VACANCY - LOWONGAN - Country Representative - Nonviolent Peaceforce Sri Lanka

Country Representative, Nonviolent Peaceforce Sri Lanka
Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP)
Nonviolent Peaceforce is a dynamic international, non-governmental organization which works to reduce violence and protect civilians in situations of violent conflict and its aftermath.
Closing date: 17 Sep 2010
Location: Sri Lanka - Colombo

Starting salary Euro 45,931-58,366 gross p.a. depending on experience (subject to Sri Lanka tax) plus generous benefits package including housing, insurances, internet connection, removal costs and flights home for staff member and dependents. Salary is increased annually according to cost of living index in Sri Lanka and further increments are subject to performance review.

For its programme in Sri Lanka (NPSL), Nonviolent Peaceforce is seeking to recruit an international COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE to be responsible for leadership and guidance to over 30 national and international staff and strategic oversight of field operations in the East and North as well as in Colombo. Responsibilities include acting as official representative and spokesperson for NP and maintaining bilateral and multilateral relations with a wide range of actors in the country as well as externally and with the rest of NP. He or she is also responsible ultimately for the financial management of the country programme and takes a strong role in in-country fundraising.

Responsibilities:

Overall Direction of NP’s work in Sri Lanka

- Leadership and guidance for NP’s field operations in Sri Lanka (mostly in the East and North)
- Being the link between wider NP and its Sri Lanka Country Programme

External Relations

- Act as country representative and spokesperson and maintain bilateral and multilateral relations with key individuals and institutions relating to Sri Lanka
- Representing NP in meetings with NGOs, INGOs, government and IOs, as appropriate
- Liaising with NP advisors and the Strategic Liaison Coordinator

Line Management

- Line management of the Country Manager, who will be responsible for strategic planning, policy development and operational management
- Line Management of the Strategic Liaison Coordinator

Financial Responsibility

- Overall responsibility for budgeting and financial management, including financial reporting to donors and to NP management

Internal Communication

- Insure effective communication to/from NPSL and within NPSL
- Report to the members of the international NP staff, Board and network

Fundraising

- Coordinate / initiate fundraising in Sri Lanka in cooperation with the NP Fundraising Department. Maintain ongoing relations with donor community representatives in Sri Lanka.
- Oversee reports to funders
- Assist the fundraising department in preparing of funding applications.

Work environment

This is a full-time expat position based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with a minimum 1-year contract and 3 month probationary period. Some evening and weekend work will be expected, as well as a certain amount of travel within Sri Lanka and abroad.

Starting salary Euro 45,931-58,366 gross p.a. depending on experience (subject to Sri Lanka tax) plus generous benefits package including housing, insurances, internet connection, removal costs and flights home for staff member and dependents. Salary is increased annually according to cost of living index in Sri Lanka and further increments are subject to performance review.

Criteria:

1. Management experience
a. Essential: Minimum 3 years experience managing field projects
b. Highly Desirable: Minimum 3 years experience managing an NGO field project of similar nature and scope
c. Desirable: Minimum 3 years experience managing similar project in a conflict environment

2. Understanding of NP’s work
a. Essential: Clear understanding of the importance of maintaining nonpartisanship in Sri Lankan context
b. Highly Desirable: Demonstrated understanding of the basic concepts underlying NP’s work
c. Desirable: Proven experience of protection, human rights, unarmed peacekeeping or related work

3. International Experience
a. Essential: Minimum 3 years of living and working in a multi-cultural environment
b. Highly Desirable: At least 1 year experience of working in the field as part of a multi-cultural team
c. Desirable: Clearly developed skills in cultural sensitivity and in working effectively in multi-cultural setting

4. Financial Management
a. Essential: Proven ability to understand and work with budgets and management accounts
b. Highly Desirable: Minimum 3 years of direct responsibility for setting and monitoring budgets
c. Desirable: Proven experience of setting and managing budgets of US$1 million or more

5. People Skills
a. Essential: Excellent inter-personal skills
b. Highly Desirable: Proven experience of managing teams and supervising other people
c. Desirable: Proven experience of line managing other senior management staff

6. Leadership Skills
a. Essential: Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and direction
b. Highly Desirable: Proven experience of effective leadership
c. Desirable: Demonstrated ability to inspire and motivate others.

7. Communication Skills
a. Essential: Excellent oral and written communication skills
b. Highly Desirable: Proven experience of making public presentations and writing public reports
c. Desirable: Demonstrated ability to persuade and win over a wide range of audiences to a project like NP

8. Strategic Relationship building and Fundraising Skills
a. Essential: Proven ability to develop and maintain relationships with officials, donors and others
b. Highly Desirable: Experience of fundraising from agencies and governments
c. Desirable: Proven experience of raising considerable funds for similar work in a similar setting

9. Security and risk management
a. Essential: At least 2 years experience in hostile or difficult environments or equivalent training
b. Highly Desirable: Demonstrated understanding of security management concepts and how to apply them
c. Desirable: Advanced understanding of security management and how it relates to protection work

10. Flexibility and sense of humour
a. Essential: Proven ability to adapt to new or unknown situations and maintain humour and good spirit
b. Highly Desirable: Demonstrated ability to work well under stress and to avoid burn-out
c. Desirable: Proven experience of working calmly and effectively in high stress and crisis conditions

11. Honesty and integrity
a. Essential: Trustworthy and reliable with regards to people, money and information
b. Highly Desirable: Commitment to stick with the job for duration of contract
c. Desirable: Proven ability to win the trust and respect of others

12. Ability to quickly pick up and comprehend new and complex political situations
a. Essential: Experience working in more than one different political situation
b. Highly Desirable: Proven ability to adapt the work of an organization to a new political context
c. Desirable: Demonstrated ability to quickly understand the political nuances in Sri Lanka and how they affect our work.

How to apply
To apply, please send CV together with a covering letter stating (a) your reasons for applying for this particular position and (b) how you meet each of the twelve criteria specified in the person specification, found on the website below, to cschweitzer@nonviolentpeaceforce.org

Please include your name in the subject line. CVs without a cover letter including the above information will not be accepted.

Further details may be found on our website (www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org) or by writing to NP Programme Director Christine Schweitzer at the above email address. This position will remain open until filled.

Candidates from all countries and backgrounds will receive equal consideration, however this vacancy is not open to Sri Lankan nationals due to the particular diplomatic nature of this position.