Area Coordinator – South Kordofan (Sudan) At GOAL

General Description of the Programme:

GOAL has been working in Sudan since 2016. GOAL is currently working directly in South Kordofan States, managed by GOAL offices in these states and in Khartoum. The current GOAL program focuses on following sectors: Primary Health Care, Nutrition, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL).

General Description of the Role

The Area Coordinator for South Kordofan is based in Kadugili/Dilling Area Office and takes overall responsibility for the implementation of all GOAL’s programming in South Kordofan State, including Health, Nutrition, WASH and FSL. The Area Coordinator is also responsible to oversee and provide robust leadership to operation departments: HR, Logistics, Procurement, Security and Finance. The Area Coordinator will potentially oversee 4 sub-offices in addition to the main coordination office in Kadugili/Dilling. The Area Coordinator is also a focal person to coordinate and lead partnership issues with government and other partners within the State.

Overall Objectives of the position:

The Area Coordinator is responsible for all activities in their programme site; this responsibility covers the operational/support functions (Security, Human Resources, Logistics, Finance and Admin) and direct programme activities (Primary Health Care, Nutrition, WASH, Construction and Livelihoods) and includes coordination, programme planning and overseeing the day-to-day operations of senior field staff.

Area Coordinator is also responsible for coordination and communication with state authorities.

To ensure good management of GOAL’s programme activities in the geographical location, the Area Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that the programmes receive the maximum possible level of support from the Operational/Support functions.

This will involve ensuring:

1. Proper planning by the programme departments to ensure programme implementation is in accordance with the donor proposals
2. Good, timely coordination between the different programme departments and Operational/Support functions.
3. An understanding by all parties of the constraints faced by other departments.
4. The efficient performance of the Operational/Support functions.
5. If required, the Area Coordinator has a role to play resolving any conflicts between the different departments.

Key Duties

• Coordination and programme planning of the GOAL teams in South Kordofan
• Oversee day-to-day operations of senior staff
• Lead weekly staff meeting, organize and lead quarterly Area SMT meeting and actively participate in Country SMT meeting presenting keys issues for decisions
• Coordination with the Government, UN and NGOs in the areas;
• Ensure the safety and security of the staff in the area of operation.
• Oversee HR; Finance; Logistics; Procurement and Security Departments;
• External coordination to ensure GOAL’s position is understood and protected;
• Implement other tasks as identified by the CD.

External Coordination

• Relationships with open dialogue and mutual respect should be nurtured with all stakeholders. Meetings should include updates on the planned program direction and understanding the concerns and promoting ownership of the program by the various stakeholders.
• Liaise with partners at state and locality level; attend all appropriate co-ordination meetings and share information regarding projects and security where relevant.
• Ensure good relations with State and local authorities,
• Accompany donor representatives and other official visitors, when requested to by the GOAL Country Director, and provide information as required

Security:

The Area Coordinator is automatically the Security Focal Point for their programme site, and thus responsible for the safety of his / her team and at all times in a position to respond to a security incident.

Overseeing Security in the programme site, including:

• Implementing GOAL’s Security Guidelines and Procedures.
• Periodically review of the site-specific security guidelines.
• Ensure all offices and accommodation meet basic security standards, including fire prevention, lockdown and evacuation procedures
• Ensure that all staff are familiar with GOAL’s Security Guidelines and with the GOAL evacuation plan.
• Provide a security briefing to all staff/visitors arriving into the site for the first time.
• Monitor the security situation and provide regular informant to the CD/ Country Security Advisor of any incidents, changes or adverse conditions affecting staff safety or project operations in the region.
• The Area Coordinator should have regular dialogue with relevant stakeholders in the areas and frequent visit to sub-offices in the State;

Programmes

• Weekly coordination meeting with the programme heads of department, combined with a robust schedule of site visits to ensure that the Area Coordinator (AC) is familiar with the programme activities.
• The AC responsibility is limited in the fact that the technical staff will provide technical direction and support for programme activities. Technical responsibility for the programme activities will always remain with the programme coordinators in the programme site (Health and Nutrition Coordinator, WASH Coordinator etc.);
• The AC must be familiar with the Donor contracts and proposals related to their programme site. They ought to be aware of the different activities and indicators contained in the proposals and on the progress made towards achieving those targets.
• The AC is responsible for ensuring that all visits are successful. This involves receiving a ToR, and discussing the ToR upon arrival of the visitor, and facilitating contact to the relevant staff/etc where necessary. The AC should meet the visitor at the end of the visit to discuss the findings of the visit and any recommendations.
• Monitor and audit payments made for trainings and for distributions.

Logistical

Overseeing the Logistical department in the programme site, to ensure all logistical requirements are provided in a timely and cost-effective manner including:

• On a day-to-day basis managing the Logistics Manager.
• Working with the Logistics Manager to ensure that GOAL’s logistical procedures are always adhered to, reporting any breaches to the Systems Director.
• Coordinating with the Procurement and Logistical Coordinator on issues related to Logistics.
• Ensuring that the Logistics Office provides the required support to programmes.

Personnel

Overseeing HR issues in the programme site, including:

• Implementation of GOAL’s Sudan HR Manual.
• On a day-to-day basis managing the HR Manager.
• Ensure all new hires are properly authorized and contract of employment issued.
• Monitor and approve all R&R and annual leave. Ensure that an annual leave calendar is in place, and followed through
• Review of monthly payroll.
• Coordinating with the HR Coordinator on issues related to HR.
• Ensuring that the HR office provides the required support to programmes.
• Ensure implementation of staff appraisals
• The AC is responsible for ensuring that the day to day living and working conditions in their sites is of an acceptable standard or that plans are in place and being implemented to bring the location up to the required standard.

Financial

Overseeing the Finance department in the programme site, including:

• On a day-to-day basis managing the Finance Manager
• Working with the Finance Field Manager to ensure that GOAL’s Financial Guidelines are adhered to at all times, reporting any breaches to the Financial Controller/CD.
• Monthly review of spending and forecasting
• Weekly cash counts.
• Review of Cash book for reasonability of expenditure.
• Review of financial paperwork to ensure all transactions are properly authorized and that all the requited supporting documentation is on file.
• Coordinating with the Financial Controller and/or Donor Compliance Officer.
• Ensuring that the Finance office provides the required support to programmes.

Requirements

• Advanced University Degree in Management, Health, Water or Civil Engineering, Social Sciences, or related fields
• A minimum of 4 years international practical working experience in programme and operation management, work in development or humanitarian context.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills with a wide range of audiences, able to translate complex information and technical detail into simple understandable language, and to develop relationships with key stakeholders.
• Experience of building, working within, and managing budgets.
• Ability to work under pressure and with minimum supervision.
• Good working knowledge of English, oral and written.
• Experience in volatile security environment
• Experience in programme management
• Good interpersonal and motivational skills
• Flexible/motivated
• Experience liaising with governmental / local authorities and other NGO’s
• Experience in managing staff safety and security
• Very Good Logistics and Finance/Admin background
• Very good Program designing and implementation cycle knowledge and experience
• Strong field experience in coping up with the challenges that come with far and remote project implementation areas with limited opportunities for social activities.