Church World Service
Background:
CWS is seeking a Country Representative for its Myanmar country program office. The Country Representative is part of the CWS Asia Regional team and its programs in Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand, and Japan.
CWS is a faith-based organization transforming communities around the globe through just and sustainable responses to hunger, poverty, displacement, and disaster. CWS has 75 years of experience assisting refugees, migrants and host communities in humanitarian emergencies, protracted displacement, resettlement, and mixed migration contexts. CWS has been present in Asia since the 1940s supporting migrants and refugees, sending cash, food and non-food items to populations in need, including victims of natural disasters and populations living in poverty.
CWS has been present in Myanmar since 2008 after a response to Cyclone Nargis in Ayeyarwady Region, Maubin Township and continues to work in this region. On top of this CWS is part of the ACT Alliance and INGO Forum who continue to provide humanitarian support to internally displaced people and other vulnerable communities.
Church World Service does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or veteran status in employment or in the provision of services.
Primary Purpose:
In consultation with the Asia Regional Representative/Director (RD), the Country Representative (CR) for Myanmar leads CWS projects and programs to achieve CWS country level and global aims. The CR oversees all CWS work (projects and support operations, including budget/financial management); s/he also creates new strategic partnerships while maintaining positive relationships with key stakeholders; works in partnership with regional and global colleagues to seek donor support to sustain and expand CWS work; shares information about Myanmar programs with key CWS constituencies, internal and external, including the Myanmar government, donors and prospective donors in consultation with relevant colleagues.
Essential Responsibilities:
Program Development and Management
- Lead all CWS projects and programs in Myanmar.
- In consultation with CWS colleagues and partners in Myanmar strategic direction and growth for the country programs in consultation with the Regional Representative.
- Participate in CWS annual planning and quarterly reporting, and other strategic and operational initiatives.
- Facilitate linkages among partners with an emphasis on program learning.
- In partnership with line managers/supervisors, manage staff and liaise with partners to ensure timely, accountable, successful program implementation.
- Oversee the opening/closing of all projects (offices) in Myanmar.
- Be knowledgeable of relevant external development and humanitarian goals and objectives for Myanmar.
- Lead the response of emerging humanitarian crises and recommend CWS engagement/response action.
- Ensure donor-agreed program objectives and reporting requirements are met in a timely way.
Financial Management
- Lead staff in preparing (1) the annual country budget for CWS funding and (2) project budgets for external donors.
- Oversee and guarantee best practice record keeping and reporting for financial operations, including compliant donor-fund management as well as audit preparation and responses.
- With the Finance Director, ensure financial systems are maintained in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Procedures (GAAP), HQ guidelines, and donor requirements.
- Monitor finances to ensure spending does not exceed available resources; adjust budget plans and spending, as necessary.
- Provide financial reports and information to the regional team, and to CWS HQ, as required by Finance Policies and Procedures.
Resource Mobilization
- Work with the Regional Representative and global resource mobilization colleagues to seek new funding; engage country team colleagues to identify and pursue funding opportunities in line with the CWS mission and identity.
- Form collaborative relationships with other NGOs, national and international organizations, and/or other CWS country offices for resource mobilization
- Oversee project/program design and the drafting of funding) in keeping with current country program goals and objectives.
- Host colleagues, donors and denominational visits.
- Share success stories, blogs, social media content about country programs/activities as requested by CWS communications and resource mobilization colleagues.
- Responsible for building in-country networks and donor relations for fundraising and developing other resources to support CWS’s mission in Myanmar.
Human Resources
- Lead the CWS Myanmar teams: supervise and support direct reports;
- Routinely validate a clear organizational structure and ensure the country and sub- offices are well-staffed in line with funds available to implement development and humanitarian assistance projects / activities.
- Lead operations and programs to ensure staff care and maintain staff morale.
- Ensure each employee has:up-to-date job description, annual goals, periodic performance checks and an annual performance appraisal and opportunities for job-related knowledge and professional development as CWS resources allow.
- Ensure CWS Myanmar compliance with national labor laws as well as relevant HQ policies, protocols, and practices and that CWS staff are fully informed of policies, procedures, protocols, etc
Relationships/Representation
- Be the primary liaison between the Regional Representative (RR) and CWS staff and partners, including the ACT Alliance Myanmar Forum, INGO Forum and government, community, and church stakeholders.
- Ensure CWS staff and partners know and follow agency direction, strategy, and policies, particularly regarding project participants’/community members’ protection and safeguarding.
- Ensure that all laws and regulations pertaining to NGO work in Myanmar are followed.
- Share information and insight with the RR to inform agency decision-making and contribute to strategic direction and policy development.
- Develop and sustain appropriate relationships with relevant partners.
Liaison with regional and HQ offices/colleagues
- Routinely liaise with the Regional Representatives on operations and programming in Myanmar as requested.
- Participate in meetings convened by the Regional Representative and other CWS colleagues.
Safety and Security
- Liaise with the Regional Director and HQ on all matters of safety and security and lead all reasonable and prudent steps to ensure the safety and security of CWS staff and assets in Myanmar.
Other
- With delegation to relevant colleagues, ensure that all assets (office and communications equipment, vehicles, owned or leased property, etc.) are properly used, maintained and secured.
- Ensure translation of key documents addressed to or from CWS (HQ) as necessary to facilitate full and open communication between the Country Office, Myanmar staff, HQ and key external stakeholders.
- Undertake duties and activities as deemed necessary or as requested the Regional Representative or other program leadership.
Qualifications:
Education
A Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to global development, humanitarian assistance and/or international studies is required; a Master’s degree in a relevant field / discipline is desired.
Required Skills/Experience
- 10+ years’ experience leading and managing humanitarian and development projects / programs and the budgets allocated to implement them and/or
- Demonstrated experience and knowledge working in the development and humanitarian sector
- 10+years’ experience in a country or other relevant leadership role with responsibility for program-ops-team management
- Excellent interpersonal, teamwork and cross-cultural communication / facilitation skills and experience
- Proven strong written and verbal English Skills
- Proven management skills for (1) program/project, (2) finance/budgets, (3) operations, including human resources (HR)
- Experience supporting national civil society partners in for project/program activities
- Understanding of ecumenical partnership in line with CWS mission and commitments
- Computer literacy, including use of Internet resources, word processing, presentation, spreadsheets, etc.
- Ability and enthusiasm to travel extensively and often to remote project sites
- Fluency in written and spoken English