Chief Executive Officer

Job Purpose:

Reporting to the Chairperson and Council of Concern Worldwide, the Chief Executive Officer will be responsible for the overall strategic, operational and financial management of the organisation on a daily basis. The CEO will work with key stakeholders to set the direction and strategy of the organisation. In conjunction with other senior staff members, who are part of the executive management team, he/she is responsible for leading, managing and motivating stakeholders to ensure that the agreed strategy is implemented. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that Concern Worldwide grows and maintains its position as a leading development and emergency response organisation.

The position can be divided into a number of categories:

·         Leadership and management

·         Organisation and strategic planning

·         Programme Management

·         Communications

·         Financial and legal

Leadership and management:

·         The CEO will be responsible for leading the organisation in Ireland and the UK. S/He will lead and where necessary direct the activities of the senior management team to ensure the team operates to its optimum and achieves the agreed milestones.

·         Encouraging, motivating and supporting the development of all staff to facilitate the retention of personnel and to encourage continuous up skilling.

·         Ensuring that the organisation has the right management systems and structures to carry out its work effectively, accountably and safely.

·         Building and developing relationships at the highest levels globally with governments, multilateral agencies  and the private sector in order to promote policy outcomes that have the greatest potential to significantly reduce extreme poverty.

·         Keeping abreast of developments across the charity sector and adopting best practices across the full range of organisational activities.

·         Leading and delivering change management strategies.

Organisation and Strategic Planning:

·        Interacting with and supporting the stakeholders of the organisation on the formation and implementation of strategies that are relevant for Concern.

·        Ensuring that the agreed strategies and policies are implemented across all levels of the organisation.

·        Discussing and communicating these plans and strategies with relevant personnel, both internally and externally.

·        Setting appropriate targets and regularly reviewing and reporting progress.

·        Keeping abreast of significant policy developments that may impact the organisation or its target communities.

·        Engaging with key external actors and promoting strategic partnerships that may assist delivery of the organisation’s mission.

·        Seeking to influence government policy and by lobbying on behalf of the organisation and our target communities.

Programme Management:

·         Promoting and protecting the mission and values of the organisation and in particular its commitment to working with the poorest communities.

·         Ensuring that the organisation’s development projects are implemented and designed to high standards and that they deliver real and lasting benefits that significantly reduce poverty.

·          Ensuring that the organisation’s emergency responses deliver immediate and effective relief that alleviates suffering.

Communications:

·         Providing motivation and inspiration to staff and keeping them informed about the key decisions.

·         Maintaining effective networks with all principal supporters and stakeholders

·         Acting as the chief spokesperson for the organisation and actively seeking media and other opportunities to expand and promote its role.

·         Representing the organisation to the Board of Concern Worldwide US Inc. and Concern Worldwide UK and ensuring that productive relationships are maintained between the organisations.

·         Leading the organisation’s engagement with Alliance2015 and ensuring that constructive and effective relationships are maintained.

Financial and legal:

·         Taking overall responsibility for the financial health of the organisation and ensuring that appropriate financial and auditing systems are in place, to monitor and control all financial and other assets.

·         Seeking out and developing new strategies to secure future resources.

·         Ensuring that the major risks to which the organisation is exposed have been reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate those risks.

Educational Requirements:

Third – level qualification in international development, public administration, business administration, public policy or another relevant field of education.

Relevant Experience and Other Requirements:

·         Significant experience at a senior management level within the international development and humanitarian sector. 

·         Extensive experience undertaking management responsibilities of similar size and complexity within a global cross cultural team.

·         Ability to advise and plan based on analysis of significant issues and trends, and how these link to Concern’s mission and mandate.

·         Ability to work collaboratively with other team members to engage broad-based stakeholders in a shared agenda and strategy.

·         Experience of living and working in the developing world and a broad understanding of the economic, social, political and cultural situations within which Concern operates.

·         Deep understanding of global development issues, particular those relating to of Africa and South East Asia.

·         Demonstrated ability to engage at the highest levels with donors, development agencies and government officials.

·         Excellent writing skills, as well as strong analytical aptitude, communication and presentation skills are required.

·         Strong personal commitment to the elimination of poverty and achievement of equality and justice.

Concern has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them.  In this context staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment.   By signing the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct candidates acknowledge that they have understood the contents of both the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and the Programme Participant Protection Policy and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents.

Expressions of interest accompanied by a full CV highlighting your experience and skills against the requirements of the role should be directed in confidence to Ms Yvonne McNulty (ymcnulty@sri-executive.com, +353 1 6675008). Closing date for applications is December 21, 2012

Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
Moreinfo: https://jobs.concern.net/VacancyDetail.aspx?VacancyUID=000000001828