DEPUTY COUNTRY DIRECTOR -PROGRAMS

CARE is an international NGO with local staff and community partners in more than 90 countries. We create local solutions to poverty and inequality and we seek dignity for everyone every day and during times of crisis. These solutions have a broad range, from clean water to access to education; from microfinance to ensuring that everyone has nutritious food; from agriculture and climate change to disaster response. CARE puts women and girls at the center of everything we do because they have proven to be the best hope for creating lasting change in the world. Our staff live where they work, which makes us effective at understanding the challenges they face. We’ve been doing this for over 70 years, since World War II. It started with the world’s first CARE Package® of food for the post-war hungry in Europe. Our work today is as important as ever, we believe that poverty and inequality are historic injustices that we can end within a generation, for good. If you share our core beliefs: poverty is an injustice; poverty is solvable; and together, we have the power to end it, join us, and fight with CARE.**”**

The Deputy Country Director – Programs (DCD Programs) is responsible for ensuring that CARE South Sudan’s programs contribute to CARE’s vision of “a world of hope, tolerance and social justice, where poverty has been eliminated and people live with dignity and security”. The DCD Programs is expected to provide strategic leadership to the Programs Department in the areas of program quality, development and implementation. This includes playing a key role in country strategy development and dissemination. A major emphasis in this position is RESOURCE MOBILZATION and TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP in ensuring that the Country Office has a robust and diverse donor funding base and that programs are implemented fulfilling standards for QUALITY and ACCOUNTIBILITY along with delivering to the desired IMPACT in making a significant contribution to reducing poverty and social injustice.

The DCD Programs is responsible for overseeing the development of program strategies appropriate for the South Sudan context and environment which is associated with chronic poverty and emergency humanitarian needs due to ongoing conflict and instability. S/he manages a team of Area Managers as well as the Program Quality and Development Coordinator who is focused on the design, funding, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects, and the Emergency Response Coordinator. S/he has oversight both of programs that are directly implemented by CARE staff and partnerships with local actors, with a focus on women’s rights organisations. S/he must also ensure that systems, policies, procedures and people are in place to ensure the proper management and implementation of those projects and programs.

The DCD Programs is responsible for overseeing the development, testing and implementation of new innovative program approaches appropriate for the context of South Sudan. S/he works closely with, and is supported by the program units at CI, regional and CARE USA HQ levels, as well as with other CARE International members.

The DCD Programs is a key member of the Country Office Senior Management Team and as such is responsible for leading and supporting CO leadership and management initiatives. S/he is responsible for (along with the CD) maintaining good working relationships with host government officials, donors, peer agencies and other partners. S/he is regularly required to become Acting CD when the CD is out of the country. S/he is also a member of the Crisis Management Team.

PROGRAM QUALITY

• Lead process with staff and partners to identify and secure funding for viable humanitarian and development programs in line with CO strategy.

• Oversee the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of country office programs and projects and ensure that they are in line with CO program strategy, ECSA and CI program strategies and according to CI Programming Principles.

• Ensure systems and plans are in place to guarantee that CO programs/projects are designed and implemented based on sound analysis, address the underlying causes of poverty and vulnerability and achieve measurable positive impact on the poor and marginalized.

• Ensure that proper monitoring and evaluation systems are in place to demonstrate impact and that program lessons are being used to promote improved programming and learning.

• Ensure that monitoring and evaluation systems enhance accountability of COs vis-a-vis the communities with whom we work as well as other stakeholders (civil society, donors and government counterparts).

• Conduct regular analysis of the CO contingency planning and capacity to scale up quickly and respond to significant emergency needs and propose actions to address capacity gaps.

• Facilitate the development and regular updating of an appropriate emergency preparedness and response plans and ensure that disaster risk management is integrated in CARE programs.

• Work with the CD to oversee the development and implementation of a CO advocacy agenda that supports CO programs and, if possible, is in line with CO and CI priorities.

• Ensure that GED is a key consideration all programs/projects.

STAFF MANAGEMENT

• Provide proper supervision and management for all direct reports and lead the establishment and functioning of a strong, effective and coordinated Program team.
• Ensure the proper implementation of CARE’s performance management system for direct reports, including job description and IOPs development, regular feedback, mid-term reviews and annual performance appraisals.
• Proactively address performance issues through regular, constructive and honest feedback and coaching.
• Identify necessary staff talent development, career development and succession planning strategies for direct reports.
• Ensure that space, motivation and incentives are available to allow staff to develop and innovate.
• Ensure adequate and strong working relationships between program team and other units teams and oversee the recruitment and orientation of new senior program staff.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Ensure that CARE programs and projects are implemented and managed in a manner which achieves the program/project goals, in line with CARE policies and procedures and demonstrate sound resource management.
• Ensure that CARE partnerships are based on equity, transparency, mutual benefit, diversity and accountability.
• Ensure that qualified staff and appropriate policies, procedures and systems are in place to properly manage CARE’s programs/projects.
• Monitor the CO programs and projects to ensure that they are implemented in a professional manner in line with the project proposal through project visits and the review of annual implementation plans and activity reports.
• Ensure proper management of financial and other resources entrusted to CARE’s programs and projects, including the review and approval of program/project budgets (including project matches) and the monitoring of budget reports (including the proper recording of matches).
• Ensure donor and government reporting is done according to agreed upon standards and in a timely manner.
• Work closely with units in Program Support (finance, procurement, HR, transport, etc.) to ensure proper coordination exists for efficient program implementation.
• Ensure strong logistics & commodity management, and accountability where applicable.
• Regularly review and ensure that the most efficient CO program management structure is established and functional in order to ensure program quality and the cost-efficient achievement of project objectives.
• Ensure that the CO program seeks opportunities for innovation and personal growth by promoting a culture of, and mechanisms for, reflective practice and learning at all levels.
• Establish mechanisms for knowledge sharing and learning between projects and programs within the CO and with parties beyond the CO.

PROGRAM STRATEGY

• Facilitate the preparation and implementation of the overall CO Program Strategy in line with the CO’s Strategic Plan, national development plans, partnership guideline, the ECSA and CI Vision and programming principles and current CARE South Sudan programming priorities.

• Lead the preparation of program strategies based on sound contextual analysis and that target specific underlying causes of poverty and social injustice, in line with CARE’s 2020 Vision.

• Ensure adequate integration of humanitarian and development programming within the CO Program strategy.

• Ensure that all programs and projects designed and implemented by the CO are in line with those program strategies and contribute to achieving the objectives of the CO Strategic Plan including working in partnership with local actors, especially women’s rights organizations.

• Seek strategic partnerships necessary to promote CARE’s vision and programming principles and ensure that those partners understand the COs program strategies.

• Contribute to the delivery of CO advocacy strategy and media and communications work through the provision of programmatic information and evidence.

EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS

• Develop and enhance relationships between the CO and other parts of CARE and external organizations so that CARE can maximize its collaboration and impact on poverty reduction and social justice.
• Establish and maintain good relationships with relevant counterparts/departments of the government, CI members, the locally-represented multi/bi-lateral donors, foundations, international and national NGOs, CBOs and other civil society organizations.
• Identify issues to be addressed to heighten donor and government accountability and maintain a positive image and good visibility for CARE amongst these groups.
• Support and work effectively in coalitions, networks and social movements and contribute to national dialogue on poverty reduction strategies and related issues.
• Ensure timely reporting and communications with CI members, donors, government and other key actors.
• Ensure cordial media relations and act as CARE spokesperson as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Bachelor’s Degree in related field
2. Master’s Degree in related field
3. At least 5 years in senior management and leadership positions in humanitarian and development programs. Given the current context in South Sudan, the job requires a person with strong background and extensive experience in emergency humanitarian programming as well as longer term development programs.
4. The position requires someone who is a passionate advocate for the rights of women and girls in South Sudan.
5. An understanding of how to work in partnership to support localization and civil society strengthening.
6. 8 years in a senior management position in emergency humanitarian & development fields. Arabic language will be an advantage in South Sudan