Job Posting

Title: Country Director

Location: Bangladesh

Pure Earth Overview: Pure Earth www.pureearth.org is the leading international not-for-
profit dedicated to reducing pollution, saving lives and protecting the planet. Pollution is
the leading cause of death in the world, more than HIV, AIDS and TB combined. Pure
Earth identifies and cleans up severely polluted places in low and middle-income
countries, focusing on sites where human health, especially that of women and children,
is most at risk. Since 1999, Pure Earth has completed 110 pilot projects in 27 countries,
impacting 4.2 million lives. In addition, Pure Earth spearheaded a landmark pollution
report published in 2017 in the world-renowned medical journal, The Lancet, which
released new data on the health and economic impacts of pollution as well as the
solutions.

To reduce pollution and save lives, we partner with local and international organizations,
communities, funders, and governments. Our staff have a range of expertise in areas
including public health, science/engineering, international development, monitoring and
evaluation, small-scale and artisanal mining, the lead recycling industry, and more.

Position Purpose: The Country Director coordinates, manages and increases visibility
and funding for Pure Earth’s program in Bangladesh. S/he represents Pure Earth to
local partners, government, and donors. S/he prominently positions the organization as
a leader in the field of pollution identification and mitigation. S/he ensures the cost-
effective implementation of a diverse portfolio of donor-funded projects. The Country
Director provides strategic leadership and managerial oversight of the administrative,
financial and operational aspects of the program. The Country Director oversees in-
country staff and ensures their safety and well-being. S/he ensures that program
objectives are met and that all activities are responsive to the needs of the country and
donors, and the program continues to advance and play a key role in the development
environment. The Country Director reports to the Regional Director, based in Pure
Earth’s head office in New York.

Key Responsibilities:
Program Management
• Oversee country office programming to ensure the effective and efficient delivery and
implementation of projects that are in line with the organization and donors’ standards.
• Provide proper supervision and management for all direct reports and coordinate
activities of the in-country team. Ensure timely and quality inputs by staff and
consultants.
• Ensure that proper program monitoring and evaluation systems are in place.

475 Riverside Dr. Suite 860, New York, NY 10115 | t: 212.870.3490 | f: 212.870.3488 | www.pureearth.org
• Ensure strong human resource strategies and systems are in place and are properly
implemented in areas such as recruitment, staff development, and performance
management.
• Document and disseminate methodologies and results that can inform the organization
and the wider development community (such as evaluation documents, consultant
reports, workshop reports, etc.).
• Make periodic visits to field sites, to monitor the status of projects.

Strategic Planning
• Lead the preparation and implementation of a high-quality country-office strategic plan
appropriate for the local and regional context, complementary to government & donor
development plans and in line with the organization’s overall vision and mission.
• Ensure that the organization continues to develop and strengthen programs based on
strategic analysis of the local country context.
• Coordinate in-country promotion of the organization to increase visibility. Ensure
strategic growth for the organization.

Program Development
• Generate a financially viable program pipeline in line with the organization’s strategy
and assist in identifying and securing funding for those programs.
• Involve relevant country office and head office staff in identifying and pursuing new
program opportunities
• Provide in-country leadership as well as collaborate with head office in pursuing new
opportunities and partnerships with bilateral donors, multilateral donors, foundations,
private sector, and others

Networking, Alliance Building and Collaboration

• Ensure strong cooperation and collaboration with partners, donors, government, and
other key stakeholders as a basis for building and maintaining a sustainable country
program
• Coordinate and collaborate with the head office and the organization’s regional staff.
Ensure the communication of information to and from the head office.
• Contribute to existing forums to build a vibrant civil society sector and influence policy.
Facilitate and/or participate in learning communities and task forces.

Finance and Administration

• Provide oversight for all administrative and financial operations to support the
programs.
• Consistently monitor the country office’s financial position and ensure the best use of
available resources. This includes overseeing the development and review of country
office annual budget and project budgets, and oversight of financial transactions and
reports.
• Maintain up to date understanding and adherence to the organization’s policies and
procedures amongst all country office staff.
• In coordination with head office, negotiate contracts, grants, cooperative agreements
and their modifications or extensions.
Basic Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree in related field;
• Minimum of ten (10) years of relevant experience;
• Experience in running projects focused on environment, health or development;
• Fluent English and Bengali language skills, both written and spoken;
• Willingness to travel within country and internationally

Preferred Qualifications and Experience:

• Graduate level degree in a related field;
• Demonstrated experience working in Bangladesh and an understanding of how to best
position programs and operations in the cultural, social, economic and political context.
• Experience managing large scale donor funded projects in accordance with donor
policies, rules, regulations, and procedures;
• Experience in personnel management in large and complex teams;
• Experience working with local partners, including hiring and managing contractors and
local subgrants;
• Demonstrated skills in strategic and program planning;
• Ability to establish, nurture and maintain key relationships with high level government
officials and donor organizations and key opinion leaders.
• Proven experience leading fundraising efforts that led to successful awards.
• Demonstrated experience of working with private sector and development and
nurturing private sector partnerships.

Please submit your resume/CV, a cover letter, and a writing sample

to sandyl@pureearth.org with the title: Country Director Applicant Bangladesh. The
writing sample should be a short piece or excerpt (less than 5 pages) in English that
demonstrates your ability to communicate effectively on a topic relevant to the position. 

Pure Earth is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection
and employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic
information, age, membership in any organizations, or other non-merit factors.