Country Director – Tanzania

Helen Keller International
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Country Director – Tanzania
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. HKI works with partners around the world to help meet key provisions of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), selected by all 191 United Nations member states, as well as VISION2020, The Right to Sight. With over 700 staff and an annual cash operating budget of over $45 million, HKI is seeking a Country Director to lead and manage our programs in Tanzania – one of our flagship country offices in Africa.

Country Program Overview:
The Country Director will oversee a program that is rapidly expanding into new areas and activities. The current program focuses on child survival, neglected tropical diseases, micronutrient deficiency and agricultural-based solutions to undernutrition. In Tanzania, HKI works with the Ministry of Health and partners to sustain a high-level commitment to twice-yearly vitamin A Supplementation (VAS) delivered as an integrated package of child services. Tanzania’s program has been very successful in institutionalizing district-driven programs by supporting planning and budgeting for adequate resources at the national and district levels; training of health workers and distributors; and conducting monitoring and evaluation activities. In addition, HKI-Tanzania is working on a new program to support national level flour and oil fortification, promoting the use of orange fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP) and supporting vulnerable households and women in a new enhanced homestead food production program in the Lake Zone region. HKI also has an active program in the prevention and treatment of trachoma and expects to undertake additional work on other neglected tropical diseases. In addition, we anticipate expanding into other areas including nutrition and food security, eye health (building on prior experience in cataract surgery), introduction of other biofortified crops (building on experience with OFSP), policy development and nutrition capacity building. The current annual budget for Tanzania is about 2.5 million with 30 staff members.

Scope of the Position:
The Country Director (CD) is responsible for providing the overall strategic vision for the Tanzania program. The CD will be oversee the implementation of the HKI-Tanzania programs and grants, manage staff and financial resources, identify opportunities for future need, work with partners and donors and represent HKI-Tanzania at national, regional and international forums. In close collaboration with the regional and headquarter based team, the CD will be responsible for implementing the current strategic plan to further the overall mission of HKI in meeting the evolving nutrition and eye health needs and conditions in Tanzania. The position is based in Dar-e- Salam, Tanzania, with frequent travel within the country to locations where HKI has sub-offices (Mtwara and Mwanza). The CD reports to the Deputy Regional Director for East, Central and Southern Africa, and closely collaborates with the HKI Africa Regional Office and Headquarters staff.

Overall Management and Leadership:
Implement and periodically update HKI-Tanzania’s strategic plan.
Generate funding from international and bilateral agencies, donor agencies, corporations, and individuals in collaboration with national, regional and Headquarters staff in alignment with the country office’s strategic plan.
Manage financial resources and provide oversight for grants.
Manage key project personnel including supporting their ongoing professional development.
Provide vision and direction for overall program design and proposal development; program implementation and reporting; grant management; financial planning; and human resource planning and management.
Represent HKI in formal and informal meetings with government officials, international donor agencies, and national technical advisory groups pertinent to HKI project activities.

Programmatic:
Provide technical input to the government, international donor agencies and technical advisory groups pertinent to HKI project activities.
Oversee research design, dissemination of information gathered and advocacy to advance programmatic and policy changes.
Oversee and coordinate the program portfolio to ensure the highest level of project quality and accountability, while fostering continuity through building local capacity.
Ensure implementation of strong program monitoring, evaluation and learning functions.
Disseminate findings from HKI projects that are of importance to decision-makers in a position to fund or implement projects in Tanzania and internationally.
Keep the national partners and others informed about progress of the projects, plans for the development of new programs/projects/activities and donor involvement in the overall program.

Financial and Administrative:
Work with HKI Regional Office and Headquarters to manage the development and implementation of annual country budgets.
Prepare financial reports that comply with grant or contract agreements.
Ensure timely submission of financial reports within the guidelines established by the HKI Finance and Accounting Department and the Grants and Contracts Management Department.
Authorize expenditures for grant or contract allocations and ensure compliance with procedures required by grant or contract agreements.
Hire and manage personnel for Tanzania projects in compliance with HKI policies and lead initiatives to develop staff capacity.

Skills/Knowledge Required:
A Master’s degree in public health, nutrition, development management or related field.
Ten (10) years of program related experience, including at least 7 years of managing a large staff, both local and international, in an international setting.
Demonstrated capacity to mobilize program funding including donor cultivation and grants writing.
Excellent oral and written English language skills, including the ability to quickly synthesize complex technical and programmatic issues into concise communications.
Demonstrated experience and skills in leadership, staff management, program development and management, monitoring and evaluation, and public speaking.
Demonstrated ability to generate program funding including donor cultivation and grant writing.
Prior experience working in East Africa is desirable.
Computer literate in the use of word-processing, spreadsheet and statistical software; experience in data analysis and interpretation is highly desirable.
Ability to travel within Tanzania and periodically internationally.

The initial contract is for two years with the possibility of renewal depending on performance and availability of funding. Salary based on qualifications, experience, and grant requirements. Housing and other overseas allowances will be provided, in accordance with HKI policies.

To Apply:
Qualified candidates should submit: (1) cover letter; (2) current curriculum vitae in English; and (3) a short writing sample (2-3 pages) in English, to TzCDApplication@hki.org, noting “CD Tanzania” in the subject line, with a copy to Human Resources at hkihr@hki.org. Recruitment begins immediately and will remain open until a suitable candidate has been found, with an anticipated start date in June 2011.