Country: Lao People's Democratic Republic (the)
Closing date: 23 Nov 2017
Norwegian People's Aid is a humanitarian organisation rooted in the Norwegian Labour Movement. We work with International Development Partnerships, Humanitarian Mine Action, Rescue Service and First Aid, and Asylum and Integration. Norwegian People's Aid has about 12000 members in Norway and 2400 staff worldwide. We work in 36 countries around the world, and in 2017 we will have an expected turnover of 1000 MNOK.
Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) has been involved in humanitarian mine action since 1992 and is one of the leading humanitarian demining organizations worldwide. NPA works closely with national authorities and other stakeholders on resolving the challenges faced by the local communities caused by landmines and other explosive remnants of war. In 2017, NPA will have more than 22 Mine Action Programmes in the Balkans, Southern Africa, the Horn of Africa, Central Asia, South East Asia, and The Middle East.
NPA started in Lao PDR with support to the national UXO operator in 1997, and since 2009 it has also been running its own field operations including survey, clearance and capacity building projects. The programme’s head quarter is located in the capital Vientiane, with a regional office in Saravane province in the south of the country. The programme is currently employing 253 national staff and 5 expats, and receives funds from several donor including NMFA, USDoS, DFID and SIDA with an annual turnover of about 7 million USD. The programme is one of NPA's largest programmes.
NPA is seeking an experienced and highly competent Country Director to run its Lao PDR programme. The position is based in Vientiane with frequent travel to project sites in Lao PDR. The Country Director is also expected to travel to relevant international meetings. The position is full time.
Key duties and responsibilities:
Specific duties of the Country Director includes but are not limited to:
- Implement the programme as set out in NPA Head Office approved strategies and procedures, MoUs, annual plans, donor contracts, budgets and timetables.
- Be responsible for the development, monitoring and day-to-day management of the programme in accordance with NPA guidelines and policies with emphasis on relevance, quality, cost efficiency and impact.
- Monitor and evaluate programme implementation both on site and remotely, supervise key personnel and field offices and evaluate program activities to ensure best practices and that targets for quantity, quality and cost efficiency are met.
- Provide technical and operational advisory support to national authorities in Lao PDR when necessary.
- Manage human-, financial- and logistical resources in Lao PDR.
- Responsible for leading, briefing/debriefing, providing coaching, evaluating and identifying training needs of the management team.
- Ensure contract compliances as well as timely and accurate financial and narrative reporting in close dialog with NPA Head Office.
- Be responsible for resource mobilisation for the NPA HD programme in Lao PDR and bring new funds into the programme in Lao PDR.
- Responsible for the security of programme staff and programme assets.
- Build and maintain alliances and networks among government agencies, UN, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders in Lao PDR, the South-East Asia region and globally.
Required qualifications:
- Relevant higher education or equivalent military qualifications.
- Formal education in mine action work or explosive ordnance disposal is desirable.
- Proven ability to lead, manage, develop and motivate a team is necessary (e.g. humanitarian mine action/UXO programmes, overseas relief and development programmes or military international deployments).
- Strong financial, logistical, HR and administrative management skills, accustomed to working with limited supervision.
- Experience from project planning, implementation, follow up and reporting (including writing project proposals, budgeting and fundraising).
- Experience and knowledge from political/advocacy work in development countries and/or humanitarian aid is an asset.
- Previous working relations with UN, national authorities, military forces, partners and/or donors.
- Good knowledge in computer handling and data acquisition.
- Written and verbal proficiency in English is necessary.
Personal competencies:
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to cooperate and work in a multi-cultural/multi-national setting and to be good team player.
- Ability to work in and adapt to difficult and complex cultures and conditions is necessary.
- Solid analytical, structured and innovative skills.
- Be adaptable, flexible, and able to work in a hostile environment and under difficult circumstances.
- Ability to establish efficient professional working relationships with stakeholders, in particular national and provincial authorities (Civilian and Military), UN and International NGOs.
Position number: 171/17
Place of Service: Vientiane, Lao PDR
Closing date for application: November 23rd 2017
In general:
We emphasize the importance of strong health, cross-cultural communication skills, positive attitude, creativity and the ability to work under pressure and difficult conditions. One of NPA's overall objectives is to promote gender equality in our organization, and female candidates are encouraged to apply.
NPA offers:
Interesting and challenging work environment, free accommodation, transport and insurance schemes for expatriates. A one-year contract with possibility for renewal will be offered. For more information about NPA, please see NPA's website at www.npaid.org / www.folkehjelp.no
Kontaktpersoner:
Sten Trygve Brand
Desk Officer Southeast Asia
+47 40 22 60 77
Sven Jonas Zachrisson
Country Director Lao PDR
+856 20 2223 2312
How to apply:
Please apply online as instructed on our website. Due to capacity reasons we are only able to process applications sent through our recruitment portal.