Country Director - Liberia

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

POSITION SUMMARY - This position is based in Monrovia, Liberia

Under the supervision of the Managing Director of West and Central Africa, the Country Director for Liberia is responsible for providing strategic and programmatic direction for programs as well as effective and timely program delivery. They are responsible for overall program management and ensuring that program strategies, initiatives, and outcomes advance Conservation International’s (CI’s) human development and conservation priorities. The Country Director will have an overall responsibility for strategic management, program development, leadership on policy and advocacy, fundraising, financial management, security, and operations management of the Liberia Country Programme in compliance with Conservation International’s global and regional policies and procedures and local requirements.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Strategic Management of the country programme

• Lead in the development, implementation, and periodic review of Liberia Country strategy, ensuring it is aligned to regional and global Strategic direction and priority thematic areas and landscape approach.
• Spearhead the development of the Country’s annual plans and budgets in accordance with set guidelines and procedures.
• Provide guidance to project managers in designing programs within the priority thematic areas and landscapes.
• Ensure quality output of the Liberia Country Programme by maintaining oversight on the implementation of programme activities and promoting positive donor relations.
• Develop partnerships with other national and international organizations to coalesce around strategic issues of common interest and benefit from joined-up approaches to leverage opportunities for resource mobilization and deepening. impact to communities in Liberia by enhancing CI’s niche, technical competence, prior donor experience, and geographical presence.
• Ensure strict adherence to Institutional, national, and donor policies and procedures through effective leadership and coordination with country teams and regional management teams.
• Identify potential local partners and spearhead capacity-building interventions for new and existing partners to support the development of local network partners.
• Facilitate training and capacity-building initiatives for staff and implementing partners to ensure quality project outputs.
• Ensure programs are aligned with Liberia’s national priorities and the needs of the communities are served.

2. Alliance Development and Maintenance:

• Position CI appropriately in Liberia and represent CI nationally.
• Plan, develop, and maintain a network of strategic partners and alliances that support the successful implementation of the program’s strategy, including civil society, public, private sectors, and local communities.
• Provide advice to key governmental and other partners to ensure sound decision-making on themes related to conservation and CI’s Liberia and the Africa Field Division landscape strategies.
• Identifying and managing both potential and existing risks; ensuring that mitigation measures are put in place as well as ensuring that the Country programs and operations are compliant with local laws and regulations.

3. Partnerships, Engagement, fundraising and Delivery
Project Management:

• Ensure effective and efficient delivery of projects, supervising the Project Managers to ensure delivery of planned activities, including the supervision of partners’ and sub-grantees project execution.
• Lead strategic and annual planning processes on behalf of the program at regional and national levels, ensuring the integration of program objectives with global initiatives, and monitoring and evaluating progress.
• Represent the program in senior-level meetings with CI’s regional and global management teams, coordinating technical interactions globally.

Fundraising and Proposal Development:

• Proactively raise funds to support Liberia’s programs and projects, including identifying and cultivating new funding machinery or mechanisms from national and international sources and ensuring efficient proposal development.
• Participate and collaborate in regional fundraising initiatives led by the Africa regional team and by the Global teams.
• Support the development of landscape strategies and landscape financing plans at the subregional and country levels for effective implementation of program-based activities.

People and Resources Management:

• Build, develop, and maintain a highly efficient diverse, and capable team that delivers the program’s strategy and ensures operational excellence.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team by fostering effective communication, instill organizational values and modeling competencies, create a collaborative and supportive work environment that attracts, develops, and retains talents and committed individuals while supporting their professional career development.
• Evaluate and approve the annual budget, including workforce planning and overall management of the human resources of the program.
• Oversee reporting to donors and CI’s leadership.
• Ensure operational excellence, including managing the financial resources of the program and addressing all legal matters of the program.
• Ensure program compliance with CI policies, funding agreements, and local requirements.
• Fully accountable for managing external funds and ensuring compliance with donor requirements and CI policies.
• Fully accountable for the Country’s office budget. Exercises direct budget authority and legally binds and commits the organization.

Participation in Institutional Processes:

• Participate as a member of the Africa Field Division Senior Leadership Team in meetings and other mechanisms to contribute to the formulation and evaluation of regional plans and strategies and determine priorities.
• Participate in any annual or other institutional planning meetings and processes, representing the country program, contribute to the formulation of national plans and strategies, and determine priorities.
• Participate in regional or institutional strategic groups as requested.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Travel in country at least 30%.
• Guidance on flexible work arrangements will be shared during the interview process.
• This role will be a two-year fixed-term assignment.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences, International Development, Natural Resource Management, or related field.
• 7 or more years of experience in managing a country office in a national or international INGO in a diverse culture and socio-economic context.
• 2 or more years of supervisory experience.
• Demonstrable experience in strategic planning, programme development, and management of complex, multi-stakeholder interventions.
• Direct experience of project appraisal, assessment, monitoring, and evaluation methodologies.
• Demonstrable experience in establishing networks with governments, private and public sector entities as well as development agency and experience in preparing funding proposals for a range of donors.
• Commitment and ability to foster and support capacity building in own staff and of national partners, including experience in managing teams across different sites.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and the ability to write clear reports for a wide range of audiences. French will be an advantage.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence, communicate, and negotiate with a wide range of people and organizations at all levels with tact, diplomacy, and sensitivity to cultural differences.
• Numeracy and ability to prepare and monitor budgets and accounts.
• Effective people management skills including the ability to establish good professional relationships.
• Demonstrate a high level of integrity.
• Highly organized and strong attention to detail.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences, International Development, Natural Resource Management, or related field. Ph.D. will be an added advantage.
• Understanding of government processes and other International NGO regulations/requirements.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex information to a diverse audience.
• Strong organization, teamwork, project management, and prioritization skills.

To apply for this position please submit a resume and cover letter.

Application Deadline: January 16, 2025 (11:49 PM EST)

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