Country Director, Burundi At Right To Play

Organization: Right To Play International

Department/Division: International Programs

Work location: Bujumbura, Burundi

Authorized to work in: Burundi (Eligible to work legally without requiring sponsorship or work permit)

Position Status: Local package

Target Start Date: August/September 2022

Contract Duration: Long term engagement

Closing Date: 12 July 2022

BACKGROUND:

Right To Play is a global organisation that protects, educates and empowers children to rise above adversity using play. By harnessing play, one of the most powerful and fundamental forces in a child’s life, we helped 2.3 million children last year to stay in school and out of work, to prevent life-threatening diseases like HIV and malaria and to stay safe from exploitation and abuse. We are the only global development organization focused exclusively on using play to transform the lives of children and youth impacted by poverty, war, disease and inequality.

Established in 2000, Right To Play reaches children through experiential programming in 15 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. These programs are supported by our headquarters in Toronto, Canada; London, UK and eight national offices across Europe (Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, UK) and North America (Canada, US).

With a shared passion for our mission, our Culture Code guides how we act and interact based on five core pillars:

• Accept Everyone – Be intentional about inclusion
• Make Things Happen – Seek opportunities to lead and innovate
• Display Courage – Act with integrity
• Demonstrate Care – Look after yourself and one another
• Be Playful – Have fun at work

Please visit our website to learn more about who we are and what we do, and watch this video to find out about the five pillars of our Culture Code.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Country Director reports directly to the Global Director, Country Offices and leads the Burundi team to deliver on our strategic plan through high quality, impactful programming. The Country Director manages, mentors, coaches and guides the Senior Management Team, building a team culture in line with our culture code. Fundraising, representation and relationship development are core responsibilities to grow our impact, income and profile. The Country Director ensures that our financial, operational and people management systems and process function effectively with adequate controls in place and that risks are identified and mitigated.

This is a senior leadership role within Right To Play (RTP), participating in the Global Leadership Team and contributing to global system improvement initiatives.

The position is based in Bujumbura, Burundi with field visits, however, some international travel may be required. ___________________________________________________________________________________________

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Job Responsibility #1: Country Office Strategy, Leadership and Impact (20% of Time):

• Develops the strategic vision and direction of the country program in line with the strategic direction of RTP and the socio-economic and political environment in Burundi.
• Strategically oversees the program portfolio ensuring it is in line with the Burundi Strategic Plan and delivers quality and impact for children.
• Promotes a ‘One Right To Play’ approach, demonstrating RTP’s values, culture code and mission at country level
• Provides overall leadership on identifying, mitigating and monitoring programmatic and operational risks.
• Ensures high quality program design that is contextually appropriate, strategically aligned, scalable and impactful
• Member of Global Leadership Team (comprised of Country Directors, National Directors and HQ Directors and Executive Team Members)
• Participates in and informs global initiatives to improve organisational systems and processes
• Oversees the timely submission of quality reporting to HQ, donors and government.

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Job Responsibility #2: Fundraising, Representation and Relationships (30% of Time):

• Secures and stewards in-country funding opportunities, building relationships with donors in country to increase funding and strengthen RTPs profile and visibility.
• Serves as the main in-country contact for all external stakeholders; develops and maintains links with relevant senior government officials and with country representatives in donors, UN bodies, academia and other international NGOs.
• Promotes RTP’s organizational identity to all stakeholders and partners while ensuring RTP remains relevant to the changing needs of the most vulnerable people in the country.
• Leads the preparation and hosting of strategic donor and RTP HQ visits and workshops.
• Represents RTP in strategic meetings, conferences, forums and other public events and contributes towards consolidating and raising the profile of RTP
• Represents the organization in national and international media, where required

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Job Responsibility #3: People Management, Mentorship and Coaching (25% of Time):

• Leads, coaches and develops the Senior Management Team, ensuring they have the required expertise in their functional areas (programs, policy/advocacy, finance, people) while supporting them to build capability to lead the country office, cross-functionally.
• Oversees overall country People & Culture management processes, ensuring compliance and best practices.
• Oversees and monitors efficiency, fairness, timeliness of recruitment processes based on RTP guidelines focusing on retention of talent and timely resourcing to deliver results.
• Oversees staff mentoring and training to strengthen capacities and job satisfaction.
• Ensures implementation of the Performance Management System including work planning, reviews, appraisals, staff learning and development.
• Responds to legal claims or investigations, seeking legal advice as appropriate.

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Job Responsibility #4: Finance, Compliance and Controls (15% of Time)

• Provides oversight to all finance and administrative services in the Country Office.
• Oversees the country annual budget and is accountable for adherence to agreed expenditure levels – both restricted and unrestricted.
• Ensures adequate mechanisms are in place for monthly & quarterly budget reviews and minimizes significant expenditure variances and financial risks, including analysis and tracking of grant commitments and obligations
• Ensures all finance and program staff understand financial and internal control systems and budgets and comply with RTP Finance and grant management policies and procedures.
• Oversees annual and project-specific audit processes within the Country Office

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Job Responsibility #5: Security, Safety, Risk Management and Safeguarding (10% of Time)

• Provides overall leadership on safeguarding, ensuring that all RTP team members and partners adhere to RTP’s safeguarding policies as a minimum standard.
• Carries out risk, vulnerability and threat assessments as well as physical security assessments of all sites making prioritized recommendations for improvement through the Standard Operational
• Procedures and contingency plans.
• Liaises with local and regional officials, UN, NGO and other agencies regarding security issues in the planning, coordination, promotion of, and support for existing RTP projects.
• Ensures that safeguarding is integrated into all program and organizational risk assessments and budget and quality mitigation strategies are put in place.
• Monitors and mitigates all other organisation risks, including those related to legal presence and governance.

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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Must have):

EDUCATION/TRAINING/CERTIFICATION:

• Degree/diploma in Business Administration, Social Sciences, Development studies or other related discipline.

EXPERIENCE:

• 10 years’ experience in a leadership role within a large or international organization working on strategic planning, leadership and people management, program quality, project management and planning, monitoring and evaluation, human resources and financial management.

COMPETENCIES/PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Strategic planning skills
• Leadership, influencing and managerial skills
• Strong coaching and mentorship skills
• Ability to gain trust and secure donor funding
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills to build rapport with staff, partners, government officials, donors and community leaders
• Creativity and problem-solving skills
• Strong presentation skills
• Superior organizational skills and ability to multi-task
• Ability to work under pressure meeting deadlines
• Demonstrated commitment to creating inclusive teams and work environments.
• Demonstrated commitment to RTP’s mission, vision and code of conduct.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

• Proven knowledge and commitment to effective program design and delivery to achieve impact
• Proven knowledge of budgetary control and financial management, including ability to read and understand financial data or keen willingness to learn
• Proven experience in program design and/or strategy development to achieve impact
• Demonstrated computer skills especially in MS Office packages
• Understanding of country laws and regulations.

LANGUAGES:

• Fluency in spoken and written French and English

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS (An Asset)

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Social Sciences, Development studies or other related discipline.
• Proven success with mobilizing new sources of program funding is highly desirable.
• Education, Child Protection, Girls’ Empowerment and Play-based Learning and/or Sport for Development
• Significant experience with a child-focused organization

WHO YOU ARE:

You are highly driven, results-oriented, highly collaborative and well-rounded leader with a passion for working with children and youth. You are an exceptional communicator with excellent networking skills. You have a good understanding of the cultural dynamics in Burundi and can build the team’s confidence to excel in their various roles. You are thrilled at the opportunity to make an impact in Burundi, and you love building partnerships and alliances.

WHAT YOU’LL GET:

The opportunity to work with a passionate, innovative and collaborative team where you have the ability to make things happen. You will gain experience working for a globally recognized organization with a healthy culture premised on our Culture Code (accept everyone, make things happen, display courage, demonstrate care and be playful). In addition, we offer a competitive salary and benefits package including personal learning and development days.