Director of Operations and Country Representative

Mission
L'Institut Europeen de Cooperation et de Developpement (IECD) is an
international non-profit organization created in ‎1988. It has been deploying
international human and economic development projects in partnership with
local partners and institutions. IECD enables young people and individuals in
vulnerable situations to access a decent and sustainable place into society
through a mix of technical and light skills support. With over ‎30 years of
experience in the fields of education, vocational training, and youth access
to employment, IECD has developed deep know-how dedicated to serving the
youth. The organization is structured around flagship programs and an offer of
services proven effective in over ‎60 projects worldwide.
IECD operates in ‎16 countries through ‎4 geographic zones (Middle East, North
Africa, sub-Saharan Africa / Madagascar, and South-East Asia). In Egypt, it
has been developing activities since ‎2013 mainly through the following two
projects: "Seeds of Hope" (SoH), which focuses on developing then implementing
up-to-date vocational training programs for electricians in technical schools;
"Support to Small and Micro Enterprises (MSE)", which builds the skills of
micro and small business owners through proven programs. A third program (HA,
training on assistance at home for elderly and sick people) is planned to be
launched by the end of year ‎2022. As Egypt has been identified by IECD as a
country with significant potential to develop our activities, other projects
and partnerships are also in the pipeline.
These programs bring together a team of more than ‎15 employees, including ‎1
expatriate. IECD operates in Egypt through an office in Cairo. Activities are
also implemented in Alexandria.
RESPONSABILITIES
‎1. Egypt operations management
Plan and pilot the operations of IECD in Egypt, promoting synergies and under
the principles of efficiency and sustainability
In coordination with the Regional Director and with Paris HQ, elaborate the
strategy of IECD Egypt and ensure its consistency and compliance with the
values, vision, and strategy of IECD. Ensure its coherence with needs of the
country's targeted populations.
Define the action plan, priorities, and operating resources (financial and
human) required to succeed in our operations and our strategy
Manage the implementation of IECD's operations and monitor their alignment
with the goals and objectives set.
Support the Project managers for an impactful implementation of programs and
activities.
Identify operational and financial risks and opportunities on operational,
institutional, and financial matters, with all stakeholders (teams, donors,
partners, local institutional)
Lead and promote experience and best practices sharing with all IECD Egypt
team members
Ensure a good coordination and communication at Country, Regional, and
Headquarters level
Secure and lead the commitments made to the financial partners and guarantee a
high-quality level of the reporting
Ensure that information, records, and documents are maintained in a structured
way, and made accessible to internal and external stakeholders under the
premises of relevance and transparency
Ensure the implementation of IECD's safeguarding policies, and those related
to gender and environment
‎2. Roll-out of new activities
Develop new activities and projects, in line with IECD global strategy and
objectives
Expand a network of contacts, with private and institutional donors, to
generate new ideas and eventually projects
Evaluate new geographical areas of project implementation in Egypt within a
framework of program synergies and financial sustainability
Create mechanisms to promote creativity, collaboration and initiative among
the teams to ensure a proper flow of solid project ideas
‎3. Human Resources and Organization Management
Supervise the management of human resources (team of more than ‎15 employees):
hiring, evaluating, training, motivating, as well as ensuring proper
compensation, health coverage, and security
Manage and support Project managers and transversal functions (accounting,
monitoring & evaluation, admin), and ensure they manage and develop their
colleagues in an appropriate way
Ensure suitable workflows and proper coordination between program, support,
and transversal teams.
Ensure that the HR structure of the delegation and the different departments
is coherent with the consecution of IECD's goals and objectives.
Ensure that the local teams have the tools and material resources required for
their tasks
Enhance local talented employees, and promote skills acquisition and team
belonging
Lead Country teamwork dynamics, and enhance the identification with IECD
values and mindset among the teams
Define, write, structure HR policies, and be accountable for their properly
implementation
Draft and update the security policy in Egypt for expatriates, and be
accountable for the application of the security rules
Contribute to Regional HR dynamics, and act as the key contact for the HR
Department at Paris HQ
Implement yearly appraisal for all team members along with a coherent goal
setting and a solid evaluation method of achievements.
Create the spaces for exchange and reflection among the team members and
between them and the management
Promote team building and a professional, friendly working atmosphere
attending to the different needs of the team members
‎4. Partnerships and external relations management
Promote IECD activities in Egypt to local authorities, operational partners of
IECD (local and international associations, training centers), international
agencies and companies
Develop and maintain strong relationships with potential public and private
financial partners of IECD in Egypt: maintain a common vision of ongoing
actions, identify opportunities for new common actions
Expand connections and network with IECD, both within public institutions
(including partnerships with ministries), actors in the development sector &
training field, companies
Support Project managers regarding partnerships relations according to their
responsibility scope
Develop a suitable institutional communication strategy
Ensure projects fundings, identifying financing opportunities or new
partnerships, setting up the applications for funding
Identify potential partners that could be interesting to other IECD countries
of the region
Actively represent IECD in NGO forums and associations
‎5. Administrative and financial management of the Delegation
As the main authorized signatory for IECD Egypt, ensure that all official
commitments of IECD Egypt (contract, conventions, agreements) are in line with
the vision, strategy, and interests of IECD
Be responsible for appropriate legal compliance by all the operational staff,
including labor law, and be in compliance with all necessary authorizations
requirements to operate in Egypt (registration, residence permit …)
Comply with all local regulations (tax, insurances, reports to ministries)
Validate annual budgets for all project components and be responsible for
implementing them throughout the various updates planned along year
Grant the regular availability of all financial information required
(monitoring tool...)
Drive quarterly operational and financial reviews
Ensure compliance with the applicable procedures, operational regulations and
IECD internal control rules
Liaise with Regional Finance and Accounting resources for all matters related
to Regional dynamics
Profil
Education: Minimum of a bachelor's degree or equivalent in business,
engineering, economics, management, international development, political
science. Master's degree and double degrees are preferred
Experience:
Minimum ‎15 years of experience, of which at least some in a similar setting
and/or similar experience in international cooperation
Understanding the fields of operations of IECD Egypt: education, vocational
training, entrepreneurship, health
Understanding of Egypt's culture and dynamics, and how to run an organization
in this country
Ability to interact with local administration and private sector partners
Previous experience in vocational training or education would be an asset
Expected Skills and Competencies:
Strategic and analytic vision for deploying operations
Excellent operational and financial project management
Proven ability to build a budget and implement it
Strong managements skills: care, train, unify, motivate, develop the teams
Representational capacity, particularly with local authorities
Negotiation skills
Ability to work as part of the team and in a matrix organization
Bilingual English, writing and speaking
Arabic (and in particular Egyptian dialect) and French would be seen as a
significant asset
Adaptation skills in an organization with Regional dynamics and Headquarters
located in Europe
Good knowledge of Microsoft pack office
Personal skills:
Outstanding interpersonal skills, open minded, listening skills and patience
Able to network and connect with different kinds of people
Leadership, entrepreneurship, focused on solutions and results
Rigor, organized, pragmatic
Diplomacy, adapting to any level of interlocutor
Strong work capacity: strong commitment and perseverance requested
Strong ethical and moral values: honesty, humility, respect, accountability
Adaptation to Egyptian culture, interest for geopolitical context
Ability to work in full transparency regarding difficulties, and opportunities
Embrace and share IECD three key values
Cultural sensitivity
Demonstrated interest for vulnerable people and their needs, especially youth,
willing to contribute and pursue impact
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Status: Local contract (in compliance to Egyptian law) or agreement under
French law, Volontariat de Solidarite Internationale (VSI) with pre-departure
training
Under the responsibility of: Regional Director, based in Beirut (Lebanon)
Close cooperation with:
Program managers in France
HR and Finance support teams in the Region and in France
Project teams based in other countries of the Region
Direct Management of:
Seeds of Hope Project Manager
Support to MSE Project Manager
HA training program Project Manager (hiring undergoing)
Accountant, Monitoring & Evaluation, administrative staff
Other information:
Global package: according to profile
Dates and duration: beginning of ‎2023, for a two-year contract, renewable
Location: Cairo, Egypt, with occasional travels to Alexandria