Area Manager

Handicap International - Humanity & Inclusion

Job Context

  • HI has been working in Bangladesh since 1997, focusing on creating sustainable changes in terms of ensuring the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in society. HI is an independent and impartial aid organization working in situations of poverty, exclusion, conflict, and disaster throughout Bangladesh. With projects in different districts of the country, HI works not only with people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations, but also with their families, their communities, and local humanitarian actors in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions, promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights, and provide sustainability in its action. As one of the key organizations in the disability sector, HI has a wide range of projects which assist to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities and their issues in emergency and development contexts, building capacities of local stakeholders, and reducing the impact of natural and human-made disasters. Particularly in Coxs Bazar district, HI is providing services in rehabilitation, MH/PSS, SRH, protection, and inclusive education with an inclusion mainstreaming approach to refugees and host populations affected by the forcibly displaced undocumented Myanmar nationals. HIs multi-sectoral mobile units (MU) and static system are currently working in 15 camps located in both Teknaf and Ukhiya Upazilas and surrounding host areas, providing comprehensive physical rehabilitation services and primary health services care, protection, and MH/PSS.
  • HI is currently implementing a development and humanitarian response project in Kurigram, and Cox`s Bazar district through 4 project offices (Kurigram, Ukhiya, and Teknaf) and 2 coordination offices (Dhaka and Cox Bazar).
  • Operational Thematic: Livelihood, Health and Rehabilitation, Protection, Inclusion, Education, and Atlas Logistics
  • Number of staff: Around 270 National staff and 06 international staff
  • HI is currently looking for an Area Manager for its Operations Department. Reporting to the Operations Manager, the Area Manager contributes in the area where s/he is based to the implementation of the mandate and the 10-year strategy of Humanity & Inclusion. S/he ensures optimal quality and the impact of the projects implemented in his/her area using a delegation system with appropriate oversight mechanisms. With all the other HI managers, s/he shares responsibility for the sound management and effective functioning of the global organization through paradigm changes. The Area Manager manages a team of Project managers (Level1 & Level 2) and Technical Officers in his/her base.
  • Job Location: Teknaf
  • Line Manager: Operations Manager
  • Budget to Manage: 2.5 million
  • Team to manage: 2 project managers, 4 technical officers
  • Team Size: Approximately 80 staff
  • Type of Contract: Fixed-term
  • Duration of the Contract: November 2022 to October 2024.

Job Responsibilities

  • Mission 1: Management
  • Manager as a role model: embody HI’s values daily, and be a role model.
  • Manager as a coach for meaning: understand the strategy, make it explicit, translate it into operational objectives for his or her team, and lead the necessary changes. Give meaning to each management action. Encourage inter and intra-departmental exchanges of practice. Encourage innovation and risk-taking.
  • Operational manager: organize the operational management of his or her team, structure the work around identified processes, steer performance and facilitate the resolution of problems.
  • First HR & Coach: contribute to the development of his or her staff, creating the conditions for their commitment, professionalism, and attachment to HI. Ensure compliance with the code of conduct and institutional policies, the mindset, and expected individual and collective behavior.
  • Mission 2: Strategy and steering
  • Responsibility 1: Contribute to the development of the programme operational strategy, and its implementation and annual monitoring
  • Contribute to the process of elaborating the StratOp of the programme and steer the operational aspects of the StratOp
  • At least once a year, contribute, with his/her portfolio of projects and data, to the annual monitoring of the StratOp and to
  • the following year’s programme planning (support missions and evaluations).
  • In the event of a crisis/emergency, implement the framework and set-up decided by the HI Operations Director.
  • Take part in the programme steering committee led by his/her line manager where required.
  • Responsibility 2: Implement the project part of the Programme’s Operational Strategy
  • Size and plan necessary resources, recruit the project managers (ensuring a fit between skills and the projects’ challenges and ambitions) and develop and monitor their skills development plan, in connection with the corresponding jobs and with HR.
  • Where relevant, develop regular contact with current and potential donors at the field level and liaise with their line manager to check coherence with institutional programming and fundraising strategy.
  • Within the operational framework defined in the StratOp, identify and transform funding opportunities in the area of assignment. Undertake (or contribute to) the design and drafting of new projects, and institutional fundraising for major multi-country projects, based on the decisions taken by the Authority regarding the opportunities.
  • In conjunction with the Technical Unit, identity, develop, and ensure the management and progression of local partnerships and/or consortia with CSOs, NGOs, institutions, and companies; on technical priorities or important topics in the area and going beyond the project timeframe.
  • Responsibility 3: Contribute to organizational transformation, particularly through changes to managerial practices, and continuous improvement, and contribute to the improvement of working processes.
  • Mission 3: Standards and expertise
  • Ensure deployment and compliance with HI global frameworks, institutional policies, and standards
  • These include the mandatory reference frameworks (such as HI Mission & Values or HI Theory of Change: Access to services), all HI’s institutional policies (Security / Code of Conduct and Safeguarding / Anti-fraud, bribery and corruption / PME, and Project Quality Framework / Age-Gender-Disability), all institutional directives and processes; delegation thresholds; security levels.
  • Mission 4: Operational implementation
  • Responsibility 1: Ensure the sound management and monitoring of projects under his/her responsibility
  • In conjunction with the [Technical Unit and the MEAL Unit, ensure that HI quality standards (including technical standards) are applied in the projects, and monitor the implementation of recommendations from support missions, evaluations, and audits.
  • Ensure compliance with project donors’ rules and adherence to contractual commitments: consolidation, oversight, and reporting to his/her line manager operational and organizational information in his/her area (dashboards, corrective action, use of own funds, beneficiary data, etc.)
  • Concerning the concerned departments, deploy all appropriate tools to enable project monitoring (operational, financial, logistics, human resources, and technical monitoring) respecting HI and donors’ financial framework and in compliance with HI’s policies and frameworks.
  • Undertake expenditure and manage the project activity-specific budget lines according to the delegation he/she received based on the programme signature delegation table
  • Facilitate audits (operational, financial, and organizational), and ensure that their recommendations are implemented in their area of responsibility.
  • Responsibility 2: Keeping both potential opportunities and risks in mind, contribute to the monitoring and analysis done by the line manager, and propose mitigation measures where relevant
  • In conjunction with the line manager, implement analysis and monitoring of risks & opportunities related to HI’s presence and activities; implement risk mitigation actions at his/her level; and ensure the implementation of a humanitarian watch and (when decided by the Country Director) of an emergency preparedness plan in the area.
  • Responsibility 3: Develop HI’s external influence (forums, operational and strategic alliances, etc) and the external representation of the organization (events, media) in his/her area of responsibility.
  • May represent HI to the local, national, traditional, political, military, and diplomatic authorities and bodies; and international organizations and humanitarian mechanisms and coordination bodies.
  • As part of his/her role, convey HI’s global advocacy messages to all the relevant external partners.
  • Responsibility 4: Coordinate the teams in his/her area
  • Facilitate coordination meetings between his/her direct team of project managers and the support services located in the area when necessary.
  • Follow up teams in his/her area in conjunction with their direct managers.
  • Ensure that the project manager and the support teams (shared and technical services, in particular) work well together to facilitate project implementation in the country; conduct regular project reviews with the project managers and relevant departments.
  • Responsibility 5: Support the Operations Manager in monitoring security in their area and ensure adequate resources according to the context
  • Monitor and analyze the security context in his/her area of responsibility regularly (if required).
  • In tandem with the Operations Manager, decide to deploy or withdraw teams from sensitive areas.
  • Report all incidents directly to the Operations Manager.
  • Develop a network of contacts with security staff from fellow NGOs, and represent HI in access, security, and safety meetings (at the request of the Operations Manager).
  • Provide feedback and advice about security risks, as well as on the existence and use of security management resources, such as SOPS, and project proposals.
  • Working with the Operations Manager and Senior Management Team, update the security and contingency plans as and when the context develops.
  • Support the Operations Manager on exploratory mission assessments, identification of guesthouses, and the opening of new areas.
  • Assist the Operations Manager in raising the awareness of HI staff (national and international) about security risks and ensuring that security documents are understood and implemented.
  • Mission 5: Emergency Preparedness and Response
  • Lead the emergency preparedness actions in his/her department and, in the event of an emergency, reorganize the priorities of his/her team according to the humanitarian priority, to ensure a quick and efficient response by HI.
  • Skills
  • Management skills
  • Being capable of helping team members to progress: developing his/her staff‘s ability to work autonomously.
  • Knowing how to position oneself so things can move forward.
  • Knowing how to simplify and prioritize.

Employment Status

Full-time

Educational Requirements

  • Master’s degree in Social Science, Sociology, Development Studies, Public Administration, Management, or relevant field.

Experience Requirements

  • At least 6 year(s)
  • The applicants should have experience in the following area(s): Development or Operation Management. NGO, Emergency Response Operation, Field Operation, Humanitarian emergency assistance programms, Humanitarian Response, Safety and Security Management, Senior Management
  • The applicants should have experience in the following business area(s): NGO

Additional Requirements

  • Age at least 25 years
  • Essential:
  • At least 6 years of professional experience in humanitarian/emergency contexts.
  • At least 4-5 years of experience in senior management of field bases and/or programs.
  • At least 3-4 years of experience in security management and/or context analysis.
  • Preferred:
  • Previous experience in the same position in the working base (Ukhiya/Teknaf/Kurigram) would be an asset.
  • Previous experience with HI would be an asset.
  • Solid work experience in one or more core sectors is a strong asset: health/rehabilitation, psychosocial support, DRR, Livelihood, emergency responses and disability, age, and gender inclusion.
  • Competencies:
  • Essential:
  • Fluent English mandatory (oral and written)
  • Good understanding of logistics, HR, and finance management
  • Strong computer skills (use of MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and other relevant software).
  • Preferred:
  • -Personal qualities:
  • Essential:
  • Strong organizational skills
  • Autonomous, reactive, and able to deal with priorities
  • Extremely rigorous and precise, attention to details
  • Strong sense of diplomacy
  • Able to work collaboratively in a team
  • Strong interpersonal and intercultural skills
  • Practical and problem solver
  • Ability to summarize, share and consolidate information
  • Person with disability are encouraged to apply

Job Location

Cox’s Bazar (Teknaf)

Salary

  • Tk. 183498 – 205767 (Monthly)
  • Hardship Allowance will be added in addition to working in Cox`s Bazar District. Salary will be determined based on experience, qualification, and budget availability.

Compensation & Other Benefits

  • Mobile bill, Tour allowance, Medical allowance, Provident fund, Weekly 2 holidays, Insurance, Gratuity
  • Festival Bonus: 2

How to apply

Apply Procedure: Area Manager

Read Before Apply

Special Attention: *This position is only for Bangladeshi Nationals.

Interested candidates should send the Motivation/Cover letter with detail explaining the expertise and explaining the reason for considering you are the best fit for this position along with the Resume (only soft copy) to: [email protected]

Please indicate the position title & base/job location in the subject line of the email. The deadline to receive the applications is Sunday, 16th October 2022 on or before 11:59 PM.

Only short-listed candidates will be notified. Please indicate the position name you are applying for in the subject line. HI reserves the right to close the vacancy earlier than the deadline mentioned above.

Handicap International-Humanity & Inclusion is an equal opportunity employer. Women and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply and they will be preferred in case of equal qualifications with other candidates.

HI promotes and upholds the principles of equal opportunities and policies (PSEAH, Child Protection, etc.). HI has a zero-tolerance approach to any harm to, or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or a child by any of our staff, representatives, or partners. Recruitment to all jobs in HI includes, in particular, criminal record checks and the collection of relevant references. Safeguarding our beneficiaries is our top priority in everything we do.

HI is committed to a safe workplace for all people to grow professionally regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, or race. HI extends this commitment to equality and Do No Harm to all staff, volunteers, partners, and beneficiaries. With a strong commitment to these values, the humanitarian principles focus on equity and inclusion. A competitive candidate will uphold and implement these values in their personal and professional life.

Any sort of persuasion by the person, phone, email, or other means in this regard will automatically disqualify the candidate. The selected employee should clearly understand that all final offers of employment are contingent upon a successful reference check, the pre-employment screening will be performed for all selected applicants.


*Closing date: 16-Oct-22