Country Director

Job Title: Country Director Job Location: Kolkata, India Start Date Required: Sept 2011
Contract Length; 12 months

OVERALL DESCRIPTION

General Description of Programme:

GOAL has been working in Kolkata (Calcutta) for almost 32 years, supporting over 20 local NGO implementing partners over this period. GOALs national partners implement programmes which include reaching out to street children; mentally ill women and children; deprived rural and urban communities; children and women living in red light districts ; livelihood development; model village development and provision of water and sanitation facilities in slum schools.

GOAL has an established office in Kolkata with a team of experienced local staff ( approx. 15) and 1 expatriate staff member. All staff are involved in the different aspects of programmes from their inception to their completion - including field visits on a regular basis to assess and check the financial control of the partners , to assessing the impact of their work on the beneficiary communities. The South Asia region is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and the GOAL India office is also expected to respond immediately to any of the naturally occurring tragedies including earthquakes, cyclones and / or floods to surrounding areas.

General Description of the Role: The GOAL Country Director is responsible for the planning, management and appropriate development/expansion of GOAL’s work in country. The CD is responsible for ensuring that GOAL’s work contributes effectively and efficiently towards meeting the short, medium and long term needs of the poorest of the poor, within the framework of GOAL’s organisational and regional objectives, in a co-ordinated manner and in accordance with GOAL’s guidelines and principles.

As Country Director you would be expected to liaise closely with these local partners in order to monitor ongoing projects as well as evaluate potential future projects.

RESPONSIBILITIES

PROJECTS • The Country Director must provide ongoing review and development of overall country strategy, and of individual project objectives. They must undertake, with the project management team, continuous review, monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness, impact and direction of each project. • The Country Director must make it a priority to identify new projects in country. • The Country Director must ensure that there are regular effective communications within the country programme and with GOAL Dublin • The Country Director has overall responsibility for implementation of the Country Strategic Plan

DONORS The Country Director is the principal point of contact with the in-country donors. Currently, however, GOAL India does not work with donors within India. Duties • To be familiar with all of the donors present in-country. Liaise with donors regularly, have on hand an up to date copy of donor guidelines and be familiar with their policies. • It is the responsibility of the Country Director to secure project funding from donors in-country where possible.
• The Country Director has overall responsibility for all aspects of financial and programme management.
• The Country Director has overall responsibility for narrative and financial reporting to donors, to be submitted at least to GOAL head office one month prior to the due date.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY The Country Director has ultimate accountability for all financial matters in the field and must review and approve the monthly management accounts. Duties • To ensure adherence to the financial guidelines as per the GOAL Dublin Financial Manual. • To ensure that comprehensive and timely reports are produced in accordance with schedules agreed by GOAL HQ. (e.g. monthly management accounts and donor status reports to be submitted by 15th of every month).

PERSONNEL As Country Director you are responsible for the health and welfare of your team of staff including expatriate and local personnel and are empowered to use all available resources to promote their development in line with GOAL policy. All expatriate staff contract extension / termination / promotion must have prior approval from GOAL Dublin. The Country Director must: • Ensure that the policies and guidelines as laid down in the GOAL Personnel Manual are adhered to by all. • Be accountable for the overall security of personnel • Encourage training and development of all GOAL staff in India • Ensure that ongoing informal review/evaluation of staff performance, and formal written evaluation of each of the international staff is prepared on a six monthly basis, and sent to GOAL Dublin in confidence.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT/LOGISTICS It is the responsibility of the Country Director to ensure that all available and appropriate resources are accessible in their country of assignment. Duties • To ensure that the policies and guidelines as laid down in the GOAL Logistics Manual are adhered to by all. • Ensure that there are appropriate systems in place for the effective utilisation and management of finance, personnel, supplies, transport, capital assets etc.

REPRESENTATION The Country Director has the responsibility and mandate to represent GOAL within their country of assignment. This includes appropriate liaison and negotiation with the relevant Government partners, regional and local authorities; donors; local agencies etc. at all levels of project implementation.

MEDIA/PR/VISIBILITY Media and PR coverage for GOAL in a developing country is the responsibility of the Country Director. The Country Director must seek out and present GOAL to any international media personnel in country, and ensure coverage of GOAL activities.

Candidate requirements: • Post-graduate qualification in Development or Humanitarian Assistance is desirable. • 5 years previous experience in a management position with an international NGO. • Previous experience in a management role in Emergency situations, understanding and experience of security management. • Proven experience in proposal writing. • Good personnel skills.

Salary and conditions: The salary offered for this post is commensurate with experience and in line with GOAL salary scales for the position. In-country allowances including housing, will be provided in addition to salary. GOAL will cover medical insurance and related expenses.

Reporting to: Head of Programs, Dublin Contract Length: 12 months Start Date Required: Within 3 months

This Job Description serves as a guideline only. GOAL reserves the right to change this document. Unfortunately GOAL cannot contribute to any financial costs incurred when attending interview.

If you would like to apply for the above role, please send your CV and covering letter to applications@goal.ie ensuring that the job title and locations are clearly stated in the subject line of your email. Thank You.