REACH Senior Field Officer at REACH International

REACH was born in 2010 as a joint initiative of two INGOs (IMPACT Initiatives and ACTED) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Field (UNITAR) Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT). REACH’s purpose is to promote and facilitate the development of information products that enhance the humanitarian community’s decision making and planning capacity for emergency, reconstruction and development contexts, supporting and working within the framework of the humanitarian reform process.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: REACH Senior Field Manager 

Locations: Monguno or Gwoza, with up to 75% travel
Position to start: 4th quarter 2018
Contract duration: 6 months

Context / Country
The crisis in North-East Nigeria is now in its 9th year, with 1.88 million people displaced across the three states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa. Borno state hosts the largest proportion of these (1.4 million people). Major operations by NAF and counter offensives by AOGs have increased through the 2nd quarter of 2018, leading to the displacement of 59,567 individuals between DTM rounds 22 and 23 (April - June 2018). In Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States, Kukawa, Monguno, Mafa, Dikwa, Bama, Gwoza, Damboa, Gujba, Tarmwa, Maiha, Nusman, Song, Yola South and Fufore LGAs have all seen significant increases in the number of IDPs in accessible areas who are primarily originating from Hard to Reach (H2R) areas. While there is a considerable amount of information related to the needs and conditions of IDPs (as well as returnees and non-displaced populations, thanks in part to the ongoing efforts of REACH) in these accessible areas, despite the availability of information sources – the recently displaced populations themselves – there is an evident lack of information on populations remaining in H2R areas.

UNOCHA estimates that 820,000 individuals remain isolated in areas inaccessible to the humanitarian response and with limited access to basic services such as health care and education. Specific conditions and needs of the population in hard to reach settlements remain unknown, and population figures, well as demographic composition and status (non-displaced, IDP, returnee), are formulated with little actual knowledge of the situation.

In recognition of the urgent need for data in further areas of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, REACH intends to expand data collection in secure locations of Maiduguri, Monguno, Kukawa, Pulka, Mafa, Bama, Dikwa, Ngala, Damasak, Rann, Banki, Gwoza, Mubi and Gujuba in 2018. Through an H2R assessment approach, REACH will provide regular, reliable indicative tracking of humanitarian needs over time, to support in prioritization and identification of “hot-spot” areas witnessing a deterioration of humanitarian needs. To ensure this data is directly informing humanitarian response planning, data will be shared through formal coordination structures, such as OCHA, the OISWG, and relevant clusters, with feedback from partners used for both triangulations of gathered data as well as to inform research design and geographical targeting.

Chain of Command
Under the authority of:

• In country: ACTED Country Director
• In country: REACH Regional Representative
• In country: REACH Assessment Officer
• In country: REACH Field Manager

Responsible for:

• Their own activities
• National staff
• Enumerators

Working Relations
Internal Relations:

• REACH Regional Representative
• REACH (Senior) GIS/Assessment Officers
• REACH (Senior) Field Officers
• REACH Field Assistants
• REACH Database Specialist

External Relations:

• Local authorities
• Humanitarian partners
• Functions

Summary
The REACH Senior Field Officer shall be responsible for:

• Leading of field teams
• Data management
• Research and analysis
• Logistics management
• External relations support
• Any other tasks need to ensure the success of the REACH mission in Nigeria

Leading of field teams

• The REACH Senior Field Officer will lead field teams comprised of Field Officers, Field Assistants, and teams of enumerators up to 10 individuals. They will directly manage Field Officers, Field Assistants and their enumeration teams and be responsible for managing data collection activities and guiding the teams through REACH standard weekly meetings and workplans. They will support the REACH Assessment/ GIS Officers/Field Manager as needed, and are the key focal point for reporting and communicating field team progress.

Data Management:

• The REACH Senior Field Officer will manage quantitative and qualitative data collected by the REACH field team. They will support and manage data cleaning, ensure datasets are properly stored onto the Dropbox server, and enter textual data into spreadsheets or databases for easier tracking and analysis as necessary. They will ensure qualitative data collected is properly transcribed and stored onto the Dropbox server.

Research and Analysis:

• The REACH Senior Field Officer will be responsible for conducting analyses on the quantitative and qualitative data collected by their field teams and help provide a synthesized understanding of needs and conditions in their H2R areas of focus. They will conduct other analysis tasks as required by the REACH Assessment/GIS Officer/Field Manager.

Logistics Management:

• The REACH Senior Field Officer will be responsible for logistics for their field teams during data collection activities by coordinating vehicle transport, accommodation, and the team’s schedule. They will provide workplans and schedules as necessary to the REACH Assessment/GIS Officer/Field Manager, and are responsible for coordinating all of their activities with these same people. They will also provide support in organizing movement of REACH teams to and from field locations and identifying accommodations and office space.

External Relations Support:

• The REACH Senior Field Officer will be the primary face of REACH in the field, representing REACH with partners and liaising with appropriate government authorities to ensure REACH can conduct activities as needed. They are responsible for properly representing REACH in all interactions and managing the external interactions of Field Officers and Field Assistants. They are responsible for developing and maintaining contacts in their field locations who can both assist REACH data collection efforts and benefit from receiving REACH products.

Other Tasks

• The REACH Senior Field Officer will participate in other, undefined tasks that are necessary to support the REACH mission in Nigeria.
• Accountability to Communities and Beneficiaries
• The staff member is responsible for ensuring that all relations with the communities we work are conducted in a respectful and consultative manner. Due attention must be paid to ensuring that communities are adequately consulted and informed about ACTED programme objectives, activities, beneficiary selection criteria, and methodologies.
• They will also be responsible with printing and delivering REACH products directly to those providing REACH with the data. This is the responsibility of every ACTED staff member.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of progressively more responsible experience in humanitarian or development organizations, preferably in a field-based position
• Willingness and ability to work in a dynamic and fast-paced field environment for extended periods of the time required
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline (social science, development) required
• Strong skills with the Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong technical writing skills
• Excellent experience using ODK for quantitative data collection
• Some experience creating ODK questionnaires, or ability to learn rapidly
• Considerable experience hiring and managing casual laborers
• Considerable experience guiding and managing field teams
• Considerable experience conducting and transcribing focus group discussions
• Positive attitude and a willingness to learn
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment requiring flexibility
• Prior experience working in IDP settlements an asset
• Written and spoken fluency in English and Hausa required
• Ability to work independently

Application Closing Date
27th September, 2018.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click Here to Start Application

Click here for more Information on Reach International

NOTE

• Provide contact details (name, position, email address and tel. no.) of 3 professional non-related references, whereas 1 must be for the latest employer. Please do not attach any written recommendations.
• Only motivated applications that address the stipulated duties and meet the required qualifications, will be considered. Please note: The position title and location must be written in the subject line of the e-mail otherwise not considered. REACH considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, colour, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability.
• Due to the large numbers of expected applicants REACH will only inform shortlisted candidates. We apologise for the inconvenience.Only short-listed applicants will be invited for written test and oral interview.