Iraq: Senior Operational Manager

INTERSOS is an independent non-profit humanitarian organization committed to assist the victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, and respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable and unprotected people.

1.Terms of reference

Job title: Senior Operational Manager

Location: The post holder will be roving between Erbil and Tikrit, with missions to other governorates if necessary

Reporting to: Emergency Coordinator

Starting date: 15/05/2017

Duration of contract: 3 months

Dependents: No

2.General context of the mission

INTERSOS is currently implementing protection projects in both Salah al Din and South Ninewa Governatorates , thus getting first-hand information from the field and capitalizing lesson learnt and good practices. INTERSOS teams have a well-known presence in the established camps (Hajji Ali, Qayyara Aistrip and Jeddah) and, thanks to protection monitoring activities conducted out-of-camp (in both South Ninewa and Salah al Din), gained a strong knowledge and understanding of the context.

INTERSOS is fully involved in the response to the Mosul crisis, applying an integrated approach implemented by multi-sectorial mobile emergency response teams, composed by protection, legal, medical and EiE staff that will be deployed into the areas with highest displacement and areas where IDPs are fleeing, to provide timely essential life-saving services to people affected by the current crisis.

INTERSOS has already deployed on the ground qualified key staff fully involved in the protection response in South Ninewa (lawyers, clinical psychologists, highly trained case managers) and has recently started to provide protection services in 2 newly established camps in Hamam al Alil (Ninewa Governatorate – Mosul District), which are going to host around 60,000 IDPs from West Mosul. INTERSOS strategy aims at applying a semi-static approach (containers or tents need to be installed in the camps, in order to ensure a safe and protected space where activities – such as group and individual PSS, psychological counselling, awareness sessions – can be conducted ensuring privacy) while protection monitoring teams will monitor and timely report protection trends and concerns, sharing information with the protection cluster and UNHCR in order to ensure a prompt response for the most urgent issues. The complex operational environment requires high levels of coordination with all the relevant stakeholders on the ground including, but not limited, INGOs, LNGOs, local authorities.

3.Tasks and responsibilities

The Senior Operational Manager collaborates with the Emergency Unit and the Emergency Coordinator by ensuring strategic operational support and smooth functioning and results oriented management of UNHCR funded operations, in the frame with Mosul Operation. In particular he/she will be responsible for:

· Maintain ongoing surveillance of the developing humanitarian emergency situation and adjust activities accordingly;

· Support the Project Managers in the implementation of project activities by coordinating the optimal use of logistical, financial and human resources;

· Support the Project Managers and the Emergency Coordinators in the identification of new areas of intervention (especially for the protection monitors and the mobile units) in both Ninewa and Salah al Din Governorates;

· Representing INTERSOS on program issues towards local communities, authorities and their counterparts and towards UN agencies and other non-governmental organizations in the program area while taking into account the goals, objectives and strategy for the mission as a whole;

· Negotiating with different actors and stakeholders in collaboration with the Security Focal Point;

· Contributing to create, review and update policies and reports such as country policies and annual strategy;

· Planning, monitoring and ensuring logistics continuity in the project sites and liaising with the country management team as appropriate;

· Providing regular monthly reports on programmatic, security and contextual matters and ensure adequate monitoring, reporting and acquittal of emergency response activities in accordance with INTERSOS International’s humanitarian accountability framework, relevant SPHERE standards, and essential environmental mitigation measures;

· Contribute to enhance coordination with all relevant stakeholders present in the program locations;

· Ensure that different sectorial activities are implemented in a coordinated and integrated manner, supporting the Project Managers where needed.

· Establish and maintain constructive working relationships with principle stakeholders including the military where present and if necessary;

· Create the conditions to ensure effective teamwork and morale;

· Conduct performance appraisals of staff under his or her responsibility if and as required, ensure regular feedback and mentoring on individual performance;

· Ensure the Emergency Coordinator is informed about assessment progress, emergency response implementation and strategies, project plans, progress reports, and other significant developments;

· Together with the Project Managers, identify needed modifications to the intervention according to the situation in the field and discuss with the donor accordingly.

· Train, motivate, orientate and support the team; supervise all relations and communications promoting staff motivation and cohesion; together with the Project Manager, support and supervise the performance of national staff;

· Monitor ongoing human resources issues and make recommendations and adjustments accordingly.

4.Required profile/experience

· Degree in International Development or similar

· Minimum of 5 years humanitarian aid and emergency experience in complex contexts and natural disasters

· Previous experience in Arab countries and specifically in Iraq is an asset

· Experience in complex decision making, experience in coaching, guiding and leading a multi-disciplinary multi-national team under difficult circumstances

· Experience coordinating complex interventions within conflict contexts and working in first line assistance of IDPs and refugees

· High level of expertise in representation and negotiation with governments and donors

· Experience in successfully managing institutional partnerships with national and international NGOs

· Good communication skills in English. Arabic will be an asset

· Computer and finance advanced skills

· Ability to prepare periodical thematic reports in accordance with the standards required by INTERSOS and Donors

· Experience with the management of a diverse workforce, demonstrated leadership and interest to coach staff

· Demonstrated use of positive coping strategies in stressful environments N

Qualified applicants are requested to submit their curriculum vitae, motivation letter and 2 references to: recruitment@intersos.org, specifying in the subject“Senior Operational Manager - Iraq”.**

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the first interview.