Area Coordinator – Concern Worldwide Vacancy Announcement

Period of Employment: Two years

Job Purpose

The overall scope of this position is to represent Concern Worldwide (CWW) in Somali Region towards regional, local authorities and other relevant humanitarian stakeholders. S/he will manage all operations aspect (admin/log/finance) of CWW liaison office in Jijiga and act as main security focal person. S/he will help support existing programs and help identify needs to develop new programs in the region.

Main duties & Responsibilities:

Coordination and Liaison:

• Act as focal contact person for CWW in Jigjiga, Somali Regional State for all government organizations/ departments and other stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain cordial working relationship with partners, local and regional government bodies, NGOs and collaborating line bureaus, with the support from the Somali Region emergency nutrition team.
• Participate actively in regional meetings with key stakeholders representing CWW and report back to the EPD for subsequent decision making.
• Ensure regular communications with international donor partners such as UN Agencies (WFP, UNIECEF & UN OCHA) and others based in Jijiga and other parts of the region keeping the EPD updated on key talking points.
• Ensure the visibility of CWW in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures.
• Support the overall coordination of Somali technical capacity building initiative.  And organise all workshops/trainings/meetings to be held in the region.
• Submit reports and documents to relevant bodies in the region and provide clarification whenever necessary.

Programme Management

• Oversee all of CWW projects in Somali Region and support in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring of project activities in regular manner
• Provide support in data analysis and reporting, highlighting and identifying programmatic issues and working with the Regional Nutrition Programme Manager to make sure they are addressed.
• Ensure through networking with other relevant partners in the region the efficiency and effectiveness of project activities and promote best practices.
• Stay updated of major issues in the region and report to CWW Head Office any sudden outbreaks and early warning information that are uncovered.
• Monitor and provide updates on security issues to the Head Office as needed
• Support in preparing program reviews and evaluations.

Operational Support

Human Resources:

• Line manage the regional nutrition manager, logistics officer, finance officer (this may be expanded during the course of the employment period).
• Ensure that Concern HR hiring policies and procedures are followed and all supporting documents filed accordingly.

Logistics:

• Ensure that Concern Worldwide logistical (transport, procurement and warehousing) policies and procedures are followed.
• Authorise procurement expenditure up to delegated authority limits.
• Liaise with head office transport and logistics coordinator and logistics staff for all procurement issues.
• Oversee the establishment of procurement committees and ensure roles and responsibilities are clearly understood.

Security:

• Act as overall security focal point for the Somali region.
• Oversee the establishment of security focal groups and ensure routine security meetings are taking place.
• Input into the development and revision of security standard operating procedures as required.
• Approve all travel requests within the region.
• Report all security incidents into the  security incident tracking system (SIRTS) 

Finance:

• Assist and support PMs in tracking and reviewing expenditure of grants.
• Ensure all finance policies and procedures are followed
• Oversee finance activities (petty cash management, reconciliations etc).
• Review monthly cash requests from projects
• Perform any other relevant tasks as requested by line manager

Emergency response

Concern is committed to responding to emergencies efficiently and effectively in order to help affected people meet their basic needs, alleviate suffering and maintain their dignity. To this end, when emergencies strike and the Ethiopia Programme is to respond, all staff are required to actively participate in the response, regardless of location and contribute to the efforts aimed at achieving the humanitarian objective of the organization.

• Participate and contribute as necessary towards Concern’s Emergency response.
• Comply with Concern’s health, safety and security guidelines during emergencies.

Gender

• Ensure gender sensitivity is considered throughout all CWW operations and programs with the support of the Gender Equality Manager.
• Ensure the liaison office is more attractive to female staff and future candidates and HR process are followed to ensure equal opportunity to improve gender balance in the programme.
• Ensure that programme/project staffs have a strong understanding of gender mainstreaming and that gender mainstreaming tools are effectively implemented across all programs/projects.
• Ensure that gender sensitive indicators and M & E plans are in place and that they are effectively monitored.

Accountability

• In line with Concern’s commitments under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS):
• Promote and ensure compliance with the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) commitments and quality criteria
• Ensure that all staff are familiar with the principles underpinning accountability, safeguarding and Concern’s Complaints and Response Mechanism (CRM) and ensure that information about Concern’s commitments on accountability and safeguarding are disseminated among programme participants and communities
• Ensure that the CRM is functional, effectively implemented and accessible in all programmes’ locations, enabling safe reporting of both programmatic and sensitive complaints, including safeguarding concerns
• Ensure that complaints are welcomed, managed and responded to in a timely, fair and appropriate manner; ensure that sensitive complaints, including safeguarding concerns, are handled with utmost confidentiality and that the safety of the complainants and those affected is prioritised at all stages.

Safeguarding

• Able to seek appropriate advice and report concerns, and feel confident that they have been understood.
• Understands local safeguarding structures and arrangements.
• Practices in a manner that seeks to reduce the risk of abuse, harm or neglect.
• Identifies and refers to appropriate services any other associated persons including carers, family members and children at risk.
• Able to document safeguarding concerns, and maintain appropriate record-keeping, recording the wishes and views of the adult or child at risk, differentiating between fact and opinion

What we offer

• A competitive salary and benefit package
• Excellent medical benefits (100% cover including dependents)
• 20 days annual leave
• 26 weeks (paid) maternity leave, 18weeks (unpaid) parental leave

Person specification:

Essential:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree (nutrition or public health preferred) (Masters desirable)
• Minimum of three years’ experience of directly managing support functions (logs/HR/Finance)
• Related nutrition programme experience (minimum six years for bachelor qualification and six years for masters qualification)
• Ability to follow policies and procedures (admin/HR/finance/logistics) and ensure organizational and donor compliance

Competencies:

Desirable:

• Extensive experience in representation and attending high level coordination meetings
• Strong understanding of regional government protocol and processes
• Excellent interpersonal and mentoring skills to support and develop staff capacity of field based teams
• Experience of managing a team and of providing support to teams from a distance
• Ability to identify, analyze and solve problems, employing timely and appropriate decision making to implement solutions
• Strong computer skills including database management, Microsoft Word and Excel
• Excellent English and Somali communication skills (verbal and written)
• Empathy with Concern’s Vision, Mission, Goals  and Objectives