Area Manager – UKRAINE At Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion

Handicap International/Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is an independent and impartial international solidarity organization, which intervenes in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflicts and disasters. Working alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, it acts and speaks out to meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights. More info: www.hi.org

At Handicap International-Humanity & Inclusion, we truly believe in the importance of inclusion and diversity within our organisation. This is why we are engaged to a disability policy to encourage the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities.

Please indicate if you require any special accommodation, even at the first interview.

JOB CONTEXT:

Since the beginning of the war, HI has set up a two-country program covering Ukraine and Moldova. Aligning itself with the priorities of the Ukraine Flash Appeal and Regional Refugee Response Plan, HI pillars of interventions are :

Health: HI aims to improve access to quality physical rehabilitation and mental health and psychosocial services (MHPSS) for conflict-affected vulnerable population.
Protection: Given the scale of humanitarian and protection needs, HI intervenes at various levels to ensure that vulnerable conflict-affected populations have access to multi-sectoral services tailored to their needs. In addition, HI aims to foster a disability-inclusive humanitarian response.
Armed Violence Reduction: Recent and ongoing attacks dangerously exacerbated Explosive Ordnance (EO) contamination in Ukraine. In light of this, HI is conducting a multi-pronged approach to EO Risk Education and Conflict Preparedness and Protection (CPP), adaptable to the evolution of the conflict.
Basic needs: to respond to the most acute needs for displaced households hosted by the local population or living in collective settings, HI is providing hygiene and non-food item kits, with an approach various modalities of intervention including in-kind and/or cash-based transfers.
Humanitarian-to-humanitarian logistics (ATLAS Logistique): To facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance as close as possible to the most affected populations, HI proposes mutualized storage and transportation services to other humanitarian actors – with a specific focus on “last-mile transportation”.

HI has 3 hubs, one in the East (based in Dnipro with sub bases in Kharkiv and Poltava), one in the West (based in Lviv), one in the South East (based in Mikolaiv) and the coordination is in Kyiv.

YOUR MISSION:

Under the responsibility of the Program Director, you, as the Area Manager, contribute within the country where you are based to the implementation of the mandate and the 10-year strategy of Handicap International. You ensure optimal quality and impact of the projects implemented in the country, through a delegation system with appropriate control mechanisms.
You share with all HI managers the responsibility of a sound management and successful functioning of the global organization, through paradigm chain.
Your priorities will be to

Structure the base in terms of means and process (teams, premises, coordination etc.)
Launch and develop emergency intervention in geographical perimeter while taking into consideration contextual changes

In this framework, your main missions are:
Mission 1: Management

Mission 2: Strategy and steering

Contribute to the development of the programme operational strategy, and to its implementation and annual monitoring
Implement the project part of the Programme’s Operational Strategy

Mission 3 : Standards and expertise

Mission 4: Operational implementation

Ensure the sound management and monitoring of projects under his/her responsibility
Keeping both potential opportunities and risks in mind, contribute to the monitoring and analysis done by the line manager, and propose mitigation measures where relevant
Develop HI’s external influence (forums, operational and strategic alliances, etc.) and the external representation of the organization (events, media) in his/her area of responsibility.
Coordinate the teams in his/her area
Support the Director/Country Manager in monitoring security in their area and ensure adequate resources according to the context

Mission 5: Emergency Preparedness and Response

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION:

The security situation in Ukraine remains relatively stable, although there are frequent days and nights of air alerts. However, markets, restaurants and cafes are open, and life continues as normal. There is a strict curfew, the hours depend on the region (in Kharkiv it is currently from 23:00 to 5:00). Due to the proximity with Russian border, the presence of active frontline in the oblast, and the current development of the war, regular attacks are recorded in the oblast and sometimes explosions can be heard also in the suburbs of Kharkiv city. Updated Security and Contingency plans are available for the Hub.

In Kharkiv, HI has no guesthouse for now and therefore the Area Manager will be temporarily accommodated in hotel (validated by HASM) meanwhile a guesthouse is identified. All identified hotels in Kharkiv have shelter inside the building or rooms are directly on the underground floor. For now, the Area Manager would be the only international staff residing in Kharkiv, but the situation may evolve depending on operational needs and future fundings.

Movements between sites can be made by car (Hi drivers) or by train, depending of the region and time.

YOUR PROFILE:

You hold a degree in a field related to the job (humanitarian, Sciences Po, etc.)
You have at least 3 years of professional experience in Area/Field/project management in challenging humanitarian contexts.
You have a proven experience in managerial and security management experience.
You have experiences on donor relations, external relations, fundraising and strategic positioning.
You know how design and coordinate of complex emergency interventions.
You have strong and solid management and communication skills.
You are fluent English (oral and written)
You show strong organizational skills, you are autonomous and reactive.