• Stakeholder Representation: Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with relevant in-country stakeholders, including government ministries, private sector companies, business associations, and civil society organizations; securing their support as needed; representing TechnoServe at internal and external functions.  Also establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with internal divisional, regional, and HQ teams.
• People Leadership: Hiring, supporting, and managing a talented local staff in line with local labor laws as well as TechnoServe policies and approaches related to recruiting, pay, and performance. Putting together and leading a local senior management team made up of program managers, HR, Finance, and Procurement functions.  Developing and communicating a principled commitment to TechnoServe’s mission and building a working culture that aligns with organizational values of integrity and  collegiality
• Compliance Leadership: Representing TechnoServe in all legal matters at the country level, and ensuring TechnoServe retains and consults with qualified local legal counsel as needed; ensuring that TechnoServe is properly registered and complies with all related regulations.  
• Finance Leadership: Reviewing and approving expenditures to ensure compliance with country and donor budgets and TechnoServe’s procurement/finance policies; ensure submission of high-quality reports and documents to TechnoServe’s HQ on a timely basis in accordance with the corporate calendar, including monthly financial close, annual and mid-year budgets; monitor burn rates on a monthly basis and course correct spending as needed and/or ensure donor and internal budget realignments are requested and approved when required.
• Safety and Security: Ensuring that the country office has a robust and highly communicated security plan; expeditiously managing safety and security issues as they arise, with help from headquarters and our external security advisors.  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree with a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.
• 5 years implementation and management experience relating to large-scale projects with responsibility for all aspects of operations including HR, Finance, and Procurement.
• Proven ability to fundraise / work with donor organizations and professionally and proactively represent an organization.
• Experience working in developing countries
• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English, including report writing and presentations. In some country programs, French language skills are necessary. 
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% and internationally as necessary.
• Significant operations experience, including experience in budget development and management
• Private sector experience and/or overall business acumen
• Strong people management skills and experience with a record of recruiting and retaining top talent as well as the ability to quickly address performance and/or behavior issues.
• Entrepreneurial and inspirational, with a demonstrated ability to build and maintain high-performing teams in stressful contexts.
• Ability to build strong relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.