Country Director – Yemen

Job Description & Person Specification

Country Director – Yemen

Salary: $4,000 + benefits

Contract: 1 year (subject to extension) Hours: Full-time

Location: Yemen

Reports to: UK Head of Programmes/Deputy CEO

Closing Date: Interviews to be conducted on a rolling basis

About READ Foundation

READ Foundation is a UK based registered charity working to create school places for children living in poverty in the developing world.

We create opportunities for orphan and needy children to go to school to gain an education and build a better life for themselves. We currently focus on constructing new schools, providing quality sponsorship for orphans and are now expanding our educational portfolio to reflect the large humanitarian and development needs ongoing throughout the world.

We created our first school in 1994 with a single classroom of 25 children, while as of this academic year we are now running almost 400 schools, in which over 100,000 children study, almost 10% of whom are orphaned by father or both parents. However, with a global shortage of classrooms in the millions, there is still much to do to achieve universal education.

Purpose of Job

The role holder will represent READ in the country of assignment and is responsible for the planning, management and implementation of the country program.

Ensuring strategic alignment with the READ UK global strategy, the Country director will exhibit strong leadership to coordinate and supervise the efficient implementation of READ Programmes.

The role holder will also develop strong strategic partnerships with other stakeholders, including UN and other institutional funding entities to maximize resource mobilization.

Main Responsibilities

Included but not limited to;

Program strategy and management:

• Create and influence the Yemen programmes strategy in line with READ’S vision, mission and core values.
• Responsible for the delivery of our international programmes, ensuring programme effectiveness. A particular focus on Education in emergencies.
• Delivery of the programmes operational plan and ensuring alignment with READ’s strategic plan.
• Develop READ’s Educational Humanitarian response and provide guidance in terms of strategy, deployment and resource mobilisation.
• Ensure READ’s programmes harness the correct balance between Humanitarian response vs Sustainable development, in line with the new sustainable development goals.
• Manage the Country Office team, including direct supervision of senior management staff (Head of Finance, Head of Programs etc.) with general oversight of the program, operations, and finance teams.

Representation and Communication

• Oversight of Strategic partnership initiatives and resource mobilisation, through institutional funding, partner organisations and high net worth individuals.
• Building and managing strategic partnerships and alliances with like-minded organisations globally on delivery and sector-wide issues.
• Raising the profile of the charity in the sector through networking and representing it on the appropriate platforms.
• Ensuring Yemen-Programmes are suitably documented with appropriate reporting, media and communications. Ensure READ-UK and other donors receive high quality feedback.

Operational oversight

• Overall responsibility for Programme Compliance, including managing READ’S Risk framework through robust risk policies and procedures.
• Ensure the capacity building of READ’s Yemen mission with the appropriate technical skills, systems and thematic training.
• Overseeing and maximising Yemen staff’s performance and learning.
• Monitoring structure, workflows, processes, and systems to ensure these are fit for purpose at all times, with responsibility for introducing such changes as appropriate from time to time
• Responsible for periodic budget setting and ensuring optimal annual spend in coordination with the Head of Finance and Operations.
• Work with the Deputy CEO and other UK departments to further develop READ Yemen’s footprint.
• Responsible for the safety and security of the staff, program, and assets; ensure safety and security policies are updated and implemented.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Knowledge of project management principles and their application.
• Knowledge of education focused projects (desirable)
• A proven track record of success as a Country Director or Head of Mission working in complex environments whilst delivering with high quality results.
• Experience of formulating high-quality concept notes and project proposals.
• Demonstrable experience of applying effective problem-solving techniques.
• Effective communicator who is able to develop strong relationships with the fundraising team, key people within the company and external stakeholders.

Experience & Qualifications

• 3 years’ experience as a Country Director or Head of Mission. We would consider competent Programme Directors with 5+ years experience.
• Educated in a development or humanitarian discipline such as International development, International Relations, Project management in developing environment, NGO management etc.
• Experience in developing or managing Education based projects (Desirable)
• Experience of successfully fundraising and dealing with institutional donors and international donors.
• Proven experience and knowledge of effective budgetary control and grant management.
• Strong and well-developed analytical skills coupled with experience of writing quality proposals and reports
• MS Office Suite; Project management systems
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritise a complicated workload.

Skills

• Ability to work under pressure, manage time, workload and prioritise work to deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Self-motivated with an ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Good independent judgement and ability to challenge constructively.
• Excellent organisational, planning and time management skills.