Country Director, Afghanistan

About the role: This is a 2 year, replacement role with accompanied terms based in Kabul, Afghanistan with significant travel into North East Afghanistan (Taloqan, Faizabad & Kunduz) at salary Band 7 €59,819 – €66,465.

You will report to the Regional Director and will line manage the country management team and work closely with the Desk Officer, Emergency Directorate, Human Resources, Strategy Advocacy & Learning (SAL), UN, Donors, (I)NGO’s, Partner NGOs & authorities in Afghanistan. We would like you to start on the 1st June 2023.

Your purpose: You will be responsible for strategic and programme development, security management and overall management and coordination of Concern’s emergency & development programmes in Afghanistan, responding to the humanitarian crisis in line with Concern Worldwide organisational specific strategies, policies and procedures.

You will be responsible for:

Leadership

• Develop and implement a coherent country programme that contributes to achieving Concern’s global strategy and objectives in particular addressing emergency needs of refugees.
• Provide leadership in the overall effective planning and direction of Concern’s programme and operations at country level.
• Build strong and committed team of national and international staff adhering to Concern policies and procedures and applying key principles of transparency, accountability, good stewardship and participation.
• Create and maintain shared vision, amongst all Concern staff, of Concern’s programme aims and objectives and their role in achieving these.
• Lead and support in strengthening coordination and collaboration within teams and across all teams, maintain and ensure constructive communications, contribute to a positive working environment.

Programme Development and Management

• Lead the strategic development and implementation of programmes in line with Concern organisational strategic plan and following the Concern Project Cycle Management policy including proposal writing and sourcing funding.
• Manage the country programme effectively including allocation of resources and ensuring that appropriate monitoring and controls are established and maintained at all levels by working with programme and systems managers, staff and where relevant partners
• Ensure effective coordination of technical inputs (e.g. Head Office advisors) in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating programmes.
• Develop a country level funding strategy and establish productive working relationships with donors and be responsible for undertaking country level negotiations related to securing funding, programming contracts, and reports.
• Develop partnerships with local NGOs through the application of Concern assessment tools (CLOSAT and CLOFAT) and ensure delivery and oversight of our partnership strategy.
• Provide adequate leadership and support to programme managers in setting up high quality standards and implementation of programmes to include equality, prevention of GBV and DRR.
• Ensure that all programmes are implemented and completed according to programme documents including agreed plans and budget.
• Maintain effective communication and liaise with Concern Head office in Dublin and ensure that high standard internal and donor reports are produced and submitted in timely manner and in line with relevant targets and objectives.

Budget and Financial Management

• Responsible for overall financial management including participatory budget preparation, revision and monitoring and timely submission of Budgets and reports to HQ.
• Ensure that the Concern organisational financial guidelines and procedures are adhered to.
• Develop and implement work and expenditure plans and ensure that the country programmes are implemented within agreed and approved budget through undertaking regular budget monitoring of expenditure against budget.
• Ensure that internal and donor financial reports are submitted in timely manner and up to high quality standard.

Human Resource Management

• Line manage senior management staff (Country Management Team – CMT) and be responsible for the overall management and development of national and international staff
• Manage and support country programme team ensuring that there is clearly defined structure and job descriptions for all staff.
• Ensure that regular staff Performance and Development Review (PDR) system is established and maintained and that PDRs are undertaken seriously at all levels.
• Develop, review, and effectively implement all Human Resources related policies and procedures in accordance with Concern policies and procedures and in line with the national labour laws.
• Establish and maintain regular, participative and documented forums and meetings for all key staff to discuss policy, strategic, operational and management issues, coordinate planning and implementation of activities, and ensure information sharing.

Security Management

• Take overall responsibility for the security and safety of Concern personnel and resources.
• Be responsible for participatory development and implementation of the Country Security Management Plan and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Liaise with necessary external bodies to keep abreast of current affairs in order to maintain an awareness of economic, political, humanitarian and security developments.
• Set up Security Focal Groups and coordinate and chair regular security meetings with the Security Focal Group (SFG) to keep up to date with security incidents in all field locations.
• Work with the SFG to ensure the development and maintenance of effective security systems for Concern employees, programmes and property including the regular revision and implementation of the Security Management Plan.
• Report any security threats and incidents to the Regional Director.

Representation and networking

• Represent Concern in and establish coordination and networking relationships with the authorities, donors and other national and international humanitarian actors including Alliance 2015 in the country.
• Ensure compliance with Concerns registration including regular reporting to local authorities
• Ensure that relationship and formal agreements with the authorities are established, maintained and updated as appropriate.
• Represent Concern at various national level coordination forums.
• Promote the humanitarian principles of Concern in external settings, ensuring that the organisation’s neutrality, impartiality and independence is well communicated and consistently presented, and that we are perceived as an independent humanitarian organisation addressing the needs of the most vulnerable.

Policies and procedures

• Ensure that support systems are in place and functioning in accordance with best practices in order to ensure transparency and accountability to programme participants, donors, government, and other relevant stakeholder.
• Promote and ensure compliance with the requirements of Concern’s Programme Participants Protection Policy (P4) and implementation of Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) and Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), along with Concern’s community-based complaints and response mechanism (CRM) to ensure maximum protection to programme beneficiaries.

Other

• As a commitment to our humanitarian mandate the Country Director will be responsible for the implementation of any new emergency response.
• The programme is in a dynamic context that requires continuous adaptation of the strategic planning frameworks and new area and sector assessments and the possibility of expansion to other geographic areas.

Your skills and experience will include:

Essential:

This position demands a dynamic individual with a demonstrated ability to achieve results in a demanding and fast paced environment.

• At least 5 years’ overseas experience in management and coordination of humanitarian interventions with at least 3 years’ experience in a senior management position.
• Experience in insecure and complex contexts and environments.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to manage change effectively.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with an ability/confidence to engage and represent Concern at public forums, media and donors.
• Strong interpersonal, motivational, communication and coordination skills.
• Highly developed listening and conflict resolution skills.
• Cross cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines.
• Good coaching, facilitation and capacity-building skills.
• Respectful of security rules.
• Dynamic and willing to take initiatives to complete assigned task, and work independently.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to manage change effectively.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English.
• Delegation, time management and prioritizing skills and coping with broad range of demands
• Ability to work with Microsoft Office software, specifically Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

We would also like:

• Previous work experience in response to the Afghanistan crisis.
• Affinity with organisational values, mission and vision, commitment to humanitarian principles
• Familiarity with UN coordination mechanisms (cluster approach)
• Experience of managing major donor grants such as EU, USAID BHA, UNOCHA AHF,DEC and Irish Aid

How to apply

Please apply via https://jobs.concern.net/jobs/international/vacancy/1789/Relief%20Web/detail