Helen Keller Intl
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Country Director, Nepal
(Kathmandu, Nepal)
Helen Keller Intl is a global health organization dedicated to eliminating preventable vision loss, malnutrition, and diseases of poverty. Cofounded by Helen Keller – and guided by her fierce optimism and belief in human potential – the organization delivers life-changing health solutions to vulnerable families where the need is great but access to care is limited. In the U.S., Africa, and Asia, Helen Keller’s proven, science-based programs empower people to create opportunities in their own lives and build lasting change.
We are currently seeking a Country Director (CD) in Nepal to represent Helen Keller, develop new programs, expand our funding and lead the country office and its programs in a manner that reflects our mission and values and ensures technical excellence in the delivery of all activities.
Country Program Overview:
The Nepal country program has a health and nutrition focus and integrates gender-sensitive and transformative approaches in all its projects, aiming to rebalance relationships and decision-making power. We aim to make health services more responsive to their clients, particularly women, young children, and adolescents. To improve long-term resilience and sustainability, we focus on strengthening local capacity and preventive care strategies and on motivating positive behavior change.
Helen Keller work closely with the Government of Nepal and in partnership with non-governmental organizations. Our current programs include a large-scale integrated nutrition program with the overall goal to improve the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women and children under five years. Key focus areas include nutrition services; maternal, newborn, and child health services; reproductive health/family planning services; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); homestead food production (HFP) - kitchen gardening, poultry rearing, and marketing; and multi-sectoral nutrition governance. Currently, our research portfolio includes infant and young child feeding, cost evaluation of multisector nutrition, nutrition governance, and early infant and young child growth.
Functional Relationships
The CD reports directly to the Regional Director, Asia Pacific, and leads the Country Management Team (CMT). The position directly supervises a team of professional-level staff, works closely with colleagues at all levels of Helen Keller’s global management structure, and may be called upon to participate in global working groups or steering committees. Helen Keller has a matrixed reporting structure. Regular communication and a spirit of teamwork among colleagues, both hierarchically and laterally are essential to make this structure thrive.
Helen Keller’s programs require close relations with governments, partner universities and NGOs, private industry, donors, and UN agencies. The CD will represent Helen Keller at relevant external meetings.
Scope of the Position:
The Country Director provides strategic leadership and develops action plans that further the mission of Helen Keller and meet the evolving conditions in Nepal. S/he has overall responsibility for ensuring technical and operational excellence in the delivery of all activities to achieve the objectives established in grants and strategic plans and representing Helen Keller to disseminate findings and secure and expand funding for project activities in Nepal. This position is based in Kathmandu with regular travel to project sites required.
Specific Responsibilities
Overall Management and Leadership
Provide strategic vision and direction for overall program design, implementation, and proposal development; Work closely with the country team to accomplish the strategic goals.
Lead and oversee the implementation of country programs and the management of the office.
Represent Helen Keller in formal and informal meetings with government officials, international donor agencies, and national technical advisory groups pertinent to our project activities.
Identify opportunities and generate funding from international and bilateral agencies and donor agencies.
Develop and nurture in-country donor relationships and identify potential partners to participate in joint proposals.
Lead and prepare concept papers and proposals and provide other information as needed for submission to donors and others for fundraising and marketing purposes.
Model collaboration for your matrixed team: effectively consult and inform colleagues to maximize efficiency and knowledge sharing and integrate guidance and direction from subject matter experts in your office and elsewhere in the global organization to maximize performance.
Build a highly effective Country Management Team, recruiting, supervising, mentoring, and evaluating staff, and engaging in frequent performance conversations with team members.
Delegate authority, consult with, and guide staff to achieve goals and contribute to an atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development.
Ensure accountability to beneficiaries, partners, colleagues, and donors by providing ongoing feedback in a context of mutual respect.
Participate in the recruitment process of global colleagues as requested by management.
Programmatic
Oversee and coordinate the program portfolio to ensure the highest level of project quality and accountability, while fostering continuity through building local capacity.
Provide technical input to the government, international donors, and technical advisory groups pertinent to project activities.
Ensure implementation of strong program monitoring, evaluation, and learning functions.
Oversee research design, methodology, and dissemination of information needed to monitor and evaluate project activities and/or advance programmatic and policy changes.
Disseminate findings from Helen Keller projects that are of importance to decision-makers in a position to fund or implement projects in Nepal 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 global colleagues to manage the development and implementation of annual country budgets.
Authorize expenditures for grant or contract allocations and ensure compliance with procedures required by grant or contract agreements.
Ensure the accurate and timely submission of financial and narrative reports that comply with grant or contract agreements and ensure compliance with all aspects of donor funding and Helen Keller policies.
Qualifications
Minimum seven years of field experience in international public health, especially nutrition programs, including demonstrated experience in program development, implementation, and evaluation, plus a minimum master’s degree in public health, nutrition, development or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience in designing and implementing workshops, seminars, surveys, monitoring systems, and evaluations plus research design, data analysis, and interpretation.
Technical knowledge in an area related to Helen Keller’s mission and programs.
Demonstrated ability to undertake high-level representation and advocacy.
Experience working in Nepal and/or elsewhere in Asia, with Ministries, international and local NGOs, and donors based locally, is a substantial asset.
Demonstrated experience and skills in leadership, staff management, program development and management, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, and public speaking.
Demonstrated ability to develop and create budgets and monitor financial status.
Demonstrated capacity to mobilize program funding including donor cultivation and grants writing.
Knowledge and experience managing compliance to diverse donors (USAID, DFID, GAC, EU, etc.,).
Excellent interpersonal skills, including an ability to effectively lead a team, communicate a vision, make timely and transparent decisions, and manage conflict.
Very good oral and written English language skills, including the ability to quickly synthesize complex technical and programmatic issues into concise communications.
Well-established and practiced organizational and planning skills.
Computer literate in use of word-processing, spreadsheet and statistical software; experience in data analysis and interpretation is highly desirable.
Experience with staff security and safety issues is desirable.
Ability and willingness to travel at least 15-20% within Nepal and, periodically, internationally.
How to apply:
To Apply
Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to (HKI.Recruitment@hki.org) noting the job title in the subject line. Qualified Nepalese professionals are encouraged to apply.
Helen Keller is dedicated to building an inclusive workforce where diversity is fully valued.
Helen Keller is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.
If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need to request accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us at the email above or call +1 646-356-1789.