Helen Keller International
JOB ANNOUNCMENT
JOB ANNOUNCMENT
Country Director, Cameroon
(Yaoundé, Cameroon)
(Yaoundé, Cameroon)
Established in 1915 with Helen Keller as a founding trustee, Helen Keller International (HKI) is dedicated to saving the sight and lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. Headquartered in New York City, HKI currently conducts programs in 21 countries in Africa and Asia, as well as in the United States. Renowned for its reliability, efficiency and high level of technical expertise, HKI promotes the development of sustainable, large-scale programs that deliver effective preventative and curative services for nutrition, eye health and neglected tropical diseases. The hallmark of the organization’s work is its proven success in developing, testing and scaling-up health interventions, and integrating them within government and community structures to support and build local capacity and sustainable solutions.
Country Program Overview:
HKI has been operating in Cameroon since1992 working closely with the Ministry of Health to improve the nutritional status of infants (especially during the first 1000 days of life), children under the age of 5 years, and school children and their mothers. HKI-Cameroon also works alongside the government to reduce the incidence of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) such as onchocerciasis, trachoma, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, and soil-transmitted helminthes which collectively impact the health and nutritional status of children and mothers. HKI activities in Cameroon are support by USAID, the Canadian Government (DFATD), USDA, Lions Club International and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
HKI-Cameroon currently conducts programs in vitamin A supplementation, food fortification, school health hygiene and nutrition, and mass drug administration against NTDs, nationwide and/or at regional and district level, in collaboration with the Cameroonian government, local NGO’s and international development partners. The office employs 30 employees, 24 in the Yaoundé office and 4 in the sub-office in Garoua, 2 in the sub-office in Maroua and one staff based in Douala.
Scope of the Position:
The Country Director (CD) has overall responsibility for supervising the implementation of HKI-Cameroon programs and management of the office, including performance management of staff, to achieve the HKI mission and the objectives established in grants. The CD is responsible for representing HKI and securing funding for project activities in Cameroon; developing and implementing strategic and annual plans to further the HKI’s mission in Cameroon; program design, proposal development, implementation and reporting; financial and grant management; operations, security, and human resource management. This position is based in Yaoundé, Cameroon with travel up country required. The CD reports to the Regional Director for East, South and Central Africa (based in Nairobi) and works closely with other staff members at HKI’s Africa regional office and headquarters.
Specific Responsibilities:
Overall Management and Leadership
- Implement and periodically update HKI-Cameroon strategic plan.
- Generate funding from international and bilateral agencies, donor agencies, corporations, and individuals in collaboration with national, regional and Headquarters staff in alignment with the country office’s strategic plan.
- Manage financial resources and provide oversight for grants.
- Manage key project personnel including the support of their ongoing professional development.
- Provide strategic vision and direction for overall program design and proposal development; program implementation and reporting; grant management; financial planning; and human resource planning and management; work closely with the country team to accomplish the strategic goals;
- Represent HKI in formal and informal meetings with government officials, international donor agencies, and national technical advisory groups pertinent to HKI project activities.
Programmatic
- Provide technical input to the government, international donor agencies and technical advisory groups pertinent to HKI project activities. Oversee research design, dissemination of information gathered and advocacy to advance programmatic and policy changes.
- Oversee and coordinate the program portfolio to ensure the highest level of project quality and accountability, while fostering continuity through building local capacity.
- Ensure implementation of strong program monitoring, evaluation and learning functions.
- Strengthen the quality and effectiveness of existing programs in VAS, food fortification, and the control of NTDs, including the development of a strong M&E framework.
- Disseminate findings from HKI projects that are of importance to decision-makers in a position to fund or implement projects in Cameroon and internationally.
- Keep the national partners and others informed about progress of the projects, plans for the development of new programs/projects/activities and donor involvement in the overall program.
Financial and Administrative
- Provide oversight to finance and administrative services including procurement, property management, human resources management, vehicle and facilities management, and staff safety and security;
- Work with HKI regional office and headquarters to manage the development and implementation of annual country budgets.
- Ensure the preparation and accuracy of financial reports that comply with grant or contract agreements and ensure compliance with all aspects of donor funding and HKI policies.
- Ensure timely submission of financial reports within the established HKI guidelines.
- Authorize expenditures for grant or contract allocations and ensure compliance with procedures required by grant or contract agreements.
- Hire and manage personnel for Cameroon projects in compliance with HKI policies and lead initiatives to develop staff capacity.
Qualifications:
- Minimum seven years of field experience in international public health or nutrition programs including demonstrated experience in program development, implementation and evaluation, plus a minimum master’s degree in public health, nutrition or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience in, or willingness to learn about, nutrition and NTD control is necessary.
- Demonstrated ability to undertake high-level representation and advocacy.
- Demonstrated capacity to mobilize program funding including donor cultivation and grants writing.
- Demonstrated ability to manage staff and other administrative and financial activities in developing country programs – five years’ experience in a management position.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including an ability to effectively lead a team, communicate a vision, make timely and transparent decisions, and manage conflict.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and create budgets and monitor financial status.
- Ability to design and implement workshops, seminars, surveys, monitoring systems and evaluations Experience in research design, data analysis and interpretation.
- Excellent oral and written English and French language skills, including the ability to quickly synthesize complex technical and programmatic issues into concise communications.
- Knowledge and experience managing compliance to diverse donors (USAID, DFID, CIDA, EU, etc.,);
- Demonstrated leadership and lanagement skills that effectively motivate staff and support team building; demonstrated ability to manage a professional team in a multi-cultural environment;
- Well established and practiced organizational and planning skills;
- Computer literacy, including use of internet, word processing and spreadsheets. Experience with data analysis, especially EPI-INFO and/or SPSS, and cell phone data collection will be an advantage.
- Experience with staff security and safety issues is desirable.
The initial contract is for two years with possibility of renewal.
To Apply:
Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume toHKI.Recruitment@hki.org noting the job title in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
No calls, please.
