Head of Office - Sanaa

Job Description

The IRC Yemen began its programs in October 2012. Currently IRC Yemen is operating in eight governorates in Yemen through direct programming and through local partnerships in Health, WASH, Nutrition, Economic Recovery Development, Education, Child Protection, and Women’s Empowerment.

Scope of work

Under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Operations, the Head of Office, based in Sana’a, will be responsible for all representation, external relationship management, and access aspects of program implementation for IRC’s activities Yemen. The Head of Office will be responsible for strategic engagement and establishing effective relationships with local and national authorities and other stakeholders to facilitate the timely and effective delivery of IRC programs.

The Head of Office will directly manage the Government Liaison department and work internally in close coordination with technical program coordinators, the Grants and Accountability team, the Humanitarian Access and Security Department, Field Managers and the Roving Field Coordinator. S/he will be an external representative of IRC and lead strategic engagement with authorities, UN agencies, and other NGOs.

The Head of Office will directly supervise IRC’s two Government Liaison Managers in Yemen and ensure programs have acquired the required operational access for the timely execution of program implementation and expansion plans. The Head of Office will be based in Sana’a with regular travel to all IRC program field sites as required.

Job responsibilities:

Representation and Coordination

• Externally represent IRC and lead strategic engagement with authorities, UN agencies, and other NGOs in Sana’a, in close coordination with the Senior Management Team based in Aden.

• Ensure IRC is consistently represented at coordination meetings, including the Humanitarian Access Working Group, and is maintaining relevant bilateral relationships at the central and governorate level, and that information from these meetings is shared with relevant stakeholders. This includes tracking and documenting similar meetings attended by other IRC staff to be shared with the Senior Management Team (SMT).

• Review IRC Government Engagement and Liaison SOP and update as necessary in close coordination with SMT

• Ensure IRC engagement protocol, and strategy with key stakeholders and actors in Yemen is implemented

• Build and maintain relationships with key line ministries and decision-makers at the central level in Sana’a and Aden,

• Promote IRC’s work and expand IRC’s profile to relevant government stakeholders particularly with SCMCHA/MOPIC, the Ministry of Public Health and Population and Executive Unit

• Ensure full compliance with statutory and technical legislation issued by appropriate government authorities, including engaging with relevant IRC colleagues to secure and submit required documentation in a timely manner.

• Support Field Managers and Roving Field Coordinator in organize annual workshops for field counterparts and authorities at all field locations to increase their awareness of IRC’s achievements, current and future projects and enhance acceptance..

• Lead in securing the necessary legal papers (Project Sub-Agreement and Principal Agreements) in time and followed the procedures with authorities in Yemen.

• Develop methodologies to improve the liaison process including best practices and new developments affecting the IRC as humanitarian actor, with coordination and support from IRC’s global access team.

• Ensure senior IRC staff are aware of and understand any concerns of government officials regarding IRC’s operations, and that such concerns are factored into IRC’s communication strategy and programming.

• Ensure all correspondence with the government including the Sub-agreements, principal Agreements and other are in line with IRC policies and records are retained in organized manner.

• Participate in grants opening meetings to understand the concept of the respective program.

Access, Field Management, and Program Support,

• Coordinate reporting requirements of central level authorities are completed, with the requisite inputs from Field Managers and in close coordination with program leaders and the Government Liaison team.

• Advise the SMT on authorities’ programmatic and geographic priorities for humanitarian assistance; advise on possible areas of alignment with the country program’s Strategy Action Plan.

• Maintain a sound understanding of IRC programs, sector strategies, and activity plans.

• Supports Field Managers and field HAS team to manage day-to-day access issues and to escalate to the appropriate central-level authorities as needed.

• Advise/guide the field management and HAS team on safe access and travel to field locations based on local government/authorities’ administrative requirements.

• Closely monitors events and developments in current and potential operational areas (humanitarian situation, politics, and security, etc.) in order to provide regular context updates to SMT that would have impact on government engagement.

• Other tasks related to field operations and coordination

Human Resources and Staff Development

• Ensure understanding of and adherence to humanitarian principles and IRC guidance among all staff.

• Provides a measurable capacity building plan on negotiation, access and engagement including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity and proactive engagement to enhance IRC’s acceptance at the authority and community level.

• Promotes team spirit, cohesion, respect, and the IRC Way: Standards for Professional Conduct among all field staff in close cooperation with HR department.

• Approves and manages all time, attendance and leave requests for Government Liaison team to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensures monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carries out probationary reviews.

Qualifications & experience required:

• Excellent professional track record with 6+ years of international experience in a leadership and coordination role with significant management responsibility

• Extensive experience supporting and/or managing humanitarian programs in a conflict/post-conflict environment required, including prior experience building relationships with authorities

• Excellent interpersonal, coordination, networking and negotiation skills.

• Strong understanding of humanitarian principles, particular those related to access, and experience with their practical application in conflict environments.

• Excellent organizational and management skills, including experience coaching and managing staff, developing and implementing work plans and budgets.

• Strong cross-cultural communication skills and comfortable working as part of a diverse team. Sensitive to interpersonal differences and a range of viewpoints.

• Excellent problem-solving skills and demonstrated ability to deliver program objectives under pressure.

• Good security management skills, preferably in active -conflict environments.

• Highly resilient and comfortable working in insecure settings with restricted personal freedoms.

• Fluency in English. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Working knowledge of Arabic strongly preferred.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in The IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances

Work Environment: There is active conflict in parts of the country and a possibility of the conflict expanding into other locations. The situation in Yemen is currently quiet but remains unpredictable. Security will be thoroughly discussed during the interview process.

Housing: Lodging in Sana’a and Aden in shared IRC guesthouse. All IRC sites have electricity and internet. Food is the individual’s responsibility.

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

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Qualifications