General Position Summary

The Country Director is the senior management position in Nepal, with supervisory, leadership, and managerial responsibilities over all country program personnel, offices, programs/grants, security and policies. S/he provides strategic vision and ensures that programs are designed and implemented with quality, accountability and measurable impact. The Country Director ensures and maintains a culture of professional development, strategic coherence, quality assurance, and teamwork. S/he is responsible for internal and external representation, and is the primary contact and coordination point for donors.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Regional Director, South and Southeast Asia

Works Directly With: Regional teams, HQ teams, Donors, partners, country program management team, senior management team

Supervises: Director of Programs, Director of Finance & Compliance Manager, Operations Manager (or Operations Team members in the absence of an Operations Manager), Human Resources Manager.

Knowledge and Experience

• MA/S or equivalent in international development, economics, agriculture, disaster management, political or social science, management or other relevant field.
• At least 7-10 years of field experience in leadership position, project/program management positions is preferred
• Prior experience in Nepal or South Asia is a plus
• Demonstrated technical understanding of at least some of the following sectors: agriculture, food security and nutrition, microfinance, disaster management, and social development
• Demonstrated understanding of sound project management practices and protocols
• Excellent program conceptualization and development capacities, including the ability to convey these ideas convincingly in writing
• A high level of personal efficiency, and the ability to balance multiple urgent or important tasks without undue stress
• Strong oral communication, and representation and presentation skills
• An impatience for ‘business-as-usual’, including the ability to clearly communicate a vision of success and operationalize this vision
• Proven interpersonal and intercultural skills

Success Factors

The successful Country Director will be good at problem solving, and have the ability to work out new ways to deliver successful programs and excellent stewardship of donor funds in compliance with MC and donor regulations. S/he will maintain strong cooperative relationships with other departments and interact effectively with international and national personnel, while demonstrating the ability to multitask, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. S/he will be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment, and be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites.