The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC provides care and life-saving assistance to refugees forced to flee war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and 22 cities across the United States, we are restoring the safety, dignity, and hope of millions of uprooted people struggling to survive. IRC helps restore the health, safety, education, economic well-being and power of people devastated by conflict and disaster. “IRC From Harm to Home”
Throughout 2019, non-state armed groups consolidated their presence in northern areas of Burkina Faso, perpetrating an increasing number of violent acts and exacerbating an already tense dynamic in the region. At the same time, ethnic and communal violence has increased and mingled with the actions of radical groups and military interventions, further aggravating the situation and leading to significant population movements and humanitarian needs.
To meet the growing needs, IRC deployed the emergency response team, opened a country office and launched a humanitarian assistance programme in April 2019. IRC currently has a field base in the Sahel region, in addition to the administrative office in Ouagadougou, and plans to expand the scale, scope and geographic support of the programme in the coming months.
The field Coordinator will play a key role in advancing operational strategies and ensuring our operational presence in in the Sahel region and particularly in Dori.
Job overview:
The Dori Field Coordinator will lead IRC Burkina Faso’s programs and operations in the Sahel Region. He/she will be responsible for the overall field coordination, program support and management of the local office, under the supervision of the Country Director (CD) and in collaboration with the Deputy Director of Programs (DDP), the Deputy Director of Finance (DDF), the Deputy Director of Operations (DDO) (or the Operations Coordinator), the HR and Administration Coordinator, the Grants and Compliance Coordinator, the Safety and Security and Humanitarian Access Coordinator, and the Technical Coordinators of the National Program.
Under the supervision of the Country Director, he/she is responsible for the management and implementation of programs in the Sahel Region. He/she provides leadership, management and monitoring of the following: security, administration, human resources, logistics and finance. He/she is responsible for maintaining excellent working relationships with partners and counterpart agencies, including local representatives of the Government of Burkina Faso. It is also responsible for actively participating in coordination forums with the United Nations system and NGOs and for coordinating IRC Burkina’s Emergency Preparedness and Response. He/she is responsible for leading and managing operational teams by ensuring that they are responsive to the objectives and needs of IRC’s programs. The Field Coordinator is expected to contribute to high levels of teamwork and interdepartmental and intersectoral collaboration. Through his leadership, operations teams will support program delivery, guided by results, data analysis, problem identification and resolution.
As IRC’s highest-ranking field representative and member of the Extended Senior Management Team (SMT-E), the Field Coordinator must bring a superior leadership profile with proven experience supporting programs in complex emergency environments. The Field Coordinator will be confident, eloquent and organized, experienced in humanitarian access and negotiations, able to represent IRC to its partners, including beneficiaries and donors, and to address sensitive and complex issues in a diplomatic manner, prioritizing the needs of beneficiaries.
Main responsibilities:
Leadership, Coordination and Representation
• Provides leadership and strategic direction in the area of operation, in coordination with the senior management team (SMT).
• Actively participate in the development and implementation of IRC’s Strategy 100, including review processes. Participate in the review of the plan of operations to assist program activities and phased programming according to the approved SAP and humanitarian response strategy.
• Establish adequate systems of coordination with external stakeholders (bilateral or otherwise), including but not limited to OCHA, international NGOs, national NGOs, UN agencies and local administrative authorities, while representing IRC policies, visibility, promotion of long-term strategy and problem/conflict resolution.
• Actively participate in external coordination meetings, including NGO coordination and clusters and/or CmCoord, serving as the IRC focal point and ensuring internal information sharing with the country programme.
• Ensure adequate visibility of the IRC at the community level and promote its acceptance.
• Provide key advocacy messages to the country’s leadership team for advocacy and communications at the national level.
• Be an active member and contributor to the Extended Management Team (SMT-E) and the Country Management Team (CMT).
Personnel management and development
• Ensure continuous capacity building of the operations team (SC, Admin, and IT) through assistance to direct and technical supervisors by ensuring staff performance evaluations and individual development plans;
• Assist field staff in the execution of personnel policies including coaching, performance evaluation, staff development and disciplinary measures.
• Ensure effective and open communication and professional relationships between team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing follow-up and support to enable staff to successfully perform their duties.
• Ensure the timely completion and quality of timesheets, work plans, leave and staff training/development activities.
• Participate in the recruitment of staff according to the authorized organizational chart.
• Adhere to global and national employment policies and promote IRC Way membership.
• Implement/maintain and document all administrative procedures for the proper functioning of the field office (filing system, intra-office communication procedures, paper flow procedures, computer use and protocols, etc.)
• Implement and maintain the National Personnel Policy Manual and RC Rules of Procedure.
• Establish/maintain a regular staff evaluation system, as well as standard procedures for the publication of new positions, interviews and the selection of candidates, in accordance with IRC and donor requirements.
• Maintain open and professional relationships with team members, promote strong team spirit, and provide supervision and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform their duties. Resolve conflicts and staff concerns in a timely manner.
• Promote capacity building and continuous staff training
• Ensure and defend compliance with IRC Way – the IRC Code of Conduct – and take appropriate action in the event of a breach, in collaboration with the Human Resources Department.
Security and Humanitarian Access Management
The Field Co guarantees the highest possible level of security management through participatory threat and risk analysis and the development and implementation of standard operating procedures.
• Assume overall responsibility for the safety and security of program personnel and assets in its area of responsibility.
• Ensure widespread and interdepartmental understanding and ownership of security management.
• Oversee ongoing contextual and risk analysis to ensure that all necessary teams have access to relevant security information in its area of operation.
• Constantly and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the area, promptly reporting concerns or incidents to the Security and Access Coordinator and the CD and liaising with other external parties, as appropriate, to maintain/improve the security environment.
• Implement/revise and maintain written security procedures and protocols.
• Regularly review and revise the Safety Management Plan (SMP) in close collaboration with the Security and Access Coordinator (Safety Directive Manual, Evacuation or Hibernation Plan, Emergency Plan and Standard Operating Procedures).
• Implement/revise/maintain the access strategy and action plan in Burkina Faso
• Ensure that all staff are adequately trained in the use of all communication equipment, especially Thuraya.
• Ensure that teams travelling to the field are aware of and comply with the Movement SOP for the Sahel Region and IRC’s visibility plan in Burkina Faso.
• Establish and maintain a well-documented emergency response procedure that all staff can follow.
• Monitor the security situation in liaison with other international agencies, communities, beneficiaries and other stakeholders, and actively participate in security coordination and access meetings.
• Ensure compliance with IRC procedures and donor requirements
• Ensure that concerns and challenges on the ground are brought to the attention of relevant stakeholders in order to evolve standards and procedures.
• Ensure that all new employees and visitors receive a safety and security briefing within 48 hours of arrival.
Program development and design support
• In close collaboration with the relevant technical coordinator(s), the senior program Coordinator and the field managers, lead the teams in the field in the development of new proposals and initiatives both at the support and operation level as well as the programme level.
• Participate in the preparation of budgets for program proposals, in collaboration with the grants and finance units.
• In collaboration with the DDO and the Security and Access Coordinator, conduct operational feasibility assessments for any new geographical area of intervention in the Sahel Region (or any other region of Burkina Faso), providing recommendations for appropriate implementation modalities.
• Ensure the regular provision of contextual updates to the TMS and technical coordinators regarding the strategy and implementation of the programs, in order to contribute to the necessary adaptations and responses.
Project Cycle Management
• In close collaboration with field managers, oversee the day-to-day implementation of all activities at field sites, providing constructive oversight to each department to achieve the IRC program strategy.
• Work closely with and coordinate with IRC’s supply chain, finance and grants staff to ensure program activities and expenditures are processed on time, including active participation in opening/closing meetings and reviews.
• Ensure that all programs have clear business plans, expenditure plans, monitoring and evaluation plans, consistent with donor agreements and organizational policies and procedures, ensuring that they are regularly monitored and updated.
• In close collaboration with technical coordinators, lead the coordination of needs assessments by ensuring the proactive identification of emerging needs.
• Participate regularly in the project evaluation and progress monitoring system (POM, PIM);
• With the support of program teams, ensure that accountability to beneficiaries, sensitivity and gender mainstreaming are adequately taken into account in IRC programs.
Response to emergencies and emerging crises
• Actively contribute to the strategic emergency response planning process and work in collaboration with IRC management and all departments.
• In collaboration with the Country Emergency Response Team (CET) Focal Points and the SMT Team, act as the lead for coordinating the implementation of the IRC Emergency Response and reporting on the progress of emerging activities and needs.
Operations and Finance
• Promote coordination and teamwork among program and operations staff in the field office to improve the quality of operational support.
• Directly supervise the finance, supply chain, and security and access officers of the Sahel Region, including the following: setting SMART objectives, a clear weekly or monthly work plan, and performance monitoring.
• Ensure the development, implementation and monitoring of financial and operational policies and procedures to ensure compliance with IRC and donor policies in all programs.
• Implement and maintain auditable internal financial controls in accordance with IRC policies and procedures
• Supervise and maintain a cash management system
• Ensure budget holders fulfill their responsibilities, including monthly budget reviews against actual figures and ensure the cleaning of the online system (BvA).
• Ensure that IRC and donor supply chain policies and procedures are fully adhered to, including procurement procedures and warehouse management system.
• Implement and oversee the maintenance of a tracking and identification system for all IRC assets.
• Ensure that accurate supply chain reports, including asset inventory, warehouse/inventory, purchase requisition tracking, fleet and generator management, are produced on time.
• Ensure that all contracts with suppliers and vendors are legal and fully protect IRC.
• In collaboration with the DDO, participate in the implementation of IRC’s new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software (INTEGRA).
• Ensure the provision of reliable and safe means of transportation that allow any department, and especially for the program teams, to execute their projects efficiently and in sometimes remote locations and on various terrains.
• Conduct fleet capacity assessments and ensure proper fleet management, including maintenance, driver training, etc.
• Based on comprehensive needs assessments, ensure that all digital data and information needs of operations and program teams are met.
Job Requirements:
Working experience:
• A minimum of 5 to 10 years of professional experience in managing humanitarian response, preferably in Africa, including managing a field base and/or overseeing program support services (administration, finance, supply chain and security).
• Significant experience in humanitarian access and negotiations.
Skills and competencies required:
• Proven skills in systems and process analysis and experience in developing robust monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Experience in human resources management, including staff capacity building
• Excellent professional approach, increased skills and proven ability to build staff capacity.
• Excellent computer skills: MS Word, Excel
Academic profile:
• Master’s degree (or equivalent professional experience) in humanitarian action, conflict or security management or other related discipline.
Language skills:
• Fluency in French and English
Desired experience and skills:
• Excellent understanding of humanitarian response and standards such as Sphere.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, comfortable in a multicultural environment and effective in representation and liaison. Able to plan, prioritize and manage multiple tasks under pressure and deliver tangible benefits to a team.
• Ability to think strategically and solve everyday problems at the same time.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Management skills, including project planning, budget management and reporting are strongly desired.
Working environment:
Accommodation: The field coordinator will be based in Dori with occasional trips to Ouagadougou.
Security: Dori is at security level 3 and the IRC has put in place a curfew for expatriates. The situation is calm, but there is a risk of terrorist attack and kidnapping.
This position is an unaccompanied position. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.
The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Equality, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.
How to apply
https://rescue.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/34997?c=rescue