Horn Relief Senior Program Manager (South Somalia) Job in Mandera Kenya

Position Title:Senior Program Manager – South Somalia

Position Location:Mandera – Kenya (with field travel)

Duration: 8 months

Starting date:Immediate

Application deadline: 15th January, 2011. Horn Relief will conduct interviews on an ongoing basis.

Vacancy contact: hornreliefjobs@gmail.com & vacancies@hornrelief.org 

Organization Background

Horn Relief is an expanding and vibrant African-based international organization, working with communities to create environments in which Africans can thrive. We work to prevent and overcome situations that adversely affect community well-being by: reinvigorating the economy, developing skills for life and work, providing humanitarian aid, and influencing policy.

Our belief that economic, social and environmental security is the bedrock of a healthy community drives the nature and intent of our programming. Horn Relief has been strengthening rural livelihoods and delivering innovative humanitarian aid and development programs for the past 20 years.

Currently, we have programs in Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan. Our present donor portfolio includes the European Commission, USAID, SIDA, UNICEF, among others. Horn Relief is an exciting, dynamic organization experiencing managed rapid growth. It offers sound employment conditions with opportunities for personal growth and development.

Context

Most parts of South-Central Somalia continue to experience an unstable government, sporadic armed conflict, endemic humanitarian needs, and minimal access to social services, flooding, drought, displacement and lack of economic recovery.

Against this unpredictability, Horn Relief and its local partners focus to the greatest extent possible on meeting the needs of the most vulnerable and food insecure, displaced, returnees and minority groups through a diverse mix of programmatic approaches.

Position Summary

The position requires a proactive and dynamic individual that is able to quickly adapt to changing contexts. The Senior Program Manager will be responsible for providing management oversight to all programming and operational functions at the field level in South Somalia.

This includes

1. Program planning and implementation,
2. Administration and Operation Management
3. Safety and security.

The SPM will manage and monitor a team of expatriate and local staff as well as provide support to implementing partners. This is a key position in a challenging context.

The position is based in Mandera initially (with possible relocation to South Somalia - security permitting) and reports directly to the Area Coordinator at Horn Relief’s headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Specific Roles and Responsibilities Include:-

• Creates and executes work plans and revises as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements.
• Establish work plans and staffing plans for each phase of program - Identifies resources needed and assigns individual responsibilities
• Manages day-to-day operational aspects (administration, human resource, procurement, logistics and finance) as per project scope.
• Effectively applies Horn Relief’s methodologies and enforces project standards.
• Minimizes exposure to project and institutional risk.
• Ensures project and financial documents are complete, current, and stored appropriately.
• Planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the program to ensure the program is delivered according to plan - Effectively monitor and manage the project schedule.
• Prepare program status reports on a regular basis and document any changes to project activities for HQ
• Resolve issues as they arise across areas of the project and where they impact on other activities, systems and projects.
• Ensure safety and security procedures and policies are implemented and observed.
• Communicate project status to all team members, and other relevant departments and involved parties.
• Conduct project meetings, bi-weekly or monthly as needed and actively participate in local coordination mechanisms.
• Support new areas of programming (In line with Horn Relief’s mandate) and prioritize emerging program needs such as baseline information, assessments, gap analysis and preparation of fact sheets, beneficiary profiles, success stories and regional briefs.
• Establish staff performance objectives for periodic appraisals for all program staff.
• Supervise project teams to ensure successful completion / implementation of the program.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Bachelors’ degree, in Social Sciences, International development, Project Management, and/or Public Administration or other relevant field.
• Minimum 5-years’ experience in team leadership/project management roles including in unstable and emergency situations
• Strong operational management experience and capability (Finance, Human Resource and Logistics), including experience in remote management
• Understanding/knowledge of Somalia and sensitive to the socio-cultural context
• Quick, analytical and critical thinking ability
• Proactive and adaptable to work on several tasks with quick and competing time lines
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and influencing skills. Well-developed ability to motivate and persuade at high levels.
• Proven ability to lead and work effectively with others to achieve results
• Familiarity with UN security guidelines in unstable environments
• Familiarity with SPHERE Guidelines.

Application Process

Applications should be submitted by 15th January 2012.

The selection committee will review all applications as they are received.

All applicants must meet the minimum requirements described above, and those unable to meet these requirements will not be considered.

No phone calls please.

Horn Relief is an equal opportunity employer.

Each application should include the following:

• Application letter stating why your skills and qualifications are suitable for this position and current contact information
• CV, including detailed work experience, education/degrees
• Professional references (minimum of three, with complete contact information)

All applications should be sent to Horn Relief at hornreliefjobs@gmail.com & vacancies@hornrelief.org with the subject line: “Senior Program Manager-South Central Somalia.

Website: www.hornrelief.org