Base Manager, Sawrawi Camp – Tindouf, 1-year contract, renewable 89 views0 applications

The Base Manager ensures effective, efficient, and accountable management of Oxfam’s base operations in Tindouf. This role is responsible for creating an enabling operational environment for programme delivery, overseeing logistics, administration, MEAL implementation, safety and security, and liaising with local authorities and stakeholders.

The Base Manager plays a critical leadership role at field level, ensuring synergy with programmatic priorities while safeguarding Oxfam’s values and compliance standards. The role is heavily operational and administrative, with limited direct involvement in advocacy-related work.

Rationale of the Position

The Base Manager position is a cornerstone of Oxfam’s field presence in the Sahrawi refugee camps in Tindouf. Given the complex operational environment, the role responds to the urgent need for strong and reliable leadership at the base level to ensure continuity, efficiency, and accountability in the delivery of humanitarian and recovery programmes.

As Oxfam strengthens its strategy to link emergency assistance with resilience and recovery efforts, it is imperative to maintain a robust operational backbone capable of supporting multi-sectoral interventions. The Base Manager serves as the linchpin between programmatic ambitions and logistical realities, ensuring that operations, security, administrative support, and MEAL functions are coordinated and delivered to high standards.

This position also reflects the growing importance of local-level representation and coordination. In Tindouf, the Base Manager acts as Oxfam’s official representative with Sahrawi authorities, humanitarian partners, and UN agencies. Their presence ensures that Oxfam maintains a respected and constructive role within inter-agency coordination platforms and that internal coherence between departments is actively managed through structured, methodical leadership.

Ultimately, the role contributes to safeguarding Oxfam’s accountability to affected populations and donors, supporting impact-driven programming, and reinforcing the organisation’s humanitarian principles in a politically sensitive context.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Management & Administration

• Supervise and coordinate all day-to-day base operations.
• Ensure proper management of logistics, procurement, fleet, premises, and support services.
• Guarantee functionality and maintenance of office infrastructure, guesthouses, warehouses, and communication systems.
• Coordinate with the Country Office for efficient support systems.
• Convene and facilitate base-level operational coordination meetings across departments to ensure implementation coherence, in complement to strategic leadership meetings chaired by the Country Director
• Ensure the operational environment supports smooth and efficient programme implementation.

2. Budget and Financial Oversight

• Manage the base operational budget, ensuring expenditures are aligned with forecasts.
• Monitor shared costs (fuel, premises, generator, maintenance, security) and ensure cost allocation across projects.
• Validate base-level cash forecasts, cash flow, and advance requests.
• Participate in monthly BFU (Budget Follow-Up) exercises with programme and finance teams.

3. Human Resources & Team Management

• Line manage all base support staff (Logistics, Finance, MEAL field staff, drivers, guards, cleaners).
• Collaborate closely with the HR Coordinator (who reports directly to the Country Director) on HR-related policies, staff development strategies, and performance management.
• Ensure HR and administrative functions at base level are implemented in line with Oxfam’s procedures, under the guidance and oversight of the HR Coordinator.
• Promote a positive and inclusive working environment, addressing conflicts and grievances fairly.

4. Security and Risk Management

• Implement and monitor security protocols in coordination with the Security Focal Point.
• Conduct and update context and risk assessments.
• Ensure safe movements and contingency preparedness at base level.

5. MEAL Implementation Support

• Oversee the implementation of MEAL systems on the ground, ensuring alignment with technical guidance and strong orientation towards impact evaluation.
• Supervise MEAL data collection activities (surveys, FGDs, complaint mechanisms) from an operational standpoint, ensuring that findings inform both accountability and programmatic learning.
• Promote the use of MEAL data for strategic decision-making and programme improvement, with specific attention to outcome and impact-level results.
• Ensure logistical and administrative support to MEAL processes, and collaborate with technical advisors to ensure that evaluation methodologies are robust and contextually appropriate.

6. Coordination and Support to Programmes

• Facilitate field-level coordination among programme teams and support services.
• Ensure programme teams have timely access to logistics and security support.
• Convene systematic coordination meetings among departments to ensure operational alignment and progress monitoring.
• Contribute to the understanding of local humanitarian dynamics by monitoring population needs, emerging vulnerabilities, and contextual shifts.
• Participate in joint needs assessments, field missions, and exploratory visits to identify gaps and opportunities for programmatic engagement.
• Collaborate with Programme Managers and Technical Advisors to feed local operational insights into programme design and adaptation.
• Provide contextual insights and field-based observations to inform the strategic identification of new sectors of intervention, led by the Country Director and Programme Leads.

7. Representation and External Relations

• Act as Oxfam’s field-level representative in Tindouf, engaging with local authorities and humanitarian actors, while strategic external engagement and donor relations remain under the responsibility of the Country Director
• Participate in coordination forums with UN agencies, INGOs, and local NGOs.
• Ensure effective communication and collaborative relationships with local stakeholders, aligning with humanitarian principles.

Profile Requirements

Essential

• University degree in Logistics, Management, Public Administration, or related fields.
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in humanitarian settings, including 3 years in a management position.
• Proven experience in field operations, logistics, security, and base management.
• Experience in recovery and resilience programmes, including coordination between emergency and development components.
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills with demonstrated team management capacity.
• Familiarity with financial procedures and logistics workflows.
• Fluent in Spanish (mandatory) and English; knowledge of French and/or Arabic is an asset.
• Highly methodical and organised, with strong planning and coordination skills.

Desirable

• Prior experience in Sahrawi refugee camps or in the Maghreb/Sahel region.
• Knowledge of humanitarian accountability and MEAL systems.
• Sensitivity to local culture and capacity to manage complex political dynamics.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Thinking and Decision-Making
• Team Leadership and Staff Empowerment
• Security Awareness and Risk Mitigation
• Problem Solving and Initiative
• Diplomacy and Representation
• Gender and Diversity Awareness
• Operational Planning and Coordination
• Methodical and Results-Oriented Approach

Working Conditions

• Based full-time in Rabouni (Tindouf), with frequent visits to the five refugee camps.
• Basic accommodation conditions with restricted movement due to security protocols.

Offer

• 1 year contract, renewable depending on obtaining new funding
• Start date: as soon as possible