Vacancy Announcement

Position: Country Director (Muslim Hands Bangladesh)

Report to: Board of Trustees in UK.

Vacancy: 1

Location: Bangladesh Country Office with frequent field visit in the country and participation in different events/forums in abroad

Last date: 19th August, 2023

Length of Contract: Annual

About Muslim Hands International

Muslim Hands International, a registered Charity having its Bangladesh country office is registered with the Bureau of NGO Affairs. Since 1995 the organization has been working in different sectors i.e. education, WASH, health, livelihood, child protection, poverty alleviation and disaster relief program. Our donor Muslim Hands UK is an international relief and development NGO, established in 1993 working both directly and with partners in over forty countries, carrying out short and long-term projects in emergency relief, educational and vocational training, WASH, Health, Livelihood and orphan sponsorship.

Summary of Position: The Country Director (CD) will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for the Muslim Hands’ Policies, Governance and management of the country office as a whole including staff, programs, and their planning, implementation and evaluation. The CD is responsible for overseeing the HR and administration at country office and in the field offices. CD will facilitate implementation of the strategic plan of the organization, developing strategic  and implementation partnerships, resource mobilization, marketing, and communications including representation in different forums for rapport, image, relationship building and networking.

Job Responsibilities:

STRATEGY, COORDINATION AND REPRESENTATION

  • Formulating the country strategy for Muslim Hands in the light of political,  social, economic and humanitarian context coupled with the overall organizational mandate as stated in the strategic plan.
  • Ensuring the trickle down of MH global policies and guidelines to the respective country chapter.
  • Acting as key contact with Head Office (HO), funding offices, Global Operations Development Department (Global Ops), local partners, I/NGOs, UN agencies, local authorities, government authorities and institutional donors.
  • Acting as a focal point, to issue base policy recommendations in collaboration with Global Ops and HO.
  • Representing MH to partners, I/NGOs, local authorities, government authorities and institutional donors.

OVERALL MANAGEMENT OF PROGRAMS

  • Defining the programmes along with inputs for programme design and development in the coordination with programme team and creating shared understanding and consistent knowledge.
  • Ensuring achievement of the program's objectives and their tracking.
  • Ensure quality of program in line with objectives and results duly monitoring and evaluation at different point in time.
  • Ensuring the organization achieves Value for Money for its resources.
  • Ensuring programme is still appropriate, according to the situation, the context and the program’s objectives.
  • Ensuring regular planning and review with staff.
  • Ensuring the program standards are developed and well communicated to the staff.
  • Ensuring staff carry out their work to the agreed standard.
  • Narrative and financial reporting to institutional donors, HO and funding offices.
  • Ensuring the collection of authentic data, uploading into the strategy tracker, representation on the dashboard and rectification of data anomalies as highlighted by the Global Ops.

OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

  • Responsible for financial feasibility of the country programme and budget monitoring.
  • Responsible to determine cost implication with operational management relating to program and administration
  • Responsible for all logistical aspects.
  • Responsible for the appropriate management of all resources in a transparent manner.
  • At all times the CD is accountable to the donors and benefactors of Muslim Hands.

LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION

  • Fostering a vision and executing strategies to meet the needs of the organization and donors, and providing high-quality programmes.
  • Representing Muslim Hands in forums and events at the country level, leading events organized by the donor agencies, international organizations, and building partnerships with local organizations.
  • Maintaining professional relationships with colleagues and supporting staff, being a preferred partner for major international donors, and promoting the work of Muslim Hands Bangladesh.
  • Leading humanitarian coordination, representing the organization to external audiences, and building strong relationships with government authorities.
  • Demonstrate leadership quality taking initiative, innovation in program, mentoring in different stage of program and its achievements

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND PROGRAM QUALITY

  • Ensuring high-quality programming and delivery aligned with the Muslim Hands Bangladesh Country and global Strategy, expanding the portfolio of programmes, and exploring opportunities for humanitarian programming and its transformation for foundation of sustainable development program.
  • Ensuring compliance with organization standards and promoting efficiency, establishing strong relationships with internal stakeholders, and seeking out opportunities to raise the organization’s profile.

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION AND PARTNER RELATIONS

  • Staying updated on relevant issues and developing responsive strategies, pursuing diversified funding, understanding donor priorities, and maintaining participation with key stakeholders.
  • Representation and participation in meeting with different development agencies to contribute from MHI BD perspective and building relationship

STEWARDSHIP AND OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

  • Leading with integrity and accountability, promoting programmatic excellence, overseeing operation and utilization of organization policies, and managing budgets and finances.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

  • Developing a positive work environment, providing staff development opportunities, training and developing staff capability, and ensuring fair and transparent recruitment.
  • Managing human resources in conformity with applicable local labour laws and with internal regulations.
  • Security management.
  • Setting of job descriptions and requests for new staff to headquarters.
  • Performance appraisals of staff and objective setting in line with program requirements.
  • Facilitation/Participation in Organizational development through change management that will be done by restructuration and transformation process when a transition plan with HRM and HRD will be part of it.

SAFETY, SECURITY, AND ACCESS MANAGEMENT

  • Overseeing the management of safety and security for the country programmes, maintaining security plans, and communicating safety and security concerns with staff.
  • Responsible for all expatriate and national staff, their security, wellbeing and management.

COMMUNICATION

  • Encouraging open and productive communication among staff and with partners, maintaining communication with HQ and regional management staff
  • Oversee quality communication within and outside of the organization that promote image and identity of the organization.
  • Responsible for through media and other public instruments and  may delegate to do so on case to case basis.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

The key working relationships for the position include reporting to the Bangladesh Board of Trustees and functional reporting to HQ department heads. The position directly supervises a senior management team responsible for Programmes, Operations, Finance, HR, and Security. The key internal contacts include all country program staff and HQ departments such as Finance and Services, Programmes, Global Operations, Compliance, Humanitarian and International Partnerships, and Safeguarding. The key external contacts include partner organizations, host country government officials, public and private donor agencies, international and national NGOs, UN agencies, and foreign governments.

Gender Equality Commitments 

  • Foster an environment that supports values of female and male, and equal access to information.
  • Provide a work environment where female and male must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
  • Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status. 
  • Value and respect all cultures.

Safeguarding Commitments  

The incumbent is required to carry out his/her duties in accordance with the Muslim Hands International Safeguarding policy and the Code of conduct.

Remain alert and responsive to any child and adult safeguarding risks, acquire relevant knowledge and skills which will enable you to promote strong safeguarding practices, understand the child and adult safeguarding policy and procedures, and conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the Safeguarding Policy.

Required Qualifications and Professional Experience

Academic Qualification: At least Master’s Degree in Development Studies/Public Administration/Public Policy/Management. In addition, MBA in any of these subjects with another major in HR as additional qualification is preferred. Higher education/post graduate degree in abroad is an asset and treated as additional qualification.  

Experience:

  • At least 15 years of experience of which 5 years’ experience in CD or similar/top position demonstrated with leadership quality in policy, program and management.
  • At least 3-5 years of previous experience on similar position with any I/NGO or a charitable organization.
  • Minimum of 12-15 years of total experience in development sector.
  • Previous management experience in the same country is highly preferred.
  • Knowledge and experience of Global standards, SDGs and other associated international frameworks.
  • Experience in security management.

Knowledge and Skills:

  • Must have thorough knowledge and skills.
    • In organizational growth and development with quality program development and implementation.
    • Staffing pattern and development with required competencies
  • Knowledge and skills in rapport building and PR.
  • Fluent in national language
  • Excellent communication in English, both verbal and written.
  • Ability to deal with stressful situations.
  • Ability to work within a team setting.
  • Ability to adapt within the working environment
  • Ability to anticipate and assess risk and management on timely manner.

Other Qualifications:

  • The requirements for the position include significant international work experience, programme/business development and fundraising experience, strategic and operational management, ability to work with various international donors, strong people management skills, experience supervising and managing a cross-cultural team, and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Fluency in English is required and proficiency in other language is an advantage.

Muslim Hands International has zero tolerance on sexual exploitation and abuse. All employment offers are conditional upon the receipt of satisfactory references and the signing our code of conduct, Safeguarding Policy with a particular focus on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Child Safeguarding. This position will also be subject to robust reference and background screening checks.

We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees & qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or status as a veteran
Muslim Hands International complies with all applicable laws governing non-discrimination in employment.