Head of Consortium in Ukraine

Description

Location: Lviv
Contract Duration: 12 months with possible extension
Starting date: asap
Full time position

Background:

People in Need (PIN) has been active in Ukraine since early August 2014 and the humanitarian program has been rapidly expanding since then. Currently, PIN is one of the major humanitarian actors in eastern Ukraine providing neutral and independent humanitarian aid to conflict-affected people. The PIN representative office is located in Kyiv. A PIN field office in Sloviansk functions as the main base for humanitarian operations in the government-controlled area (GCA) and supporting office for the PIN field office in Stakhanov (Lugansk Oblast, non-government-controlled area, NGCA). So far PIN has implemented a number of emergency food, multi-purpose cash grants, NFI, Shelter, Protection, Livelihoods and WASH interventions in rural and urban areas in support of vulnerable IDPs, returnees and host communities. In line with the shifting needs and evolution of the response context, PIN is now expanding its program to more recovery and stabilization type of activities. PIN’s main donors in Ukraine currently include ECHO, OFDA and DFID.
The Head of Consortium (HoC) will provide leadership and management (overseeing design, delivery, quality, M&E and advocacy) of the 3rd phase of an ECHO funded Consortium project focused on the provision of multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected populations in eastern Ukraine. The sectors include Health/Mental Health, Protection and inclusion, WASH, Shelter, basic needs support (multi-purpose cash assistance/vouchers) and evidence-based advocacy. The Consortium project also channels funds to support in-depth humanitarian needs assessment and response coordination. The HoC is responsible for the coordination of the Consortium, which includes the following partners: PIN as lead agency, Médecins del Mundo (MdM), ACTED in partnership with IMPACT Initiatives (REACH), and HelpAge International, as well as national agencies Right to Protection and the Ukraine NGO Forum.

Internal relations: 

The HoC reports directly to the PIN Country Director and coordinates closely with the PIN Head of Project (ECHO) and Emergency Coordinator, based in Sloviansk, as well as other partner field management focal points. The HoC also works directly with PIN Programme Quality, Reporting, Finance and HQ focal points.

External relations: 

The HoC works with a high degree of autonomy and is responsible for regularly coordinating with staff across all agencies, from field to head of agency level, and for facilitating Consortium management meetings (Steering Committee and Program Implementation Unit). The HoC represents the Consortium as needed at UN Cluster Meetings and General Coordination Meetings. The HoC is also the principal point of contact for ECHO in-country and for representative duties, as needed, related to advocacy and communications initiatives.

Main responsibilities:

Project cycle management:

• Lead the design, and coordinate the development, of Consortium funding proposals;
• Hold accountability for planning, action design and delivery of objectives, strategies, plans and budgets of the Consortium led Action;
• Ensure the delivery of agreed outputs of the Consortium and that these outputs comply with both internal and external quality standards;
• Facilitate the Consortium’s Steering Committee’s work and organize regular meetings with the aim to enable efficient coordination of program activities and effective learning;
• Facilitate monthly meetings with Consortium members on program management issues;
• Lead management and compliance oversight of all joint aspects of the Consortium, including financial and human resources;
• Liaise between different components of the Consortium whilst being neutral to all Consortium partners;
• Cooperate closely with PIN and Consortium agencies’ program departments on programmatic synergies and complementarities with the aim to identify issues to address and make recommendations for improvement;
• Ensure that Consortium activities are implemented according to the initially agreed work plan and project design;
• Consolidate and finalize narrative reports, and assist with review and approval of financial reporting;
• Coordinate and oversee data management procedures for Consortium documentation, contact lists, project documents and so forth.

Budget and Finance

• Ensure that financial and contractual obligations are followed according to ECHO’s rules and regulations;
• Conduct regular budget and finance meetings with Consortium partners to ensure the spending is according to the initially agreed budget;
• Ensure that operational and administrative procedures are followed according to ECHO guidelines, MoUs and cooperation agreements between PIN and Consortium partners;
• Coordinate with partner Finance and Operations focal points to problem solve as needed, approve changes and revisions to budgets, and to ensure that partner contracting and supervision processes across the Consortium are effective.

Communication and Coordination

• The Head of Consortium is the focal point for all Consortium related partnerships and stakeholders, including managing the relationship with ECHO in-country;
• Strategize on the engagement of national and international stakeholders in the action, including representing the Consortium in coordination mechanisms and various advocacy fora;
• Ensure a high quality of communication among the Consortium partners and, in close coordination with PIN’s Advocacy and Communication Manager, provide professional recommendations and relevant data to strengthen advocacy efforts of the Consortium action;
• Oversee the development of case studies and relevant communication materials and share and promote these;
• Act as the spokesperson for the Consortium with high-level stakeholders nationally and internationally;

Programme Development and Quality

• Be accountable for quality assurance of performance measures (e.g. outcome indicators, interim milestones, and the efficacy of the overall monitoring and evaluation systems);
• Oversee the development and implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation framework for the Consortium and be available to provide programmatic and monitoring guidance as needed;
• Exercise strategic leadership on capacity development, identifying requirements for organizational capacity building and the development and implementation of capacity building activities;
• Develop, in coordination with the Consortium partners, ECHO, and other stakeholders, lessons learned in the design and implementation of Consortium activities and means of responding to these.

Requirements:

• Minimum of 4 - 5 years of experience in managing/coordinating humanitarian or development projects;
• Bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to humanitarian or development management, a related postgraduate qualification preferred;
• Experience in coordinating projects with multiple stakeholders or working within the humanitarian coordination system;
• Proven relationship and partnership management capacity, and experience working and communicating across organizations (from Country Directors to technical leads);
• Highly knowledgeable in project design, logical frameworks, proposal development, M&E and reporting standards and processes;
• Capacity to provide authoritative guidance in areas of Consortium programming and to coach and mentor members of the team;
• Financial management experience and basic familiarity with the operational components of a humanitarian response;
• Familiarity with NGO working environments and standard procedures;
• Familiarity with ECHO-funded projects is an asset;
• Advocacy/policy experience a plus;
• Experience in a conflict/post-conflict environment a plus;
• Fluent in English; Russian and/or Ukrainian is a plus;
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

PIN offers:

• Salary as per PIN scale, (EUR 2350 – 2600 + per diems EUR1200) depending on the seniority level
• Type of contract: consultancy contract
• Duration of the contract: 12 months with possible extension
• Accommodation
• Reimbursement of travel expenses with travel to the country of residence once per every 6 months of work
• Reimbursement of costs of visas and vaccinations; assistance with visa application procedure
• Medical helpdesk and psychological consultation available online
• Medical travel insurance
• 25 days of paid leave annually (compensational leave: if it occurs necessary to work over weekend or on holidays is compensated proportionally 1:1)
• compensational leave: if it occurs necessary to work over weekend or on holidays is compensated proportionally 1:1)

How to apply:

Are you interested in this position? Great. Send us your CV and short cover letter our application form.

Please note only the shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Interviews will be conducted on rolling basis and the vacancy will be closed when filled.

People in Need staff are expected to perform job duties and responsibilities in accordance with People in Need Code of conduct and key policies (available at: www.peopleinneed.cz/policies).