ADD INTERNATIONAL, BANGLADESH
Vacancy announcement for COUNTRY DIRECTOR
Could you lead and manage a programme supporting disabled people’s organisations?
Application Deadline: Monday April 14th 2014.
Annual salary between BDT 3,000,000 to BDT 3,600,000
Commensurate with experience
ADD International is a UK based international organization working with disabled people in some of the poorest countries of Asia and Africa to promote human rights and to ensure social justice through capacity building and influencing change in policies through advocacy. Most of our staff are based in overseas programmes, supported by the UK office of ADD International.
We are currently seeking to appoint a Country Director to lead a team of about 50 staff in Bangladesh.
The core work of ADD International is to mobilize grassroots disabled people and build their capacity to make them civil society organizations playing an active role for social transformation towards an inclusive society rooted in the belief of the empowerment of persons with disabilities for social change. It has developed a huge disability movement network throughout the country developing and supporting 150 grassroots DPOs, 8 district federations and two of its umbrella organizations (NGDO and NCDW).
ADD has played a pioneering role in rights based work with disabled people in Bangladesh that includes influencing the national policies, implementing UNCRPD, passing the Disability Rights and Protection Act 2013 and allocating resources in the national budget. It also worked closely with the private sector especially with garments owners for employment of persons with disabilities in the garments factories.
For some time ADD International has debated the issue of ‘localisation’ of its Bangladesh office. In November 2013, trustees have decided they wish to examine the issue in more detail and will make a decision on the way forward after a thorough analysis.
The post holder will lead a programme of work to contribute to the strengthening of disabled people’s organisations as effective advocates for disability rights and s/he will be required to have good leadership skills, an understanding of disability and human rights issues, demonstrable experience in community development and good programme, project development, communication, financial and people management skills. They will need to be able to represent an international organisation, establish good relations and create strategic alliances with organisations of disabled people, government, NGOs and development agencies. In an ever more competitive fundraising environment, the post holder will need to excel in strategic relationship building with donors.
Key Responsibilities:
- Strategic management of ADD Bangladesh and ADD International as part of extended management team
- Overall programme leadership supporting the Bangladesh team to achieve ADD’s aims, including designing, planning, implementing, monitoring, reviewing and evaluating country level programme work within the framework of ADD’s strategic plan
- Relationship building and fundraising with international and local donors
- Representing ADD and developing partnerships with the disability rights movement, government, DPOs and other stakeholders
- Ensuring the rights of marginalized disabled people, especially women, are promoted through influencing, advocacy and strategic alliance building
- Taking responsibility for programme finances and budgets and holding partner organisations to account for resources and support received
- Ensuring accountability to the different stakeholders both in-country and overseas
- Managing the ADD Bangladesh staff team in a manner consistent with ADD’s equal opportunities policy
- Managing ADD Bangladesh resources and office
- Ensuring ADD complies with all local statutory and legal obligations
Competencies and skills:
- Demonstrating relevant and extensive experience for each of the key responsibilities with at least 15 years relevant professional experience in total of which at least 10 years with INGOs of which at least 5 years’ experience in a senior management position in an international NGO
- Effective communication skills at all levels – with government, the disability rights movement, partners, donors, colleagues and with the UK office
- Commitment and understanding of the Social Model of Disability and a rights based approach to development, and to have gender sensitivity.
- Awareness of issues facing disabled people and commitment to disabled people’s empowerment
- Confident and comfortable working with poor marginalized disabled people and communities as well as with senior level stakeholders and partners
- Understanding and experience of community development and the work of civil society organizations
- An understanding of capacity building within the development sector
- Ability to prioritise, handle several tasks at a time and work to deadlines
- Excellent written and spoken English
- IT skills
- Willingness to travel both in country and abroad
How to apply:
For further information about our work and a full job description go to www.add.org.uk
ADD are keen to promote strong principles of equality and diversity and would welcome applications from all backgrounds from both women and men who have the appropriate skills. Disabled people are particularly encouraged to apply. ADD has accessible offices and will make modifications as required to ensure all applicants can realise equal opportunities.
This post is open to Bangladeshi nationals only.
If you would like to apply for this post, please download all the info from www.add.org.uk/vacancies and then email your CV, completed equal opportunities form and a covering letter explaining why you are suitable for this job together with the names and contact numbers/addresses of 3 professional referees to recruitment@add.org.uk by Monday April 14th 2014. Interviews will be held in Dhaka on April 28th 2014.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted