Location:

Brussels Headquarters

Travel:

Travel to the field for periodic monitoring

Department / Team

Operations

Responsible to:

Programme Director  

Direct line management of:

Country Director(s) of assigned country portfolio

Hours/Contract Type

Full time (38hrs/week), Permanent.

Background

Mission East is an international relief and development organisation working in crisis-affected countries in the former Soviet Union, the Middle East and Asia. We deliver emergency relief during disasters as well as long-term development assistance.  We are based on Christian values.  Mission East works to support vulnerable people and help local communities lift themselves out of poverty and marginalisation. We work directly with our beneficiaries or through local and international partners. We constantly strive to strengthen the relevance, effect and sustainability of our programmes.

More information on Mission East can be found at: https://missioneast.org

Role Purpose / overall responsibility:

To provide HQ oversight, and strategic coordination of selected country programme(s) or partnerships;  line management of designated key staff (Country Director) where required;   to ensure development, management, implementation and reporting on specific projects within organisational and donor standards;  to support and contribute to the improvement of thematic areas of work.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

Programme / partnership oversight

• Oversee development and follow up of assigned country / partnership strategy
• Provide personnel support to field teams and line management of Country Directors, as assigned
• Proactively contribute to recruitment, selection and onboarding of senior field staff / consultants (in coordination with Country Director, field staff line manager and HR)
• Support security and safety monitoring and management
• Support policy adherence and quality assurance relevant to country programme /partnership  (in coordination with MEAL manager)
• Support internal/ external information sharing including through ME internal channels, contributing/reviewing inputs for Communications team work, contributing to Annual Report etc.

Project management, monitoring, reporting

• Monitor project implementation and management for designated portfolio of projects as per individual HQPM role description
• Support adherence to organisational procedures and guidelines in relevant aspects of the project.
• Support compliance with ME procurement guidelines,  provide HQ procurement oversight as required by ME guidelines.
• Supervise project/programme evaluation, including via external consultants
• Ensure high standards of donor reporting and internal project reporting

Partner relations  (relevant to Programmes & Projects)

• Oversee partner relations including new partner selection, support to partnership agreements, partner review
• Input to partner development plans and capacity building

Thematic responsibilities

• Contribute to team / organisational understanding and best practice on designated thematic priorities,  through coordination, development/improvement of tools & policy,  sharing of relevant resources,
• Participate in relevant thematic networks and working groups

Project / Programme Design

• Contribute to new programme/ project design as designated
• Oversee, coordinate and contribute to allocated proposal writing processes, ensuring compliance with ME and donor standards

Other / cross-cutting

• Active participation in Operations team coordination and learning
• Represent Mission East to donors, participate in relevant network activities and external events.
• Input to organisational and operations team strategy
• Contribute to organisational development and knowledge management by identifying and disseminating lessons learned and best practices
• Contribute to development and application of policy, procedures and tools

• Other tasks as may be reasonably requested.

Selection Criteria:

You will have the following experience and qualifications:

• Masters level degree in a relevant field. A proven track record of working in the relief and development NGO sector.
• Demonstrable field experience in development or humanitarian responses
• Experience in management of development and/or relief programmes
• Relevant experience in donor relationship management and reporting
• Experience of relevant ME geographies would be desirable.

 You will display:

• Awareness of humanitarian quality standards (Core Humanitarian Standard, SPHERE, Red Cross Code of Conduct, and others)
• Solid project assessment, design and management skills
• Cross-cultural sensitivity, and able to work with colleagues and partners with diverse skill levels, language levels and perspectives (often through remote communication)
• Able to thrive on a variety of tasks; flexible and easy-going
• Strong problem-solving abilities, strong logical analysis skills and a constructive attitude
• Strong English communication skills (written and verbal). Additional languages will be considered an added asset.
• Highly organised, proactive, able to work independently
•  Sympathy with Mission East’s organisational values.

Other requirements:

• Mission East upholds high standards in all aspects of Safeguarding. In view of the nature of this role potentially requiring involvement with vulnerable individuals (including situations where there are potential imbalances of power), you may be required to provide a certificate of good conduct.
• Mission East upholds high standards in Counter Terrorism (COTER) and sanctions regulation compliance. In view of this role’s travel to and remote involvement with our field offices, Mission East will conduct a thorough pre-employment background check of successful candidates, including checking through the SDN sanctions lists.