Country Director, Myanmar

At the heart of Pact is the promise of a better tomorrow. A nonprofit international development organization founded in 1971, Pact works on the ground in nearly 40 countries to improve the lives of those who are challenged by poverty and marginalization. We serve these communities because we envision a world where everyone owns their future. To do this, we build systemic solutions in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and governments that create sustainable and resilient communities where those we serve are heard, capable, and vibrant. Pact is a recognized global leader in international development. Our staff have a range of expertise in areas including public health, capacity development, governance and civil society, natural resource management, poverty, fragile states, monitoring and evaluation, small-scale and artisanal mining, microfinance and more. This expertise is combined in Pact’s unique integrated approach, which focuses on systemic changes needed to improve people’s lives.

Program Delivery (PDEL) - Pact exists to help create a world where those who are poor and marginalized exercise their voice, build their own solutions, and take ownership of their future. The Program Delivery Team, contributes to realizing this purpose by: Forging smart partnerships and treating all people with dignity and respect; Applying organizational policies and regulatory compliance appropriately and consistently; Facilitating team spirit among colleagues and promoting the organization through communications; Influencing decision makers through focused, relevant communications; Continually striving to learn and share knowledge and find small ways to make the workplace more enjoyable for all; Cultivating and harvesting innovation; Contributing to the organization’s ability to think and act strategically at all times; Inspiring and spreading our desired organizational culture across the global enterprise.

The Country Director (CD) leads the implementation, coordination, management, and representation of the Pact's large and complex country program in Myanmar. The CD is responsible for the growth, development, and timely and efficient implementation of the country portfolio, working in a politically sensitive context. Responsibilities include oversight of the programs, including team management, operations, new business development, program planning, financial monitoring and reporting, management of procurements and partnerships, and compliance with Pact's policies and donors' award terms and conditions.

 

The CD is responsible for developing the overall strategic direction for programming in cooperation with Pact’s senior management team and local and international partners. The CD will ensure we learn from experience, thorough research and contextual analysis to develop high impact strategies that address immediate and long-term solutions to the most pressing development challenges. The CD is responsible for developing and implementing systems, policies and procedures for Pact operations in Myanmar; as well as financial oversight, staff security, human resource management and representation.  The ideal candidate is a skilled communicator, able to develop and utilize strong relationships with team members, partners and donors; likewise, will coordinate with their supervisor and be skilled at building highly effective working relationships with HQ.  The CD will harness the expertise, experience and ideas of Pact’s diverse program support teams to channel them into impactful partnerships with country programs.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Formulate and plan, in consultation with key stakeholders, a clear vision of present and future program goals and strategies which can be clearly communicated to team members, beneficiaries, international partners, governmental counterparts, and donors.
• Recognize opportunities for innovative action and create an environment where alternative viewpoints are welcomed.
• Set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions and resources to achieve country goal and objectives.
• Explore, evaluate and present new project funding opportunities that leverage impact and integrate initiatives and activities; support and direct related fund-raising activities with both institutional and private donors.
• Evaluate program priorities within the country and participate in regional prioritization.

 

Team Management

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Recruit, manage, motivate, and onboard an informed, skilled and efficient team with an emphasis on excellence and achievement; encourage a team culture of learning, creativity and innovation, incorporating staff development strategies and performance management systems into the team building process.
• Establish leadership and personal credibility with the Pact team, and implement by example an organizational culture of accountability, responsibility and quality of services.
• Coordinate effectively with other major Pact initiatives and structures in Myanmar, including Pact's MFI operations and Smart Power Myanmar, Pact's rural economic development and rural electrification platform.
• Proactively explore social business opportunities in line with Pact's global transformation.
• Ensure excellent human resource plans are available and consistent with Pact policies, including position descriptions, personnel orientation and professional development plans, personnel evaluation system, and field personnel policy manual.
• Institute a disciplined culture of performance management and regular feedback between supervisors and their direct reports.

 

Program Impact, Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning

• Oversee program quality and impact by ensuring programs are based on sound design principles and utilize Pact and donor required MEL systems.
• Gather evidence of program impact through robust agency standard procedures for data gathering, reporting, and evaluating program outputs and outcomes.
• Lead country team to strive for impact at country and regional level leading to sustained change based on strong systems and incorporation of learnings into programs.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Pact's zero tolerance policy towards harassment and commitment to prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and Do No Harm principles. 

 

Personal Leadership

• Demonstrate flexibility, resilience and ability to maintain positive relationships and composure.
• Maintain high ethical standards and treat people with respect and dignity.
• Demonstrate awareness of his/her own strengths and development needs.

Influence & Representation

• Lead and coordinate politically astute, professional, diplomatic, high-level representation, including both state and non-state actors.
• Represent the program with current donors, the government of Myanmar, private organizations, non-governmental organizations, and other multi-lateral and bilateral organizations working in Myanmar and in the region.
• Liaise with donor personnel on funded activities. This includes the donor's technical representative, the Agreement Officer, and other point personnel from designated donor representative departments and offices.
• Liaise with Pact Headquarters Program Delivery, Agreement Management, Finance, and Compliance & Accountability staff to monitor donor regulations and policies for changes affecting the program.
• Coordinate with other donor implementing partners on common objectives and activities, as needed.
• Serve as the country new business development lead, linking with relevant HQ departments, including Opportunity Development and Global Engagement, focusing on a variety of donors including the private sector.

 

Program Operations and Compliance

• Strengthen and maintain financial management systems in line with Pact's global policies and procedures; ensure such systems are in line with donor rules and regulations.
• Oversee and coordinate technical support to improve the systems of internal control and financial management of Pact staff.
• Ensure that the accounting system is maintained and upgraded on time to ensure production of efficient and effective financial reports for Pact Myanmar, Pact HQ, and donors.
• Ensure preparation and submission of complete and accurate financial reports and cash requests to Pact HQ and donors.
• Oversee month-end financial summary reports for country office financial management.
• Lead budget development as well as budget preparations for cost extensions and program revisions with the objective of full cost recovery and realistic cost projections.
• Manage the budget ensuring all costs incurred by Pact Myanmar have been provided for, including compliance with local laws.
• Review and monitor program budgets vs. actual expenditures through reports generated from Pact Myanmar's financial system and those generated from Pact's global financial management system.
• Undertake regular analysis of contracts and agreements that Pact Myanmar has received and lead the preparation of budget amendments for negotiation with donors.
• Supervise and manage directly the Pact Myanmar Finance Director. Coordinate with appropriate HQ finance personnel, including regional financial advisor.

 

Personnel/Administration

• Oversee execution of financial management and administration policies and ensure that policies and procedures (new and existing) are clearly communicated to staff and are respected.
• Ensure that all required documentation is available and stored as per Pact regulations.
• Provide financial and administrative information, as required, to Pact Myanmar staff, donors, and Pact HQ.
• Ensure compliance with all donor-related, Pact, and project-specific policies.
• Supervision of senior management staff, including Deputy Country Representative, and others.

Security

• Manage security and safety of the entire country team and Pact assets according to best practices, Pact operating standards and field realities.
• Liaise with the Regional Director, Global Security Advisor on crucial events, high risk periods, incident reporting or security policy changes.

• A Master's degree or higher and at least 10 years of demonstrated experience as a team leader/senior manager of multi-sectoral, multi-donor, multi-partner funded program portfolio (or equivalent).
• Prior experience in setting country level strategy with annual implementation plans and resource managing towards the strategy.
• Demonstrated success business development. The ideal candidate will have a track record in securing new and innovative sources of funding and will leverage their professional networks to generate innovative responses to development that combine public, private and social sector actors and funders.
• Experience with managing USAID contracts or cooperative agreements, as well as a thorough understanding of USAID business practices is required.
• Demonstrated experience/knowledge of leading or managing large integrated development programs in areas such as livelihoods, community empowerment/governance, maternal and child health, rural electrification, and conflict transformation.
• Understanding of and experience with a variety of donors, including USAID, UN/UNDP, DfID, DFAT, foundations, and other donor governments. Experience working with multi-donor trust funds a plus.
• Highly adaptable, with proven experience in politically complex contexts. Skilled and adept in mediation among competing interests.
• Outstanding human resource and staff management skills and experience.
• Outstanding program management skills, as well as experience with establishing and maintaining operations systems (general management and administration).
• Experience in Southeast Asia, preferably in Myanmar or a similar country context.
• High level written and oral communications skills, including fluency in English.
• Ability and willingness to travel on short notice.

 

A successful Country Director for Pact Myanmar will provide effective leadership to the Pact team. S/he will have high emotional intelligence, constructive mentoring skills and proven experience with capacity building. S/he will be committed to long-term program sustainability and the delivery of high-impact activities at the community level. The Myanmar CD will represent programmatic priorities of the team to donors and regional counterparts. Successful Pact team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and challenging environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority. The ability to facilitate dialogue among a diverse group of individuals with various skill sets and working styles is essential. The Myanmar CD will thrive with the uncertainty the context brings and can gracefully handle difficulties.