Myanmar: Deputy Head of Humanitarian Programmes (Dpt HHP)

Trócaire works in partnership with local and church organisations, supporting communities in over 20 developing countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East to bring about lasting change. Trócaire envisages a just and peaceful world where: people’s dignity is ensured and rights are respected; basic needs are met and resources are shared equitably; people have control over their own lives; and those in power act for the common good.

The Myanmar Country Office in Yangon takes overall responsibility for the implementation of the Myanmar country programme, which currently focuses on humanitarian response, resource rights, women’s empowerment, gender-based violence and peace & development. Due to the strong geographic focus of Trócaire’s work in Kachin and Northern Shan States, a field office was opened in Myitkyina, Kachin State, in 2014.

Since 2011, Trócaire has been responding to a protracted crisis with widespread displacement in Kachin and Northern Shan States, and also provides emergency relief for natural disasters in other parts of Myanmar, as required. Trócaire’s humanitarian programme in Kachin and Northern Shan is a large-scale multi-donor programme. Through a capacity building and accompaniment model, Trócaire supports local partners in the areas of food security and livelihoods, cash-based interventions, WASH, GBV and shelter, as well as in all aspects of programme quality and MEAL, financial and supply-chain management. Implementing a gradual transition in the programme towards resilience-building and sustainability is a priority.

Under the leadership of the Head of Humanitarian Programmes - Myanmar (HHP), the Deputy Head of Humanitarian Programmes is responsible for ensuring overall operational management and delivery of Trócaire’s humanitarian programme in Myanmar. This will require leadership and strategic oversight of multiple grants along with strong coordination with the HHP. S/he will be held accountable for all aspects of programme implementation, including adherence to programme targets and commitments, financial and supply-chain management requirements, submission of quality reports and all other aspects of compliance across multiple institutionally-funded grants. S/he will have representational responsibilities with key stakeholders.

The post-holder will provide guidance and management support to the Humanitarian Programme Managers (HPMs) and Humanitarian Programme Officers (HPOs). S/he will also work closely with the humanitarian team technical advisors – Humanitarian Programme Quality Advisor (PQA), WASH Technical Advisor, Emergency Food Security and Livelihoods Advisor (EFSL) and GBV Advisor – as well as with the Finance & Admin Manager, Humanitarian Finance Manager and Officers, the Institutional Funding Officer and the Capacity Building & Compliance Manager. Since Trócaire works through partnership, this role will involve building strong relationships with, and providing accompaniment to, local partner organisations.

For the candidate with the required experience and passion for the role, Trócaire offers a competitive package of salary and benefits.

Reporting to Head of Humanitarian Programmes – Myanmar, this is a Fixed Term Contract of 1 Year (with 1 year extension subject to funding) and is basedin Yangon but with frequent travel within Myanmar to programme areas. The candidate will manage two Humanitarian Programme Managers

Safeguarding Children Policy:

Trócaire is committed to Safeguarding Programme Participants from Exploitation and Abuse and has specific policies on this commitment (including a Global Code of Conduct) which outlines the expected behaviour and the responsibility of all staff, consultants and other organisational representatives. Any candidate offered a job with Trócaire will be expected to sign Trócaire’s Safeguarding Policies and Global Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Programme Operations & Management

· Lead on the development of appropriate procedures and operational systems to support timely and quality programme implementation – including detailed implementation plans; proactive management of budgets; rollout of capacity building initiatives, etc.

· Maintain tight financial oversight and be accountable for all programme and operations budgets, including proactive tracking of Trócaire and partner income and expenditure, and timely management of budget reallocations and revisions in line with donor requirements.

· Ensure careful adherence across programmes to both Trócaire and donor compliance requirements, including adherence to fraud, supply chain and financial management policies and procedures.

· Ensure submission of timely and high quality reports that satisfy donor requirements.

· Coordinate closely with Technical Advisors (EFSL, WASH, GBV and PQ) to ensure robust programming that adheres to technical minimum standards. Ensure also that core organisational commitments to protection mainstreaming, Core Humanitarian Standards and accountability are embedded in programmes.

· Support the HHP in ensuring that mechanisms are in place to facilitate effective internal communication and information sharing on the team.

· Support the HHP in all aspects of advocacy and donor liaison, helping to ensure proactive, informed and strategic engagement with donors and other key stakeholders.

· Supporting the HHP, play a key role in strategy development, including defining the future direction for the humanitarian programme in relation to key sectors (e.g. food security, livelihoods, WASH, GBV), approaches (e.g. capacity building, MEAL, resilience, integration, preparedness) and partnerships.

Humanitarian Preparedness & Response

· Operating within the overall programme strategy as defined by the HHP, lead on mobilising responses with local partners to new/sudden onset crises as required, including development and regular dissemination of situation reports, coordination of rapid/needs assessments, and coordination of the proposal development process with partners.

· Ensure all aspects of the response are undertaken in coordination with the wider coordination mechanisms in Myanmar (incl. OCHA, Clusters etc.).

· Support the HHP and wider Myanmar Country Team in all aspects of emergency preparedness, including overseeing the preparedness work of the HPMs and HPOs with local partners.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

· In close coordination with the PQA, guide the HPMs in developing and implementing MEAL strategies with partners that support quality control; measure results/impact; assess adherence to Trócaire, donor and technical minimum requirements (including SPHERE, CHS, IASC); and provide an evidence-base for learning and advocacy.

· In close coordination with the PQA, ensure that programme-level data is collected, analysed and fed into organisational initiatives, including organisational scorecards and reporting on mandatory indicators.

Human Resource Management and Development

· Ensure that all line managed staff understand and are able to perform their roles effectively, which includes defining expectations, providing leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluating direct reports regularly (in accordance with organisational performance management procedures).

· Establish a team approach to programming, ensuring that Programme Managers and Programme Officers work together to share learning and to support skills development. Foster a culture of peer support and constructive engagement amongst the team.

· Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate, and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff.

Coordination, Representation and Networking

· In coordination with the HHP, ensure effective representation of Trócaire’s humanitarian programme to local authorities, donors, clusters, working groups and other members of the humanitarian community.

· Lead in the coordination and management of the Trócaire-led Consortium in Kachin and Northern Shan, including facilitation of regular Programme Management Committee meetings, to ensure tight coordination, effective information sharing and a strong and collaborative relationship with Consortium partners.

· Build strong networks and coordination with relevant programme stakeholders and programme partners, other NGOs, CSOs, UN agencies to promote coordination and resource sharing.

Risk management

· Take responsibility for risk management at a programme level, ensuring that Programme Managers have the capacity to analyse and respond to risk, and that programme-level risks are captured and managed as part of a country risk management strategy.

· Oversee team movement and ensure that safety and security measures are met.

Other

· Support the HPMs and HPOs to foster a relationship of accompaniment, close mentoring and mutual respect with Trócaire’s implementing partner organisations.

· Fulfil other reasonable duties and responsibilities, as requested by HHP.

Person Specification – Essential (E)

(E) Qualification

· Third level qualification in development, human rights or related field

(E) Experience

· At least four years of demonstrable experience in the management of humanitarian programmes and budgets of substantial scale, including complex donor grants, in humanitarian contexts.

· Experience in applying humanitarian standards, including Sphere and the Core Humanitarian Standards. Technical expertise in the areas of food security and livelihoods, cash-based interventions, WASH and/or GBV preferable.

· Demonstrable experience in working to attract institutional donor funding, including experience in programme design and proposal development.

· Substantial knowledge of financial and supply chain management, including budget control, and other aspects of donor compliance.

· Proven strategic thinking and planning skills, including ability to analyse and think creatively, set priorities, manage work plans and evaluate progress.

· Ability to work in a complex organisation & consortium structure, with experience of distance/remote management preferred.

· In-depth understanding of programming in a partnership model.

· Experience of working in insecure environments.

(E) Skills

· Excellent leadership skills, including ability to lead and influence, and to motivate staff to align behind a shared vision and objectives.

· Demonstrated ability to manage multi-cultural teams of national and international staff well, and to implement performance management effectively.

· Ability to coach and help others develop in their professional lives.

· Proven organisational skills and ability to think and act strategically.

· Diplomacy and negotiation skills.

· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to relate across different organisational functions, structures, levels, and cultures.

· Fluency in written and spoken English.

· Sound IT capacity. Skills in the use of ICT4D preferred

(E) Qualities

· Creativity and innovation

· Flexibility and adaptability

· Cultural sensitivity and respect

· Capable of working in challenging, unstable and/or high stress contexts and environments, including volatile crisis situations

· Understanding of, and empathy with, the role of the Catholic Church in development

· Strong commitment to social justice, and empathy with the ethos and work of Trócaire, including a commitment to civil society strengthening and support for working in partnership with local actors

(E) Other

· Willingness to travel frequently and independently within country, including to crisis zones, at short notice

· Ability to travel internationally, including travel to HQ in Ireland

To apply, please click on https://www.workable.com/j/2019754C07 and complete the application form.