Program Director, Caribbean Local Economic Development Program (CARILED)

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is the national voice for Canadian municipal government. FCM is dedicated to improving the quality of life in all communities by promoting strong, effective and accountable municipal governments.

Position: Program Director, Caribbean Local Economic Development Program (CARILED)

Department: FCM International

Location: Based in the Caribbean (exact location to be determined)

Duration: Six-year contract

Compensation: Competitive salary; benefits and deployment package provided

The Caribbean Local Economic Development Program (CARILED) is a new, six-year, CAN $23.2 million program - funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The purpose of CARILED is to stimulate sustainable local economic development (LED) through the strengthening of competencies and capacities in local governments or local agencies of central government (where no local government exists) in several Caribbean Commonwealth countries. The project will support around 50 local governments/agencies to implement or facilitate LED initiatives with up to 500 micro, small and medium size enterprises (MSMEs) in four to six countries representing the diversity of the country contexts in the Caribbean, from larger countries to smaller ones. These initiatives will generate lessons, approaches and practices for local economic development that will be used to inform the improvement of national policies, regulations and programs on LED, and to create new tools and management models that will be disseminated throughout the entire Caribbean region.

CARILED will be implemented by FCM (as the Canadian executing agency) in partnership with the Caribbean Forum of Local Government Ministers (CFLGM), the Caribbean Association of Local Government Authorities (CALGA) and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF). To oversee CARILED, a Program Steering Committee (PSC) will be established to provide strategic guidance throughout the life of the program, and to approve the program implementation plan (PIP), annual work plans, and reports. Members of the PSC will be official representatives from CIDA, CFLGM, CALGA, CLGF, FCM, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). FCM, CFLGM, CALGA and CLGF will also establish a Program Management Committee (PMC) which will meet quarterly to deal with program management matters. CARILED will use a decentralized program-management model including the opening of a Caribbean-based project office and two satellite regional offices where most of the Canadian and Caribbean personnel will be located.

CARILED is awaiting final approval by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and start-up is tentatively planned for late October 2011.

Major Purpose:

The Program Director for CARILED is the key senior staff of CARILED responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction for the program, to ensure it meets its objectives effectively and achieves its expected outcomes. She/he is a member of the PMC (with CLGF, CFLGM, and CALGA) and will manage the inception phase and of the full implementation phase of CARILED including planning, organizing, staffing, and leading program activities.

The Program Director will report to the Deputy Director of FCM International and will be an active member of the senior management team of FCM International. She/he will also support FCM’s role as a leader in the field of international cooperation.

This is a six-year contract position and the incumbent will be posted in the Caribbean after the completion of the first six-month inception phase. It is a supervisory, senior management position.

Key Responsibilities:

· Act as the key senior staff of CARILED to provide overall strategic leadership and direction to the program.

· Provide senior advice to the Program Steering Committee (PSC) on key strategic orientations for CARILED and implement its decisions. Lead the start-up phase of CARILED, including the preparation of the detailed program implementation plan, and of the cross-cutting program strategies (gender, environment, public participation, communications, etc.).

· Supervise the set-up of the CARILED offices in the Caribbean, including rental of offices, hiring of local staff, the purchase or rental of equipment, etc., and the establishment of administrative and financial procedures in line with the policies and procedures of FCM and the Treasury Board of Canada.

· Manage a team of approximately 12 staff, including 10 Canadian and Caribbean employees based in the Caribbean and two staff based in Canada, and coordinate the technical contribution of CARILED program partners (CFLGM, CALGA, CLGF, Universities) and consultants in the activities of the program.

· Lead the preparation of annual work plans & budgets, and semi-annual and annual narrative reports to CIDA.

· Supervise the implementation of all CARILED activities including technical missions, the purchase of equipment and organization of other activities.

· Supervise CARILED budgets, approve all expenditures, and oversee the disbursement procedures for local projects, including the preparation and monitoring of contribution agreements with Caribbean partners.

· Design and implement the performance management framework for CARILED to assess the strengths of the program and to identify areas for improvement.

· Ensure good relationships and effective communications between program partners (FCM, CFLGM, CALGA and CLGF) and organize meetings of the Program Steering Committee (PSC) and of the Program Management Committee (PMC).

· Report on a regular basis and represent CARILED with CIDA, local Canadian high commissions, national governments and regional organizations.

· Ensure good relations and coordination between CARILED and other organizations in the Caribbean that are involved the same field of work in order to forge new links and alliances effectively.

· Favour the creation of alliances, partnerships and strategic networks that could notably open the way to new possibilities and potential sources of funding for program partners.

Skills and experience

· Superior knowledge of international development and related fields.

· Good knowledge of the Commonwealth Caribbean region, including its governance systems and socio-economic development challenges.

· Knowledge of the structures and role of Caribbean local governments.

· At least 15 years’ experience in managing international cooperation projects, including 5 in programmes focusing on reinforcing institutional capabilities and proven experience in managing Caribbean development projects.

· Superior skills in managing and facilitating inter-cultural team work (employees, consultants, volunteers, partners, beneficiaries).

· Superior skills regarding the organization of activities promoting transfer of skills.

· Superior representation, public relations, diplomatic, and interpersonal skills.

· Superior capabilities for results-based management approaches (budgeting, work planning, management, monitoring and drafting of reports).

· Understanding of the role of local governments in local economic development is an asset.

Language requirements

· Fluency in English and beginner level in French are required. Knowledge of Spanish is an asset.

For additional information on this posting, or for further information on FCM, access our website at www.fcm.ca.

Visit the careers section of our website to apply. Deadline for applications is October 21st, 2011.

We thank all candidates for their interest; however we will only contact those selected for an interview. All the applications will be kept in file for six months following the hiring.