Role purpose

The Country Director serves as the leader of all THP activities within the Program Country, is responsible for translating the global strategic vision into strategic country plans, providing strategic leadership, and overall staff and programmatic management to achieve THP's mission and objectives. The Country Director oversees all aspects of country strategy, program implementation, staff management, financial supervision, grant management, fundraising, representation, communication and influence, safety and security, compliance with legal requirements, and good governance. The Country Director is the external spokesperson for the organization and is charged with driving impact and influence at the national level.

This full-time position is based out of THP Bangladesh office in Dhaka. The position reports to the Chief Program Officer (CPO) and works in close collaboration with the Global Office, funders (including Partner Countries), and various global functions (including Human Resources, Finance & Operations, Global Grants & Compliance, Communication & Fundraising, Global Learning Team, and Global Influence Team).

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Strategy Development, Execution, Impact and Learning

• Promote and expand THP-Bangladesh’s legacy as a volunteer-based, gender focused community-led development approach.
• Provide leadership for design and execution of the THP Bangladesh country-level national plan and strategy, which is aligned with the Global THP vision, mission and framework, leading to impact, influence and learning.

Fundraising and Stewardship

• Provide leadership for growth in fundraising by developing and executing a local fundraising strategy to secure funds from diverse sources (governmental agencies, bi-lateral donor agencies, multilateral institutions, foundations, corporations and implementing partner organizations).
• Ensure that the country is compliant with funder requirements (including requirements of THP Partner Country offices) and has the necessary infrastructure to steward existing grants in line with contractual requirements and organizational standards.

Governance and Compliance

• Develop a THP Bangladesh National Advisory Council or Board to foster broad ownership, good governance and high-level influence.
• Lead the implementation of THP policies in Bangladesh, including but not limited to those listed under The Hunger Project website.
• Ensure that employees' total compensation package is aligned with labor legislation, local standards and market, and benchmarking.
• Ensure strict adherence to national laws, fiscal policies, regulations, registrations, and compliance standards, fostering a culture of legality and ethical behavior within Bangladesh.

Representation and Influence

• Support the civil society networks such as SHUJAN and the National Girl Child Advocacy Forum that THP-Bangladesh has been instrumental in creating and nurturing.
• Serve as the primary representative of THP in the country, legally and otherwise, building and maintaining relationships with government agencies, partnerships with NGOs, donors, the media, and other stakeholders.
• Actively participate and share lessons learned to the global dialogue on best practices, enabling others in THP worldwide to benefit from THP Bangladesh’s accomplishments, lessons and experience.
• Position THP as a visible thought leader and partner on key issues relevant to our mission, by identifying priorities and developing strategies for influence and advocacy.

Financial and Operational Oversight

• Oversee the country's financial operations, including budgeting, control systems, identification of risks and implementation of mitigation measures, and compliance with both local and funder requirements.
• Ensure property stewardship practices to uphold organizational values and maximize resource efficiency.
• Monitor and analyze the security situation in the country and oversee the management of all security issues, in coordination with the security focal point in the country and the Global Office.
• Effectively manage, mentor, and lead the country team, supporting an equitable and inclusive work environment, valuing diversity and teamwork, and facilitating capacity-building initiatives.

Profile

Education

• Minimum Required: Master’s degree in a field suitable and beneficial with the programs implemented by THP. A higher degree from a western university.
• Preferred: Major in Business, Public Policy, Social Work, Agriculture and Rural Development, Gender Studies, Human Rights, and International Development and Social Sciences.

Work Experience

• Minimum Required: 10 + years in a leadership role and with non-profit or development work
• Preferred: Experience with a development organization working with communities’ development and in a leadership role.

Specialized Knowledge

• The ability to develop competencies and strengthen capacities.
• The ability to build, maintain, and develop partnerships with donors and partners.
• Proven ability to negotiate and work with partner organizations, national and international donors.
• Experience with oversight over a diverse portfolio of projects, including extensive representation, and proven fundraising success with international donors.
• Ability to create and manage administrative processes.
• Possess strong business and financial acumen.
• Demonstrated successful leadership and management experience with multi-disciplinary teams in cross-cultural settings and time-zones.

Skills

• Comfortable working with partner organizations, government officials and donor agencies as well as local structures and community groups.
• Effective in developing high-potential staff to achieve career growth and maximum contribution.
• Sound judgment, able to troubleshoot problems, produce creative solutions, while also identifying issues which need to be escalated.
• High-level project management skills, and the ability to prioritize.
• Tactful and diplomatic.
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills; ability to work with colleagues and partners, nationally and internationally. Ability to adapt and work in a very flexible, fluid, and evolving environment.
• Capacity to mentor and lead team members.
• High level of comfort with new technologies, and able to quickly learn new tools.

Special Skills

• Proficiency in MS Office suite, knowledge of Google suite and tools preferred.
• Working knowledge of file sharing protocols such as Dropbox, SharePoint, etc.

Other

• Commitment to THP’s values, including an understanding of and compatibility with our principles and philosophy. The successful candidate will be working with a team who loves what they are doing and feels it is a privilege to be working in service of this mission.
• Fluency in English and in the official language(s) of Bangladesh required.
• Ability to navigate sensitive and confidential information.

• Ability to work with a shifting daily schedule, including outside of regular working hours and days.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, and work in multiple time zones, as necessary.

The Ideal candidate

• Must be willing to learn from the local people and not bring traditional NGO mindset of service delivery. THP-Bangladesh is not a traditional NGO. It is a unique volunteer-based organization. The person must be committed to this fundamental core of our work.
• A creative individual who wants to change the world – this person has a passion to make a difference, specifically around issues of poverty, hunger, and international development.
• Is a defiant optimist. This person channels that passion with a strong sense of optimism that even big change is possible.

Terms of Appointment

• This is a full-time position reporting to the Chief Program Officer (CPO). The annual gross salary range for the position is $70-$90k, paid in local currency and on a local contract. It includes a comprehensive benefits package.

Role Location

Dhaka, Bangladesh

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please ensure you complete the Application Form provided below by 06 November 2024 (23:59 hrs, GMT +6). It is essential that you submit your CV in English, specifically in Microsoft Word format (.doc/.docx), not exceeding 10MB.

Applications in other languages or formats will not be considered.

Rest assured, all information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.

SRI Executive is exclusively retained by The Hunger Project to undertake this assignment.