Head of Programme (North of Central America and Mexico)

Duty station: Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Please note fluency in both Spanish and English is required for this position. Candidates who do not command either of the languages will not be able to be considered.

1. Background/Context

In the past five years, the populations of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala (often referred to as the countries of North of Central America, NCA) have been affected by devastating violence, extreme weather and other natural disasters. The number of displaced people has been growing dramatically: every year hundreds of thousands become internally displaced or flee their country trying to make their way to the US or Mexico and often get stuck in between or are sent back to their country, where they face additional challenges. From 2018 on, Mexico has de facto become a country of refuge, accommodating significant numbers of vulnerable migrants and refugees, despite being self-declared as a non-safe third country. The increasing restrictions to accessing asylum in the United States have led to an exponential increase of asylum applications in Mexico and a similar increase in asylum cases is being registered in Central America, for different reasons.

NRC has been responding to mounting internal and external displacement since 2015, focusing on the protection crisis, but also integrating education, shelter, and WASH interventions and recently launching the new sector of livelihoods and food security. NRC is currently expanding and strengthening its presence and operations across El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.

The Head of Programme is responsible for the overall programmatic strategy across the multi-country operation and to develop high quality integrated Programmes. This is the first Head of Programme position is recruited within the operation and, as such, it offers a good opportunity to mould the role and strategic direction of the Programme.

2. Role and responsibilities

The following is a brief description of the role:

• Line management of Programme Development Managers, Grants Manager, M&E Coordinator and Consortium Coordinator.
• As a member of the Country Management Group (CMG), actively participate in the general oversight of the country office and advise the Country Director.
• Comply with and adhere to NRC policies, guidance and procedures.
• Provide Programme input to Country Strategy and Balance Score Card.
• Be accountable for the development of Core Competency strategies that are aligned to regional ender global priorities and strategies.
• Be accountable for the development of holistic and needs based Programmes, including cash-based interventions and market-based Programmes.
• Identify funding opportunities, develop funding strategies and forecasts.
• Supervise grants management, BPO allocations and reporting to donors, including compliance with donor standards.
• Oversee quality control, M&E and organizational learning.
• Ensure capacity building of all technical staff.
• Represent NRC in relevant coordination fora and with donors.
• Promote the rights of IDPs/refugees/returnees in line with the advocacy strategy.
• Lead on the implementation of relevant objectives under the 2022-2025 Country Strategy in line with annual departmental and office-wide action plans with focus on humanitarian and development coherence.
• In collaboration with the Country Director, guide in the annual strategy review process ensuring centrality of learning.
• Steer fundraising efforts aiming to widen the donor-base, including exploring and pursuing funding opportunities related to the private sector and development sector donors.
• Support the Country Director in the development of Programme opportunities in new geographic areas.
• Facilitate the development of organisational learning from Programme implementation.
• Collaborate with the Advocacy Coordinator to ensure holistic approaches and base advocacy on evidence from Programmes.
• Support the M&E Unit to develop, adapt and implement appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems that enhance programme quality, increase effectiveness and measure results.
• Be accountable for the Safe and Inclusive Programming (SIP) roll-out, including the implementation of the action plan.
• Ensure that all projects are implemented in adherence to NRC’s Project Cycle Management (PCM) framework.
• Support the coordination of the consortia led by NRC and deputise for the Country Director in the Steering Committees when needed.
• Ensure NRC active and strategic participation in coordination mechanisms in the relevant thematic areas, especially in the clusters and sectors where NRC works
• Facilitate exchanges with other NRC Country Offices in Latin America to build Programme synergies.
• Acting Country Director when appointed.

3. What We Are Looking For

• Minimum 4 years’ experience in a senior management position in a humanitarian/ recovery context.
• Experience working in complex and volatile contexts.
• Documented results related to the position’s responsibilities.
• Knowledge about own leadership skills/profile.
• Fluency in English and Spanish, both written and verbal.
• Knowledge of the context in Central America.
• Proposal development and donor compliance experience.
• Experience in nexus programming as well as working with cash modalities is a plus.
• Experience with NRC’s range of Core Competencies, preferably Protection.
• Strategic thinking.
• Initiating action and change.
• Influencing.
• Managing performance and development.
• Handling insecure environments.

Find more details about the role HERE with the Job Description.

4. What We Offer

• Type of contract: 18 months employment contract with possibility of extension
• Salary/benefits: According to NRC salary scale, terms, and conditions.
• Duty station: Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
• Travel: up to 40 % to the field.

Internal candidates are encouraged to apply but we are also open to external applicants who can show a commitment to NRC and being part of a challenging, but important mission to make a difference.

NRC might review applications before the adverted deadline, therefore interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.

Please note fluency in both Spanish and English is required for this position. Candidates who do not command either of the languages will not be able to be considered.