HelpAge International (HAI) helps older people claim their rights, challenge discrimination and overcome poverty, so that they can lead dignified, secure, active and healthy lives. HelpAge International Ukraine has been supporting an emergency response programme in east Ukraine since late 2013 and more significantly from April/May 2014.  The HAI Ukraine programme is managed through the  HAI Eurasia & Middle East Regional Office (EME) who provide direct oversight and support, with additional technical support and management provided through the HAI London Headquarters.

Job tittle: Area Manager (2 positions).

Locanion:  Slovyansk (1 position) and Severodonetsk (1 position) Field Offices in the Donbas Region, East Ukraine

Responsibe to: Emergency Programme Coordinator

Responsible for: Programme Field Teams and Technical Officers and the Field Office Support Systems Staff

Contract length: 9 moths to December 2016 with possible extension

HAI Ukraine and the Regional Office (EME) are working together to respond to the on-going conflict in the Donbas Region (East Ukraine). The emergency support had initially focused on providing food and non-food-items and delivery of protection based services to the most vulnerable older people and those with a disability.  HAI have and continue to support over 10,000 older people in providing essential relief services that also include home-based care services through Social Workers and their Community Volunteers. Other forms of relief support includes direct cash assistance, a more recent relief support, and the direct engagement of local NGOs, through the development of Community Based Initiatives (CBI) grants.

Job purpose:

The Area Manager (AM) is responsible for program development and overall program performance in the assigned field office either in Slovyansk or Severodonetsk.  The AM directly manages and supervises the programme office and field based teams, including the Protection Officer, M&E Staff, Core Technical Officers, Security Officer, providing guidance and leadership in all aspects of project implementation and budget control and management.  The Area Manager also has direct line management responsibility for the Field Office Support Systems Staff (Finance Coordinator, HR/Admin and IT/Logistics etc..). With the Emergency Programme Coordinator (EPC) the Area Manager has responsibility for ensuring the full compliance and application of all approved HAI Ukraine policies.  The AM is a member of the HAI Ukraine Senior Management Team, contributing to overall direction setting and management of HelpAge International in the Donbas Region of Ukraine.

Job responsibilities:

Program Development and Direction Setting

• Support and participate in new proposal development in the geographical areas he/she is responsible for, in coordination with Emergency Program Coordinator (EPC) and Country Director (CD).
• Promote the development of an integrated programmatic approach within HAI Ukraine.
• Contribute to longer term strategic planning and operating plan development.

Program Management

1. Provide programmatic leadership:

• Maintain an in-depth knowledge of key project documentation and ensure that the Programme Team staff are familiar with the key project documentation, required donor procedures and the approved project proposal and associated programme budget.
• Together with Emergency Programme Coordinator (EPC), review existing project design, objectives, outputs, indicators and budget so as to ensure that they are appropriate and realistic, and if required, suggest changes to the EPC.
• In the supported location, provide overall supervision to work planning processes to ensure priorities are identified, and appropriate strategies to address them are implemented.

2. Ensure Programme quality and the application of best practices in programme standards:

• Wherever possible, ensure HAI Ukraine programming principles, in particular gender and rights-based approaches, are incorporated into all project activities.
• Ensure that all projects adhere to HAI Ukraine’s minimum programming standards.
• Maximize opportunities to integrate lessons learned and best practices.

3. Working collaboratively with the Human Resources Manager (Kiev) and field based Finance Coordinator to:

• Recruit positions through a transparent, rigorous and soundly justified procedures.
• Manage staff performance; provide appropriate and timely feedback to staff regarding their performance, including timely implementation of the annual staff appraisal system.
• Ensure all senior staff are sufficiently inducted and oriented to HAI Ukraine’s mission, vision and purpose prior to commencement of their work in the field and at the Kiev office.  Follow up to ensure locally recruited staff receive appropriate briefings.
• Ensure staff are able to access training and personnel development resources appropriate to their needs.
• Ensure that all HAI Ukraine policies followed, as approved by the HAI Ukraine SMT and are fully adhered to.

4. Working collaboratively with the Finance & Support Services Manager, with the filed based Finance Coordinator, to ensure that:

• Programme and Support Staff follow sound financial management principles in compliance with contractual requirements.
• Timely and quality reporting of progress and expenditures is provided to the Coordination Offices.

5. In collaboration with the filed based Protection Coordinator, Accountability/M&E coordinator and the Kiev based Inclusion Advisor, support the;

• Promotion and development of HAI Ukraine advocacy materials, stories, video and other media.
• Assist in the identification and development of human interest stories.
• Ensure compliance with respect to Donor “Visibility” requirements (logos, photos etc..).

Programme Coordination:

• Prepare and edit monthly field based programme reports to aid the development of donor reports as requested by the EPC.
• Encourage overall program cohesion through coordination and information sharing with and between all key staff.
• As directed/requested by the EPC and/or Country Director, represent HelpAge International Ukraine at inter-agency meetings.

Person speciafication:

Essential:

• Educated to University Degree level with a relevant qualification and/or equivalent substantial direct work experience.
• Previous experience of managing a Field Office, including experience in financial and capital and asset resource management.
• Experience in similar related organization with an ability to link humanitarian response to a possible protracted response, especially in terms of meeting needs of communities beyond the more immediate relief focus to possible early recovery needs.
• Understanding of Project Cycle Management Knowledge and experience (community assessments, project design, proposal development, project planning and implementation, M&E and project learning).
• Demonstrated strong leadership skills: interpersonal skills, sound judgment, planning, team building and facilitating skills.
• Experience of and skills in Organizational Representation and Presentation in local and national forums with international and Government Stakeholders.
• Highly developed analytical and communication skills, including excellent oral and written English communication skills.
• Proven ability to work creatively, innovatively and effectively with limited direct supervision.
• Competence in using information technology including experience with word-processing, spreadsheets and database software.

Desirable                 

• Knowledge and application of Humanitarian Principles/Standards (SPHERE Minimum Standards, ICRC Code of Conduct etc.).
• Knowledge of Programme area in the Donbas Region of Ukraine, in terms of the political, economic and social trends plus a good understanding of the key development and humanitarian issues in the region

How to apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their resumes and cover letter (containing names and contact information of three referees) by e-mail to [email protected].

Please, indicate the position you are applying for and preferable location in the subject line of your message.

Closing date for applications is 15 May 2016; however, interested candidates are strongly encouraged to apply sooner.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.