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Staff Development Manager Afghanistan/Pakistan (186419-927)
Source: Mercy Corps
| Deadline: | 23 Sep 2008 |
| Organisation: | Mercy Corps |
| Location: | Afghanistan |
| Type: | permanent |
| Salary: | TBA (000's USD) |
| Description: |
PROGRAM SUMMARY - Mercy Corps has continuously been working in Afghanistan since 1986. To date, Mercy Corps has completed over 50 programs throughout Afghanistan's urban and rural areas. Mercy Corps is currently present in eight provinces in Afghanistan with a large portfolio of programmes dealing with promotion of sustainable licit livelihoods, agricultural development, micro-finance and the strengthening of civil society and government institutions. Donors include the United States Department for Agriculture (USDA), the European Union (EU), the Department for International Development of the British Government (DFID) and United States Aid for Internationals Development (USAID). Mercy Corps has been operational in Pakistan since 1986. Mercy Corps' early work in Pakistan focused on providing access to water, health improvement and vocational training for the Afghan refugee community in Baluchistan Province. In recent years, Mercy Corps has expanded both sectorally and geographically throughout the country, and is now one of the lead agencies providing health services through a number of programs, with donors such as USAID, the EC, and Global Fund. Mercy Corps' emergency response to the devastating earthquake of 2005, led to an expansion of programming into the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Mercy Corps continues to be a major player in all emergency relief efforts in the country, most recently responding to the flooding in Baluchistan during the 2007 monsoons. Mercy Corps' Country Office in Islamabad oversees programs and operations throughout the country and liaises with the Government of Pakistan (GoP) and donors; main area offices are based in Quetta (in Baluchistan; also oversees Sindh), and Mansehra and Muzzafarabad in the North. These are staffed by a small number of expatriates and more than 400 Pakistani nationals. the lead agencies providing health services through a number of programs, with donors such as USAID, the EC, and Global Fund. Mercy Corps' emergency response to the devastating earthquake of 2005, led to an expansion of programming into the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Mercy Corps continues to be a major player in all emergency relief efforts in the country, most recently responding to the flooding in Baluchistan during the 2007 monsoons. Mercy Corps' Country Office in Islamabad oversees programs and operations throughout the country and liaises with the Government of Pakistan (GoP) and donors; main area offices are based in Quetta (in Baluchistan; also oversees Sindh), and Mansehra and Muzzafarabad in the North. These are staffed by a small number of expatriates and more than 400 Pakistani nationals. GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY Mercy Corps Afghanistan has maintained a Staff Development Unit based in Kabul since April of 2007. The incoming Manager will be tasked with continuing and building on ongoing initiatives. He/she will continue to identify and implement new initiatives to build a high performing national team who are able to implement high impact, scaled programs successfully addressing major development problems in Afghanistan. This will be achieved through developing an effective recruitment, retention, performance management and staff compensation systems; identifying and driving staff development opportunities at all levels of the organization; orienting all staff to Mercy Corps' mission, culture, Vision for Change, worldwide programming and exposing staff to key organizational learning. The staff member will dedicate approximately 20% of his/her time to Mercy Corps Pakistan. This will require visiting Islamabad and field offices to orient and train Human Resources and management staff on the initiatives that are implemented by the SD and HR units in Kabul. The SD Manager will ensure that these materials are also effectively implemented in Pakistan. Implementation of these materials in Pakistan is also a first step towards regionalizing efforts to maximize efficiency in the agency. ted by the SD and HR units in Kabul. The SD Manager will ensure that these materials are also effectively implemented in Pakistan. Implementation of these materials in Pakistan is also a first step towards regionalizing efforts to maximize efficiency in the agency. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: 1) Vision, Leadership and Strategy - The SD Manager will be a key member of the senior management team and will be central to the development of the Afghanistan Country Program Strategy and is responsible for ensuring that an effective staff recruitment, development and retention system is in place to ensure that the Program strategy can be achieved. A Staff Development Strategy has been developed and is being implemented. The incumbent will be responsible to ensure that this three-year strategy is effectively implemented, course corrections are made if needed, and progress is tracked. An expatriate manager directly reporting to the Country Director is currently managing the SD unit. The incoming manager will be tasked with assessing and recommending how long the unit should be managed by an international and ways of nationalizing it. The manager will also recommend where the SD unit will be housed in the future: under the Country Director, Operations Director, Human Resources Department, etc. 2) Recruitment and Retention - The SD is responsible for working with the HR manager and officers to develop and implement strategies and tactics for recruiting and retaining high performing staff. This will involve identifying new channels for recruitment, building a compensation strategy that is market-oriented and provides non-salary benefits that result in Mercy Corps becoming the employer of choice for Afghan social entrepreneurs. Special attention will be given to the recruitment and development of female staff members. Strategies for tapping into the experienced body of field level staff who are non-English speakers and non-computer literate, should be considered. 3) National Staff Development - A comprehensive staff development strategy is in place and under implementation. This strategy, developed in the summer of 2007, is a roadmap for the development and learning for Mercy Corps Afghanistan's team. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that this strategy is implemented and that program and support teams are considering team development a priority and are acting accordingly. Conduct proper training needs assessments so that trainings are based on career aspirations of team members and that they are inline with the organizational priorities. Ensure that all development opportunities such as e-learning, cross visits to other Afghanistan and regional or global programs with a focus on regionalization of skills, formal trainings (international external, international internal, existing domestic or bring in international trainers), mentoring and coaching and formal longer term courses for staff with long-term career prospects, are properly and effectively used. In collaboration with the management team, the SD Manager is responsible for identifying junior leaders and supporting them to develop their career with Mercy Corps. Identify targeted internal and external trainings to ensure that development opportunities for those team members are created and implemented. Work closely with organization-wide staff development personnel to link into HQ or other regional-based initiatives. Coordination with finance and program staff to ensure funds are budgeted for this process will be essential.llaboration with the management team, the SD Manager is responsible for identifying junior leaders and supporting them to develop their career with Mercy Corps. Identify targeted internal and external trainings to ensure that development opportunities for those team members are created and implemented. Work closely with organization-wide staff development personnel to link into HQ or other regional-based initiatives. Coordination with finance and program staff to ensure funds are budgeted for this process will be essential. 4) Human Resources Support Systems - The SD manager will work with all supervisors to ensure that Mercy Corps' performance management system is being effectively used and clear expectations are being set between supervisors and staff and feedback channels and techniques are active. The performance management system is being implemented in Mercy Corps Afghanistan; the incoming manager is expected to make necessary changes if needed and support staff as they develop their performance and development plans and while they conduct performance reviews. In collaboration with HR and management design a compensation system that keeps Mercy Corps competitive in the Afghanistan job market. Coordination with finance and program staff to ensure funds are budgeted for this process is essential. 5) Human Resources Support for Mercy Corps Pakistan - Another important component of this position is providing Staff Development, Orientation and Performance Management support to the HR department of Mercy Corps Pakistan. To date several materials have been produced in Afghanistan pertaining to Orientation, Staff Development and Performance Management Systems and their implementation is underway. The SDOL Manager is therefore responsible for `exporting' and localizing these materials for Mercy Corps Pakistan. He/she will closely monitor and support the implementation of these initiatives. This will require a quarterly visit to Islamabad (and field offices as required) and long distance support from Kabul. Arrange cross-visits between Afghanistan and Pakistan to ensure that learning is flowing both-ways. Ensure that visiting staff develop clear and achievable SoWs with learning goals, `importation' of best practices, documentation and sharing of experience afterwards. 6) Orientation and Organizational Acculturation - The SD manager will support the HR department to develop and implement systems for the orientation of newly hired and existing staff. This will include orienting staff on Mercy Corps Mission, Vision for Change, organizational culture and worldwide programming trends. Orientation will also include finance, operations, HR, programs and security. While all orientation is not conducted by the HR department or the SD unit, the HR department must take the leading role in organizing these sessions. The SD unit will continue to support the development and updating of materials and orientation on the Vision for Change. 7) Organizational Learning - In coordination with Mercy Corps Afghanistan's DM&E team, program managers and HQ organizational learning staff ensure that all Mercy Corps Afghanistan staff are fully up-to-date on all available learning flowing from relevant parts of the organization. Assist Managers to ensure that all relevant organizational learning coming out of the Afghanistan program, particularly with regards to initiatives to fast-track national staff development are documented and shared with the agency. ACCOUNTABILITY SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: National staff development coordinator and officer. REPORTS DIRECTLY TO: Country Director(s), Afghanistan and Pakistan WORKS DIRECTLY WITH: Regional Program Manager, South Asia; Program Director, Administration and Compliance Manager, Program Managers and all Program and Support staff national and expatriate; coordinates closely with HQ HR and staff development team. KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE: At least 5 years' experience with post-conflict program management with significant experience in recruiting, retaining and building strong effective individuals and teams with the skills to achieve high impact programs. Knowledge of Dari/Pashto is a plus. SUCCESS FACTORS: The ideal candidate will have a strong curiosity for understanding and working effectively within the complex cultural, political, security and social environment of Afghanistan. S/he will be an excellent communicator, multi-tasker, and able to work in ambiguous situations. S/he will be a tolerant and flexible individual able to work in difficult and stressful environments and follow procedures. S/he will be a team-player with a positive attitude toward problem solving and conflict resolution. S/he will have experience in Mercy Corps successfully developing teams of high performing national staff. The successful candidate will be focused on team-building and capacity-building of national staff; be a strategic thinker, have strong program support skills and maintain a sense of humor. The security situation in Afghanistan is highly volatile and the successful candidate will benefit from previous experience of working in a similar environment. LIVING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: The position will be based in Kabul with extensive travel to the field and Islamabad. Accommodation is team housing equipped with generators and heating. The security situation is volatile and may spike into acute periods of insecurity. Internet access is available in Mercy Corps offices. Medical care is available in Kabul, however for serious cases evacuation is required, so staff must be able to be 24 hours away from medical care. Kabul has a wide array of western standard restaurants that may serve alcoholic drinks. There is a vibrant social scene including parties and yoga classes. There are gyms with membership fees. Please apply online directly at: http://hostedjobs.openhire.com/epostings/jobs/submit.cfm?fuseaction=dspjob&jobid=186419&company_id=15927&jobboardid=1335 |
