Deputy Country Representative – Bangladesh
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Full time
The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives and expanding opportunities across Asia and the Pacific. Informed by 70 years of experience and deep local knowledge, our work is focused on governance, climate action, gender equity, education and leadership, inclusive growth, and international cooperation. We work in more than 20 countries through our 17 permanent country offices and programs across Asia and the Pacific, supported by a headquarters in San Francisco and an office in Washington, DC. Our funding comes from a diverse array of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals.
Our Bangladesh office in Dhaka is seeking a Deputy Country Representative (DCR) to join our senior leadership team. Reporting to the Country Representative (CR), the DCR will play a key role in developing new programs, ensuring the quality and impact of existing initiatives, and sharing leadership responsibilities across the office’s operations and strategies. The ideal candidate will bring complementary expertise to the CR, helping to craft innovative solutions to development challenges, enhance program quality, and strengthen organizational capacity. The DCR will serve as a strategic partner in building relationships with donors, government, and key stakeholders while also managing internal operations with a focus on transparency, compliance, and staff development. Additionally, the Deputy Country Representative works with other Asia Foundation offices on multi-country programs, events, and/or exchanges on issues of regional and international importance. The Deputy Country Representative is based in Dhaka and reports to the Country Representative of Bangladesh.
We are seeking an individual with:
- A deep dedication to advancing governance principles, democratic values, and inclusive development.
- The determination to navigate complex political and institutional challenges with patience and focus on long-term impact.
- The ability to inspire and guide teams while aligning operational priorities with the organization’s strategic goals.
- Exceptional interpersonal and diplomatic skills to cultivate trust and maintain strong partnerships with stakeholders at all levels.
- A proactive and analytical approach to addressing challenges, ensuring effective solutions and seamless operations.
- Flexibility to navigate complex environments and independently drive tasks to completion with minimal supervision.
- A commitment to fostering a supportive and high-performing team culture by mentoring and empowering staff.
Position Duties and Responsibilities
Program Development and Leadership:
- Collaborate with the CR to develop and implement country strategies and annual plans.
- Lead program design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, ensuring high-quality outcomes.
- Develop innovative fundraising strategies and craft compelling proposals to diversify funding sources.
Operational and Financial Oversight:
- Take the lead on supervising day-to-day operations, ensuring smooth coordination among program, finance, and administrative teams.
- Oversee project and country budgets, ensuring alignment with financial policies and donor requirements.
- Promote accountability, compliance, and transparency in financial and grant management.
Team Supervision and Capacity Building:
- Recruit, mentor, and manage staff, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and professional growth.
- Lead in facilitating staff performance reviews, professional development plans, and team-building initiatives.
External Representation and Advocacy:
- Build and maintain relationships with government stakeholders, donors, partners, and media to enhance the Foundation’s visibility and impact.
- Represent the Foundation at key events, in publications, and in dialogues that advance programmatic objectives.
- Represent the Foundation in functional-level meetings and routine donor briefings, presenting progress updates and resolving operational challenges.
Strategic Collaboration and Leadership:
- Support multi-country programs, regional initiatives, and organizational knowledge sharing.
- Act as Acting Country Representative during the CR’s absence.
- Contribute to staff safety and crisis management planning.
Other Responsibilities:
- Serve as Acting Representative in the absence of the Country Representative.
- Promote staff safety and develop crisis management plans.
- Support other Foundation offices and participate in organizational initiatives.
Qualifications:
- Advanced degree (Master’s or higher) in relevant fields such as public policy, international development, economics, or political science.
- At least 10 years of experience managing international development programs, preferably in South Asia.
- Proven track record in program design, monitoring, and compliance with donor regulations.
- Expertise in at least one key program area: governance, women’s empowerment, economic growth, climate resilience, or international cooperation.
- Strong fundraising experience, including ODA sources, proposal writing, and donor relations.
- Demonstrated ability to manage diverse agreements (grants, contracts, cooperative agreements).
- Exceptional leadership skills in supervising, motivating, and developing diverse, multicultural teams.
- Excellent representational, diplomatic, and interpersonal skills.
- Strong analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent English-language communication skills, including writing, editing, and presenting.
How to Apply
Applications should be submitted by visiting our website. To be considered, please upload your cover letter and resume/CV in one document. You can also upload both in separate documents but please note to do so, you will have to sign out of the system and go back into your record for additional documents. The deadline to apply is February 17, 2024
The Asia Foundation offers excellent salaries commensurate with experience. We are an equal-opportunity employer, and women and people of color are encouraged to apply.
No phone calls, please.