YEMEN – HR COORDINATOR (H/F) – ADEN At Solidarités International

Desired start date: 15^th September 2021

Duration of the mission: 6 months (renewable)

Location: Position based in Aden

ABOUT THE MISSION

SI opened its mission in Yemen in 2017, establishing its coordination in Aden. With the support of the Emergency DESK, SI mission was able to quickly acquire operational capacity, which was first deployed in Lahj Governorate, for implementation of WASH and Food Security Programming. Over the course of 2018, SI expanded the geographical scope of its intervention, and established presence in Al Turbah and Al Mokha in Taizz Governorate. With the opening of Al Mokha base late 2018, SI was one of the first humanitarian actors to start operations on the “West Coast”, which are now covering the southern districts of Hodeidah Governorate, close to one of the main frontlines of the conflict. In Al Turbah, SI is now looking at expanding its programming to recovery-type of projects, as well as its outreach to the city of Taizz, which after Hodeidah has been the second main frontline of the war.

For the year 2021/2022; the mission has a forecasted budget of about 12.5M Euros. It operates from Aden, where the coordination is based, and 2 operational field bases located in Al Turbah and Al Mokha. The mission is composed of 20 expatriates and more than 120 national staffs, and is funded by BHA, CDC, YHPF, DutchMoFA, SDC and ECHO. SI Programming in Yemen focuses on addressing immediate food needs of communities at risk of famine, as well as providing timely response to displacements of population and AWD/Cholera outbreaks. Its portfolio is primarily composed of WASH Emergency projects, along with unconditional cash distribution but is developing recovery and resilience programming in both Wash and food security sectors.

ABOUT THE JOB

SI is looking for a proactive and intuitive collaborator able to lead Human Resources operations for a young but evolving mission, in highly volatile environment.

The Human Resources coordinator will coordinate all Human Resource services associated with the mission and lead the implementation of a mission strategy on capacity building.

The HR coordinator coordinates the implementation of Solidarités International Human Resources policy.

As HR Coordinator he/she is responsible for the administrative aspects of the mission and ensures the respect by all of Solidarités International procedures, the procedures of financial backers and the laws of the country in which SI is intervening.

He/she is the mission point of contact and the link between headquarters and the mission for any questions relating to Human Resources.

SPECIFIC STAKES AND CHALLENGES

• Support the transition of the mission to a more sustainable organizational structure with less reliance on expatriate positions. Work with the management team to identify key positions for nationalization and support the overall capacity building of national staff.

Due to context and very high inflation rate there is a need to track the changes in the cost of living and the work market

• Support the stabilization of the mission after a significant period of growth, reinforce HR policy implementation and adapt to evolving context.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• In partnership with the administrators define the needs for HR administrative personnel on the mission and recruit in accordance with the allocated resources and Solidarités International operational strategy
• Train and empower the HR administrative team
• Coordinate, schedule and supervise the activity of the HR administrative team
• Lead meetings of the HR administrative team

ANALYSIS OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT

• Identify administrative partners relevant to HR
• Track the change in the cost of living and the work market
• Study the social, cultural and ethnic organization and the values and customs of the country in which Solidarités International is intervening
• Study demographic elements, socio-professional make-up and HDI of the intervention country

HR MANAGEMENT OF EXPATRIATES AND NATIONALS

• Ensure that HR procedures and staff behavior are compatible with local culture, paying particular attention to gender issues
• Ensure that recruitment and hiring procedures are respected: validate the mission’s recruitment needs, post profiles and contracts
• Drive the implementation and improvement of Solidarités International training policy and monitor staff development
• In partnership with headquarters and the head of mission take part in defining Solidarités International salary and social policies and implement these policies. Evaluate risks linked to changes in compensation and social policies
• Promote the establishment of legal bodies of representation and consultation of personnel on the bases and support the management and settlement of conflicts
• Oversee the administrative management of expatriate human resources

PRIORITIES FOR THE 2/3 FIRST MONTHS

• Follow up of all departments’ HR set up, specific recruitment and nationalization processes at base and coordination level.
• Follow up on finalization/implementation of capacity building strategy/policy, support managers and bases in the development of annual training plans. Ensure that capacity building is a shared responsibility among all manager/coordinator positions and included as a component of each manager’s action plan.
• Monitor implementation of recently reviewed HR policies (new health insurance, Daily Worker Policy & Function Grid, Attractiveness Policy, Social Dialog etc)

MANAGEMENT

The Human Resource Coordinator manages one Coordinator Assistant + one Liaison Officer at coordination office. He/she is the functional manager of the Administrative/HR Managers of Field bases (currently 3 operational bases).

YOUR PROFILE

Education and experience

• Diploma in Human Resources management.
• Previous experience in administrative/ Human Resource management for an international NGO (at least two years).
• Previous experience in unstable environment (conflict / post conflict country)
• Experience of team management
• Experience of Human Resource and Administration management
• Strong experience in capacity building

Knowledge and technical skills

• Knowledge of Homere software
• Knowledge of Solidarites rules, tools and procedures
• Good and proven writing and spoken English are required
• Arabic and/or French speaking is an asset

Transferable skills

• Good analytical and writing/editing skills
• Good communication and diplomatic skills
• Good organization skill
• Capacity to work under pressure in a tense security environment
• Good pedagogical skills
• Knowledge and experience of the Yemen or Middle-eastern countries appreciated

Qualities:

• Multi-project support experience
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Skill transfer ability highly appreciated
• Anticipation and self-organization capacities
• Great work and stress management capacities
• Willingness to work in complex and volatile environments

SI WILL OFFER YOU

A SALARIED POSITION: starting from 2640 euros gross per month (2400 € + 10% annual leave allowance paid monthly) and a monthly per diem of 750 USD a month. Please note that salary is not negotiable with SI.

VACATION: During the assignment, a system of alternation between work and time-off is implemented at the rate of one break after two months spent on the field. For a one-year assignment, the expatriate will have a 5 working days break during the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th months (with 850 USD allocated by Solidarités).

SOCIAL AND MEDICAL COVER: Expatriates benefit from an insurance package which reimburses all healthcare expenses (including medical and surgical expenses, dental care and ophthalmological expenses, repatriation) and a welfare system including war risks. Essential vaccination and antimalarial treatment costs are refunded.

SECURITY AND LIVING CONDITIONS

The situation in terms of security remains volatile in Aden, linked to the political tensions and presence of several armed groups competing over the control of the city. In the context of Aden however, INGOs are not a direct target. Main risks for INGOs in Aden relate to crossfire (wrong location at the wrong moment), crowd mob and road accidents. To mitigate these risks, SI has developed strict security rules that the applicant needs to be ready to abide to.

KEY INFORMATION ABOUT LIVING CONDITIONS

The coordination office in Aden is shared with the guesthouse (same building). Security rules in Aden are rather restrictive, with a curfew at 8 pm, extended to 9 pm in the area where most INGOs are located. Expatriates are allowed to go to the supermarket, one restaurant, and two beaches (including one reachable by boat). Guesthouse is comfortable as per middle-east standards (large rooms with AC, good-standard bathrooms with running water). A gym and rest area have recently been built on the roof of the Guesthouse to improve expatriates’ living conditions (a pool table, darts game, and a baby-foot are available in the Guesthouse). In recent years, the number of international staff has increased in Aden, allowing for regular social gathering.