Iraq: Senior Area Coordinator - South Central

Requisition ID: req2037

Job Title: Senior Area Coordinator - South Central

Sector: Operations

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: Iraq-Baghdad

Job Description

Background:

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee (www.rescue.org) is a world leader in relief, rehabilitation, protection, post-conflict development, resettlement services and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by violent conflict and oppression or natural disaster.

The IRC has been working in Iraq since 2003 (with a temporary withdrawal in 2006-7). Working in coordination with the humanitarian community, the IRC currently addresses the needs of war-affected populations from several operational bases across Iraq. Our activities focus primarily on the supply of cash assistance and non-food items, legal assistance and counselling and women and children's protection, and form part of an over-arching humanitarian response in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and the region that seeks to assist refugees, IDPs and war-affected people survive conflict and displacement.

Job Overview/Summary

Under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Operations (DDO), the Senior Area Coordinator directly line manages and builds the capacity of the national and international team in the Baghdad office and other field office locations including Ramadi and Tikrit. The Senior Area Coordinator supports and trains managers to ensure understanding of, compliance with, and adherence to all IRC Iraq financial, logistical, HR/Admin, safety and security, and humanitarian access policies and procedures. The Senior Area Coordinator is responsible for overall coordination of the IRC's South Central programming areas in Baghdad and the surrounding governorates. Specific duties and responsibilities are outlined below.

Responsibilities:

Program Support

• Supervise Baghdad-based program staff, providing timely administrative support and ensuring proper coordination of activities across program areas.
• Support Program Coordinators and Managers in the oversight of program quality through regular field visits to areas of operation.
• Ensure a team approach in cooperation between programs and operations to help improve program implementation and quality.
• Work in collaboration with the Deputy Directors to assure appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems are maintained and program implementation is consistently documented and in line with IRC standards.
• Coordinate the execution and collection of operational needs assessments and participate in proposal development processes in cooperation with Deputy Directors and Program staff. This should include contributing to and reviewing budgets to ensure that they are reasonable and sufficient to cover operational needs of the Baghdad office.
• Chair and lead weekly staff meetings including programs, administrative and supply chain staff.
• Review monthly Budget vs. Actuals (BvA) reports and regularly update spending plans with program staff and report significant variances.
• Develop field site spending and procurement plans for operations and program activities.
• Provide and implement best possible solutions for use of equipment to facilitate communication between staff, including here proposing safe alternative means of communication and equipment.

Procurement and Finance

• Supervise Baghdad-based operations, procurement, and finance staff to ensure that all tasks are completed properly and are up-to-date.
• Manage overall coordination of field operational budgets for Baghdad-based grants; liaise closely with the finance and grants staff to monitor cash flow, review BvAs and track program operational spending.
• Ensure that all staff are adhering to IRC policies, procedures and practices and are in compliance with donor and national requirements;
• Work closely with SC and Finance staff to ensure periodic refresher trainings to staff on IRC policies and procedures.

Security Management

• In close coordination with the Sr. Humanitarian Access and Security Coordinator, oversee the day-to-day safety and security of IRC staff, assets and premises (office, field sites, and residences);
• Ensure consistent review and updating of security management plans, safety rules, and security-related presentations for the Baghdad and field office locations when applicable or requested.
• Ensure all staff are briefed on safety protocols in Baghdad and that incidents are reported immediately to senior management.
• Facilitate a healthy dialogue between Security and Program teams to ensure close working relationship with a focus on IRC field programming.

Human Resources

• In coordination with the Human Resources (HR) Lead, ensure that human resources policies and procedures are documented, disseminated and consistently applied in the Baghdad and field office locations.
• Through collaboration with HR staff based in Erbil and program staff, ensure that each team is staffed appropriately according to need and funding availability.
• Provide supportive guidance and supervision to the Baghdad-based and field office Managers. Discuss job expectations, set objectives and provide appropriate and timely feedback regarding performance, including timely implementation of the annual staff performance management system.
• Clearly define the training needs of direct reports and ensure they are able to access training and professional development resources appropriate to their skill gaps/needs.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Carry out regular trainings and refresher trainings on IRC internal policies and procedures to ensure understanding of and compliance with all IRC and donor rules and regulations.
• Develop the capacity of Field Managers to train other operations and program staff on operational, compliance and internal control processes and procedures.
• Lead with commitment, integrity and accountability to the "IRC Way - Global Standards for Professional Conduct".

External Coordination/Representation

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders in Iraq - including community and religious leaders, NGOs, government ministries/authorities and UN agencies, to enhance cooperation and coordination between organizations.
• Coordinate closely with NGO Directorate, Residency Department, Tax Department and other key government bodies to ensure IRC is in good standing and able to operate effectively in Iraq.
• Liaison with other NGO heads of base and coordination bodies to ensure IRC is following best practice and monitoring trends or concerns in the country.
• Facilitate field visits for donors, IRC HQ/technical units, IRC internal staff and other external visitors.
• Represent IRC Iraq in external coordination and policymaking forums and networks, including liaison with donors when necessary.
• Facilitate coordination with the NGO Directorate and ensure all registration requirements are met.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and management competencies
• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths of the security members in field offices
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions
• Approve and manage all time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.
• As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the IRC Global HR Policies and Procedures, and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Deputy Director for Operations (DDO)

Position directly supervises: Program Managers, Operations Managers, and Field Coordinators

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

· Internal: Deputy Director for Programs, Program Coordinators, Grants Coordinator, Senior Humanitarian Access and Security Coordinator.

· External: Key donors, government officials, NGO Directorate, Tax authorities, and partner organizations.

Professional Standards:

All IRC staff are required to adhere to The IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Minimum of 4 years' experience working in a humanitarian and/or development NGO;
• Proven experience as an efficient and effective supervisory manager (including management of people, projects and budgets);
• Solid ability to provide team-building, coaching, and development for staff as well as encourage cross-functional collaboration and cooperation
• Exceptional organizational and coordination skills;
• Strong knowledge of budgeting and familiarity with US and European donors and their rules, requirements and guidelines; Ability to live and work under pressure in an unstable working environment
• Experience and reliability in carrying out safety and security protocols;
• Excellent relationship-building, interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively represent IRC at forums and with donors;
• Strong negotiation skills essential with experience in conflict resolution desirable;
• Fluency in English, especially English language report-writing; Arabic language is a plus.
• Flexibility and sense of humor.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a national of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Iraq Program has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Work Environment

The position will be based in Baghdad, Iraq, and covers all operating areas in south central Iraq. The security situation in Baghdad remains broadly permissive with continued attention paid to the potential for growing instability due to the continual influx of displacement and proximity to insecure areas in other governorates within Iraq.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

Please follow this link to apply: http://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=bmF0YWxpZS5hcGNhci40NjI0NS4zODMwQGlyY2NkLmFwbGl0cmFrLmNvbQ