Mines Advisory Group
Country Director, Laos
The starting salary package for this position is £65,924 GBP / approx. $76,173 USD including all allowances
Please note, this renumeration package will be effective from the 1st January 2023. Should a candidate start with MAG before this, we will discuss the details as part of the appointment process.
About MAG:
MAG (Mines Advisory Group) is an international humanitarian organisation based in Manchester, UK, and working in 32 countries. We remove landmines and unexploded ordnance to release safe and productive land for communities, and work to reduce the threat of armed violence by supporting governments to safely manage weapons and ammunition. In 1997, MAG was a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for our work campaigning for the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.
About the Laos programme:
Laos has the unenviable title of being the most bombed country in the world per capita. For nearly a decade, Laos was subjected to heavy US bombing as part of the wider war in Indochina. US bombing records show that at least two million metric tonnes of ordnance was dropped between 1964 and 1973.
Working across Xieng Khouang and Khammouane provinces since 1994, MAG has directly helped more than 1,070,000 people to live safer lives, free from danger and fear. Another 2.6 million men, women and children have benefitted indirectly. Our teams have cleared more than 88,000,000 square metres of land in Laos, removing and destroying more than 295,000 items of UXO, including more than 163,000 cluster sub munitions. In addition, MAG has given more than 3,400 risk education sessions to around 128,000 people, helping them to stay safe until land is cleared. MAG now employ over 1,200 local employees in Laos, and it is now MAGs largest programme in terms of staff numbers.
About the role:
As Country Director, you will spend time both in the capital, Vientiane as well as our operational bases in Xieng Khouang and Khammouane Provinces. Reporting to the Regional Director, you will be responsible for the effective integration of strategic, programmatic and operational management and the development of new business, in compliance with contractual obligations and MAG’s mission and mandate. You will have a wide variety of strategic responsibilities including contract management, donor liaison, business development, people management, security management, capacity building and risk management. This senior role will provide you with the opportunity to use your people management skills, leading a large and diverse team of international and national staff operating across a geographically varied environment. You will also have the opportunity to use your skills in business development and stakeholder management, to take a leading role in donor development, identifying funding opportunities in a demanding donor environment, and working with a wide range of national and international actors.
About you:
It is essential that you have strong programme management skills, with experience of managing large scale, multi-year projects, ideally from project design through to contract delivery. You will also need demonstrable skills in people and financial management, as well as previous experience working overseas in complex political environments that require tact, sensitivity and relationship-building skills. You will have a strong commitment and demonstrable experience of promoting and driving forward change in relation to gender, equity and diversity issues across our teams, fostering a positive working environment which is highly inclusive of different cultures and backgrounds. Previous experience in the mine action sector is highly desirable, however we welcome applications from experienced leaders with other backgrounds including the broader disarmament, protection and humanitarian fields. In addition, experience within the region is highly desirable.
Please note that as part of MAG’s commitment to safeguarding, this post is subject to background checks before an offer of employment is confirmed. For more information on MAG’s approach to safeguarding and background checks, please click here. You can also find more information in the candidate information pack, available on the MAG website, using the link below.
MAG is committed to the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion. If you think you would be suited to one of our roles we would welcome your application regardless of your background. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive working environment where all employees feel respected and supported in fulfilling their potential
How to apply
For the further information on the role, the application form and details of how to apply, please visit, the MAG website at www.maginternational.org/vacancies-at-MAG. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the advert will close if a suitable candidate is found. Therefore, please submit your application as soon as possible to [email protected].