Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit
organization that promotes peaceful resolution of conflict. With
headquarters in Washington, DC and a European office in Brussels,
Belgium, SFCG’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations,
and governments deal with conflict - away from adversarial approaches
and toward cooperative solutions. SFCG seeks to help conflicting parties
understand their differences and act on their commonalities. With a
total of approximately 600 staff worldwide, SFCG implements projects
from 55 offices in 34 countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the
Middle East, and the United States.
The organization is an
exciting and rewarding place to work, with a dedicated and enthusiastic
staff that is committed to its mission and values. You will be joining a
highly motivated staff with a good team spirit and there will be
opportunities to grow in the role.
HEAD OF OFFICE
LOCATION: Maiduguri, North East
OUR PROGRAM
We
launched our programs in Nigeria in 2004. Now in 2017, the country
program has offices in Abuja, Jos, Maiduguri, and Yola. We work with
partners in target states of the country. Dialogue, media and capacity
building are primary tools utilized across all our programs. Each
program is adapted to specific local context and conflicts, and all
apply common ground tools from our toolbox.
Our Nigeria North East
offices are currently supporting a host of programs around building
coalitions to protect human rights violations, developing an early
warning and early response system, promoting the role of youth in
preventing violent extremism, supporting return and reintegration of
internally displaced people and refugees, and supporting social cohesion
and providing psychosocial support. Activities in these areas include
capacity building, dialogues, peace architecture, media programming,
participatory theatre and collaborative joint activities.
We are searching for
We
are looking for a Head of Office for our North East program currently
covering Borno and Adamawa states. Based in Maiduguri, with frequent
travel to Yola and other field offices, the position will be responsible
for all aspects of programmatic, financial and administrative
coordination and leadership of the office and various programs.
Principle
tasks will be to oversee the entire North East regional program
portfolio, determine appropriate implementing mechanisms to achieve
projects’ strategic goals, serve as the primary program liaison for
donors, partners and stakeholders in the region, oversee regional-level
planning and budgeting, and reporting/evaluations, ensuring compliance
with management and financial procedures and overseeing and managing
security of teams and organizational assets. The position will report to
the Country Director, and work closely with the West Africa Regional
Program Manager.
Working language for this position is English. The
Head of Office is a Senior level position and is a members of Search
Nigeria’s Leadership and Management Team (LMT).
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Representation:
Represent
SFCG at the regional level with partners, donors, local and
international organizations, and government authorities and ensure SFCG
activities are visible. In accordance with SFCG advocacy policy,
advocate for common ground solutions to various conflict situations in
the region;
Represent SFCG in strategic meetings, conferences, forums
and other public events and contribute towards consolidating and
raising the profile of SFCG;
Develop and strengthen relationships
with local organizations and networks and establish national and
regional strategic relations and alliances with partners and civil
society working in common cause with SFCG objectives; and
Promote
SFCG's organizational identity and capacity to all stakeholders and
partners in the North East and ensure SFCG remains relevant to the
changing needs of the people who most need it.
Program Development and Management:
Ensure a conscious program approach in line with the “Common Ground” principles;
Provide leadership and oversight to program staff charged with implementing programs;
Manage the field-based SFCG operations staff and program staff;
Contribute
creative ideas for program development and provide inputs for technical
and financial proposals to local and international donors ;
Provide
content material to the Communications Team for updating the websites,
as well as for quarterly program updates, newsletters, and other SFCG
literature;
Lead in the development of the North East program,
providing sound methodological and technical support to ensure use of
participatory methodologies, human rights and social exclusion framework
as per the organizational thematic alignment and programming approach;
Coordinate the program participatory annual planning and budgeting as per organizational guidelines;
Promote
a participatory approach in programming work and create space in the
structure for staff participation and involvement in decision making;
Oversee
and coordinate the program portfolio to ensure the highest level of
project quality and accountability, while fostering continuity through
building local capacity and developing innovative program interventions;
Lead
the development, implementation and monitoring of research and advocacy
plan on issues of relevance in the North East aligned with SFCG’s
global programmatic and policy priorities;
Participate in national and international campaigns in line with the advocacy plan and other relevant opportunities;
Facilitate trainings, researches, and learning of cross-cutting relevance to programs;
Ensure
that participatory systems and processes for monitoring activities,
results and impact assessment at program level are in place and involves
the team and partners;
Provide continuous monitoring and support to
field offices and existing projects, coordinate program reviews,
evaluations, and follow up implementation of evaluation findings in
close collaboration with the Design, Monitoring and Evaluation
(DM&E) Manager, Program Managers and Coordinators;
Coordinate the production of timely and quality program reports in line with SFCG and donor requirements;
Support monitoring and evaluation work in collaboration with SFCG’s DM&E Manager;
Verify and analyze work-plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness; and
Ensure close monitoring of the political and security environment and develop contingency plan for the office.
Donor Funding and Grants Management:
Keep a--- of the trends within the donor environment in the Country and Internationally;
Undertake diversified local and international fundraising initiatives to strengthen program funding and sustainability;
Coordinate the production of good quality funding proposals and respond to call for proposal;
Facilitate donor visits, donor meetings, round table discussions and evaluations as necessary; and
Be aware of all donors conditionality in the North East programs and monitor adherence to donors conditionality
Financial Management:
Provide
oversight to all finance and administrative services in the North East
in close coordination with the Director of Finance and Administration;
Ensure
effective implementation and compliance with the overall finance and
guidance manual and compliance with procedures required by grant or
contract agreements;
Ensure that the Project Managers and Coordinator
carry out monthly budget versus expenditures analysis, make budget
projections and keep up with the targeted burn rates;
Oversee and verify the Monthly Financial Report (MFR) from the North east program;
Ensure that adequate internal control mechanisms are in place; and
Supervise monthly financial reports according to SFCG procedures.
Human Resources Management and Organizational Development:
Provide leadership support to North East region staff and promote best practices in human resources management;
Ensure compliance with Nigerian law and SFCG procedures in admin and operations;
Provide
leadership support for adequate implementation of the performance
management system including performance objectives and planning, review,
appraisal and staff development; and
Provide Coaching and Counseling advice to staff when necessary and lead initiatives to develop staff capacity
Information, Communication and Learning:
Ensure
that all programs in the North East are maintaining a coordinated and
agreed information exchange both internally and in its dealing with
external parties;
Ensure that all communication infrastructures are set up in the programme and smooth information flow is maintained; and
Ensure that experiences, context updates and lessons learnt are documented and shared across the organization
Leadership:
Attend
the regular LMT meetings and contribute to the discussions around
overall strategy and direction of the country program and the
organization;
Be part of the management and leadership decision making around programmatic and operational issues.
Accountability:
Supervision:
Works independently under the supervision of the Country Director and
within approved strategy and policy guidelines;
Decision Making: Has full responsibility of decisions at the North East in line with approved policy; and
Responsibility over Staff: All North East staff .
As
job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be
required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the
above key responsibilities.
COMPETENCIES
Minimum Qualifications:
Minimum
Master’s degree in social sciences/development studies, conflict
management, strategic/programme management, management studies or other
related discipline
Additional extensive training in at least one of
the areas of SFCG thematic work- Peacebuilding, conflict transformation
and resolution;
At least six years of work experience, preferably in
conflict sensitivity, protection, development, or communications;
Experience in working in humanitarian context will be an advantage.
Very strong background in overseeing budget and financial management;
At
least five years’ experience managing a team of local staff in a
conflict or humanitarian contexts, preferably in Africa. Cross-cultural
experience and sensitivity, and experience living and working in
developing countries; Prior experience working in Nigeria will be an
advantage.
Demonstrated ability of raising the profile of an
organization, strategically networking with government agencies, donors
and other international agencies, and using the media as appropriate;
Experience living and working in unstable environments;
Demonstrated ability to undertake high-level representation and advocacy;
Excellent coordination, communication and networking skills;
Strong report writing, fundraising and proposal writing skills;
Ability to work with people at all levels, ranging from high-level officials to community leaders;
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Microsoft Excel
Professional-level competency in French and English, both orally and in writing.
Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
Willingness to regularly travel on short notice around the country
TO APPLY
The following should be included in your Cover letter:
MINIMUM SALARY REQUIREMENTS (OR CURRENT SALARY)
How your experience and qualifications fit the requirements,
Projected start date,
Where you found this posting.
Note
We are looking to fill this position with the right candidate.
Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted.
No phone calls please.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
DUE DATE: 7 July, 2017
Head of Office at Search for Common Ground (SFCG)
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