Deputy Country Director

Position: Deputy Country Director Reports To: Country Director Matrix: Global Program Leadership Supervise: Manager, Tertiary Care and Infrastructure; Director, Outreach and Primary Care; and Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives Location: Ethiopia, Addis Ababa Position Type: Full-time ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE: For more than 43 million people, blindness is a daily reality; another 295 million suffer from moderate to severe vision impairment. 90% of these people live in low- and middle-income countries where access to eye care is limited and the challenges for those who can’t see are severe. But there is hope: 80% of this burden is treatable or preventable. For example, 17 million blind people could be cured with a 10-minute cataract surgery. Millions more suffer from corneal blindness, which is often preventable or treatable. At Cure Blindness Project, we believe avoidable blindness can – and must – be overcome. For more than 30 years, we have worked alongside a capable network of collaborators to help people around the world retain and regain their sight by developing high-quality, cost-effective eye care systems in underserved areas of the world. With the help of partners in more than 30 countries, Cure Blindness Project has provided more than 2 million sight-restoring surgeries and screened more than 20 million people to provide care and basic treatments. We’ve trained more than 25,200 eye health professionals and have established 6 eye hospitals. There is more work left to do, but we can overcome the mountain of global blindness together. Cure Blindness Project has an established Country Office in Addis Ababa, working with the Ministry of Health and regional health bureaus. We are seeking individuals who are passionate about changing lives and want to be a part of a team that works together to reach new heights. We want leaders who can aim high, make things happen, and are invested in building a positive team dynamic to bring the work to life. VISION: A world where no one is needlessly blind MISSION: We enable countries to cure avoidable blindness by developing high quality, cost-effective eye care in underserved areas of the world. SCOPE OF WORK: The Deputy Country Director for Cure Blindness Project in Ethiopia will be responsible for supporting the Country Director in managing operations and implementing the Cure Blindness Project's mission. This role ensures programmatic and non-programmatic internal compliance, donor requirements, government policies, procedures, and regulations, as well as overseeing the effective day-to-day management of Cure Blindness Project programmes, including Tertiary Care, Outreach, Primary Care, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), Advocacy, Quality and Research. Working in close partnership with the global program leadership team, the Deputy Country Director will focus on providing leadership for these programmes ensuring global strategic alignment as well as appropriate localisation. In addition, the Deputy Country Director will work closely with finance, development, marketing and administration functions at both the Headquarters and Country Office levels to ensure compliance in areas such as finance, contracts and grants, security, legal, and human resources. The Deputy Country Director will work with the Country Director to develop the country-level multi-year and annual strategic plan in alignment with the Cure Blindness Project global strategic plan. Additionally, the Deputy Country Director will serve as the backup point of contact for local partners, subcontractors, vendors, collaborators, government entities, and others. Furthermore, the Deputy Country Director will support the organization in business development initiatives to maintain, grow, and diversify the funding portfolio, fostering innovation and driving the adoption of best practices. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Strategic Leadership & Management Support the Country Director in developing and implementing country strategies and annual plans Oversee day-to-day operations when the Country Director is unavailable Contribute to decision-making on program direction, resource allocation, and partnerships Partner with global program and functional leadership teams to drive alignment and collaboration Manage senior staff and foster a positive organizational culture Program Implementation & Quality Collaborate with global program leadership to design and deliver programs Ensure high-quality delivery of programs in line with organizational standards Monitor program implementation, budgets, and impact Lead needs assessments and develop appropriate interventions Coordinate emergency response activities when applicable Financial, Award & Resource Management Oversee country office program budget and work with and finance and development function for proper expense and award tracking, subgrant monitoring, etc. Ensure compliance with donor requirements and reporting Manage assets and resources effectively Support fundraising efforts and proposal development Stakeholder Relations Build and maintain relationships with government officials, donors, and partners Represent the organization in coordination meetings and forums Collaborate with other NGOs and other relevant stakeholders Support advocacy efforts aligned with program objectives Work with the Country Director to provide thought leadership at national and sub-national eye health platforms, media organizations, governmental bodies, national groups, private sector organizations, educational institutions, international organizations, etc. Staff Development & Security Supervise and mentor senior program staff Ensure appropriate security protocols are followed Promote staff professional development and well-being Maintain a positive work environment Compliance & Risk Management Ensure compliance with local laws and regulations Implement organizational policies and procedures Identify and mitigate operational, security, and reputational risks Maintain ethical standards and uphold organizational values QUALIFICATIONS This role requires extensive experience in international development, preferably in the eye care sector, strong leadership skills, and the ability to navigate complex political environments while effectively managing diverse teams Required Skills/Knowledge/Abilities: Ability to work effectively and diplomatically with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders including partners, cross-functional teams, senior level subject matter experts. Strong organizational, communications, relationship, and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality products. Experience working in multi-cultural environments and ability to successfully collaborate with cross functional teams and leaders to drive results. Detail-oriented with an ability to set clear priorities alongside keen analytic, organizational, and problem-solving skills that drive decision making and projects to completion. Set and meet project roadmaps with properly scoped deadlines that have well-defined milestones. Ability to thrive and adapt in a fast-paced and evolving environment – virtually and in-person. Strong written and spoken English language proficiency. Previous experience in public health learning and development roles preferred. Flexibility to work off hours, nights, and weekends when needed. Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 60% of the time. Experience: Minimum of 10 years’ experience with leadership and management in an international NGO, eye care setting, and/or related sectors. Master’s degree in management, social science, health and other relevant fields. Additional qualifications include: Ability to collaborate with a variety of personalities at all levels of the organization, building relationships and shared goals across departments and partner organizations. A sense of discretion and a high degree of professionalism is required Highly professional and cooperative demeanor with supervisors, coworkers, and partners. Strong interpersonal, communication, facilitation, and presentation skills. Detail oriented and able to efficiently prioritize tasks. Flexibility to adjust and contribute to continually evolving work situations and changing priorities. Excellent computer skills and technical aptitude, proficient with Google Workspace, MS Office, Asana (and other cloud-based software). Committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. Physical requirements: Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at a time. The Cure Blindness Project encourages applications from people of all races, religions, national origins, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and ages, as well as veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Position: Deputy Country Director Reports To: Country Director Matrix: Global Program Leadership Supervise: Manager, Tertiary Care and Infrastructure; Director, Outreach and Primary Care; and Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives Location: Ethiopia, Addis Ababa Position Type: Full-time ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE: For more than 43 million people, blindness is a daily reality; another 295 million suffer from moderate to severe vision impairment. 90% of these people live in low- and middle-income countries where access to eye care is limited and the challenges for those who can’t see are severe. But there is hope: 80% of this burden is treatable or preventable. For example, 17 million blind people could be cured with a 10-minute cataract surgery. Millions more suffer from corneal blindness, which is often preventable or treatable. At Cure Blindness Project, we believe avoidable blindness can – and must – be overcome. For more than 30 years, we have worked alongside a capable network of collaborators to help people around the world retain and regain their sight by developing high-quality, cost-effective eye care systems in underserved areas of the world. With the help of partners in more than 30 countries, Cure Blindness Project has provided more than 2 million sight-restoring surgeries and screened more than 20 million people to provide care and basic treatments. We’ve trained more than 25,200 eye health professionals and have established 6 eye hospitals. There is more work left to do, but we can overcome the mountain of global blindness together. Cure Blindness Project has an established Country Office in Addis Ababa, working with the Ministry of Health and regional health bureaus. We are seeking individuals who are passionate about changing lives and want to be a part of a team that works together to reach new heights. We want leaders who can aim high, make things happen, and are invested in building a positive team dynamic to bring the work to life. VISION: A world where no one is needlessly blind MISSION: We enable countries to cure avoidable blindness by developing high quality, cost-effective eye care in underserved areas of the world. SCOPE OF WORK: The Deputy Country Director for Cure Blindness Project in Ethiopia will be responsible for supporting the Country Director in managing operations and implementing the Cure Blindness Project's mission. This role ensures programmatic and non-programmatic internal compliance, donor requirements, government policies, procedures, and regulations, as well as overseeing the effective day-to-day management of Cure Blindness Project programmes, including Tertiary Care, Outreach, Primary Care, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), Advocacy, Quality and Research. Working in close partnership with the global program leadership team, the Deputy Country Director will focus on providing leadership for these programmes ensuring global strategic alignment as well as appropriate localisation. In addition, the Deputy Country Director will work closely with finance, development, marketing and administration functions at both the Headquarters and Country Office levels to ensure compliance in areas such as finance, contracts and grants, security, legal, and human resources. The Deputy Country Director will work with the Country Director to develop the country-level multi-year and annual strategic plan in alignment with the Cure Blindness Project global strategic plan. Additionally, the Deputy Country Director will serve as the backup point of contact for local partners, subcontractors, vendors, collaborators, government entities, and others. Furthermore, the Deputy Country Director will support the organization in business development initiatives to maintain, grow, and diversify the funding portfolio, fostering innovation and driving the adoption of best practices. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS Strategic Leadership & Management Support the Country Director in developing and implementing country strategies and annual plans Oversee day-to-day operations when the Country Director is unavailable Contribute to decision-making on program direction, resource allocation, and partnerships Partner with global program and functional leadership teams to drive alignment and collaboration Manage senior staff and foster a positive organizational culture Program Implementation & Quality Collaborate with global program leadership to design and deliver programs Ensure high-quality delivery of programs in line with organizational standards Monitor program implementation, budgets, and impact Lead needs assessments and develop appropriate interventions Coordinate emergency response activities when applicable Financial, Award & Resource Management Oversee country office program budget and work with and finance and development function for proper expense and award tracking, subgrant monitoring, etc. Ensure compliance with donor requirements and reporting Manage assets and resources effectively Support fundraising efforts and proposal development Stakeholder Relations Build and maintain relationships with government officials, donors, and partners Represent the organization in coordination meetings and forums Collaborate with other NGOs and other relevant stakeholders Support advocacy efforts aligned with program objectives Work with the Country Director to provide thought leadership at national and sub-national eye health platforms, media organizations, governmental bodies, national groups, private sector organizations, educational institutions, international organizations, etc. Staff Development & Security Supervise and mentor senior program staff Ensure appropriate security protocols are followed Promote staff professional development and well-being Maintain a positive work environment Compliance & Risk Management Ensure compliance with local laws and regulations Implement organizational policies and procedures Identify and mitigate operational, security, and reputational risks Maintain ethical standards and uphold organizational values QUALIFICATIONS This role requires extensive experience in international development, preferably in the eye care sector, strong leadership skills, and the ability to navigate complex political environments while effectively managing diverse teams Required Skills/Knowledge/Abilities: Ability to work effectively and diplomatically with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders including partners, cross-functional teams, senior level subject matter experts. Strong organizational, communications, relationship, and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality products. Experience working in multi-cultural environments and ability to successfully collaborate with cross functional teams and leaders to drive results. Detail-oriented with an ability to set clear priorities alongside keen analytic, organizational, and problem-solving skills that drive decision making and projects to completion. Set and meet project roadmaps with properly scoped deadlines that have well-defined milestones. Ability to thrive and adapt in a fast-paced and evolving environment – virtually and in-person. Strong written and spoken English language proficiency. Previous experience in public health learning and development roles preferred. Flexibility to work off hours, nights, and weekends when needed. Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 60% of the time. Experience: Minimum of 10 years’ experience with leadership and management in an international NGO, eye care setting, and/or related sectors. Master’s degree in management, social science, health and other relevant fields. Additional qualifications include: Ability to collaborate with a variety of personalities at all levels of the organization, building relationships and shared goals across departments and partner organizations. A sense of discretion and a high degree of professionalism is required Highly professional and cooperative demeanor with supervisors, coworkers, and partners. Strong interpersonal, communication, facilitation, and presentation skills. Detail oriented and able to efficiently prioritize tasks. Flexibility to adjust and contribute to continually evolving work situations and changing priorities. Excellent computer skills and technical aptitude, proficient with Google Workspace, MS Office, Asana (and other cloud-based software). Committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. Physical requirements: Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at a time. The Cure Blindness Project encourages applications from people of all races, religions, national origins, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and ages, as well as veterans and individuals with disabilities.