Country Director ADRA Madagascar

Scope of Work

Country Director for ADRA Madagascar

Supervised by: President of the Union of Federations of Seventh-day Adventist Churches of the Indian Ocean

"The Organization”

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is a global humanitarian organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that works with people in poverty and distress to create just and positive change through empowering partnerships and responsible action. The ADRA’s purpose is to serve humanity so that all may live as God intended. All our work is led by “Justice, compassion, and love.” ADRA’s values are Connected, Courageous, and Compassionate. ADRA Madagascar has been in operation since 1992.

Responsibilities:

Governance and Administration

1. Operate in accordance with the ADRA mission, vision, and values.
2. Ensure that the operation complies with the ADRA network policies, relevant procedures, and all applicable legislation related to the country’s operations.
3. Ensure that the office operates appropriately in accordance with an up-to-date constitution, as reviewed and approved by the governing board.
4. Draft, update, and implement key policies and procedures for the office.
5. Brief the Chair regularly on performance activities, strategic alignment, and industry trends.
6. Provide quarterly reports and yearly audits to the governing board.
7. Keep abreast of changing standards and industry trends.

Strategic Planning

1. Create, monitor, and review the country strategic plan, ensuring alignment with regional and ADRA network plans through adequate consultation with country office leadership and the regional director.
2. Consult with the relevant church leadership to explore strategies for alignment of ADRA to the church’s mission.

Financial Oversight

1. In consultation with the Senior Finance Director, ensure that the country office operates within the established budget.
2. In consultation with the Senior Finance Director, ensure the country office achieves long-term sustainable operations and practices good financial management.
3. In consultation with the Senior Finance Director, safeguard the financial stability and income streams through donor management, corporate partnerships, and entrepreneurial strategies.

Church Relations

1. Build appropriate synergies and active consultation between the Church and ADRA’s programs.
2. Be available for speaking engagements at camp meetings and churches, and to meet with those who have special concerns or interests.
3. Build bridges to implement missional projects in partnership with the SDA Church.

Human Resource Management

1. Ensure that all staff have job descriptions that are relevant to their roles, include key competencies, and clearly outline their responsibilities.
2. Develop a systematic process for conducting regular performance evaluations of all staff members to ensure they meet the agreed-upon outcomes and responsibilities.
3. Provide opportunities for all staff to continuously develop and maintain their professional expertise and knowledge in their respective fields of responsibility.
4. Provide affirmative and supportive guidance to staff members in their personal and professional development.
5. Coordinate the recruitment of country office staff using standardized ADRA network recruitment procedures, ensuring compliance with relevant employment legislation.
6. In collaboration with the regional office, offer educational and training opportunities for members of the country office’s governing board or committee in the domains of governance, accreditation, and development practices.
7. Identify and train/mentor potential individuals for leadership positions in the country office.

Programmatic Planning and Emergency Coordination

1. In collaboration with the Senior Program Director, oversee community development programming that aligns with the country office’s strategic plan and adheres to accepted industry standards and best practices.
2. In collaboration with the Senior Program Director, spearhead the development and submission of grant proposals to secure funding from private foundations, corporations, and government agencies.
3. Collaborate with ADRA International and the regional office to coordinate and execute effective disaster response and recovery operations.
4. Develop and obtain the approval of the Board of Directors for a National Emergency Management Plan (NEMP).
5. Enhance the office’s ability to design and execute successful programs.
6. Facilitate information exchange and partnerships among other ADRA country offices to enhance program implementation across the network.
7. Enhance the country office’s monitoring and evaluation capabilities.

Communication and Advocacy

1. Maintain regular communication with all staff to ensure consistency in the message and alignment of operations.
2. Engages in all appropriate communication channels to disseminate the message and activities of ADRA in the country.
3. Advocate for cultural and church-appropriate causes whenever possible.
4. Identify chances to participate in advocacy campaigns.

Network Development

1. Actively engage with the ADRA network through collaborative and coordinated strategies and partnerships.
2. Contribute available and appropriate human, financial, and knowledge resources to other ADRA offices to enhance the quality of coordinated programs, humanitarian response, strategy development, and management processes.

Other

1. Perform other duties as assigned by the governing board or management committee.                                                                                                                                                                    

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Master’s degree in International Development, or a field related.
• Essential: University Degree (BA, BSc), Computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Desirable: MBA, or master’s level degree in public health or related subject
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive work experience in a program management role, preferably with an international NGO. At least three years of successful performance in a senior position are required.
• Strong experience in project grants management for large and complex projects, including project design, budget preparation, expenditure tracking, monitoring and evaluation, reporting, etc., for projects funded by multiple international donors, including USG and EU funding.
• Demonstrated substantial experience in successfully developing business ventures that secured substantial public and private donor funding. This involved coordinating proposals, writing compelling proposals, and negotiating agreements.
• Excellent spoken and written English skills, with the ability to communicate effectively in French if possible. The ideal candidate should be able to represent the Agency in various public and private settings.
• Experience engaging with partners and strengthening partnerships, with experience working with Church partners being a plus.
• Staff management experience and competencies that promote an open learning environment. Experience in coaching and mentoring senior program staff.
• Experience and expertise in capacity strengthening, including curriculum development and training facilitation.
• Experience in using MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, information and budget management systems, and knowledge sharing networks.

Personal Skills

• Strategic thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to solve problems are essential. The capacity to see the big picture with an open mind, detail orientation, and the ability to share a vision are also important. Additionally, the ability to make adequate decisions under pressure is crucial.
• Strong relationship management abilities, including the ability to relate to people at all levels, both internally and externally. Strategic in applying tailored and adapted approaches to each and every relationship and situation.
• Team leadership abilities with diverse and multi-disciplinary teams, as well as mentoring and coaching skills.
• Presentation and facilitation skills
• Setting up new projects and programs
• Proactive, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and results-oriented

Required/Desired Foreign Language

Fluency in spoken and written English and French

Travel Required

Up to 40% travel, including visits to 4-5 Projects within Madagascar, periodic visits to sub-regional sites, regional meetings, and workshops.

Key Competencies:

• Deciding and Initiating Action (1.1) - Makes prompt, clear decisions which may involve tough choices or considered risks.
• Leading and Supervising (1.2) - Provides others with a clear direction; sets appropriate standards of behavior.
• Persuading and Influencing (3.2) - Gains clear agreement and commitment from others by persuading, convincing, and negotiating; makes effective use of political processes to influence and persuade others; promotes ideas on behalf of oneself or others; makes a strong personal impact on others; takes care to manage one’s impression on others
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts (5.3) - Works strategically to realize ADRA’s goals; sets and develops strategies; identifies, develops positive and compelling visions of ADRA’s future potential; takes account of a wide range of issues across and related to ADRA.

This position will close on May 30, 2025. Interested applicants may send resume and cover letter to mesmerts@iou.adventist.org