Country Director - Zambia and Southern Africa

The Country Director is accountable to lead and manage the WorldFish’s country program in Zambia and engage in a network of fishery and aquaculture stakeholders in Southern Africa states that make up the Southern African Development Community (SADC). As the focal country for the Southern Africa states, you will be responsible for delivering at Zambia country level WorldFish’s organizational strategy including its Annual Priorities and Key Performance Goals. To sustain and develop the program, the incumbent will entail develop and implement annual country priorities, innovation and investment plans, overseeing staffing, budgeting, resource mobilization, monitoring and evaluation to sustain and develop the program in ways that deliver quality science and development impacts from our research at scale.

Initial priority outside of Zambia is Malawi and you will be required to efficiently and effectively generate and share resources including staff and partnerships to ensure effective delivery. Working collaboratively with our global research and functional leaders, you will deliver an integrated research program that addresses national priorities and organizational goals, strengthen institutional and partners capabilities across the aquaculture and fisheries sectors, including building capacities, policy influence and research engagement within the region. The role will involve active participation in in engaging with strategic partnerships with regional and sub-regional institutions operating within the SADC countries as well as interacting with the network of focal country directors.

Specific Duties

• Provide business management oversight, ensuring effective and efficient staffing, financial management and budgeting, training and resourcing for the program.
• Overseeing the delivery and planning of the country program in Malawi, contributing to the effective and efficient use of staff, financial management and budgeting, training and resourcing for the program.

• Manage relationships with key stakeholders within SADC countries with a focus on building a network of scientists and practitioners to support quality research and the scaling of aquaculture and fisheries technologies and practices.

• Lead the strategic engagement with in-country partners, donors, government agencies and other development actors.

• Work with global research leaders to build research capacity in Zambia and Malawi to support the delivery of an integrated research for development program of aquaculture, fisheries, value chains and nutrition.

• Lead annual and multi-year planning that delivers on the global and national research programs, country priorities and WorldFish’s strategy and program goals.

• Lead country fund raising and the development of a funding pipeline to provide a long-term sustainable country programs. Collaborates with WorldFish’s research and cross cutting program leaders to ensure the country program’s strategic alignment with organizational and programmatic priorities.

• Builds a network of partners and influencers to support current activities and the future of WorldFish in Zambia and the SADC region.

• Plays a role in overseeing the development of research capacities, and strengthen the institutional and partnership capabilities across the aquaculture, fisheries and supporting sectors, including research engagement within the region.

• Oversees the required monitoring and evaluation of WorldFish’s activities and ensures effective communications delivery and profile building.

• Oversee key regional and sub-regional relationships influencing WorldFish that operate in Zambia and Malawi and other Southern African Countries

• Contributes to WorldFish’s organizational strategy and its key performance goals and participates in global leadership forums.

• Ensures a coordinated approach to WorldFish’s engagement with the FISH CGIAR Research Program (CRP) and other CRPs.

• Lead and oversee the management and mitigation of the center’s risks in country office(s). This includes risks related to compliance, ethical breach, administration, operation, financial resources and safety and security.

Requirements

This job might be for you if you have:

• A Master or PhD-level qualifications in a relevant field.
• Post-graduate professional experience in aquaculture and/or fisheries research and development, with at least 5 years in senior leadership role.
• Proven track record in program management experience including financial literacy, donor liaison and management and monitoring and evaluation.
• Proven analytical ability and good judgment skills.
• High degree of cultural sensitivity and proven record of effective working relationships in developing countries.
• Demonstrated track record in resource mobilization, in particular for aquaculture and fisheries research and development.
• Good research skills in an area relevant to regional priorities in aquaculture and fisheries, and social science.

Desired Skills and Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills required with strong command of written English.
• Good leadership and mentoring skills and experience of leading multi-disciplinary teams.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to multi task.
• Experience in organizing research communications and dissemination.
• Experience in private sector engagement in research for development.
• Systems orientation to problem identification and solving.
• Understanding of both development policy process, and scientific research process in relevant disciplines.
• Strong networks and field experience of research in a WorldFish Program country.
• French speaking and writing skills would be desirable.

Benefits

Salary & Benefits

This is an Internationally Recruited Staff (IRS) position with annual salary ranging between USD 85,000 to USD 90,000 gross per annum. WorldFish's IRS shall receive comprehensive benefits including (but not limited to) housing allowance*, relocation and repatriation assistance*, dependent education allowance*, home leave entitlement*, comprehensive insurance coverage for staff and eligible dependents, and pension/provident fund contribution.

Note: Items marked * are not applicable to staff recruited as Home Country Internationals (nationals of the country of posting). All benefits are subject to terms and conditions.

Our offer

The position will be based in Lusaka, Zambia. The initial employment contract will be for a 3-year period, with possibility for renewal depending on performance of and the availability of funding. Interviews will be held via video conference and the successful candidate should be available to commence as soon as possible. Due to the high volume of applicants for WorldFish positions, we appreciate all interest, but only short-listed candidates will be notified.

Our commitment

WorldFish is committed to promoting a work environment where diversity of thought, style, culture and experience is valued. We support individual performance and potential in achieving our organizational goals and mission. We are an equal opportunities employer and strongly encourage women and nationals from developing countries to apply.

How to apply

Interested applicants are invited to submit the following information online latest by 31 March 2019:

• A cover letter including a 2-page (max) description of why you are an ideal candidate and what you would bring to the role;
• A current curriculum vitae;
• Names and contacts (telephone and e-mail addresses) of three professional referees who are familiar with your qualifications and work experience. Your nominated referees ideally should have persons from each of the following category: direct supervisor, internal peer and/or direct report.

Screening will start as soon as possible, and will continue until the position is filled. Only selected candidates will be contacted.