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COUNTRY DIRECTOR (INTERIM)

Practical Action

October 2019

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Contents

About Practical Action

Overview of the Role

Scope of the Role

Accountabilities

Person Profile

How to Apply

About Oxford HR

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About Practical Action

We are an international development group putting ingenious ideas to work so people in poverty can change their world.

problems. Challenges made worse by catastrophic climate change and persistent gender inequality. We work with communities to develop ingenious, lasting and locally owned solutions for agriculture, water and waste management, climate resilience and clean energy. And we share what works with others, so answers that start small can grow big.

We’re a global change-making group. The group consists of a UK registered charity with community projects in Africa, Asia and Latin America, an independent development publishing company and a technical consulting service. We combine these specialisms to multiply our impact and help shape a world that works better for everyone.

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Overview of the Role

Reporting to the International Director, the Interim Country Director will oversee and guide the Bangladesh country team at a time of change and through the finalisation of our annual Strategic Business Plans.

In Bangladesh, we are working to build resilience to climate change, make cities safer, make farming work for smallholder farmers and use energy to transform lives. We do this through a range of programmes, consultancy services and policy/advocacy work with communities, local authorities and the private sector, national government, academic institutions, other NGOs and donors.

The Interim Country Director will be an exemplary leader able to learn quickly, support on-going teambuilding within the Senior Management Team, and continue to drive business development and use good judgement in decision making. Experience of working in Bangladesh / South Asian cultural context will be very helpful.

This is a three – six month position to provide continuity while the permanent post-holder is being recruited.

The Interim Country Director will also participate in Practical Action’s global Strategic Leadership Team, contributing to shaping the group’s priorities and ways of working. We expect all our teams, and especially our leaders to have a strong commitment to Practical Action’s vision, mission and values and ensure the protection of children and vulnerable adults with whom we work.

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Title:

Directorate:

Reporting to:

Direct Reports:

Member of:

Relationships:

Budget scope:

Location:

Duration:

Grade:

Travel:

Interim Country Director, Bangladesh

With external partners in Bangladesh,

international operations, PAC

Oversight of a growing country portfolio, currently of £3m/pa

Dhaka, Bangladesh

3 – 6 months

TBC

Within Bangladesh and potentially 1 – 2 international trips

Scope of the Role

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Strategic Leadership:• Demonstrate and model positive leadership qualities and

behaviours at all times.• Lead the Senior Management Team in Bangladesh to finalise a

viable strategic and business plan for 2020-2023 and monitor the implementation of the current plan to end of March 2020.

• Ensure that our Code of Conduct and related policies, including safeguarding, are consistently applied

Achieving Change Ambitions: • Promote a culture of continuous learning across the team

Generating Income and Nurturing Relationships: • Work with the business development team to improve the quality

and success rate of our bids and strengthen our strategic positioning for new opportunities through representation and networking.

Accountabilities

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People, Capabilities and Leadership • Nurture a culture of collaboration and excellence in the Senior

Management Team.• Ensure that policies and processes for people management and

growth are fairly and consistently implemented, including inrecruitment.

• Promote an inclusive environment for women, men and people ofdiverse religious, ethnic and class backgrounds to participate.

Delivering Performance • Ensure programmes and consultancies are delivered on time, to

budget, to quality standards and in compliance with our policies andprocedures and those of donors, clients and Government.

• Identify, mitigate and manage operational risks and ensure properfunctioning of controls in finance, HR, logistics/procurement,administration, communications, reporting and M&E.

• Be accountable for overall safety & security management in thecountry.

Accountabilities

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To be successful in the role, the ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate:

senior management level.Experience of guiding the development of ambitious, viable

.

Excellent people mentorship and management capabilities and experience of teambuilding and change managementAbility to learn quickly and build culturally sensitive relationshipsGood capacity to support business development, including representation and networking

delivery, compliance, risk mitigation and controls.Ability to work collaboratively and play a global leadership role.

Bangla would be an asset but not essential

including safeguarding and gender equality

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All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR.

To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button in the job advert page and complete our online application form. Please provide a CV and Cover Letter – in ONE single document - which should be prepared before applying as they will be requested in the application process.

The statement should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. For advice on how to write a successful statement, please see here.

The document should be saved in MS Word in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (yymm) e.g: Pat-Jones- CVandStatement-1910

TimelineClosing date:

Applications will be considered as they are received, and suitable candidates referred to Practical Action on an ongoing basis.

If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion about the role and the organisation, please email practical-action-cd@oxfordhr.co.uk in the first instance.

How to Apply

November 17th, 2019

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Oxford HR operates globally - mainly within the international development and charity sectors. We carry out retained executive search mandates at board and senior management levels. We also offer human resource and organisational development consultancy.

Oxford HR has many years of experience in search as well as an extensive network of international development, social sector, corporate, public sector, and academic contacts from across the world. We carry out comprehensive and often international searches designed to meet the specific needs of our clients.

Oxford HR’s team members have significant personal experience of working in international development and the social sector as well as the corporate and governmental sectors. We are in a unique position to find and assess talented individuals from a variety of backgrounds.

About Oxford HR

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Country Director

Influence & Impact Unit

Strategic Lead (Agri +DRR)

Business Development GSS

Fundraising

Subject Matter ExpertsAdvocacy, Partnership, Gender

Strategic Lead (Urban + Energy)

MEL & Research Finance

ICT

IT

Marketing & Comms

Head of Business Development &

Quality Assurance

Head of Programme

Implementation

Programme Team Dhaka

AllField Offices

Knowledge Management

Manager - People & Culture

Manager - People & Culture

Head of Finance & Services

Team Team

Business Development &

Quality Assurance Unit

Programme Delivery

Unit

Practical Action Consulting Unit HR Unit Finance &

Services Unit

Strategic Organogram

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www.oxfordhr.co.uk | Company No. 6456325

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