The Assistant Country Director – Programs (ACD-P) is responsible for ensuring that CARE Yemen’s programs contribute to CARE’s goal in Yemen: Individuals, families and communities are more resilient to the shocks and stresses of recurrent conflict and displacement, with increased access to humanitarian assistance, essential services and dignified livelihoods.

Escalating armed conflict since 2015 has dramatically worsened Yemen’s chronic poverty and fragility, creating a protracted crisis of unprecedented magnitude in what was already the poorest country in the Arab region. In a country of an estimated 30.5 million people, tens of thousands have been killed or wounded. 4.5 million or 80% of the population have been forced to flee their homes and are now internally displaced.

In this context, the ACD-P is expected to provide strategic and technical leadership in the areas of program quality, design, development, and implementation of CARE Yemen’s humanitarian interventions. A major emphasis of this position is to play a strong MANAGERIAL ROLE in ensuring that the programs are implemented fulfilling standards of QUALITY and ACCOUNTABILITY along with delivering the desired program outcomes.

The ACD-P manages a team of professionals focused on the design, fundraising, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects and a large focus of this role is on the management and capacity building of that team. S/he must also ensure that systems, policies, procedures and required technical and managerial capacities/skills are in place to ensure the proper design, management and implementation of CARE Yemen’s projects and programs.

The ACD-P is responsible for overseeing the design, development, testing and implementation of new innovative program approaches appropriate for the context of Yemen. S/he works closely with, and is supported by the different program units at CI, regional and CARE USA HQ levels, as well as with other interested CARE International members.

The ACD-P is a key member of the Country Office Leadership Team (CLT) and as such is responsible for leading and supporting the CO leadership and management initiatives. S/he is responsible for (along with the CD) maintaining good working relationships with host government officials, donors, peer agencies, local partners and other stakeholders. S/he will be required to conduct extensive field travels and act for the Country Director in his/her absence.

Responsibilities:

1. STAFF MANAGEMENT
   • Provide proper supervision and management for all direct reports and lead the establishment and functioning of a strong, effective and coordinated Program team.
   • Ensure proper implementation of CARE’s performance management system for direct reports, including job descriptions and development of annual performance objective, regular feedback, mid-term reviews and annual performance appraisals.
   • Proactively address performance issues through regular, constructive and honest feedback and coaching.
   • Identify necessary staff talent development, career development and succession planning strategies for direct reports.
   • Ensure that space, motivation and incentives are provided to staff to develop and innovate.
   • Ensure adequate and strong working relationships between program teams and other units teams and oversee the recruitment and orientation of new senior program staff.
   • Ensure that the program team is adequately staffed with the appropriate personnel and restructure the programs department in accordance with fluctuating context and portfolio.
2. PROGRAM DESIGN, QUALITY AND STRATEGY
   • Oversee the design, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the country office programs and projects and ensure that they are in line with CO program strategy, MENA and CI program strategies and according to CI Programming Principles.
   • Ensure systems, policies, and plans are in place to guarantee that CO programs/projects are designed and implemented based on sound analysis, relevant to the context.
   • Work with staff and partners to generate viable humanitarian and development programs in line with CO strategy and assist in identifying and securing funding for those programs.
   • Ensure adequate integration of humanitarian and development programs within the CO program strategy.
   • Ensure that proper monitoring and evaluation systems are in place to demonstrate impact on UCP and that program lessons are being used to promote improved programming and learning.
   • Ensure that monitoring and evaluation systems enhance accountability of COs vis-a-vis the communities with whom we work as well as other stakeholders (civil society, donors and government counterparts).
   • Conduct regular analysis of the CO contingency planning and capacity to scale up quickly and respond to significant emergency needs and propose actions to address capacity gaps.
   • Facilitate the development and regular updating of an appropriate emergency preparedness and response plans and ensure th
3. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
   • Ensure that CARE programs and projects are implemented and managed in an effective manner which achieves the program/project goals, in line with CARE policies and procedures and demonstrate sound resource management.
     Monitor the CO programs and projects to ensure that they are implemented in a professional manner in line with the project proposal through project visits and the review of annual implementation plans and activity reports.
   • Ensure proper management of financial and other resources entrusted to CARE’s programs and projects, including the review and approval of program/project budgets (including project matches) and the monitoring of budget reports (including the proper recording of matches).
   • Ensure donor and government reporting is done according to agreed upon standards and in a timely manner.
   • Work closely with units in Program Support (finance, procurement, HR, transport, etc.) to ensure proper coordination exists for efficient program implementation.
   • Ensure strong logistics & commodity management, and accountability where applicable.
4. RESOURCE MOBILIZATION AND DONOR RELATIONS
   • Maintain, Develop and enhance strong working relations with existing Donors, CARE Members including face to face meetings in locations external to Yemen
   • Oversee the Program team to ensure a constant pipeline of submitted proposals and concept notes
   • Seek out and develop new funding opportunities both in country, regionally and through CARE’s network of CARE members thoughout the world
   • Ensure that the programs team maintains an accurate and up to date database of all funding opportunities and funding pipeline
   • Ensure that all of CARE’s internal procedures for funding opportunities (Go/No Go, IPIAs etc) are consistently and accurately applied in a time sensitive manner
   • Ensure timely reporting, information sharing and communications with CI members and donors
5. COORDINATION AND REPRESENTATION
   • Maintain, develop and enhance relationships between the CO and other parts of CARE and external organizations so that CARE can maximize its collaboration and impact on humanitarian assistance and poverty reduction and social justice.
   • Establish and maintain good relationships with relevant – counterparts/departments of the government, CI members, the locally-represented multi/bi-lateral donors, foundations, international and national NGOs, CBOs and other civil society organizations.
   • Work closely with the Policy, Communications and Advocacy Advisor to develop advocacy actions on specific program issues
     Ensure CARE’s full participation in the in country coordination mechanisms, (Clusters, Access working group, ad hoc groups etc).
   • In the case of absence of the Country Director, and on request, represent CARE in the Humanitarian Country Team and Country DIrector meetings.
   • On request from the Country Director, act as a media spokesperson.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.
• At least 5 years experience in senior management / leadership positions in humanitarian/development fields in complex international setting.
• Demonstrated experience iin resource mobilization via institutional donors.
• Extensive conceptual skills including development of viable program strategies.
• Demonstrated experience in program design (including proposal development), implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

#LI-CM1