Director of Operations – Geneva, Switzerland

Mission

Geneva Call is a neutral and impartial non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting respect for international humanitarian norms in armed conflict and other situations of violence. Geneva Call’s mission is to ensure that armed groups and de facto authorities respect International Humanitarian Law and basic humanitarian principles in the areas where they fight or they control.

Geneva Call consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, and opinions. Geneva Call is an inclusive working environment for all its staff. Applications are particularly encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on the grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Context

Under the overall supervision of the Director General, the Department of Operations directs, oversees, and coordinates Geneva Call’s work in the regional units, thematic specialties, and field operations. The function is responsible for the design, management, and implementation of field operations and programs. It coordinates Geneva Call’s participation in humanitarian responses and provides the direction needed to fulfil Geneva Call’s mandate to enable the protection of the vulnerable communities we serve.

The Director of Operations supports the Director General in ensuring strategic engagement, positioning and visionary leadership overseeing Geneva Call’s operations. The Director is responsible for the overall development of management, policy, guidance, programmatic activities, project cycle management, budgetary and implementation overview of Geneva Call’s field operations, while ensuring coherence through a whole organisational approach and in full compliance with internal policy and guidance.

The Department provides technical support to the field operations, in responding to Geneva Call’s mandate as well as in thematic areas such as child protection, prohibiting sexual violence, protection of medical access, famine prevention and others. It provides strategic policy and operational recommendations, guidance on project development and implementation, and cross entity coordination with the multi-lateral system as well as civil society organizations in the field and more broadly. The Department also supports the development of principled approaches and is a key contributor to the strategic planning exercise and the review and evaluation of program on a regular basis. The Department also advises on operational policy and advocacy and facilitates Geneva Calls participation in global and country-level inter-agency humanitarian coordination forums, mechanisms, and processes, including following up on international humanitarian discussions.

The Director and his/her team engages with all partners in the sector and ensures that Geneva Call is kept updated on substantive matters; and fundraising opportunities within the donor community as well as the EU, the UN and the Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement, in particular with ICRC, ensuring Geneva Call’s interests are well represented.

Core Functions / Responsibilities

1. Provides strategic policy, direction, oversight, and coordination of Geneva Call’s global operations in all areas established and agreed within the Geneva Call Strategy as approved by the Board.
2. Leads and directs the work of Geneva Call in developing a coherent vision for the work under his/her responsibility and ensures/promotes its implementation in a collaborative and consistent manner also by guiding Geneva Call’s engagement with all relevant stakeholders including donors, multilateral partners, civil society representatives.
3. Provides substantive and strategic advice to the to all Heads of Region/Unit on issues under the management of the Department.
4. Designs and implements Geneva Call’s operational footprint in consultation with the Director General and the Director of the Department of External Relations and Support Services.
5. Designs, implements, oversees, and owns Geneva Call’s field security policy. Defines the strategy for security and ensures successful implementation in the field. Leads the crisis management team at a global level.
6. Leads and provides strategic recommendations on both policy and operational issues.
7. Provides guidance to field operations on project development and implementation. Ensures success factors and measurements are in place and follows-up closely on progress and implementation rate.
8. Oversees formulation of policy and its implementation on matters related to IHL, protection mainstreaming, accountability to affected populations and prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation in Geneva Call’s operations.
9. Responsible for the following key roles: a) overall crisis analysis and strategic planning; b) overall technical program management and coordination; c) fundraising and overall management of the Department’s resources and institutional obligations, including operationalization of substantive and technical objectives and monitoring results.
10. Collaborates with the Department of External Relations and Support Services as well as the Director General; is a member of the Executive Management Team.
11. Performs such other duties as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

Master’s degree in Political or Social Sciences, Humanitarian Affairs, International Relations, International Humanitarian Law, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with fifteen years of relevant professional experience.

Experience

• Minimum 10-12 years of experience in the field and 4-6 years of experience in the headquarter. Relevant professional experience in humanitarian settings and/or crisis and post-crisis settings is required. Experience in the private sector is a plus.
• Progressively responsible experience in liaising with governmental and diplomatic authorities and international institutions.
• Advanced degree in International Relations or International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law, political sciences or a related professional experience.
• Demonstrable experience of engaging with Armed Groups and De Facto Authorities required.
• Advanced understanding of the complex needs of humanitarian operations.
• Proven experience in resource mobilization.
• Experience in leading senior managers.

Skills

• Sound knowledge of financial and business administration and of the principles and practices of management.
• Outstanding inter-personal communication skills and working in team and across departments to ensure an inclusive, respectful and safe working environment.
• Sound knowledge of project cycle as well as of monitoring and evaluation.
• Leadership skills. Building trustful relationships.
• Attention to detail.
• Analytical thinking.
• Structured, strong planning and organization skills.
• Strategic thinking combined with strong execution skills.

Languages

• Fluency in English and French oral and written, is required. Arabic is a very strong asset.
• Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.

Geneva Call’s values

All GC employees are expected to work in accordance with the organization’s core values: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, accountability, dedication and respect. These attitudes and beliefs shall guide our actions and relationships.