Area Manager

ORGANIZATIONAL DESCRIPTION:

Hello Hello! Alight is recruiting an Area Manager to be based in Mekelle, Tigray Region. You’re interested in joining us? Welcome, we’re happy you’re here!

If you join us, you will find…

A team with deep experience in co-designing solutions that create new value around the world. We know we need to always be better, and we believe in the power and abundance of everyday people, everywhere, to change the world with us.

A culture of radical accountability to our customers –as we help build a meaningful life for and with the displaced, we ask them what they want and then deliver on it.

Alight (formerly American Refugee Committee) is an international non-profit organization with its headquarters located in the United States. Alight has provided humanitarian assistance to millions of beneficiaries in 29 countries over the past 40 years, currently reaching over 10 million refugees, IDPs, and disaster-affected communities in 17 countries around the world, helping people regain control of their lives after conflict and natural disasters. Alight maintains full-fledged humanitarian programs in Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pakistan, Thailand, and Myanmar. Alight is currently responding to humanitarian situation in Ethiopia.

The overall objective of the Alight (ARC) in Ethiopia program is to prevent death and alleviate human suffering among affected internally displaced persons (IDPs) in settlements and host communities where we work. Alight has embarked on WASH, Health, Protection, and livelihood activities in Ethiopia and expand to other parts of the Country. Alight is taking a multi-sectoral approach in responding to the severe drought conditions through a range of activities including Health, Relief Commodities and WASH.

The Ethiopia Program of the Alight (ARC) has fully-fledged offices in Addis Ababa, Mekelle, Semera, Amhara liaison offices in Ethiopia. Alight is working closely with national and regional authorities and with several Ethiopia -based international and national organizations to galvanize coordinated lifesaving humanitarian assistance to the people in need.

PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION:

The Area Manager is responsible for coordinating, consolidating, and ensuring smooth implementation of and adherence to logistics, human resource, administrative and security procedures and provides operational support to the programs of Alight Ethiopia in Tigray Region. Moreover, she/he will ensure effective representation in and coordination with government, INGOs and NGOs, and other coordination platforms within his area of assignment, providing context analysis to senior management and program and support teams. The incumbent will be a high performing team builder, sensitive to the cultural, political and security environment, support teams, lead staff covering operations and programs in his/her duty. The Area Manager is responsible for ensuring the development of all staff and identifying needs and resources.

MAJOR/KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

AREA PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT 

• In collaboration with Program Coordinator and technical teams, the Area manager will lead need assessments, development of Concept Notes, and local resource mobilization for the region.

• S/he will also contribute to resource mobilization, development of Concept Notes, proposals, annual response plans, Fund raising strategy, strategic Plans, etc of Alight Ethiopia Country Program.

• Support programme teams and the Grants Officer in coordinating and writing new project proposals.

AREA PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

o   The Area Manager is responsible for coordinating and overseeing projects/program implementation. In line with local laws, donor requirements, and Alight policies (ensuring adherence to logistic, human resources, administration, and security procedures), as well as providing operational support to the programs.

o   This person will provide support to Project Managers of the area of intervention in project planning and implementation. The role includes:

•  Facilitate and support PMs in the implementation of projects and monitoring of activities implemented, in coordination with the Programme Coordinators and with the assistance of technical advisors and operational support staff.
• Ensure that partnership projects and reports are delivered according to Alight and donor contractual requirements, within the agreed timescale and budget in collaboration with the sector Coordinators.
• Work with the Country Representative and Programme Coordinators to support the development of Alight’s overall programme strategy, including a master budget.
• S/he will coordinate day-to-day activities of Alight programs in the region.
• Support the PMs in tracking budget spending and support the preparation of financial reports.

OFFICE MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE

• Support the work of the operations officer in the region.

• In coordination with the operation officer, take overall responsibility for managing the offices, the guesthouse, and the warehouse, ensuring efficient application of Alight’s policies, procedures, and administrative systems.

• Ensure that existing schemes of delegation, finance guidelines and related administrative procedures are adhered to and that grant finances are kept in a good state.

• Ensure proper archiving of the relevant documentation, implementing Alight archiving methodology in coordination with the Country Representative, the field support team (operations, Finance & HR).

STAFF MANAGEMENT, THE ROLE INCLUDES:

• Provide leadership to the Alight field offices in Tigray Region by ensuring strong team spirit, positive and participatory working environment, effective communication and strong assistance to programs and support.
• Support the HR desk by ensuring the appropriate staffing of the offices, planning and implementing specific actions to recruit, manage and motivate staff.

• Ensure that directly managed staff have clearly defined objectives, understand their responsibilities, and receive meaningful feedback on their performance.

• For non-line managed staff, provide support and advice in supervision, guidance, coordination, and monitoring for project technical staff, ensuring clarity over project plans and priorities and encouraging effective teamwork.

• Comply with relevant Organizational standard procedures and policies with respect to HR Management.

LOGISTICS, SUPPLY CHAIN AND ICT SUPPORT

• Coordinating the Logistic activities in support to all field activities, in coordination with the operations team.

• Ensuring:

Ø   efficient application of Logistic policies, procedures, tools, and systems at area level.

Ø   good planning and implementation of procurement.

Ø  quality warehousing and support distributions in the field, in coordination with the operations team and the project staff.

Ø   in coordination with the operations team, that Logistic and ICT equipment and systems run well for an effective programme delivery: vehicle fleet, computers, offices equipment, internet equipment, communication, and security equipment, etc.:

COORDINATION AND REPRESENTATION

The Area Manager represents the organization at the local and regional level. The role includes:

• Represent ALIGHT in general meetings, including with humanitarian actors, local authorities, protocol meetings, security meetings, as well as sector program meetings in coordination with the Programme Coordinators and the Project Managers.

• Manage the visits of donor representatives, HQ visitors and other stakeholders whenever requested.

• Report on specific incidents, trends or contextual events occurring in the region to the Programme Coordinators

• Analyze periodically the regional context in terms of risks and opportunities.

SECURITY MANAGEMENT

In cooperation with the Security Focal Point, the Area Manager ensures that optimal security management procedures and practices are in place. The role includes:

• Ensure security guidelines are updated and adhered to and that all new staff and visitors receive appropriate security briefings.

• Continually monitor the security situation and adapts staff safety procedures accordingly.

• Ensure that appropriate and timely measures are put in place to reduce risks and threats to ALIGHT staff, assets, operation, and beneficiaries.

• Ensure that security incidents are duly reported, and information is effectively collected and exchanged with staff and other organizations.

• Comply with all relevant ALIGHT policies and procedures with respect to health and safety, equal opportunities, and other relevant policies.
• The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties assigned by supervisor within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

• At least a master’s degree desirably management, in International Development, Development Studies, Project planning and management, Sociology, Community Development, Economics, or related fields.

• 8 years and above prior experience, out of which, at least, 5 years in managerial role

• And particularly, strong background and proven experience in the following areas are highly desirable:

o    Program and/or Area management or related positions—preferably hands-on experience in both areas

o   Program development and management, M & E, donor relations, resource mobilization, coordination.

o   Systems of various donors including but not limited to: UN organizations, USAID/BHA, EU, ECHO, FCDO, CRS, NORAD, and others including private donors.

o   Complex/protracted emergencies, refugee/internal displacement settings, Humanitarian response, recovery and rehabilitation, development interventions

o   Development, management, and coordination of multi-sectoral programs

o   Localization and partnership, multi-partner & multi-cluster Coordination,

o   Familiarity with development of Program docs (Annual Response plans & strategic plans, M& E manuals, grant management, partnership, etc.) Strategy, Standard Operational procedures (SOPs), other NGO policies and guidelines are highly desirable.

• Senior management experience and/or community development; previous experience in area management within Ethiopia is an added advantage.

• Skilled in, and committed to, community participation/interaction, field visits and presence in program areas.

• Proven experience in research, Project/program planning, monitoring and Evaluation, or consultancy on related fields.
• Experience working in conflict and post conflict contexts is essential, experience working in Ethiopia and specifically, in current Alight program regions.
• Computer proficiency in use of standard MS Office packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

• Fluency in English, Amharic, and Tigrigna languages is required.

KEY BEHAVIOURS & ABLILITIES:

• Practical experience managing staff and programs in insecure locations.

• Flexibility and willingness to work early mornings / late nights as required.

• Proven commitment to humanitarian and accountability principles and knowledge of quality assurance systems.

• Good communicator with proven diplomacy who has the ability and willingness to engage with all levels of staff and all types of stakeholders.

• Knowledge of, and familiarity with and prior work in the region of assignment.

PLUS

• Gender-sensitive

• Understanding of and commitment to the “Humanitarian principles”

• Understanding of and commitment to Alight code of conduct and organizational goals