Job Description

Roles & Responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITIES

Programmes Oversight and Quality Control

Provide high-level line-management to Research Managers (hereafter RMs), including effective delegation of day-to-day tasks to RMs, and ensuring all team members are fully aware of their job description, duties and responsibilities;

In coordination with the Country Representative, oversee that all Research Cycles and associated datasets are conducted in a timely manner, to IMPACT quality standards, and disseminated to relevant stakeholders, in line with the IMPACT oPt strategy and information needs of humanitarian actors;

Monitor the progress and delays of all Research Cycles across each units and ensure that delays or identified challenges for specific assessments are reported in writing and orally in a timely manner.

Ensuring that RMs are provided the programme management training, support, and resources required to effectively and independently manage their Research Cycles. This includes:

regular follow-up and check-ins to project plan and identify any challenges or bottlenecks;

supporting in building and maintaining external relationships as relevant;

empowering RMs to take personal responsibility for RCs, and proactively identifying areas where they lack the capacity to work independently. Resolve these issues by developing training plans, and supporting RMs in capacity building junior staff;

supporting project focal points as line-managers in developing strong and healthy teams, and maintaining staff welfare.

Review information products, to ensure that products are of high quality and effectively inform target audiences.

Together with the Country Representative, ensure that all team members and hubs are kept up-to-date on key activities, plans, and achievements;

Together with the rest of the SMT, ensuring a good work environment and taking active steps to ensure staff welfare and ensure that all teams are working towards common goals. This will include building strong professional relationship, having good visibility of issues in teams through regular check-ins, as well as maintaining a professional, respectful, and supportive tone in the office.

Training and staff capacity development

Support technical and assessment focal points in developing the capacity of staff, for example by proactively organising trainings and development sessions;

Autonomously identify talent, capacity gaps, and staff who would benefit from specific trainings, particularly amongst national staff, including the Operations Team.

Grants development, management, and oversight

Under the supervision of the Country Representative and with support from Research Managers and project focal points, contribute to identifying funding opportunities, drafting proposals, and conducting initial discussions with donors/partners

In coordination with the Country Representative, maintain IMPACT oPt’s strong relationships with its existing donors through regular meetings to brief on project progress, key developments in the oPt context and coordination structure, findings from assessments, concerns with regards to information gaps, as well as development of new grants as needed.

Together with the Country Representative, develop IMPACT oPt’s project development strategy, including exploring partnerships with new donors, mapping potential donors, and conducting prospect research.

Support the Country Representative and project development department in tracking donor requirements and deadlines, via delegation and follow-up of tasks to focal points, review, and in some cases drafting of reports;

Lead on building systems to externalise institutional knowledge, to ensure lessons-learned are not lost with staff turnover.

Human Resource Management (recruitment and staff welfare)

Together with the Country Representative, identify needs for staff recruitment, including capacity or skills gaps within the units.

Drafting of ToRs together with the SMT, liaison with HR at IMPACT Headquarters, conducting interviews, or supporting Research Managers to conduct strong interviews.

Together with the Country Representative, ensure that appraisals, contract renewals, and recruitments are done in timely manner to minimise gaps in the team.

Together with the Country Representative, maintain team morale, a strong team spirit, and monitor staff welfare, as well as help ensure team cohesion between bases, and within and across units.

External engagement (donor engagement, external representation, advocacy, partnership development and maintenance)

Desired Candidate Profile

REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent academic qualifications, including a Master s degree in relevant discipline required;
• At least 5 years of relevant working experience in humanitarian, development or related settings, including at least 3 years in a programme management role;
• Excellent team management, coordination, organisational and planning skills required, including ability to manage large workloads, oversee multiple teams and effectively meet deadlines, through an excellent ability to multi-task and prioritise;
• Experience with external engagement (donors, partners and other key stakeholders) required;
• Familiarity with the humanitarian coordination system required;
• Sound judgment and emotional intelligence in high-pressure or sensitive situations. Possesses strong interpersonal awareness and the ability to respond constructively to feedback and shifting priorities;
• Understanding of processes involved in conducting assessments required;
• Excellent communication and drafting skills required for effective reporting;
• Excellent analytical skills required;
• Experience managing multiple budgets an asset;
• Ability to work independently and manage people remotely required;
• Demonstrable ability to work under pressure and meet competing deadlines required;
• Solution-oriented, flexible, and open-minded, including ability to operate in a cross-cultural environment required;
• Good understanding of the oPt context - past experience in the region is desirable;
• Fluency in English required;
• Ability to operate Microsoft Word and Excel required;
• A sense of curiosity, the drive to improve the humanitarian sector, and ability to see the big picture