Helen Keller International (HKI) Deputy Country Director, Programs Job Vacancy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Helen Keller International
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Deputy Country Director, Programs
(Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)

Established in 1915 with Helen Keller
as a founding trustee, Helen Keller International (HKI) works to save 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. HKI is known for sustainability, reliability,
efficiency and the highest level of technical expertise in fighting and
treating blindness and malnutrition. To accomplish its work, HKI builds the
capacity of local governmental, civil society and private sector systems and
infrastructure, and promotes the development of sustained, 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 effectiveness in developing, testing and scaling-up health
interventions, and integrating them within government and community structures.

Country Overview:
Established in 1984, the HKI Tanzania
office was the organization’s first in Africa set up to provide primary eye
care services in central Tanzania. HKI has since expanded its role and
currently supports programs in nutrition and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs
— trachoma, in particular). HKI’s nutrition programming started in 2002 and is
supported various grants including AED’s USAID-funded A2Z Micronutrient
Project, the Canadian DAFTD (Department of Foreign Affairs Trade and
Development), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Irish Aid, UKAID (DFID),
and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and the International Potato
Center (CIP). NTD programs have been supported by many donors over the last
twenty years including the Conrad F Hilton Foundation and Heart to Heart. HKI
is an active member of the NGDO Coalition for NTDs, the Development Partners
Group for Nutrition, the Technical Working Group in Nutrition, the Vitamin A
Task Force and the National Food Fortification Alliance.
HKI Tanzania currently conducts
programs in Vitamin A supplementation, Orange Flesh Sweet Potato, Food
Fortification, Enhanced Homestead Food Production, Assessment and Research on
Child Feeding and NTDs, nationwide and/or at regional and district level, in
collaboration with the Tanzanian government, local NGO’s and other national and
international development partners. The office has roughly 32 employees, 22 in
the Dar office and 10 in the sub-office in Mwanza.
Scope of the Position:
HKI is seeking a Deputy Country
Director (DCD) to oversee programs under the supervision of the Country
Director (CD). The primary responsibilities are project design and proposal
writing, program planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and
reporting to ensure timely, effective and compliant programming in accordance
with HKI programming principles and donor requirements. The position requires
close cooperation with the government of Tanzania, partner NGOs, donors and UN
agencies. As an evidence-based organization, HKI places great importance on
operational research and impact evaluation. The DCD plays a key role in
identifying research opportunities and overseeing monitoring and evaluation,
including operations research.
The DCD is a member of the country
senior management team together with the CD and the Operations and Finance
Manager. S/he leads and directly coordinates and supervises the programming
team. The DCD undertakes field travel to project sites throughout the country
on a regular basis to ensure program quality and compliance. The DCD serves as
acting CD when the CD is absent.
Responsibilities:
Project Development
  • Identify
    and seek funding opportunities that support the country program
    objectives.
  • Participate
    in operational and strategic planning of the country senior management
    team; supporting the development of the Annual Program Plan, including
    ensuring this is in alignment with the agency’s strategic plan, and
    budget.
  • Coordinate
    and develop terms of reference and supervise consultants and other
    technical support resources needed for program-related activities.
  • Strengthen
    staff and partner capacity in project development.
  • Coordinate
    project design and proposal development processes by working with field,
    regional office and headquarters technical, development, and operational
    staff.
  • Play
    an active role in identifying and obtaining support for new initiatives
    that foster and improve the strategic objectives of the country office.
Program Oversight
  • Oversee
    the design and implementation of effective work plans that allow for
    timely and ongoing progress review of all key outputs.
  • Ensure
    that project implementation is in accordance with HKI established plans, policies
    and procedures and HKI core values.
  • Work
    with staff and partners to ensure strong M&E systems are in place for
    the development of regular project monitoring systems, the agency’s shared
    indicator system, as well as for project evaluations, including baseline,
    mid-term and end-line evaluations and any operational research needed.
  • Conduct
    field-level monitoring; providing timely and constructive feedback and
    support to HKI and partner project staff.
  • Continuously
    monitor and identify necessary technical assistance or other project
    inputs that may be needed including recommending actions to obtain
    technical assistance or inputs from local consultants, Africa Regional
    Office or headquarters.
  • Work
    with project and finance staff to review all budgets on a monthly basis to
    identify either over or under spending trends, and if significant trends
    are noted to alert the CD for appropriate action.
  • Review
    all budgets, in collaboration with Operations and Finance manager, on a
    regular basis to ensure adherence to HKI and donor requirements.
  • Manage
    the performance of direct reports; Mentor staff regularly and contribute
    to an atmosphere conducive to professional growth and development.
    Undertake annual performance planning and evaluation for supervised staff;
  • Work
    closely with the CD to address all issues raised by HKI staff, donors or
    respective line ministries regarding program implementation.
  • Work
    with project staff to ensure all financial and narrative reports are
    submitted to donor and Regional and HQ office (as required) in a timely
    and compliant manner.
  • Work
    with project staff to ensure the proper maintenance of all files, records
    and documents relating to HKI activities of the project.
  • Ensure
    all projects are properly closed in accordance with HKI and donor requirements
Coordination with Partners
  • Work
    with project staff to ensure partners are knowledgeable of HKI’s technical
    and financial policies and procedures, and donor compliance requirements.
  • Ensure
    that project staff has the skills and tools necessary to build partner
    capacity.
  • Coordinate
    with respective line ministries/officials and other organizations working
    in the sector to build strategic partnerships.
  • Ensure
    that HKI programs are recognized/promoted and implemented in accordance
    with national agendas.
  • Participate
    in meetings and seminars within HKI, nationally, and internationally as
    requested by CD.
Qualifications:
  • Master’s
    degree or equivalent in public health, nutrition, science, or another
    closely related field, plus a minimum 7 years working for an international
    organization in public health (including nutrition) or an equivalent
    combination of education and experience.
  • Minimum
    5 years’ experience in project management.
  • Excellent
    written and oral communication skills, including spoken and written fluency
    in English
  • Strong
    budget management skills.
  • Substantial
    experience with a variety of donors. Specific experience with DFID, USAID,
    and CIDA is an advantage.
  • Demonstrated
    ability in project design and proposal writing.
  • Experience
    with monitoring and evaluation tools and systems.
  • Proven
    track record with institutional strengthening and partnership building.
  • Ability
    to work independently, but also coordinate effectively as part of a team.
  • Strong
    analytical and organizational skills.
  • Excellent
    inter-personal skills; demonstrating diplomacy and tact.
  • Proven
    ability to effectively manage people and to build teams.
  • Demonstrable
    respect for all persons regardless of religion, ethnicity, class or
    gender.
  • Willingness
    to travel within rural Tanzania, as well as the Africa region.

To Apply:

Qualified candidates
should submit a cover letter and resume to HKI.Recruitment@hki.org noting the
job title in the subject line.  Applications will be accepted until the
position is filled.

No calls,
please.

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