Deputy Response Coordinator: Operations – DRC

Job Summary:

The humanitarian needs in Eastern DRC continue to escalate due to significant instability and vulnerability of the population in North Kivu and Ituri Provinces. In response to the crisis, FHI 360 will implement an integrated program that provides life-saving and sustainable activities under health and protection that will meet the critical needs of internally displaced persons and affected communities.

FHI 360’s Crisis Response Department is seeking a Deputy Response Coordinator for FHI 360’s integrated Health, Nutrition, Protection and WASH program in Eastern DRC. The Deputy Response Coordinator’s primary responsibilities are to assist the Response Coordinator with the management of all humanitarian activities at the field level, with a focus on heading programming aspects of the response. Under the supervision of the Response Coordinator, the incumbent will fill a critical role on the response team in country overseeing all program staff and program activities. The Deputy Response Coordinator should have a strong background in Health and Nutrition, and knowledge of Protection and WASH.

Based in Bunia, this duty station has been designated as high risk and poses a heightened risk or direct threat to personal safety. This position will travel to extreme risk locations throughout DRC. Applicants should research this location and the associated risks before submitting an application. For international staff based in Bunia, FHI 360 provides a competitive salary, danger pay, premium pay allowance, accommodation, relocation, and regular R&R rotations. This position is envisioned for 24 months.

Accountabilities:

• Working closely with the Response Coordinator, oversee the management of day-to-day program activities including the supervision and monitoring of all technical sectors and activities.
• Assess quality and consistency of programs through on-site monitoring to ensure and enhance program effectiveness and quality.
• Ensure program activities are compliant with both FHI 360 policies and procedures and meet donor requirements.
• Manage and supervise field staff including leads for technical sectors, grants and reporting, monitoring and evaluation, and others at the field level to create a strong foundation for emergency programming.
• Coordinate and lead field assessments of emergency needs and develop a response strategy in collaboration with host country government, the UN system, other humanitarian organizations and the Crisis Response Team (CRT), as well as Regional and Country management teams as appropriate.
• Lead the development and update of the overall program workplans and track operational activities against the workplan.
• Oversee quality and consistency of programs through on-site monitoring to ensure and enhance program effectiveness and quality.
• Represent FHI 360 within in-country humanitarian coordination mechanisms.
• Oversee and ensure compliance with FHI 360 policy, procedures and practices throughout the program; recommend country or emergency specific policy/procedures as required.
• Coordinate with country office (if applicable) and HQ to troubleshoot any issues; make recommendations for corrective actions.
• Conducts analysis of program implementation to identify areas for improvement and propose appropriate technical strategy and guidelines.
• Provides leadership and team building.

Applied Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge and application of Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) and Sphere standards and Red Cross/NGO Code of Conduct.
• Experience working with the Bureau of Humanitarian Affairs (BHA) preferred.
• Previous experience working in humanitarian health, nutrition, WASH and protection programs.
• Knowledge of technical guidelines and guiding principles of health and nutrition
• Strong interpersonal skills and display evidence of good leadership and influencing skills.
• Ability to interact professionally with culturally and linguistically diverse staff and clients.
• English fluency required; fluency in the local language (French or Swahili) a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and be comfortable participating both as an effective contributor and a listener in group settings which include senior staff.
• Well-organized, resourceful, effective, and efficient at coordinating multiple resources to get things done and must have proven track record of successfully working on multiple tasks at once and foresees and plan around obstacles.
• Demonstrated sensitivity in diverse, cross-cultural settings.
• Demonstrated experience in multi-sector project management and implementation.
• Strong organization and ability to lead program development from concept note to proposal stage

Problem Solving & Impact:

• Works on problems of complex scope that require analysis and in-depth evaluation of variable factors.
• Evidence based decision making preventing critical delays or modifications to projects or operations.
• Ability to exercise judgment that contributes to the organization’s business strategies and develops objectives that align with department’s strategic goals.
• Must be able to provide accurate, expert level advice to reach outcomes that will enable achievement of overall department and organization goals.
• Demonstrates a responsive, professional attitude that is solution oriented.
• Decisions and actions have a serious impact on the overall success of the function.

Supervision Given/Received:

• Regularly interacts with senior management and HQ based staff.
• Leads by “managing managers” or other direct/indirect reports in the region/functional area.
• Ability to motivate, mentor, and empower individuals to achieve expectations and goals set for the functional unit.
• Provide input on country/project staff performance reviews.
• In coordination with senior management, hire/terminates country/project staff.
• Reports to the Crisis Response Coordinator.

Education**:

• Bachelor’s Degree or its International Equivalent – Economics, Education, Environment, Health, Human Development, Information Science, International Development, Social Sciences or Related Field.
• Master or other advanced degree in Public Health highly preferred, clinical experience in health a plus.
• Certification in project management preferred.

Experience:

• Typically requires 5 – 8 years leading complex on-site emergency response projects and/or programs; including 3 – 4 years of project management and/or emergency response experience
• Experience establishing startup operations/projects in new countries preferred.
• Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private company of progressive program management experience in humanitarian assistance or related industry experience in a relevant technical area.
• Strong background in Health and Nutrition programs; medical background in humanitarian contexts preferred.

Typical Physical Demands:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift 5 – 50 lbs.
• Ability to travel to remote field site locations that lack basic essentials.
• Candidate must be in good physical condition and understand that medical care is not readily available at duty station.

Technology to be Used:

• Computer, Microsoft Office 365 (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, e-mail), office telephone, cell phone and printer/copier.

Travel Requirements:

• 50% throughout DRC