Back Country Director

The Organisation

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.

We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it’s girls who are most affected.

Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.

We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood. And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge.

We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 85 years, and are now active in more than 75 countries.

The Opportunity

This is an exciting time for Plan International as we implement our global strategy for 2017-2022. Our global strategy defines who we are, why we exist, the change we want to see in the world and how we will contribute to making change happen. It underpins everything we do, guiding all our work in all parts of the federation.

Plan International has been working in El Salvador since 1976, helping vulnerable children, young people, and their families to break the cycle of poverty. Plan International El Salvador country office is located in San Salvador and implements projects funded through grants and sponsorship Program Units in La Libertad, San Salvador, Chalatenango and Cabañas-Cuscatlán. Our work supports families and communities so children up to the age of 6 grow up in a protective and inclusive environment. We also support children between 7 and 14 to stay safe and in school so they gain the knowledge they need to follow their ambitions. We work with young people between 15 and 24, particularly women living in extreme poverty, to develop the skills they need to get good jobs. We also support them to learn about their sexual and reproductive rights so they can control their bodies and when they have children. In addition, our advocacy work increases the voices of children at local and national levels on the issues related to their rights that affect them most. Currently the country office implements a viable portfolio of approximately 13 Million Euros per annum. This includes sponsorship, grants from bilateral donors (Delivered through National Offices from GNO, CHNO, USNO, CNO, SPNO, SNO), and local resource mobilization. Local resource mobilization is a new area in which it needs to be developed further, in identifying a clear strategy to ensure Plan International El Salvador funding sustainability over the coming years.

Do you have what it takes?

As a Country Director, you will drive Plan International’s programme and influencing work, setting overall direction, leading a high performing team, ensuring accountability for meeting demanding targets and maintaining alignment with the global strategy.

You will be deeply comfortable with leading transformative change, have a demonstrable commitment to gender equality and relish the prospect of representing Plan International to the highest levels of government, civil society, the media and international media.

You will understand and drive efforts to deliver positive change for girls through advocating, campaigning and communicating at a national level. Equally you will ensure the country operating model is fit for purpose, we have the right funding mix to achieve our ambition, key business processes are in place and organisational values are embedded in everything we do.

You will lead by example in ensuring gender equality is evident in everything we do from staffing, to programing and influencing, to ways of working. You will work with your team to bring about the right culture that ensures we are champions for girls and gender equality.

You will lead a motivated team, ensure legal compliance, and be ready and able to respond to emergency and development needs of the most marginalised children, especially girls.

Essential

• Proven experience of exercising leadership functions with increasing responsibility in an international environment related to development.
• Proven understanding of “child rights” and “gender in development” concepts and the promotion of girls’ rights in the context of relevant International Conventions (Convention of the Rights of the Child, Convention for the Eradication of Discrimination against Women) and the Global Goals (SDGs).
• Experience and understanding of the concepts of sustainable community development and participatory approaches and practice in development interventions.
• Knowledge of the requirements of donor compliance and financial management
• Knowledge of programming in challenging environments with good understanding and appreciation of the historical, security context, political environment, economic, social/religious and humanitarian context in El Salvador or a comparable environment.
• Proven skills in the development and management of effective and motivated teams, including distance management.
• Excellent English and Spanish written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven networking and negotiation skills with governmental and non-governmental actors
• Strong diplomatic and communication skills, including through mass-media in order to influence decision-makers and key stakeholders.

  Desirable

  • Relevant University degree in development, social science, business administration or related field
  • Knowledge of the geopolitical factors affecting child-poverty in the country and the political, social and environmental opportunities for change is an advantage
  • Fluency in English and Spanish

    For a detailed job description, please click on the below link: CD El Salvador July 2022.docx (sharepoint.com)

    Location: El Salvador

    Type of Role: 5-year fixed term contract

    Reports to: Sub-Regional Director of CA and Caribbean