Country: Lebanon
Closing date: 03 Apr 2016
Regional Director, Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Transform the lives of the most marginalized and vulnerable communities in the Middle East, and be at the forefront of social change.
HAI is looking for a passionate and experienced professional capable of managing and growing a diverse portfolio in a complex operating environment. The MENA Regional Director will bring vision and creativity to the role as s/he strengthens and expands HAI’s programming, builds and supports a regional team of dedicated human rights workers, and raises HAI’s profile among donors, partners, and other stakeholders.
ABOUT HEARTLAND ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL:
Heartland Alliance International (HAI) is the youngest and fastest growing part of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, which is a family of organizations that has been leading anti-poverty and social justice work in Chicago for more than 125 years. HAI is comprised of nearly a dozen country offices operating programs on a broad range of human rights issues globally. HAI is making significant investments in its programming and leadership in the fields of trauma-informed mental health care and access to justice for marginalized people. It is also an industry leader in access to high-quality and stigma-free health care.
REGIONAL DIRECTOR ROLE:
The incumbent will be responsible for leading the establishment and management of a MENA regional strategy to support growth. She or he will be responsible for managing a dedicated human rights team that is delivering high quality programs in existing country offices throughout the region, as well as growing new country offices, in line with HAI strategies and priorities. The new director must be extremely versatile, interested in inaugurating a regional strategy and working in a “start-up” environment, and prepared to aggressively pursue program development for the region. Collaborative, hard-working, and visionary, the candidate will have exceptional leadership skills and the ability to grow HAI’s portfolio in the MENA region.
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
Reporting to: Executive Director (Chicago)
Posts that this job manages: Country Directors (in HAI country offices throughout the MENA region) and a program associate/officer (Chicago).
Post that this job collaborates closely with: Director of Program Development (Chicago), Chief Operating Office (Chicago)
POSITION LOCATION AND TRAVEL:
This position could be located at HAI’s headquarters in Chicago, IL, USA or in one of the existing country offices within the MENA region (preferred). Travel 30-50% time is expected.
REGIONAL PROFILE:
HAI has country programs in Iraq (Kurdistan and remote supervision of partners in Baghdad) and Lebanon. The existing portfolio includes mental health services to victims or torture and trauma, gender-based violence, access to justice, migration issues (IDPs and refuges), youth work, women’s rights and leadership, policy advocacy, access to equitable services for LGBT populations, among other technical areas.
JOB FUNCTIONS:
This is not an exhaustive list of duties. The need for flexibility is required and the incumbent is expected to carry out any other related duties that are within the employee’s skills and capabilities whenever reasonably instructed.
Leadership and Management
• Lead the establishment and oversee the management of a MENA regional strategy in line with HAI’s global strategy
• Scan the operating environment for opportunities and threats, maintain an overview of legal, political, human rights and other relevant developments within the region
• Recruit and manage country directors, including those working remotely, ensure performance is managed and talent is nurtured; this requires coaching and mentoring
• Lead on promoting regional cohesion by engaging with all HAI country offices and affiliates in the MENA region and promoting adherence to globally agreed standards and priorities
• Ensure that the values, standards, priorities of HAI are instilled and adhered to; be able to promote organizational culture across varied country programs
Program Development
• Aggressively pursue program development and a growth strategy for the region consistent with the global strategic plan
• Enhance HAI’s profile and presence in the MENA region by developing cutting edge human rights programs that respond to development challenges, and by representing HAI before various forums and donors in the region
• Conduct the strategic positioning necessary to ensure growth; this includes visioning, donor mapping, cultivation of key relationships, proposal submission, and required follow-up
Quality Assurance and Reporting
• Ensure compliance with globally developed quality assurance and assessment methodologies to ensure consistency, quality, and measure impact
• Ensure that the regional team reports with sufficient clarity and detail on the impact of their work, including to funders
• Ensure the timely delivery of work plans and reports
• Be accountable for all outputs from the regional team in line with globally agreed standards, including research, policy, and publication standards
Finance and Risk Management
• With support from the Finance Team and Chief Operating Officer, ensure regional compliance with relevant laws, policies and practices and ensure best practice, including good financial management and regular financial audits as required
• Assist the Country Directors in setting, monitoring, managing and reporting on budget and expenditure for the region
• Develop and fundraise for a regional presence and budget
• Accountable for duty of care of staff, including where necessary, development of internal security, health & safety and human resources polices and standards, supported by the Chief Operating Officer and the Heartland Alliance Business Services Team
QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge and experience
• A Master’s Degree (or equivalent education and years of experience) in international relations, social work, public health, development studies, political science or a related field;
• 5-10 years of work experience in international development/humanitarian relief/international human rights work, preferably in an international non-government organization; experience must include program design, field assessments, evaluations, and developing M&E systems;
• Experience working in a key leadership role in a complex organization ideally based outside the organization’s global head office and preferably with experience of maintaining a successful operation during times of organizational change, and matrix managing a cross-functional and multi-cultural team
• Demonstrated ability to craft a regionally-specific program development strategy, write grants and secure funds for work in development and human rights programming in the region
• Demonstrate experience winning and managing large scale multi-million dollar grants and/or contracts from the US government and other funders;
• Extensive experience training staff in project management, M&E, and related topics;
• Experience developing, reviewing and tracking budgets and burn rates;
• Experience with USAID and/or State Department funding;
• Demonstrate a commitment to advancing human rights; demonstrate knowledge and experience of the human rights, development, and political context in the region
• Demonstrate experience and capability as a leader who can influence the direction of HAI’s impact within the region, and who maintains an active network of contacts in governments, NGOs and other stakeholders locally
• A passion for as well as experience living and working in the MENA region is required
Language Skills:
Fluency in spoken English essential
Exceptional writing and editing skills in English required
Fluency in Arabic required
How to apply:
TO APPLY
To learn more about this position and to apply, please visit:
http://chk.tbe.taleo.net/chk01/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=HEARTLANDALLIANCE&cws=1&rid=3310 OR http://www.heartlandalliance.org/whoweare/careers/
*Please note that we do not consider resumes sent by email, fax or postal mail.