Deputy Country Director - North East at Action Against Hunger | ACF-International

Action Against Hunger works to save lives by combating hunger and diseases that threaten the lives of vulnerable communities, through nutrition, food security, water and sanitation, health and advocacy.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Deputy Country Director - North East Program

Location: Borno

The Job

• We are looking for a highly skilled, creative Deputy Country Director, to oversee the appropriate implementation of Program Portfolio and Action Against Hunger systems and procedures are in place.

About the program

• Action Against Hunger has been operational in Nigeria since 2010 responding to both chronic and acute needs through a multi-sector strategy where nutrition, Food Security and Livelihoods and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene activities are integrated to have a meaningful impact on people’s resilience.
• The main objectives of the country program are 1/ to continue building on Action Against Hunger’s reputation for nutritional expertise to deliver integrated nutrition, WASH and FSL assistance in the high caseload Northern Nigeria States and build evidence from out pilot projects to influence policy makers to find long lasting solution to undernutrition and hunger and 2/ responding to the dire humanitarian situation created by the devastating conflict on-going in the North East while applying, where possible, attempts to find durable solutions in line with the New ways of Working and Humanitarian Development Nexus.
• With a central office in Abuja and 3 main field office across the North, Action Against Hunger runs intervention in 3 States of Northern Nigeria including two States affected by the on-going conflict. We have a country team of around 550 staff (45 international) and a budget for 2018 projected at 50 M US$. Our main donors and partners in Nigeria include USAID/OFDA&FFP, DFID, ECHO, EU EDF, AFD, UNICEF, SIDA, SDC and GAC.

How you will contribute
You'll contribute to ending world hunger by:

• Playing a key role in coordinating technical country strategy and support provision of operational management and integration of all technical areas.

Key Activities
Program Management:

• Ensure that North East program Portfolio is in line with the Country Strategy and Action Against Hunger's vision.
• Contribute with senior staff to generate viable projects in line with Country Strategy.
• Control that systems, tools and resources are in place to guarantee that projects: are planned and implemented based on sound analysis, are in line with Action Against Hunger Programming Principles, are consistent with Action Against Hunger's standards for program quality and Action Against Hunger technical positioning.
• Monitor the Action Against Hunger North East Nigeria structure and North East program portfolio financial position, and ensure the best use of available resources in coordination with the Senior Management Team.
• Ensure that appropriate policies, procedures and systems for HR, finance and logistic are in place and functioning throughout the mission.
• Control that adequate internal controls are in place to protect the financial and non-monetary assets and that the resources are used in accordance with donor terms and conditions.
• Control that appropriate financial and logistic reporting systems are in place to meet both internal needs and external requirements.
• Ensure mission has appropriate team structures in place as well as regular review according to projected program needs.
• Ensure levels of authority and responsibility are clearly defined; propose any change to the Senior Management team for review.
• Control that strong HR strategies, systems, policies and processes are in place and monitored.
• Proactively refer to Senior Management Team for any risk that could jeopardize the programs, the funding or the security of staff and premises.
• Ensure field teams proactively expresses relevant demands of support to Senior Management Team in order to maximize operational efficiency and impact.
• Verify that various deadlines set by Senior Management Team are respected.
• Pilot the follow-up on Senior Management Team’s recommendations.
• Generally speaking, be a facilitator between the field and Senior Management Team.
• Ensure the strict implementation of Action Against Hunger project managements monitoring tools (including Detailed Project Implementation Plans, Activity Progress Reports, Budget and Supply Follow-up, etc.), respect of reporting requirement (internal and external) and their regular update by project team as per Project Management and reporting deadlines.
• Ensure regular review of project implementation based on project management tools, follow up on recommendation provided by the various support and control departments and that end of projects and future programing needs are anticipated and acted upon timely.
• Verify that proper monitoring and evaluation systems are in place to demonstrate impact of Action Against Hunger’s North East program and that learning is incorporated to ensure ongoing improvements.
• Ensure risks associated with programming and specific projects are reviewed regularly, allocated to relevant stakeholders for follow up and mobilize support from Senior Management Team members when needed to ensure proper management / resolution.
• Pilot the follow-up on internal and external audit recommendations.

External Relations and Partnerships:

• Establish and maintain good relationships with relevant – counterparts/departments of the government, the locally-represented multi/bi-lateral donors, UN agencies, foundations, international and national NGOs and civil society organizations.
• Support and work effectively in coalitions and networks in the respect of principles of equality, transparency, result oriented approach and complementarities.
• Ensure cordial media relations and act as Action Against Hunger spokesperson as required by delegation from the Country Director.

Security Management:

• Ensure North East Nigeria has a security plan in place in line with Action Against Hunger standards.
• Control that security plan is properly followed and respected.
• Lead the preparation, regular updating and implementation of the security plan in line with Action Against Hunger standards and procedures.
• Undertake security networking at all levels.
• Analyze the information gathered and provide risk and context analysis.
• Be responsible for the management and oversight of security of all staff and visitors in North East Nigeria.
• Pilot the follow-up on security internal and external audit recommendations.

Resources Management:

• Monitor the Action Against Hunger North East Nigeria structure and North East program portfolio financial position, and ensure the best use of available resources in coordination with the SMT.
• Ensure that appropriate policies, procedures and systems for HR, finance and logistic are in place and functioning throughout the mission.
• Control that adequate internal controls are in place to protect the financial and non-monetary assets and that the resources are used in accordance with donor terms and conditions.
• Control that appropriate financial and logistic reporting systems are in place to meet both internal needs and external requirements.
• Ensure mission has appropriate team structures in place as well as regular review according to projected program needs.
• Ensure levels of authority and responsibility are clearly defined; propose any change to the Senior Management team for review.
• Control that strong HR strategies, systems, policies and processes are in place and monitored.
• Proactively refer to Senior Management Team for any risk that could jeopardize the programs, the funding or the security of staff and premises.
• Ensure field teams proactively expresses relevant demands of support to Senior Management Team in order to maximize operational efficiency and impact.
• Verify that various deadlines set by Senior Management Team are respected.
• Pilot the follow-up on Senior Management Team’s recommendations.
• Generally speaking, be a facilitator between the field and Senior Management Team.

Working Relationships with Senior Management Team:

• Proactively refer to Senior Management Team for any risk that could jeopardize the programs, the funding or the security of staff and premises.
• Ensure field teams proactively expresses relevant demands of support to Senior Management Team in order to maximize operational efficiency and impact.
• Verify that various deadlines set by Senior Management Team are respected.
• Pilot the follow-up on Senior Management Team’s recommendations.
• Generally speaking, be a facilitator between the field and Senior Management Team.

Requirements

• A Bachelor degree in International Development, Political or Social Science, Economics, Business Administration or related field. (Master’s Degree Preferred).
• At least 8 years of work experience preferably in humanitarian or development work with at least 3 years of experience in management.
• Significant experience with INGOs. Previous experience with ACF in emergency and post-emergencies an asset.
• Excellent management skills (HR, projects, stress management).
• Advanced knowledge of donors’ guidelines and procedures (ECHO, UNICEF, DFID, OFDA, etc.).
• Ability to organize, train and motivate a multicultural team.
• Excellent diplomatic and negotiation skills.
• Disciplined and able to work and arrive at decisions autonomously with minimal guidance.
• Fluent in English (professional English needed).
• Excellent drafting and written skills.

Our Core values.

• In this position, you are expected to demonstrate Action Against Hunger-USA-USA’s five core competencies
• Respect- we work with compassion and dedication, treating everyone the same way we expect them to treat us.
• Integrity-: we believe that being honest and fair is integral to every aspect of our work; conducting our work with a spirit of sincerity, truthfulness and transparency is imperative.
• Creativity-we encourage new ideas, embrace innovative solutions, and create opportunities for meaningful and exciting ways to do our jobs and provide solutions to address the needs of the populations we serve.
• Excellence- we strive to provide services that meet, and even exceed, the expectations of our stakeholders (populations in need, staff, communities and donors).
• Empowerment- we are committed to fostering an environment in which our staff, partners and communities where we work have the space to grow, develop and feel confident about participating.

Benefits
Action Against Hunger-USA values its employees and offers a comprehensive remuneration and benefits package. These include but are not limited to:

• Health Insurance
• R&R Breaks
• Paid annual leave (vacation)
• Training opportunities

Application Closing Date
23rd May, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online