Country Director

Job Title: Country Director

Location: San Pedro Las Huertas, Guatemala

Contract duration: Permanent

Responsible to: Regional Vice President

Department: Program

Travel: Internal travel up to 35% of the time. Regional travel a couple of times per year.

DRS is looking, on behalf of our client, an INGO, for a Country Director in Guatemala who will provide leadership and strategic direction in the development and implementation of the country strategy and will be accountable for all aspects of INGO’s work in the country.

Areas of Responsibility:

• Strategic Direction:
  • Lead the design and management of the Country strategy in line with the overall INGO’s strategy and relevant to the local context;
  • Raise the profile of the INGO in the country through networking with (external) organizations in-country;
  • Asses and respond to changing external environment;
  • Facilitate alignment of the country program with INGO’s Regional & Global policies;
  • Develop or be involved with the national board of directors (where legally required);
  • Produce a detailed annual business operating plan that program outputs can be measured against;
• Program Funding: Working with Regional staff, Global Operations and Development:
  • Highlight country-specific funding requirements;
  • Develop and maintain relationships with donors for the diversification of the funding sources of the office;
  • Follow INGO’s policies regarding any locally generated revenue;
• Spiritual Leadership:
  • Responsible for ensuring the office culture is centered on a Christian ethos in accordance with INGO’s mission and values;
  • Participate in and lead regular devotional meetings;
  • Provide spiritual care for staff;
  • Model a high standard of personal Christian leadership, ministry and integrity through lifestyle and work relationships;
• Legal Compliance:
  • Ensure legal compliance in all areas: health and safety, labour laws, taxes, insurance and other local requirements;
  • Organization’s policy and procedure compliance;
  • Responsible for ensuring all program areas are following the organization’s policies and procedures in accordance with INGO’s published documents, such as minimum standards, field manuals, etc.;
• Financial and Resource Management:
  • Be accountable for budget, resources, and assets, ensuring financial controls and cost-effectiveness in accordance with the organization’s mission and values;
  • Develop and manage the country’s operating budget, including major capital expenditures;
  • Oversee and ensure compliance with local policies and ethical guidelines and comply with guidelines on procurements, security and other functions;
  • Ensure planning process to enable the country to use available resources in the best way to carry out agreed-upon country strategies;
  • Promote country funding needs to RVP;
• Staff Management:
  • Effectively lead the team within the performance management framework and coach staff/managers;
  • Ensure methods of operation and working behaviors are in line with the organization’s values and policies and are in legal compliance;
  • Recruit staff in accordance with local requirements and INGO’s procedures;
• Security and Risk Management:
  • Be fully accountable at the country level for emergency and risk management, develop a plan and ensure staff awareness and compliance;
• Corporate Leadership:
  • Act as a guardian of the INGO’s brand in the country;
  • Ensure staff are continuously engaged and aligned with the organization’s global mission, strategy, values, strategic direction and country plan;
  • Work with peers across the organization to share knowledge, skills, resources, and networks;
• Oversee program and development and grant management:
  • Provide strategic leadership and accountability.
• Qualifications, Experience and Skills:
  • Bachelor’s degree in international development or equivalent;
  • At least 7 years’ experience in a senior management position;
  • Demonstrated ability to deal decisively with complex situations;
  • Strategic thinker with a clear, comprehensive understanding of the link between operations and business strategy;
  • Demonstrated ability to implement a country strategy in compliance with organizational strategy and agreed-upon standards;
  • Substantial business acumen in general management, financial management, and operations with work experience in the WASH sector;
  • Strong interpersonal, communication and customer service skills;
  • Ability to train and develop capacity in country-level staff;
  • Commitment to the Christian ethos of development;
  • Strong planning, community mobilization and inter-cultural communication skills required;
  • Experience working on grant-funded programs in improving the overall health status at the household level through improved water access/quality, sanitation and hygiene would be desirable;
  • Strong English language skills, including excellent presentation and writing skills and fluency in Spanish;
  • Willing and able to travel internally and regionally up to 35% of the time;
  • Driving license and skills driving a manual transmission car.