
Based in the capital Sarajevo, the Country Director (CD) frequently travels to project locations nationwide to maintain dialogue and foster cooperation with stakeholders from all sectors - governmental, private sector and civil society.
We are looking for a strategic-thinking personality with an entrepreneurial mindset, strong managerial, analytical and conceptual skills, and effective leadership and decision-making qualities. In cooperation with the Programme Director, and skillfull project cycle management incl. budgeting & financial management, the CD acts as CEO leading and managing a country organisation that essentially is a small- to mid-sized enterprise with 20 staff and a yearly turnover of roughly CHF 3 Mio. S/he is responsible for operational management and the implementation and further strategic development of the country strategy. S/he ensures compliance with CACH rules and standards, secures sound stewardship of resources and optimal "value for money" for CACH donors, partners and stakeholders.
We would love to welcome YOU to our team - a goal-oriented personality with initiative, drive and enthusiasm, and the ability to work and act independently and responsibly. The job is highly rewarding as it gives a true leader space and authority to develop, create and innovate. Your social competence and excellent communication skills make it easy for you to communicate and cooperate appropriately with people from different backgrounds and cultures. You enthuse and convince staff, partner organisations, external bodies (governmental offices and donors), and secure trust. You have an affinity for private sector engagement. As managing leader you recognise difficult situations and conflicts at an early stage and solve them communicating clearly and transparently.
You will love our team and organisation - but most of all you will love a job offering a unique and rewarding opportunity with decision-making competence and space to develop, create and innovate! Join us!
(we encourage female applications!)
- Lead the operational management of the Country Organization and implementation of the CACH BiH Strategy in close collaboration with the Programme Director headquartered in Lucerne/CH, in compliance with the strategic orientation (incl. key figures) and all CACH guidelines, regulations and standards. Responsibility for operational management includes human resources, budgeting and financial administration, all other administration and securing compliance with CACH regulations and national (BiH) legislation
- Representation of CACH in BiH at national level, in technical working groups and other consultative bodies
- Maintaining and nurturing existing and establishing new networks with: national authorities on all levels (state, entity, cantons, particularly municipalities), national and international networks, implementing partners, the private sector (as a priority), scientific institutions and academia and, most importantly, local donors
- Supervision and coordination of project teams and local partner organisations in planning, managing and monitoring projects
- Continue exchange and dialogue with the CACH presence in Kosovo, particularly with regards to securing tentative opportunities (e.g. public tenders) in regional project implementation
- Acquisition and fundraising at national and international levels as a priority task; elaboration of proposals, reporting and communication, working with donors to secure and/or manage largescale and/or competitive funding
- Support country teams to improve data collection, project management, and build a culture of adaptive management, high-quality program performance, and learning;
- Organization and implementation of project visits in BiH for CACH representatives, donors, and media representatives
- Organization of internal assessments and external project evaluations;
- Staff development and partner capacity building
- Preparation, update and implementation of the organisational guidelines and security
- Development of multi-year-cycles country strategies and their strategies, in close cooperation with the Programme Director
- Effective communication of political, economic and other relevant developments to HQ
- Master degree in International Affairs, Development Studies, Economy, Environmental Science, or related fields
- At least 5 years of work experience in international cooperation, including foreign assignments of at least 3 years and 5 years of senior-level leadership
- Experienced manager with entrepreneurial mindset, strong leadership and communication skills, with proven track record of successfully managing large-scale, complex, transitional programmes; adaptive management knowledge and skills to its effective application
- Very good knowledge of business administration and financial management. Adherence to the key economic control variables, close attention to careful financial management
- Experienced in Project Cycle Management (PCM) and in managing/implementing complex projects of relevant financial scale (multi-million EUR/CHF)
- Ability to lead, motivate, organise and train staff
- Ability to convince partners and other external governmental and non-governmental actors, and to create trust in multilateral environments
- Strong analytical and research skills as well as excellent planning and organisational skills, attention to detail; able to work in a dynamic environment, to meet deadlines and manage multiple demands
- Strong intercultural communication skills and proven ability to work effectively within a partner- and network structure and with different project teams with and in cultural backgrounds
- Experience in writing convincing technical proposals and reports on behalf of institutional donors
- Proven skills in financial and grants management; prior experience with large-scale donors
- Experience in organisational development and strategic analysis and action;
- Excellent oral and written English skills
- Open-minded, honest and reliable personality
- Resilience, high flexibility, and willingness to travel frequently in and out of destination country
- Prior experience in the Western Balkans and familiarity with local languages are assets