Humanitarian Response Manager at Christian Aid (CA)

Christian Aid (CA) is a UK-based international NGO, partnering with others to end poverty in Africa. At the heart of this vision is the transformation of the lives of people who live in poverty, empowering them to have a brighter future. Christian Aid works in more than 30 countries and has been operating in Nigeria since 2003. The Nigeria Country programme focuses on Community Health and HIV, Accountable Governance including humanitarian response and Gender.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Humanitarian Response Manager

Location: Maiduguri, Borno 
Type of contract: Fixed Term
Contracted hours: 35
Contract length: 1 year
Reports to: Country Director       
Matrix manager: Regional Emergency Manager       
Direct reports: 4      

Role Purpose

• To take responsibility for the development, management, and coordination of Christian Aid’s response strategy to an emergency situation/appeal in Nigeria.
• To be responsible for day to day management of the emergency programme, the Rolling plan, grant management, liaison with ACT Alliance and other donors (ECHO, DFID, USAID, etc) including project reporting, monitoring, advocacy and policy work and, representing Christian Aid at external meetings and to the media.

Role Context

• The key function of the role is to manage emergency programmes and ensure high quality implementation while building and maintaining sound relationships with key stakeholders.
• The post-holder works with partner organisations to ensure the emergency response is coordinated effectively in line with country strategy and humanitarian policies. The post holder would be responsible for leading a team in delivering humanitarian interventions in Nigeria.
• The post holder will be a member of the Christian Aid Nigeria Programme and contribute to driving the strategy for the Nigeria country programme.

Key Outcomes

• Effective emergency projects and programmes delivered with high impact, in line with agreed aims and with funds used for designated purposes.
• Emergency programmes supervised and managed successfully in compliance with minimum humanitarian standards and in line with financial policies and procedures.
• Positive relationships maintained and developed with donors, ACT sister agencies and partners through effective communication.
• Staff recruited, inducted and managed to perform to a high standard and meeting their performance objectives.
• Strong linkages maintained between partners work and advocacy, communications and fundraising activities in the UK and elsewhere.
• Emergency and disaster programmes managed and planned and handed over to country programme staff at the appropriate time.

Key Relationships
External:

• The post-holder will liaise with Donors (ACT, DEC, ECHO, DFID etc). Expected to represent the organization at external meetings and also to the media as and when required. Close relationships with partner organizations developed and maintained.

Internal:

• As well as working closely with colleagues in the Humanitarian division and Country / Geographic teams, the post-holder will have strong cross organizational relationships with various work groups including advocacy & policy staff.

Decision making:

• Makes decisions regarding CA appeal funds within agreed parameters and in agreement with line / matrix managers. Leads on recruitment and management of staff in team. Authorisation and signing of payments under the general supervision of the Country Manager, in line with policy and procedures.
• Proposes action CA should take in its response to the humanitarian crisis or recovery, and makes day-to-day decisions to guide the implementation and smooth running of the humanitarian programme they are managing.
• This includes making programmatic and administrative adjustments, ensuring rolling plans and budgets are written and presented for agreement, overseeing DEC, ACT and other Christian Aid reporting, and agreeing necessary support to partners.

Analytical skills:

• The post holder is responsible for overall lead of humanitarian work in a particular country and is expected to work with initiative and innovation, using analytical skills and their own judgement to recommend high level humanitarian programme and funding decisions for the organisation in consultation with a wide range of country team and humanitarian colleagues and partner organisations.

Developing self and others:

• The post holder is expected to work independently with limited supervision, providing leadership and influencing strategies within the region and ensuring upholding of humanitarian standards and principles by Christian Aid staff and partners.
• Key skills required are being able to effectively manage from a distance as well as be able to influence decisions of colleagues at a range of seniority levels.

Person Specification
Applied skills/knowledge and expertise:

Essential:

• Degree or equivalent in relevant technical discipline.
• Knowledge and experience of emergency relief, rehabilitation and recovery programme issues.
• Knowledge of global development issues, including policy and advocacy topics and familiarity with emergency problems relevant to country or region.
• Knowledge of the political, social and economic context of the region and the development issues and challenges it faces.
• Knowledge of capacity building tools and techniques.
• Knowledge of Sphere and Red Cross Code of Conduct, awareness of HAP.
• Knowledge of HIV/AIDS, gender and the livelihoods approaches in relief and recovery.
• Professional experience living and working in a disaster affected country.
• Experience of strategic planning and management of large and complex budgets.
• Relevant experience of emergency project/programme management working with and through local partners.
• Experience on Public speaking and/or working with the media.
• Experience of distance management of staff.

Desirable:

• Relevant post-graduate degree in development or humanitarian discipline.
• Knowledge of the role of churches and ecumenical organizations in relief and development.
• Experience of advocacy on development and humanitarian issues.

IT competency required:

• Intermediate

Competency Profile
LEVEL 3: You are expected to be able to:

Build partnerships:

• Manage teams or lead projects supportively, involving others in discussing how to take work forward, helping people feel part of the team and treating everyone equally.
• Influence others to develop shared understanding and work cooperatively and collaboratively towards common goals where there are different personal or organisational agendas.
• Develop and maintain new relationships with individuals and organisations to further organization’s aim
• Recognise and value differences in people; be ready to challenge assumptions, beliefs or attitudes in self or others.
• Manage expectations and adhere to what’s agreed, by doing what you say you’re going to do.

Communicate Effectively:

• Reflect the needs of different audiences, adapting style, media, timing and pace to communicate effectively.
• Show understanding of how personal and external factors affect others’ communication style and needs and seek to manage these differences to ensure that all voices are heard.
• Clarify expectations and anticipate others’ interests and potential issues, to help them get involved in debate and dialogue.

Steward Resources:

• Accept accountability internally and externally for the effective use of resources.
• Before using or commissioning new resources, look for ways to achieve more effective outcomes by using existing resources in a new or different way.
• Manage resources and workloads to ensure your own and others’ goals are achieved.

Deliver Results:

• Create plans with key milestones and measurable outcomes: track progress and adjust to meet the objectives, ensuring others are aware of changes and reasons for them.
• Ensure individuals and teams understand and agree to work to the overall goals, specific objectives and quality standards.
• Make recommendations or decisions in the best interest of the organization, involving others as needed both within and beyond your work area.
• Be willing to take action or make recommendations or decisions in difficult or ambiguous situations.
• Commit to your decisions and be accountable for them.
• Show willingness to adapt if your initial decision did not produce the expected result.

Realise Potential:

• Demonstrate continuing commitment to your own professional and personal development.
• Use coaching and mentoring skills to support others to develop.
• Encourage others to give their best by discussing goals and aspirations and recognising achievement.
• Provide an appropriate level of supervision according to need; know when to provide help and when to give others space to learn.
• Give constructive and timely feedback to others on difficult or contentious issues.
• Deal with poor performance directly and sensitively, seeking appropriate and timely advice and support if needed.

Strive for Improvement:

• Be open to radical suggestions.
• Evaluate the benefits and risks of new ideas and ways of working and identify ways to reduce risk.
• Find and implement ways to better support internal knowledge- and information-sharing.
• Coach others on dealing with resistance to change.
• Seek and evaluate a range of viewpoints, internal and external, about how could do things better.

Remuneration
Salary (full time):$55,000

Application Closing Date
11th January, 2018.

Interview Date
17th January, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

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