Roving Field Coordinator

The IRC Yemen began its programs in October 2012. Currently IRC Yemen is operating in eight governorates in the south and north of Yemen through direct programming and through local partnerships, in Health, WASH, Nutrition, Economic Recovery Development, Education, Child Protection, and Women Protection and Empowerment.

Scope of work:

Under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Operations, the Roving Field Coordinator will be responsible for all operational aspects of program implementation in field sites. The Roving Field Coordinator will work in close coordination with program, operations, security, HR and finance department heads based in Aden and Sana’a offices. The Roving Field Coordinator will directly supervise four Field Managers in Yemen Country Program to ensure programs have required level of operational support for the timely execution of agreed program implementation plans. The Roving Field Coordinator will be based in Al Dhale’e with regular travel to other field sites and capitals Aden and Sana’a.

Job responsibilities:

1. Field Management and Program Support

• Promotes strong linkages and exchange between operations and program teams, including Field Managers and field-based program leads.

• Ensures Field Managers fulfill their responsibilities to deliver quality coordination and cooperation between and within the various program and operational departments in their field locations. Regularly roves between field offices to ensure appropriate support to Field Managers and other field staff is provided and conducts program site visits, producing reports with action points to monitor.

• Supports Field Managers function as day-to-day managers of operations staff based in the field, including Admin/HR, Finance, Supply Chain, IT and security/access staff.

• Closely monitors events in current and potential operational areas (humanitarian situation, politics, and security, etc.) in order to provide regular context updates to Senior Management Team (SMT) and program leads, and identify additional possible programming areas.

• Advises SMT about strategic programming needs, opportunities, and issues affecting project implementation, or key local issues affecting future grants/projects developments.

• In close cooperation with security department, advises and supports security and humanitarian access assessments for new areas of program implementation and IRC response.

• Works closely with Program Technical Coordinators (TCs) to understand their needs and supports Field Managers to address them.

• Works closely with Operations Technical Coordinators to ensure Field Managers and field operations teams receive high level of oversight and support. Actively identifies operational gaps and advocates with TCs and SMT to address them.

• Supports the work of the Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Client Responsiveness and Accountability (CRA) teams in executing their responsibilities to promote accountable programming and maximize impact on beneficiaries.

• Represents fields in various meetings (project review meetings, SMT meetings, strategic workshops etc.) and serves as the main advocate to ensure sufficient resources (human, technical, material etc.) are dedicated to enable accountable, smooth, responsive and high-quality field operations.

• Other tasks related to field operation and coordination

2. Emergency preparedness and response

• Supports emergency needs assessments and emergency response program, when required.

• Participates in Emergency Response steering committee meetings, when required.

3. Access/Safety

• Ensures health, safety and security protocols are followed by field staff at all times, and takes corrective, timely actions as required and in consultation with the Humanitarian Access and Safety Coordinator and SMT.

• Ensures all IRC field locations have up-to-date Security Risk Assessment (SRA) and Field Security Management Plan (F-SMP) in place in close coordination and cooperation with Humanitarian Access and Security (HAS) Coordinator. Ensures all field staff are aware of F-SMPs and Stand Operating Procedures and have received trainings from the HAS department.

• Supports Field Managers and field HAS team to manage day-to-day access and security issues.

• Ensures implementation and follow up on all action points related to resolution of significant security incidents in the fields as delegated by the SMT.

4. Compliance and Financial Management

• Actively participates in development of local policies, practices and guidelines and introducing measures to maintain compliant procurement and recruitment activities within field office thresholds.

• In close coordination with the Field Managers, oversees development and spending of field office budgets including designing appropriate field structure, setting field staffing levels for operational departments, and budget forecasting.

• Reviews budget vs. actual reports and supports Field Managers in same for field office costs. Where issues are identified ensures appropriate action is taken in a timely fashion.

• Ensures compliance with IRC and donor finance and operations policies, including all aspects of procurement and asset management.

• Partners in investigations of misconduct when required and actively collaborates with DDO and Human Resources if disciplinary measures are required, taking into consideration safety and security of IRC staff, programs and assets.

5. Representation and Coordination

• In coordination with the DDO, ensures full compliance with project/grant agreements and with statutory and technical legislation issued by appropriate government authorities.

• Helps maintain a positive relationship with government counterparts.

• Ensures all IRC engagement with government departments and agencies at field levels adheres to best practices, including humanitarian principles and internal IRC guidance.

• Ensures Field Managers provide all necessary input for reporting requirements of governorate and central level authorities in close coordination with the Liaison team.

• Ensures IRC is properly represented at coordination meetings in all field locations, and that information from these meetings is shared with relevant stakeholders.

• Organizes annual workshops for field counterparts and authorities at all field locations to increase their awareness of IRC’s achievements, current and future projects and enhance acceptance. Organizes drafting achievement reports serving the same purpose.

• Ensures good visibility of IRC’s programs in all field locations in line with IRC’s Visibility Guidelines.

6. Human Resources and Staff Development

• Promotes team spirit, cohesion, respect, and the IRC Way: Standards for Professional Conduct among all field staff in close cooperation with HR department. Adheres to and acts in accordance with the IRC Global and IRC Yemen HR Policies and Procedures.

• Trains, supervises and mentors Field Managers, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.

• Approves and manages all time, attendance and leave requests for Field Managers to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensures monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carries out probationary reviews.

• Provides a measurable capacity building plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity and exchanging knowledge within the team. Additionally, ensure that all direct reports develop and implement Capacity Building Plans for their teams. Looks for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate.

Qualifications

• Excellent professional track record with 5 years of International experience in a conflict/post-conflict environment with program field leadership and coordination responsibilities.

• Excellent organizational and management skills, including experience coaching and managing staff, developing and implementing work plans and budgets.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and facilitation skills.

• Strong cross-cultural communication skills and comfortable working as part of a diverse team. Sensitive to interpersonal differences and a range of viewpoints.

• Excellent problem-solving skills and demonstrated ability to handle pressure and improve.

• Good security management skills, preferably in emergency & post-conflict environments.

• Strong understanding of humanitarian principles and experience adhering to them in conflict environments.

• Excellent interpersonal, coordination and networking skills.

• Highly resilient and comfortable working in insecure settings with restricted personal freedoms.

• Fluency in English. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Working knowledge of Arabic strongly preferred.

• Experience in capacity building and mentoring of staff.

Work Environment: There is active conflict in parts of the country and a possibility of the conflict expanding into other locations. The situation in Yemen is currently quiet but remains unpredictable. Security will be thoroughly discussed during the interview process.
Housing: Lodging in Al Dhale, Aden and Sana’a is in shared IRC guesthouse. All IRC sites have electricity and internet. Food is the individual’s responsibility.

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in The IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability