Regional Director

General Description:

Operation Smile is a global non-profit that provides services for patients with cleft lip, palate, and other health conditions in lower- and middle-income countries. The organization’s clinical, educational, and other health-related initiatives are conducted in 36 countries and are growing in volume and complexity. The organization is incorporated in the U.S. and maintains fundraising, marketing, administrative, and other functions globally and is currently seeking a Regional Director to oversee Bolivia, and eventually one additional Latin American country.

The Operation Smile Regional Director (RD) position is responsible for the implementation of clinical, medical education and other initiatives that strengthen health systems in lower- and middle-income countries. The position is broad in scope and requires effective collaboration with multiple stakeholders across multiple countries. Stakeholders include health ministers, hospital leaders, clinicians and healthcare workers, staff members of Operation Smile foundations, other NGOs and partners.

The RD serves as the primary representative of Operation Smile in assigned countries and works tirelessly to ensure that all initiatives are implemented safely, effectively, on-time, on budget, and in line with the organization’s culture of volunteerism and charity.

As part of a regional team, the RD will play an important role as contributor to the success of the region as a whole and as part of a cohesive senior group, driving the region towards its overarching programmatic and fiscal goals. These goals are set out in accordance with the strategic direction of the global organization.

Medical Education is a key strategic pillar for Operation Smile. The RD will directly support surgical programs and educational initiatives, both short and long term, to build sustainable healthcare models with our hospital partners.

The Regional Director ensures that appropriate support is provided by cross-functional colleagues from medical quality, operations, logistics, fundraising, communications, and other Operation Smile departments. Given the wide breadth of the global organizational structure, it is crucial that the RD maintain frequent communication with all relevant stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITY:

Leadership & Management

As a senior member of the regional team, the RD is expected to lead by example, through professional leadership and clear line management in their day-to-day workload. Working with Country Managers, the RD will guide these countries so that their country activities are implemented and aligned with Operation Smile’s programmatic and organizational goals.

The primary areas of focus will be strategic planning, program and budget development and implementation with a secondary focus on business operations. The RD will hold each country accountable for their activities and related expenditure as they will also be held to account by senior leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Management:

• As a senior member of the regional team, the RD will lead by example, through professional leadership and clear management of all programmatic activities. The RD will directly support country representatives to ensure successful implementation of all programs and activities.
• The RD’s primary areas of focus are program implementation and business operations.
• Further, the RD will provide strong support to strategic planning, activity and budget development. The RD will hold each assigned country team accountable for their activities and related expenditures.

Strategic Planning, Program Development & Program Implementation

• Work with global, regional and program country representatives to create work plans and budgets on a multi-year and annual basis, re-evaluating frequently as necessary.
• Support executive leadership, global staff and program country foundations in the successful design, execution, and evaluation of programs.
• Ensure the efficient use of allocated resources to achieve each country's strategic goals.
• Ensure that country growth and expansion plans align with planned improvements and growth of internal capacity (people, processes, systems).

Business Operations

• Serve as the primary point of contact for various departments at Operation Smile for all matters related to program country operations.
• Champion the adoption of global operating standards, while ensuring proper alignment within each local country context.
• Work with global and regional leadership to ensure that human resources, legal and financial operations at the assigned country levels are executed in a timely and efficient manner and are compliant with applicable regulations.
• Support workforce planning for each assigned country plan to support growth and to manage appropriate staffing levels in all areas of the team.
• Support local foundations in developing their professional growth and capacities, ensuring they have the skills and tools to be effective and excel in programmatic activities. For example: training, resources, or mentorship for in-country and foundation staff.

Finance

• Thoroughly understand the budgeted activities and costs.
• Support efforts to maintain cost efficiencies.
• Be fully conversant with program activities and budgets and hold regular updates with
• Leadership to ensure all is on track.
• Evaluate and sign-off on assigned country expenditures, ensuring that all expenses are within budget, reasonably priced, legitimate, and for necessary business purposes.
• Be fully able to communicate budgets and financial matters to relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure timely reporting (expense, reimbursement, monthly and quarterly) and appropriate fund transference with the global organization.
• Develop, maintain, and manage the country and project budgets, working with Country
• Managers to ensure countries adhere to planned budgets and plan pro-actively.
• Monitor, assess and communicate the financial health of the organizations/foundations (financial health, regulatory issues, etc.)

Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a liaison/primary point of contact for various departments at Operation Smile HQ for all matters related to program country operations.
• Serve as a global ambassador and representative of the organization for local, regional, and international stakeholders as required.
• Support board development, pertinent advisory groups and other stakeholder engagement in assigned countries; stakeholders include patients and their families, volunteers,
• Ministers of Health and other government officials and hospital administrators (CEOs, CNOs, Health Center Directors).
• Represent/advocate for the Operation Smile cause and objectives at a global and local level, ensuring that foundations are aligned with the overarching organizational goals.
• Communicate changes and the new vision for the future and be a channel to remind local foundations of the new strategies for the future.
• Serve as the primary bridge between country and Operation Smile HQ in understanding local context and opportunities.
• Lead and facilitate effective and timely internal communication between Operation Smile HQ, regional, and national foundation stakeholders, and regional team members at all levels to ensure optimal collaboration and transparency.
• Represent Operation Smile to the foundations and throughout the region, to implement standardization and quality in all aspects of business and operations.
• Communicate and collaborate with the country board of directors.
• Align local policy with Operation Smile policy; inform Operation Smile leadership when conflicts in requirements exist; develop creative and agreed upon solutions.

Monitoring & Compliance

• Regularly update donors, board members, HQ departments, or other key stakeholders on the progress, achievements, and challenges of countries within their portfolio.
• Track and assess the performance of local foundations to ensure that they are meeting set benchmarks, country plans, budget execution, and contributing to overarching goals.
• Ensure successful implementation of contextualized programmatic plans (including patient
• management, programs, education, centers, projects etc.) in alignment with the organization’s global program strategy.
• Report findings to leadership and make recommendations for improvements.
• Ensure communication and compliance with relevant Operation Smile headquarters policies, practices and procedures within regional office and foundations as required.
• Attend and contribute to all standing country and team calls.

Strategic Initiatives & Special Projects

• Lead/champion internal facing special projects that contribute to the improvement of regional and organizational efficiencies (requested by Leadership.)
• Identify areas of opportunity for strengthening current programs & finding solutions within country context.
• Assess and proactively address challenges within countries.

Travel

• Frequent travel to assigned countries including Operation Smile offices, hospital partners and program sites.
• Hands-on management with the country teams in the field for both educational and supportive purposes and to surgical programs.
• International travel to global leadership meetings may be required from time to time.

Experience & Education:

• Bachelor’s degree and/or Master’s degree in public health/international development, or a related field.
• Proven ability to lead, coordinate, and facilitate programmatic operations, projects and
• teams.
• Experience with business operations and strategic frameworks (like multi-year plans).
• Strength and experience with budgets, financial management and reporting.
• Proven ability to work across cultures exercising diplomacy and tact.
• International organization experience, management and leadership, program implementation.

Competencies

• Strong Leadership skills with previous experience leading diverse teams.
• Strong administrative and project management skills.
• Strong fiscal skills being able to demonstrate ability to plan, manage, and execute budgets.
• Strong demonstrable implementation skills specifically with programs.
• Understanding of the Ethiopia healthcare environment and the challenges posed within the system.
• Highly organized and self-motivated.
• Oral, written, and presentation language skills are required in English.
• Able to work diplomatically in a global team-based environment that includes board members, medical professionals, and volunteers.
• Able to accept newly assigned projects or duties as they become necessitated.