Reference number: Rec/036/22

Introduction

CORDAID is a Dutch, international non-governmental organization which combines 100 years of experience and expertise in emergency aid and structural poverty eradication. CORDAID believes in a world without poverty and exclusion. We strive for a just and sustainable society where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion tear up societies, we connect people and communities. We also stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders, to make a difference where it is most needed. Together with more than 600 partner organizations in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America we structurally improve the living conditions of the poorest and most excluded populations – the bottom billion.

Purpose of the position/Job’s aim

The Regional Field Programs Manager position is responsible for organizing programs and activities for our organization. He/She will be tasked with developing programs to support the organization’s strategic direction, as well as creating and managing long term goals. He/She will also be in charge of developing budgets and operating plans for programs and writing program funding proposals. He/She will ensure that all projects in Somali Region are implemented based on the project proposals and agreement according to Cordaid’s project-based working principles, procedures, and approach. He/She leads Cordaid’s efforts to effectively implement interventions for life-saving and immediate recovery aid measures and diversifying livelihoods and building resilience of target beneficiaries. He/she is responsible for the planning, direct implementation and supervision, coordination, and reporting of all the project activities; provision of capacity building training and technical assistance to the beneficiaries, community-based organizations (CBOs) and government sector offices; monitoring and tracking progress, providing ongoing feedback, and proposing adjustments to monthly, quarterly and annual implementation plans according to emerging needs and priorities. He/she establishes and maintains close working relationship to ensure active participation of individuals, CBOs, government sector offices, privet sectors, UN agencies, and NGO stakeholders in implementing and monitoring the project; document and share potential promising practices/good practices and lessons learned that have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of the target beneficiaries. He/she supervise and provide technical assistances, guidance and direction to the Project Officers, target groups and grassroots organizations so that they improve performance, ensures the quality of the project work, achieve intended results, and ensure sustainability of the interventions.

Responsibilities and Accountability

Project Implementation and Management

• Organizing programs & activities in accordance with the mission and goals of the organization;
• Creating and managing long-term goals for programs in the Somali Region;
• Writing program funding proposals to guarantee uninterrupted delivery of services;
• Managing a team with a diverse array of talents and responsibilities;
• Ensuring goals are met in areas including customer satisfaction, safety, quality, and team member performance;
• Implementing and managing changes and interventions to ensure project goals are achieved;
• Meeting with stakeholders to make communication easy and transparent regarding project issues and decisions on services;
• Producing accurate and timely reporting of program status throughout its life cycle;
• Analysing program risks;
• Working on strategy with the marketing team;
• Serves as the frontline person that stimulates action, liaises with the government, private sector, UN, and NGO partners and facilitates the delivery of project interventions in the assigned area/s;
• Responsible for mobilizing, activating, and strengthening community groups to manage and sustain project initiatives;
• Ensures that all project interventions are carried out with full participation of community, CBOs, government sector offices, privet sectors, UN agencies, NGO, and other stakeholders;
• Ensures that Project Officers develops realistic and strategically focused annual project implementation plans which encompass existing commitments to donors and government;
• Ensures that all Project Officers prepare regular work plan, monthly and quarterly of field activities progress review, compile and submit to the immediate supervisor (him/her) on time;
• Develops detailed implementation plans (DIP);
• Support Project Officers in day-to-day implementation of the project’s activities;
• Provides ongoing feedback to project activities and propose adjustments in annual implementation plans according to emerging needs and priorities;
• Support Cordaid Ethiopia Project Manager (s) in day-to-day decision making as requested;
• Ensure complete and timely reporting of activities to Cordaid Ethiopia project lead (s), government, and any other relevant bodies.

Quality Management

• Promote and use Cordaid project based working procedures, ensuring that all standardized formats are used, and guidelines are followed;
• Ensure projects are implemented in line with donor proposals and requirements and in accordance with Cordaid, donor, country, and international standards e.g., Sphere and HAP standards, WHO recommendations;
• Provides technical assistance to the Project Officers, target beneficiaries, CBOs, government sector offices, private sectors, and counterparts as required;
• Regularly assess and provide feedback and recommendations on the quality of the projects and other designated project(s) and interventions during field visits and at other relevant times.

Networking, Partnering and Advocacy

• Maps and identifies potential partners (community-based groups, government, private sector) that Cordaid Ethiopia can work with in relevant thematic/geographic areas;
• Develop and maintain relationships with relevant stakeholders (e.g., beneficiaries, community leaders, local private sector, government officials, UN agencies and other NGOs) and represent Cordaid at relevant meetings (e.g. state and local government, sector-coordination) in order to facilitate and ensure cooperation and partnerships;
• Seek out and actively participate in relevant local networks or task groups on specific humanitarian aid and resilience building issues;
• Accompany donors on field trips and ensure programme details are transmitted in a timely and professional manner.

Financial Management

• Prepares fund request and monitor the budget vs actual expenditures;
• Plan and construct the budgets for the project, in collaboration with the Cordaid Ethiopia project leads, Head of Program and Operation Manager and in accordance with donor guidelines;
• Working with Cordaid Ethiopia project lead, Head of Program and Operation Manager and ensure that budgets are spent according to donor proposals and regulations and within the appropriate timeframe, making any budget adjustment recommendations to the Country office;
• Monitor the spending of the projects and designated project(s) to ensure they operate in line with Cordaid Ethiopia and donor guidelines for financial accounting and reporting practices.

Staff Management

• Ensures that all staff have updated monthly and quarterly implementation plans;
• Supervises, leads, guides and support the project staff;
• Provides guidance on appropriate approaches to promote an organizational environment that supports and encourages staff development, enhanced performance, increased program quality, and overall organizational effectiveness;
• Promotes a participatory working environment that enables the development of high performing teams;
• Ensure that staff receive appropriate & adequate training by providing mentoring and coaching;
• Hold regular team meetings and, through a consultative leadership style and a transparent, honest, and supportive communication structure, develop and build an effective team;
• Completes all performance management activities including performance planning, monitoring, and annual performance appraisals;
•  Based on annual performance appraisal and required job competencies, identify staff training needs and coordinate training activities.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Ensures that the monitoring and evaluation systems are in place and provides quality information for monitoring progress and adjusting implementation plans in the project interventions;
• Support baseline survey;
• Periodically visits field activities and provide formal and informal feedback to the project staff in terms of adequate and inadequate progress as well as recommendations for improved performance;
• Ensures that the project utilizes MEL findings/results in enhancing/modifying project implementation;
•  Assists in identifying priorities for and in the conduct of project documentation.

Qualifications 

Education

• Master’s degree in a relevant field

Experience

• 15 years of experience working in NGO with at least 10 years in a management position
• Experience leading and managing a team
• Experience managing multiple programs in multiple thematic areas
• Strong demonstrable experience liaising with local government, communities

Technical Skills 

1. Technical and professional knowledge and experience in humanitarian-resilience nexus and economic empowerment
2. Experience in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes
3. Understanding of multisectoral and multi-agency approaches
4. Understanding of gender issues
5. Team-player with good inter-personal skills and committed to team-building and able to develop and support other team members
6. Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels
7. Good report and proposal writing skills
8. Good negotiation skills
9. Written and spoken Somali, Amharic, & English language skills