Helen Keller International

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Country Director, Democratic Republic Congo

(Kinshasa, DRC)

Guided by the remarkable legacy of its co-founder, Helen Keller, Helen Keller Intl partners with communities striving to overcome longstanding cycles of poverty. By focusing on improving food systems and strengthening health systems, and delivering the essential building blocks of good health, sound nutrition, and clear vision, we help millions of people create lasting change in their own lives. Working in more than 20 countries – across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States – and together with a global community of supporters, we are ensuring every person has the opportunity – as Helen did – to reach their true potential.

We are currently seeking a Country Director (CD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to represent Helen Keller, develop new programs, expand our programming and scale, 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

With support from generous donors who made a substantial multiple-year commitment, Helen Keller re-opened the country office in Kinshasa in early 2021. We started by launching a Vitamin A Supplementation program that supported the Ministry of Health and the national nutrition program (PRONANUT) to design, implement and monitor Vitamin A Supplementation for children under the age of five in 13 provinces in DRC (half of the country). We expect to build on this foundation to expand our vibrant nutrition program portfolio to serve the needs of the people of DRC. We also aim to expand our programming in Neglected Tropical Diseases and Eye Health.

Functional Relationships

The CD reports directly to the Regional Director Eastern, Southern & Central Africa and leads the Country Management Team (CMT). The position directly supervises the Director of Programs and the Director of Operations, 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, civil society organizations, 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 DRC. The position is responsible for ensuring technical and operational excellence in delivering 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 DRC. This position is based in Kinshasa, with regular travel to project sites.

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 all aspects of implementing country programs and managing the country office.

Represent Helen Keller in formal and informal meetings with government officials, international donor agencies, and national technical advisory groups pertinent to Helen Keller 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 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 project quality and accountability level while fostering continuity through local partnerships.

Provide technical input to the government, international donors, and technical advisory groups pertinent to Helen Keller 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 important to decision-makers in a position to fund or implement projects in DRC and internationally.

Keep the national partners and others informed about the progress of the projects, plans for the development of new programs/projects/activities and donor involvement in the overall program.

Operations and Finance