Country Director, HIAS Greece

The HIAS Country Director, Greece, is responsible for overseeing HIAS’ operations in Greece and the implementation of program activities within HIAS’ framework which are; strengthening community-based protection networks, gender-based violence, providing mental health and psychosocial support, distributing food and non-food items, economic inclusion and emergency response.

The Country Director will be required to provide strategic vision and leadership, ensuring that HIAS Greece’s programs align with HIAS’ Refugee Rights Framework. S/he is also the public face of the agency, regularly engaging with various stakeholders from the government, donors, partners to help advance refugee rights and protection. In addition, the Country Director will be required to lead the Management team in key decisions regarding the implementation and administration of strategy and overall direction of HIAS Greece. S/he should have a strong commitment to refugee protection, emergency programming and relevant experience implementing, monitoring, and overseeing large, protracted humanitarian programs.

This role reports to the Director, Europe and works closely with HQ stakeholders across multiple departments. This role will be based in Athens, Greece.

Essential Functions

Program Management:

• Develops detailed strategic goals and visions for HIAS Greece in alignment with HIAS’ Refugee Rights Framework.
• Develop and strengthen appropriate institutional structures, controls, and strategies for all programs -oversees the design and successful implementation of all programs offered by HIAS Greece
• Provide oversight to ensure that program activities are being implemented according to agreements, work plans, and schedules.
• Works closely with HQ to develop country program goals and objectives.
• Manages the timely submission of high-quality proposals and leads required donor negotiations.
• Ensures that all staff have the necessary tools, resources, and information to deliver and evaluate services that meet or exceed internationally accepted standards and protocols.
• Maintains responsibility for all reporting to donors and HQ.

Emergency Program Leadership

• Coordinate with a whole-of-HIAS mentality for emergencies to make information available quickly, efficiently, and ensure the relevant voices have impact without overburdening the emergency response.
• Oversee multiple, concurrent emergency responses in diverse geographic locations with limited communications capabilities and varied team capacities.
• Create mainstreamed emergency preparedness planning for emergencies in existing programming based upon existing knowledge of scenarios, risks, and historical disaster response.
• Build up limited operational capacities into one able to enable largescale emergency response very quickly.
• Representation: very clear role for speaking with media, operational partners, and in high-level spaces with many stakeholders both who participate and many who need the information

Partnership Management

• Serves as HIAS’ primary liaison with key partners and stakeholders in Greece particularly HIAS Greece’s donors, and other NGO partners, the relevant government authorities and other domestic and global partners, as appropriate.
• Liaises with HIAS Advocacy, Communication, Community Engagement and Development teams as needed, drafts and edits materials for outreach and representational purposes.
• Preposition emergency relationships and joint operational contracts to activate in case of emergencies affecting Greece.

Human Resources Management

• Mainstream prioritized staff care, safeguarding, and the responsible use of power in all activities, decision-making, and use of authority. These priorities are expected to be delegated to each layer of the organization.
• Manages and builds the capacity of HIAS Greece’s employees.
• Ensures a positive work environment and compliance with HIAS’ Core Values and Code of Conduct for all staff including field office staff.
• Provides ongoing training and learning opportunities in areas of core competency and priority.
• Establishes organizational structure, job descriptions, performance measures that reflect clear work expectations aligned with program goals and HIAS Greece’s HR manual.
• Works collaboratively with HQ on all personnel-related issues and ensures compliance with local labor laws and regulations.

Financial Management

• Oversees the overall implementation of all necessary financial and administrative systems to ensure that HIAS Greece has met all required legal requirements and operates in a manner consistent with HIAS’ global financial standards.
• Oversees financial reporting, audit and in-country financial legal compliance, and cash flow.
• Provides timely, accurate and effective oversight of all aspects of country financial operations consistent with laws, donor requirements, and HIAS’ policies and procedures.
• Implements effective fiscal controls and institutes and monitors a system to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of all aspects of financial managements.
• Provides regular reports to HQ to ensure grant compliance and safeguard against uncovered program costs in budgets.

Accountability

• Models HIAS’ values through collaboration, strategic decision-making, evidence-based programming, and efficient management of resources.
• Ensures accountability through effective monitoring and impact assessment; complies with HIAS and donor policies, procedures and requirements.
• Ensures accountability through HIAS’ AAP framework
• Contributes to the development of systems to better measure and demonstrate the impact of HIAS’ work.
• Creates and maintains a managerial environment in country which prevents exploitation, abuse, harassment, and other forms of harm and promotes the implementation of HIAS’ Safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Ensures adequate training to all employees and those representing HIAS on HIAS’ Safeguarding policies and procedures as well as sufficient resourcing to guarantee the full implementation of these policies.
• Ensures compliance of staff, volunteers and project partners with all HIAS’ policies and procedures.

Safety And Security

• Maintains responsibility for Safety and Security of all HIAS employees and assets.
• Ensures that updated safety and security policies and procedures are in place and implemented.
• Consistently monitors the security environment in Greece and provides analysis to the Deputy Regional Director and HIAS’ Director of Safety and Security.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Masters’ Degree required.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of experience with the NGO sector, specifically in humanitarian response settings; a minimum of five (5) years’ experience in leadership and management of large teams and country programs.
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in emergency leadership roles in complex emergency settings with conflict and forced displacement with difficult operational constraints.
• Experience in direct emergency programs implementation, strategic development, and field management for emergency situations in diverse, isolated geographic regions with a strong need for remote leadership, access negotiation, and clear organizational structure design to facilitate immediate responses..
• Ability to prioritize work, manage teams and clearly communicate decisions.
• Experience working in insecure, complex, and volatile contexts.
• Strong oral and communication skills in both Greek & English.
• Experience in and ability to manage interactions with national authorities as well as national and international partners.
• Excellent written communication and oral presentation skills, including experience presenting to a wide variety of audiences; demonstrated ability to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and facilitate multiparty discussion and collaboration.
• Experience developing and implementing project objectives, indicators, and budgets; experience in cash-based interventions and work with most vulnerable populations.
• Knowledge of results-based management and experience overseeing procurement and audit procedures a plus.
• Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving skills; a flexible, creative, and collaborative working style.
• Must have the rights to work in Greece.
• Ability to travel regionally and internationally, as required.
• Commitment to HIAS’ mission and values and refugee protection.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Disclaimer

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills required or permanent location. Flexibility is essential as we grow and develop. The successful candidate must be comfortable in a fast-paced, changing work environment with many crucial deadlines. All team members may be required to perform duties outside of their normal work hours of responsibilities as needed.

About Us

Over one hundred years ago, the Jewish community founded HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) in New York City, the immigrant gateway to America. Supporting Jews fleeing persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe, our founders were guided by the traditions, texts and history of the Jewish people—a history of oppression, displacement and diaspora. HIAS has since helped generations of Jews facing violence because of who they were, and HIAS remains committed to helping Jewish refugees anywhere in the world. Today, our clients at HIAS come from diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds, as do our staff. We bring our experience, history and values to our work across five continents, ensuring that refugees today receive the vital services and opportunities they need to thrive.

HIAS is a learning community, committed to diversity and inclusion. We do our work with integrity, accountability, transparency and a commitment to the highest ethical standards. We seek employees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to join our teams located in the United States and across the globe. People who identify as BIPOC, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community and people with lived experiences of forced displacement or immigration are all encouraged to apply. We are committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects our vision, mission and values.

Vision

HIAS stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety and opportunity.

Mission

Drawing on our Jewish values and history, HIAS provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives.

Values

Welcome

• Acogimiento
• Hospitalité
• (Hachnasat Orchim)

We Welcome the Stranger

Justice

• Justicia
• Justice
• (Tzedek)

We Pursue Justice

Empathy

• Empatía
• Empathie
• (Chesed)

We Approach our Clients with Empathy

Partnership

• Compañerismo
• Coopération (Chevruta)

We Believe in Changing the World through Partnership

Courage

• Coraje
• Courage
• (Ometz)

We Act with Courage to Build a Better World

Resilience

• Resiliencia
• Résilience
• ( Ruach)

We Adapt and Thrive, Continuously Demonstrating our Resilience.

Diversity

HIAS is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, citizenship status, religious creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, pregnancy, childbirth, military status, political orientation, or other legally protected status.

Safeguarding

HIAS is committed to the protection of children, vulnerable adults and any other person from any harm caused directly or indirectly due to their coming into contact with HIAS. We will not tolerate sexual exploitation, abuse or any form of child abuse or neglect by our staff or associated personnel. Any candidate offered a job with HIAS will be expected to sign and adhere to HIAS’ Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records. HIAS also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme . In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. Likewise, HIAS will share this information when other organizations inquire about current and former HIAS staff as part of their recruitment process. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.