Humanitarian Response Programme Manager 403 views0 applications

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.

Humanitarian Response Programme Manager

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Department: International
Reports to: Country Director
Matrix Manager: Regional Emergency Manager
Direct Reports: 1
Overall people management responsibility: 4 – 6
Expected travel per annum: Up to 75 days or more per year depending on the nature of the work.
On call/unsocial hours: Yes, in event of Christian Aid response to humanitarian emergency.

Role Purpose

• To provide results-based strategic guidance, leadership, management and capacity building to the Humanitarian Response team.  In so doing, the Response Manager is expected to take responsibility for the development, management, and coordination of Christian Aid’s response strategy in an emergency situation/appeal in Nigeria.
• To be responsible for liaison with ACT Alliance and other donors (ECHO, DFID, USAID, etc), 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 postholder oversees work 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 Senior Management Team and contribute to driving the strategy for the Nigeria country programme.

Key Outcomes:

• Effective. 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.
• 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.
• Strategic engagement with the sector in the North East, government and other stakeholders and ensuring that Christian Aid is visible and contributes to strategic decisions in the sector as may be required.

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.

Internal:

• The post holder will be 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 Senior Management Team.

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 the 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 on necessary support to partners.

Analytical Skills:

• The post holder is responsible for overall leadership 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 the 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 the 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 the 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 in 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 the development and humanitarian issues.

IT Competency required:

• Intermediate.

Competency Profile
LEVEL 4: You are expected to be able to:

Build Partnerships:

• Actively promote collaborative team working and break down barriers to effective crossorganisational working.
• Apply understanding of external political, professional and organisational relationships and dynamics to influence agendas and outcomes.
• Recognise when there are fundamental conflicts, acknowledging your own and others’ feelings and views and redirecting energy towards common goals.
• Seek out or create opportunities to establish new high-impact relationships, partnerships and collaborations.

Communicate Effectively:

• Communicate a range of complex issues credibly with a range of audiences and handle difficult on-the-spot questions or challenges.
• Apply advanced influencing and negotiating skills to secure agreement.
• Promote and role model open communication across Christian Aid, regardless of hierarchy or departmental boundaries.

Steward Resources:

• Look for new or different ways of delivering outcomes by bringing together internal and external resources and partnerships in the best way to achieve results.
• Actively monitor external partners and suppliers to ensure that Christian Aid’s objectives are achievable within available resources.
• Be honest about resource constraints, saying no to unnecessary or excessive spending.
• Coordinate work where there are conflicting demands on time or other resources; negotiate resources, review progress and adapt resource requirements accordingly.

Deliver Results:

• Plan for and review progress on multiple and complex projects involving cross-functional and/or geographically dispersed work groups.
• Take overall responsibility for ensuring objectives for own unit and department are achieved.
• Take a long-term strategic perspective, understanding which short-term decisions might compromise future options.
• Respond quickly and decisively under pressure to crisis or problems that affect others, making decisions that are evidence-based, realistic and balance short- and long-term impacts.
• Act cooperatively to implement decisions that have already been made even if you do not personally agree with them.

Realise Potential:

• Act as a role model in developing, managing and supporting others.
• Match people’s skills and abilities to work demands, considering organisational priorities as well as personal and career development needs.
• Challenge behaviour and actions which are contrary to Christian Aid’s vision and values and take appropriate and timely action.

Strive for Improvement:

• Challenge others’ thinking to encourage more innovative approaches to problems.
• Take into account short-term versus long-term benefits, costs and risks in evaluating change options.
• Encourage responsible risk-taking, recognising that not every risk will pay off; when things don’t go as planned, focus on lessons learnt rather than fault-finding.
• Keep abreast of, and contribute to, developing responses to challenges in the economic, political and social environment.
• Take a lead in promoting cutting-edge initiatives intended to enhance effectiveness and the sharing of knowledge.

Salary (Full time)
$55,000 per annum.