This is a 24 month, replacement role with unaccompanied terms based in Mogadishu, Somalia with a salary of Grade 4 €40,003 – €44,449. You will travel frequently to Hargeisa, Baidoa and Nairobi.

You will report to the Programme Director and will line manage Mogadishu- and Hargeisa-based Field Emergency Coordinators (x2).

You will also work closely with the Country Director, Systems Director, Country Financial Controller and Finance Team, Somaliland Area Coordinator, Programme Managers, Grants & Information Manager, M&E unit, Partnership Advisor, senior staff of partner organisations, Dublin-based Desk Officer and Emergency Directorate.

We would like you to start on 1^st December 2019.

Your purpose:

The overall purpose of this position is to lead the design and implementation of Concern’s emergency operations, ensuring that emergency response, preparedness and recovery plans, and activities for Concern Somalia/Somaliland are successfully implemented according to the respective project budgets and timeframes and to the highest standards of quality and accountability. You will ensure that all activities are aligned with the objectives of the Country Strategic Plan and donor guidelines; and that emergency response activities are synergised with parallel longer-term Resilience and Durable Solutions programming. Concern’s current emergency portfolio comprises of large-scale multi-purpose cash transfers, WASH, nutrition, health, emergency education, and NFI distribution activities. Particular attention should be given to mainstreaming of protection and conflict-sensitivity.

You will be responsible for:

Overview:

With support from the Programmes Director (PD), ensure overall management, implementation and development of the emergency preparedness and response component of Concern’s Somalia country programme:

• Ensure adherence to all programme budgets and work plans.
• Ensure that the programme is adequately staffed and managed; mentor emergency staff and build capacity within the team
• Identify the needs and recommend appropriate adjustments & course corrections to planned interventions.
• Develop plans for emergency response within the Somalia context ensuring linkages with Concern’s other resilience and development programmes.
• Identify and respond to opportunities to expand programme funding and their impact.
• Liaise with other NGOs, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders for effective coordination, co-operation and communication for mutual understanding and acceptance of Concern’s mandate, activities and objectives, project progress and implementation.
• Brief the PD and Senior Management Team on programmes and situational context on a regular basis.
• Ensure activities of Concern’s partners are in line with proposals, budgets and Concern/donors’ guidelines.
• Actively participate in the Senior Management Team (SMT) meetings.

Emergency preparedness, response and recovery planning and programme implementation

• Monitor the early warning information being gathered by Concern (with focus on field-level data/info) as well as that of UN agencies, government and other INGOs. Share information on any alerts with the Country Director (CD), Programme Director and other Programme Managers.
• Monitor potential emergency/humanitarian needs and advise the Senior Management Team on appropriate responses.
• Keep up to date with any changes in or updates to national assessment results, appeals and guidelines, and communicate these to relevant staff.
• Coordinate and lead rapid needs assessments in areas affected by shocks, or where early warning information suggests a need for early action.
• Regularly update Concern Somalia’s Preparedness for Effective Emergency Response (PEER) plan
• In conjunction with the Partnership Advisor, develop and implement capacity-building plans for Concern’s Emergency Response Team and partner staff.
• Ensure that emergency response programmes are implemented in line with National, international and Cluster quality standards.
• Ensure relevant crosscutting issues are mainstreamed in emergency response; focus on protection and conflict-sensitivity.
• Ensure programmes are designed and implemented in accordance with the Core Humanitarian Standard of Quality and Accountability (CHS)
• Promote knowledge sharing within the country programme with particular attention to relief, recovery and humanitarian accountability issues.
• Ensure emergency projects/program staff are kept up to date on best practices in the fields of emergency preparedness and response.
• Support the resilience and durables solutions programmes with training and support to the community-based Disaster Management Committees and link emergency response interventions with them wherever possible.

Financial Management

• Manage expenditure of approved emergency budgets ensuring compliance with donor requirements and Concern’s financial procedures. Keep the CD, PD, CFC and Grants and Information Manager informed of any variances that may need to be communicated to donors in good time.
• In collaboration with the finance team and the PD, develop emergency project budgets.
• Assist direct reports with financial management.
• Report any suspected or actual financial irregularities that have occurred.
• Ensure all projects have detailed procurement plans; share and monitor progress together with the Logistics team in a timely way.

Team Management

• Manage relevant staff and ensure their on-going development, following Concern’s objective setting and Performance Development Review processes and tools and building the management capacity of the Field Emergency Coordinators.
• Identify needs and opportunities for technical and capacity development within the emergency team and roll out capacity building initiatives (eg training, coaching).
• Identify staffing needs in line with programming and assist in the timely recruitment of staff
• Ensure staff comply with the Code of Conduct and associated policies (which includes the Programme Participant Protection Policy, Child Safeguarding Policy and Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy), and the CHS; contribute to the establishment of preventive measures to reduce potential for abuse within Concern’s programme

Programme Funding and Reporting

• Lead the development of narrative and financial project proposals and reports, in compliance with donor requirements, templates and deadlines. Ensure close collaboration and timely information flow with the Grants and Information Manager and Desk Officer as required.
• Provide brief updates (bi-weekly or weekly) to the PD and members of the SMT, and to Concern Head Office as relevant.
• Submit monthly reports to the Grants and Information Manager by the deadline.
• Provide the Grants and Information Manager, Dublin Desk Officer, PD, etc. with timely responses to queries on concept notes, proposals and reports.
• Report any new developments, problems and challenges encountered in implementing emergency response projects in a timely manner and through appropriate channels.

Networking and Coordination

• Ensure proper representation of Concern Somalia programme at Cluster, working groups and other emergency preparedness and response related meetings (in consultation with the PD and other PMs).
• Ensure Concern’s programmes are coordinated with other actors and included in all relevant databases, 4W matrices, etc.
• Ensure good collaboration and working relationship with government and other relevant partners.
• Create appropriate links, working procedures and information sharing with the stakeholders – UN agencies, INGOs, NNGOs and government bodies at regional and zonal level regarding response plans, agreements, reports, training etc.
• Share information on Concern activities and intervention and promote good relations and collaboration with other actors working in the area.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability

• Conduct frequent supervision and monitoring visits to programme areas and identify any issues needing attention related to implementation, donor compliance and programme quality standards.
• Take responsibility for the implementation of learning and recommendations from external or internal reviews/evaluations and donor feedback.
• Take responsibility for development of detailed costed work plans at the start of each project and then ensure monthly updates are made to the output databases.
• Working with the M&E unit and the PD, plan baseline and end line surveys and external evaluations.
• Ensure that beneficiaries have access to feedback mechanisms and that data is monitored and responses given within appropriate time periods.

General

• Ensure staff members under your reporting strictly comply with programme security management plan and SOPs.
• Assist in the reviews of the security management plans
• Any other ad hoc duties as may be assigned by PD that are consistent with the nature of Concern operations.

Your skills and experience will include:

Essential:

• Master’s Degree in Humanitarian Response, Development Studies or a relevant technical subject (health, nutrition, WASH, Education, Protection, etc.).
• At least 5 years professional experience with a humanitarian agency, of which at least 3 years overseas, with minimum 2 years in a senior management role.
• Good managerial and leadership skills, ability to work effectively with people
• Commitment to building capacity of national staff for effective emergency response.
• Experience of working in insecure environments, preferably in Africa
• Experience of designing, carrying out, analysing and reporting on multi-sectoral emergency assessments, in line with internal and donor requirements.
• Experience managing complex emergency response programmes through both direct implementation, through local partner organisations and within consortia arrangements.
• Able to provide training on and implement Red Cross Code of Conduct, SPHERE and Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS).
• Knowledge and experience of multi-purpose cash transfer programming.
• Demonstrated familiarity with grant management and compliance requirements of major institutional donors (eg ECHO, DFID, UN CHF, Irish Aid, etc.).
• Ability to represent the organisation in external meetings (cluster/working groups and consortia), share timely information and influence key stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills and good command of English.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in Somalia or East/Horn of Africa
• Knowledge of Somali language.
• Experience of mainstreaming crosscutting issues into humanitarian programmes: equality (esp. gender), protection, conflict-sensitivity, DRR.
• Experience of managing people and projects through remote management.
• Experience of implementing a complaints response mechanism in humanitarian setting
• CaLP (Cash Learning Partnership) level 1 or level 2 certification
• Proactive ability to identify and implement synergies between emergency response and longer-term development programming
• Cultural and political sensitivity.

We would also like:

• A ‘hands on’, practical approach, be self-driven, well organised and very motivated.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Very high attention to detail.
• Flexibility and willingness to adapt to a fluid situation.
• Good interpersonal skills.