Area Programme Coordinator (APC)

Job Title : Area Programme Coordinator (APC)

Function: Management

Job Group: Programme

Duty Station: Erbil (25%), Field Offices (75%)

Administrative Line Manager: Senior Programme Manager

Technical Line Manager: Senior Programme Manager

Line Management Responsibility: Team Leaders

ABOUT US

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is a dynamic, international non-governmental organization. We work to reduce violence and protect civilians in countries affected by violent conflict and its aftermath through the implementation of unarmed civilian protection prog ramming. NP implements programming through the deployment of civilian protection teams to the field and is continuing to scale up to meet the growing needs in the communities we serve. Programming is founded on unarmed civilian protection and is thematically focused on protection in displacement, child protection, gender-based violence protection and inter-communal violence reduction.

JOB PURPOSE:

To manage the implementation of NP’s Programme, overseeing violence reduction programming in Ninewa and other locations where NP established field presence. The APC is responsible for ensuring the implementation of effective programming, operations and project cycle management in complex, logistically challenging and insecure locations.

KEY OBJECTIVES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Programme Management

• Provide technical advice and oversight for the field teams implementing civilian protection and violence reduction projects, either directly or through team leaders in field sites.
• Guide teams in work planning and adapting programme implementation to address emerging protection needs and/or contextual or operational challenges.
• Engage in direct programme implementation as needed, participate in integrated rapid needs assessments and emergency response. Stand in as Acting Team Leader when necessary.
• Produce monthly internal reports, covering context, programming and staff.
• The APC will support field teams and serve as interlocutor with Management and the Programme Development team if programming has to be adapted to address emergency or dynamic contextual realities and/or if changing circumstances renders the project objectives irrelevant or impossible.

Representation and Advocacy

• Represent NP in coordination and advocacy fora where appropriate and needed, including on issue-based advocacy in Erbil.
• Represent NP at the sub-national level (with local authorities in field locations) when Team Leaders request senior support.
• Provide guidance and direct support on access related negotiations in areas of operation as needed.
• Contribute to broader country programme strategy development together with the rest of the Programme Management and Programme Development team.

Financial & Operational Management

• Supervise field level cash management, ensuring field level bookkeeping is done according to NP policies and procedures, ensuring that irregularity is addressed and corrected.
• Supervise and ensure that teams comply with their internal and external reporting requirements.
• Support with field level budget management including coding of field level expenses in accordance with approved project budgets.
• Serve as interlocutor between field teams and programme support departments (HR, Finance and Operations), ensuring that the needs of field teams are met and that field teams are fully aware of what is happening operationally in Erbil as it relates to their sites.
• Participate in grant inception process with programme development, finance and operations and then lead grant inception process with field teams in partnership with Programme Development department.
• Provide budget management oversight, coordinating with finance department to monitor actual expenses as compared to budget, ensuring appropriate burn-rate and making spending decisions appropriate to the needs and the status of the grant.
• Coordinate with finance manager to review and correct finance reports prior to submission for donor reporting
• Ensures efficient operational systems in place, coordinating with Operations Manager/coordinator to ensure compounds are functional, procurement needs are met and vehicles are running well
• When requested, contribute to donor reporting for area of operations.

Personnel Management

• Serve as Line Manager for Team Leaders.
• Support Team Leaders to ensure that all field team staff (programme and programme support) receive timely performance reviews.
• Facilitate strong staff morale and positive working environment
• Coach and guide team leaders on field-based personnel management, with the support of Human Resources colleagues, ensuring that labour law is adhered to and NP Human Resources policies are known and implemented.
• Ensure sufficient level of staffing, identifying the need for new recruitment in a timely fashion.
• Participate in recruitment panel for international programme staff and when possible, field office-based recruiting.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES:

Education, Knowledge and Experience

• Post-secondary education in any of the following or related fields: refugee law, human rights, international human rights law, international humanitarian law, negotiation, mediation, human security.
• Minimum 3-5 years work experience in human security, social cohesion, peacebuilding, refugee or civilian protection.
• Demonstrated management experience working in complex security environment.
• Demonstrated experience working with state authorities, negotiation and mediation
• Demonstrated ability to live, work and solve problems independently and effectively in remote, highly challenging locations
• Demonstrated ability to lead larger team efforts and facilitate team processes.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze conflict, security and political contexts

Skills

Independent Judgment/Analytical:

• Ability to set priorities, solve problems and analyse data
• Ability to manage information with discretion
• Demonstrable conflict analysis skills, identify entry points and design prevention and protection strategies

Interpersonal:

• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals and motivate and provide leadership to team and to work in a multi-cultural environment
• Solutions focused, creative problem solver
• Proven ability to build relationships with the full range of actors including government, chiefs, military, police and non state actors
• Genuine commitment and interest in living and working at the community level
• Flexibility and adaptability

Language:

• Ability to interact confidently in English with colleagues and external contacts, to write documents and reports, and to present effectively relevant information
• Arabic skills an added benefit

Information Technology:

• Good skills in Microsoft Office applications. Hardware IT skills a definite asset

Other Specialized Requirements

• This field site is a complex security environment where conditions change rapidly – experience in insecure environments is essential to success in this position