Head of Mission

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 ANNOUNCEMENT 

Created by an act of the Canadian Parliament, Rights & Democracy is an independent institution with an international mandate. It promotes and defends human rights and democratic development, as defined in the International Bill of Human Rights. In cooperation with civil society and governments in Canada and other countries, Rights & Democracy initiates and supports programs to strengthen laws and democratic institutions, principally in developing countries. 

Rights & Democracy is currently accepting applications for the following position:  

Head of Mission, Afghanistan 

Contribution to Rights & Democracy 

In accordance with Rights & Democracy’s recognized policies and procedures and with the priorities approved by its management, the Head of Mission works under the authority of the Director of Policy, Programmes and Planning, and supports him/her in all related duties. The Head of Mission is notably responsible for the management of human, physical and financial resources as well as for ensuring their security in the country and/or region to which he/she is assigned. The Head of Mission is also responsible for ensuring the management and funding of democratic development and human rights projects as well as for related communications and networking activities with local authorities.  

Main activities:  

Management of human resources

·         Ensures staffing;

·         Supervises human resources on a day-to-day basis;

·         Applies the policies and procedures governing human resources;

·         Evaluates and trains current staff and helps build the capacities of local partners;

·         Manages employee files. 

Management of physical resources

·         Ensures registration and obtains the operating permits required by the country;

·         Manages all physical resources:

o   Negotiates leases and insurance;

o   Selects suppliers in accordance with strict criteria;

o   Negotiates the purchase/rental of office and computer equipment;

·         Keeps an inventory of property. 

Management of financial resources

·         Participates in the preparation and approval of budgets;

·         Manages and controls expenditures in accordance with established budgets;

·         Ensures strict budget control;

·         Takes measures to meet annual budget targets;

·         Reports any discrepancies to the Director of Programmes;

·         Authorizes and ensures the integrity of all financial and administrative reports.

Management of security

·         Is in charge of ensuring the overall security of human and physical resources;

·         Develops and maintains an updated security plan;

·         Informs all visitors of the security plan;

·         Develops an evacuation plan for local staff and visitors. 

Management of democratic development and human rights projects

·         As the person responsible for programmes, participates in the development and monitoring of activities in the country to which he/she is assigned and supervises their implementation via his/her staff and partners;

·         Supports local employees in project planning;

·         Identifies strategic local partners and solicits their participation;

·         Coordinates project-related activities with local and international partners;

·         Ensures follow-up and evaluation of the success of projects using appropriate techniques;

·         Reports any problems and issues to the Director of Programmes. 

Project funding

·         Develops and maintains relations with local donor agencies;

·         Ensures that proposals and reports are submitted to donor agencies by the deadlines;

·         Works in unison with the Director of Development and Programmes to identify funding opportunities;

·         Provides data and collaborates on financing packages;

·         Drafts the main concept to be used as the basis for the drafting of project proposals. 

Communications

·         Represents R&D in meetings with representatives of civil society, embassies, politicians and donor agencies;

·         Coordinates and manages the strategic communication plan with local media;

·         Develops and maintains cordial and productive relations with both elected and unelected representatives;

·         Identifies opportunities and responds to all requests for information on the part of local media related to the projects under his/her responsibility;

·         Writes all reports, evaluations and summaries of project-related activities. 

Required qualifications:

·         Master’s degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent experience;

·         Excellent proficiency in written and spoken English, Dari and Pashto;

·         At least ten (10) years of solid work experience in this field;

·         At least five (5) years of experience in a developing country in the area of project management, democratic development or human rights, as well as in relations with donor agencies;

·         Good proficiency in the use of computer tools;

·         Strong aptitude for establishing networks in support of Rights & Democracy’s activities;

·         Results orientation;

·         Ability to strategically analyze situations and information obtained, to summarize data and to write comprehensive and concise reports;

·         Good management skills, particularly in human resources management;

·         Flexibility and ability to work on different projects and to carry out a wide variety of tasks;

·         Ability to manage projects on time and on budget;

·         Excellent leadership and human qualities, including interpersonal skills and diplomacy;

·         Autonomy;

·         Excellent planning, organizational and prioritization skills;

·         Excellent oral and written communication skills;

·         Interpersonal skills and tact;

·         Good capacity for team work;

·         Excellent ability to handle stress.  

Duration: One-year contractual position 

Compensation: Competitive salary and numerous employee benefits (non-unionized management position). 

Start date: April 1, 2011 

Please send your application (resume and cover letter), including the position title and reference number 2011-001, by email only to rh@dd-rd.ca, (Reference: DevNetJobs.org) no later than Friday, January 21, 2011, at 5:00 p.m. 

Rights & Democracy will only contact selected applicants.

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