Director of Operations and Country Representative – Egypt (M/F) At Institut Européen de Coopération et de Développement

L’Institut Européen de Coopération et de Développement (IECD) is an international non-profit organization created in 1988. It has been deploying international human and economic development projects in partnership with local partners and institutions. IECD enables young people and individuals in vulnerable situations to access a decent and sustainable place into society through a mix of technical and light skills support. With over 30 years of experience in the fields of education, vocational training, and youth access to employment, IECD has developed deep know-how dedicated to serving the youth. The organization is structured around flagship programs and an offer of services proven effective in over 60 projects worldwide.

IECD operates in 16 countries through 4 geographic zones (Middle East, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa / Madagascar, and South-East Asia). In Egypt, it has been developing activities since 2013 mainly through the following two projects: “Seeds of Hope” (SoH), which focuses on developing then implementing up-to-date vocational training programs for electricians in technical schools; “Support to Small and Micro Enterprises (MSE)”, which builds the skills of micro and small business owners through proven programs. A third program (HA, training on assistance at home for elderly and sick people) is planned to be launched by the end of year 2022. As Egypt has been identified by IECD as a country with significant potential to develop our activities, other projects and partnerships are also in the pipeline.

These programs bring together a team of more than 15 employees, including 1 expatriate. IECD operates in Egypt through an office in Cairo. Activities are also implemented in Alexandria.

RESPONSABILITIES

1. Egypt operations management

Plan and pilot the operations of IECD in Egypt, promoting synergies and under the principles of efficiency and sustainability
In coordination with the Regional Director and with Paris HQ, elaborate the strategy of IECD Egypt and ensure its consistency and compliance with the values, vision, and strategy of IECD. Ensure its coherence with needs of the country’s targeted populations.
Define the action plan, priorities, and operating resources (financial and human) required to succeed in our operations and our strategy
Manage the implementation of IECD’s operations and monitor their alignment with the goals and objectives set.
Support the Project managers for an impactful implementation of programs and activities.
Identify operational and financial risks and opportunities on operational, institutional, and financial matters, with all stakeholders (teams, donors, partners, local institutional)
Lead and promote experience and best practices sharing with all IECD Egypt team members
Ensure a good coordination and communication at Country, Regional, and Headquarters level
Secure and lead the commitments made to the financial partners and guarantee a high-quality level of the reporting
Ensure that information, records, and documents are maintained in a structured way, and made accessible to internal and external stakeholders under the premises of relevance and transparency
Ensure the implementation of IECD’s safeguarding policies, and those related to gender and environment

Roll-out of new activities

Develop new activities and projects, in line with IECD global strategy and objectives
Expand a network of contacts, with private and institutional donors, to generate new ideas and eventually projects
Evaluate new geographical areas of project implementation in Egypt within a framework of program synergies and financial sustainability
Create mechanisms to promote creativity, collaboration and initiative among the teams to ensure a proper flow of solid project ideas

Human Resources and Organization Management

Supervise the management of human resources (team of more than 15 employees): hiring, evaluating, training, motivating, as well as ensuring proper compensation, health coverage, and security
Manage and support Project managers and transversal functions (accounting, monitoring & evaluation, admin), and ensure they manage and develop their colleagues in an appropriate way
Ensure suitable workflows and proper coordination between program, support, and transversal teams.
Ensure that the HR structure of the delegation and the different departments is coherent with the consecution of IECD’s goals and objectives.
Ensure that the local teams have the tools and material resources required for their tasks
Enhance local talented employees, and promote skills acquisition and team belonging
Lead Country teamwork dynamics, and enhance the identification with IECD values and mindset among the teams
Define, write, structure HR policies, and be accountable for their properly implementation
Draft and update the security policy in Egypt for expatriates, and be accountable for the application of the security rules
Contribute to Regional HR dynamics, and act as the key contact for the HR Department at Paris HQ
Implement yearly appraisal for all team members along with a coherent goal setting and a solid evaluation method of achievements.
Create the spaces for exchange and reflection among the team members and between them and the management
Promote team building and a professional, friendly working atmosphere attending to the different needs of the team members

4. Partnerships and external relations management

Promote IECD activities in Egypt to local authorities, operational partners of IECD (local and international associations, training centers), international agencies and companies
Develop and maintain strong relationships with potential public and private financial partners of IECD in Egypt: maintain a common vision of ongoing actions, identify opportunities for new common actions
Expand connections and network with IECD, both within public institutions (including partnerships with ministries), actors in the development sector & training field, companies
Support Project managers regarding partnerships relations according to their responsibility scope
Develop a suitable institutional communication strategy
Ensure projects fundings, identifying financing opportunities or new partnerships, setting up the applications for funding
Identify potential partners that could be interesting to other IECD countries of the region
Actively represent IECD in NGO forums and associations

5. Administrative and financial management of the Delegation

As the main authorized signatory for IECD Egypt, ensure that all official commitments of IECD Egypt (contract, conventions, agreements) are in line with the vision, strategy, and interests of IECD
Be responsible for appropriate legal compliance by all the operational staff, including labor law, and be in compliance with all necessary authorizations requirements to operate in Egypt (registration, residence permit …)
Comply with all local regulations (tax, insurances, reports to ministries)
Validate annual budgets for all project components and be responsible for implementing them throughout the various updates planned along year
Grant the regular availability of all financial information required (monitoring tool…)
Drive quarterly operational and financial reviews
Ensure compliance with the applicable procedures, operational regulations and IECD internal control rules
Liaise with Regional Finance and Accounting resources for all matters related to Regional dynamics

Profil

Education: Minimum of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in business, engineering, economics, management, international development, political science. Master’s degree and double degrees are preferred

Experience:

Minimum 15 years of experience, of which at least some in a similar setting and/or similar experience in international cooperation
Understanding the fields of operations of IECD Egypt: education, vocational training, entrepreneurship, health
Understanding of Egypt’s culture and dynamics, and how to run an organization in this country
Ability to interact with local administration and private sector partners
Previous experience in vocational training or education would be an asset

Expected Skills and Competencies:

Strategic and analytic vision for deploying operations
Excellent operational and financial project management
Proven ability to build a budget and implement it
Strong managements skills: care, train, unify, motivate, develop the teams
Representational capacity, particularly with local authorities
Negotiation skills
Ability to work as part of the team and in a matrix organization
Bilingual English, writing and speaking
Arabic (and in particular Egyptian dialect) and French would be seen as a significant asset
Adaptation skills in an organization with Regional dynamics and Headquarters located in Europe
Good knowledge of Microsoft pack office

Personal skills:

Outstanding interpersonal skills, open minded, listening skills and patience
Able to network and connect with different kinds of people
Leadership, entrepreneurship, focused on solutions and results
Rigor, organized, pragmatic
Diplomacy, adapting to any level of interlocutor
Strong work capacity: strong commitment and perseverance requested
Strong ethical and moral values: honesty, humility, respect, accountability
Adaptation to Egyptian culture, interest for geopolitical context
Ability to work in full transparency regarding difficulties, and opportunities
Embrace and share IECD three key values
Cultural sensitivity
Demonstrated interest for vulnerable people and their needs, especially youth, willing to contribute and pursue impact

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Status: Local contract (in compliance to Egyptian law) or agreement under French law, Volontariat de Solidarité Internationale (VSI) with pre-departure training

Under the responsibility of: Regional Director, based in Beirut (Lebanon)

Close cooperation with: