Country Director

Programs - ESCA · Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

For 70 years, MEDA – Mennonite Economic Development Associates – has been creating business solutions to poverty that are sustainable, measurable, and scalable. As an international economic development organization, MEDA has worked in over 70 countries and brings a unique market systems approach to project design that integrates technical assistance in the areas of market system, gender, environment and climate change, and access to capital. As an early leader in innovative finance, MEDA leverages public and private funding to advance social enterprises around the world that are positively impacting social, environmental, and governance challenges in their communities. MEDA work in agri-food market systems, focusing primarily on creating decent jobs for half a million women and youth in the Global South by 2030. SMEs are the main drivers of job creation, and MEDA helps them gain access to finance, allowing them to grow and consolidate their business models. To find out more about MEDA, please visit our website at www.meda.org. 

 Ethiopia is a priority country for MEDA’s Eastern, Southern and Central Africa (ESCA) region. MEDA invites applications for a Country Director to join our dedicated and talented team in our mission to create business solutions to poverty!

Position Title: Country Director (CD)

Job Status: Full time, 5 Year Contract (*dependent on funding)  

Reports To: Regional Director ESCA

Position Summary

The Country Director (CD) will provide leadership to implement Ethiopia country strategy for creating/sustaining decent jobs in the agri-food market, promoting small-scale producers, and influencing formal and informal institutions for equitable allocation and distribution of assets and infrastructure to empower farmers/MSMEs, especially women and youth-led. Reporting to Regional Director the CD will lead MEDA’s new business development, strategic partnerships/networking, positioning MEDA as a thought leader in agrifood market system and policy engagements with donor's government counterparts, peer organizations, research institutions, academia, and private sector for system level impact in Ethiopia. The CD represents MEDA’s interests in the country and ensures full legal compliance of MEDA’s operations while providing oversight and ensuring quality delivery of all projects operational in the country.

Key Accountabilities

Strategy, Partnership, policy engagement and Business Development: 20%

·       Responsible for executing MEDA’s country strategy and ensuring alignment with regional and/or corporate strategies

·       Raise MEDA’s profile in country and contribute to the positioning of MEDA as a leader in building transformative agri-food market systems that create decent work among development stakeholders, including public, private, civil society and INGO

·       Identify and foster partnerships with agri-food market actors to co-create long-term impact-focused initiatives that align with MEDA’s overall strategy and with the development aims of the country

·       Prepare regular intelligence briefings to inform MEDA’s country strategy and partnership and business development activities in country

·       Support proposal development processes, play leadership role in programmatic design

 Project Management & Leadership: 60%

·       Lead country teams with full accountability for portfolio results

·       Prepare and/or review and approve annual workplans and budgets, track and manage performance against targets, actively manage variances, and identify areas for improvement or

·       Ensure implementation adheres to donor contractual requirements, MEDA’s strategic objectives, and MEDA’s policy and

·       Ensure timely preparation, review and submission of financial and narrative reports

·       Provide oversight to project finance systems and processes including the review and authorization of transactions, observing strong financial controls, and minimizing exposure to risk

·       Ensuring effective and efficient management of project’s planning, monitoring, evaluation, performance and reporting requirements and timelines

·       Active management of client, subcontractor and direct/indirect partner relationships

·       Lead and manage the performance of staff ensuring acquisition, retention and development of a strong team

·       Communicate the overall objectives of the long-term program so that each staff member aligns her/his work accordingly

·       Communicate with program management, technical, human capital, finance and legal staff based in North America to ensure effective project implementation

Representation and Compliance Management: 20%

·       Act as MEDA’s in-country representative for financial, legal and key relationship management matters

·       Ensure country operations are compliant with local laws, the Project Contribution Agreement, and MEDA’s policies, procedures and standards in coordination with MEDA Finance, Legal and Human Capital

·       Implement MEDA security protocols

Key contacts and relationships  

Working relationship and liaison with Global Program Operation (GPO), Senior Manager Program Manager/s (SPMs) , Strategy and Impact Technical Directors (S&I TDs), Partnership and Program New Business Development (PNBD) Director and PNBD manager

Any other duties and/or requirements as assigned

Job Requirements

Organizational Policies and Procedures

·       Ensure and adhere to all MEDA management, professional, finance, audit, legal, human capital, security, corporate and other policies as required

·       Prepare quarterly and other required internal reports and planning documents

·       Complete and participate in all training as required

 Organizational Culture

·       Appreciation, understanding and commitment to MEDA’s mission, creating business solutions to poverty

·       Demonstrate MEDA’s Core Performance Values: Collaboration, Respect, Entrepreneurship and Accountability

 Image and Engagement

·       Adherence and demonstration of MEDA image according to MEDA values

·       Comply with board approved brand strategy

·       Promote MEDA thorough speaking engagements, media appearances and convention as required

 Staff Management

·       Performance of staff management and leadership functions as applicable according to MEDA policies, procedures and values

·       Contribute to a healthy culture and work environment for staff team

 Position Qualifications

Education: University degree (ideally Masters) in International Development, Business Administration, or related field.

Experience: Proven track record of at least ten (10) years of senior level leadership and management of complex, large scale, multi-million dollar economic and enterprise development initiatives (or similar private sector experience). Experience in strategic planning, proposal development, convening multiple stakeholders for collaborative achievement, guiding multiple working groups toward a unified goal.

Technical: Project and professional management experience, staff management experience, overseas and/or international experience relevant to the region, experience with donors, bi- and multi-lateral government agencies, relevant government agencies, non-governmental organizations and other development agencies.

Project Requirements: Experience/expertise in at least one of MEDA’s areas of technical focus, including market systems, investment, vulnerable populations, financial services, blended finance, SME financial services and environment/climate change.

Additional Qualifications

·       Appreciation and support of MEDA’s mission, vision and values

·       Understanding and appreciation of business principles, international development and MEDA’s approach of creating business solutions to poverty

·       Excellent skills in relationship management, including building relationships, networking and presentation, negotiation and interpersonal communication

·       Proven team leadership abilities with a multiple field office environment and relationships with North American-based HQ specialists and management

·       Fluency (written and verbal) in English is required

·       Proficiency in regional languages is an asset

·       Functional experience in marketing, business planning, business growth advisory service or related areas

·       Direct private sector experience is desirable

·       Demonstrated ability to mobilize stakeholders into partnerships and alliances, lead and facilitate collaborative processes

·       Demonstrated donor relations reporting, relationship management and ability to monitor grants

·       Excellent report writing and review skills

This job description may be reviewed, revised and updated as required to meet department and/or organizational objective

How to Apply

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, April 28th at 2:00PM UTC (5:00PM EAT / 10:00AM EST)  and we shall be screening candidates as we receive applications. 

 MEDA is an equal opportunity employer and accommodations are available during all phases of the recruitment process. We ask that any applicants requiring accommodation make their needs known in advance