Country Director – Yemen

War Child, is a charity for children affected by war. We are delivering high-impact programmes that are rebuilding lives across Afghanistan, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic and Yemen. We understand children’s needs, respect their rights, and put them at the centre of the solution – from supporting Yemeni children to access education to reintegrating child soldiers in the Central African Republic and upholding the rights of children caught up in juvenile justice in Afghanistan. We look forward to a world in which the lives of children are no longer torn apart by war. This is a vision that can only be realised through the collective actions of children themselves, communities and their leaders, organisations like War Child, governments and key decision-makers.

Our values

Your role

War Child UK has worked in Yemen since 2017 with partners and local authorities to support improvements in child protection, education and livelihoods. Programmes have largely been focused in the north of the country in Sana’a, Al Hodeidah, Ibb and Taiz but we also have a smaller programme in the south.

We are recruiting a new Country Director for our Yemen programme. We are seeking an experienced NGO leader who is familiar with the challenges of operating within the constraints of a context such as Yemen. You will ensure that the War Child team remains safe and that our security protocols are well maintained. We want to further grow our programme, and central to this role will be the ability to build networks and alliances with local and international partners and to represent effectively a wide range of donors. We place a very strong emphasis on national advocacy as part of our theory of change, and you will need the representational and relationship skills to ensure that War Child is connected to the appropriate national and local authorities across our areas of operation. War Child has a clear vision and approach to programme quality, and you will have a track record in ensuring effective monitoring, accountability, and learning.

Leadership and team-building skills are paramount. The Country Director will inspire results and performance across the team. The post also forms part of War Child’s dynamic and experienced Extended Leadership Team, with the ability to share experience across our country programmes. The Country Director will lead the Senior Management Team for War Child UK in Yemen, focusing on growing the programme to meet needs, developing the vision and strategy and taking overall responsibility for HR, Financial and Security decisions. The role also ensures information from the country programme is shared across departments and will represent War Child at the highest levels; donors, national authorities, clusters and national partners in Yemen. The role is managed by the Director of Programmes and Advocacy based in London.

Your responsibilities

• Programme Development: Leadership on participatory programme planning and development, in line with WCUK’s organisational strategy; time frames, risk appetite and budgets as well as the development of new concept papers and liaising with in-country donors.
• Partner liaison: Work with national partners to achieve shared programme objectives and build strong and accountable partnerships.
• Representation and Networking: Provide effective representation and profile of War Child UK and high-level networking in forums and strategic engagement with a wide range of national and international stakeholders
• Financial Management: Ensure rigorous financial and administrative management: ensure grant management and expenditure information is received in an accurate manner on a monthly basis.
• Security Management: Effectively manage all staff and programme security within the guidelines of security Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Safeguarding: Responsible for creating a culture committed to the safeguarding of children and adults, and compliant with WCUK’s Safeguarding policies.
• Grant Management, and Donor Compliance: Ensure timely quality reporting to donors and compliance with donor requirements, including leading your programme and grants team to build a compliance and performance-focused management system.
• Donor Engagement and Funding: Lead donor engagement within the country and with regional donors. Contribute to efforts to identify and secure in-country funding and provide the programme funding to deliver on the Yemen country strategy. Support the team with the information necessary to help develop proposals and reports, in line with donor schedules. Provide final country-level approval of concept papers, proposals and budgets
• Team leadership: Lead the SMT, develop country strategy and build a culture of shared responsibility. Ensure team well-being and effective performance management as well as ensure that WCUK’s standards and values are known and followed within the mission.
• People management: Take ultimate responsibility for Human Resources and Development, ensuring War Child is a fair and responsible employer. Leading and motivating all WCUK staff, promoting effective cohesion and team identity across the various offices and projects. Ensuring that WCUK’s standards and values are known and followed within the mission.
• Reporting: Ensure adherence to organisational requirements, including safeguarding policy, minimum standards for quality programme cycle management and regular programme reporting.

These duties provide a framework for the role and should not be regarded as a definitive list. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the post.

You have

• Experience in leading international humanitarian and development programmes, with strategic planning and a clear vision of how to work effectively with partners.
• Experience in the delivery and supervision of programmes within conflict environments with some experience in our areas of intervention, Reintegration, Child Protection, Education in Emergencies and/or Food Security/Livelihoods projects.
• Experience in both direct programme implementation and working with partners.
• The ability to advocate, think and manage strategically and represent the organisation at the highest level.
• Rigorous budget expenditure and financial management skills and experience
• Experience in security management in conflict settings
• Experience in team security management in fragile contexts and insecure settings and risk management. Negotiation skills and knowledge of the operational challenges of working in DRC are an advantage.
• Able to inspire team and partners to achieve results in a tough operational setting.
• Compliance focussed with a strong sense of accountability for results and performance.
• Deeply committed to the safeguarding of beneficiaries, partners and staff and safe programming
• An experienced grant manager with direct experience in leading a portfolio of complex projects from multiple donors with a successful track record in securing funding from institutional donors and grant reporting.
• A great team leader and people manager, with demonstrable skills in performance and change management.
• Able to support the professional development of team members.
• Able to travel in the country and overseas as required.
• Previous international experience in Yemen or other conflict setting is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical skills with a systematic approach and an eye for detail
• Fluency in English. Written and spoken Arabic is an advantage.

Our Benefits

• Flexible Working Arrangements
• Annual Leave
• Family Leave
• Range Of Wellbeing Incentives Initiatives
• Investment In Training& Development
• Pension / Social Security Contributions
  • Wellbeing Consultations with Trained Councillors

International Benefits

• Rest & Recuperation.
• Relocation Expenses & Paid Moving Days.
• Annual Travel Allowance
• Hardship Allowance
• Accommodation
• Health Care Insurance
• Cost Of Living Adjustments (If Eligible)

National Benefits

• Transportation & Appearance Allowance
• Health Insurance
• Eid Bonus

Child Safeguarding

Our work with children to keep them safe is the most important thing we do. We are committed to the safeguarding of children in all areas of our work. Successful applicants will be expected to be compliant and sign up for our Child Safeguarding policy, which you can read here: https://www.warchild.org.uk/whats- happening/news/our-child-safeguarding-policies-and-procedures

Pre-employment checks

Employment with War Child will be subject to the following checks prior to your start date:

• a satisfactory police record check to include a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and/or an International Criminal Record Check, and a clear vetting and Due Diligence check.
• receipt of three satisfactory references.

How to Apply

Closing date: 14^th May 2023

Click on the “Apply for Job” button.

As part of the application process kindly submit your CV and a cover letter, preferably in MS Word. All application documents (cover letter and CV) should be submitted in English.

Please name your submitted files with the following reference: WC_CDY

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