Head of Programmes

Head of Programmes

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Job Title: Head of Programmes

Contract Duration: 9 months (till the end of 2022)

Location: Mazar-i-Sharif with frequent travels to Kabul

Reporting to: Country Director

People In Need (PIN) Afghanistan

PIN is a Czech, non-governmental, non-profit organisation founded on the ideals of humanism, freedom, equality and solidarity. Human dignity and freedom are fundamental values and we believe that people anywhere in the world should have the right to make decisions about their own lives and share the rights expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

People in Need’s Afghanistan country programme (CP) started in November 2001, providing emergency food distribution in mountainous areas of the central highlands. 20 years later, the programme has visibly grown and diversified, but continues to promote PIN’s core values: envisioning a world where people are free to make decisions about their lives; a world where people are not restricted by an un-free society, poverty, lack of education or discrimination. Today, we work along the humanitarian and development spectrum, providing immediate aid supporting the most vulnerable in Afghanistan to find long-term solutions to the challenges they face.

Background

PIN Afghanistan’s three strategic objectives for the current planning period (2021-2022) are (1) Agency driven, transformative, humanitarian assistance; (2) Making markets work for crisis affected and marginalised communities; and, (3) Harnessing decent, productive and inclusive livelihoods. Under the current evolving context and on the verge of unseen humanitarian catastrophe, the Country Programme (CP) is focusing efforts under Strategic Objective 1 and in particular supporting people to have (1) enough to eat, (2) a safe and secure living space that supports their health and well-being, (3) the basic items needed to stay safe and warm, and (4) access to education when the normal structures are no longer available to them.

General Purpose of the Position

Head of Programmes is a member of the PIN Afghan mission Country Management Team (CMT; together with the Country Director, Security Advisor, Support Systems Managers and the HQ Desk Officer for Afghanistan). Head of Programmes is responsible for the program implementation teams and for maintaining and expanding the PIN program portfolio in Afghanistan, in line with PIN policies and guidelines, ensuring impactful programming in line with the PIN overall strategy.

The Head of Programmes plays a lead role in ensuring high quality delivery of existing projects as well as proposing new interventions for CP growth in line with the PIN strategy and unfolding humanitarian situation in the country.

Externally, the Head of Programmes represents the organisation in relevant fora and develops and maintains relations with relevant

The Head of Programmes closely cooperates with the CMT as well as Desk team and PIN technical focal points .

Duties and responsibilities

  • Contribute to scaling up of the PIN humanitarian response in Afghanistan by active networking, liaising with donors and understanding donor’s priorities and actively seeking for new funding opportunities;
  • With support from the technical focal points, lead development of new proposals, ensuring there are up-to-date inputs from the program and MEAL teams
  • Ensure that program development is based on context and needs analysis; coordinating assessment activities if and when needed and participating in the field visits if and when security situation allows
  • Directly supervises Deputy Head of Programmes and Program Managers to ensure and guarantee:
    • Proper planning of activities and their high-quality and timely delivery in line with PIN policies, guidelines and SOPs
    • Project objectives are achieved and used for further expansion of the CP
    • Reporting and implementation timelines are respected
  • Regularly update CD and CMT on program implementation progress, vis-à-vis budget and indicators, suggesting necessary adjustments and addressing evolving issues in consultation with the senior management
  • Organise and document regular meetings for planning and monitoring purposes (reviewing workplans, procurement plans, financial planning, progress on indicators)
  • Review and validate external reports prepared by program and MEAL teams
  • Ensure that PIN Global Policies and guidelines are followed and adjusted to the context; proper tolls are revised or developed and used to (1) measure the performance of the program from different aspects (MEAL, implementation quality, reporting, archiving and procurement) and to (2) guide the program as per correct processes how the activities should be conducted (SOPs)
  • Communicate with HQ/ Desk/ technical focal points on issues related to programme quality and, cross-cutting topics and program records to ensure compliance with donor’s requirements and proposal goals, to sustain organisational memory and keep organised records for audit purposes
  • Oversee project recruitment planning, participates in recruitment of key program positions and observes and suggests capacity building needs and activities within the program team
  • Represent PIN towards other (I)NGO partners, clusters, working groups and supports Country Director when requested to liaise with donors, humanitarian actors, local authorities and participate in other relevant meetings

Skills and Qualifications

Qualification:

  • A graduate degree in a relevant field (humanitarian action, social work etc.)

Experience (required)

  • Minimum of 5-years relevant experience in a similar position:
  • Experience in managing emergency response projects
  • Experience in managing projects by different donors (UN, ECHO, BHA)
  • Progressive responsibility coordinating and managing emergency response teams
  • Experience working in complex and volatile context; experience from Afghanistan is an asset
  • Proven proposal writing skills; proven analysis and report writing skills
  • Understanding of humanitarian project cycle
  • Understanding of Afghan context is an asset
  • Fluency in English - written and spoken

Competencies

  • Results orientation;
  • Strategic thinking;
  • Initiating action and change;
  • Analytical skills, sound judgement;
  • Flexible, proactive approach;
  • Gender and cultural sensitivity;
  • Handling sensitive data.
  • High degree of rationality; a scientific wake of thinking, and a very good grasp of logic
  • Outstanding communication skills - written and spoken
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Demonstrated patience, enthusiasm and strong personal skills with attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work both independently and cooperatively with team members.
  • High ethical standards and ability to endorse principals of confidentiality
  • Commitment to and understanding of PIN’s aims, values and principles
  • Capacity to meet deadlines

PIN offers:

  • Flexible and challenging working environment with room for personal growth
  • Robust and thorough induction training at HQ (2 weeks)
  • HEAT training (unless the candidate participated in one recently)
  • Starting salary as per PIN salary scale (subsistence allowance of 1 200 EUR is already included): approximately 4 000 EUR gross depending on previous experience;
  • Reimbursement of flight ticket to the country of residence once every 6 months of work, 2 regional flights per year for R&R trips
  • Reimbursement of costs of visas and vaccinations; assistance with visa application procedure,
  • Medical helpdesk and psychological consultation available on line,
  • Travel insurance,
  • 25 days of paid leave annually and 10 days of R&R leave
  • Accommodation in PIN guesthouse

How to apply:

Are you interested in this position? Send us your CV and short cover letter (no longer than 4 pages altogether) via this 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: https://www.peopleinneed.net/key-policies-4142gp).