In Country Co-Director

Our Mission

Networking the global Baptist family to transform vulnerable communities through local churches with Christ’s compassion and love.

About Us

Established in 1920, Baptist World Aid (BWAid) is a ministry of the Baptist World Alliance, a global movement of Baptists sharing a common confession of faith in Jesus Christ bonded together by God’s love to support, encourage, and strengthen one another while proclaiming and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit before a lost and hurting world. Challenged to generously love our neighbor, BWAid responds to people in need; collaborates in times of crisis; networks agencies; supports sustainability and creation care initiatives; strengthens capacity; empowers local church engagement and resources aid, relief, and community development programs.

Position Objectives

To co-lead an effective, timely, and efficient response to the humanitarian needs in Ukraine within the framework of the Baptist Disaster Response System (BDRS) principles while ensuring a growing healthy relationship with BWAid’s local partners.

Representing BWAid in all issues relating to the response, the In-Country Director plays a key role in grant management, external representation, legal compliance, execution of the BWAid Ukraine response strategy, overseeing project implementation and evaluation in conjunction with partner leadership.

Response Overview

The purpose of BWAid’s multi-sector relief program in Ukraine is to save lives and alleviate human suffering by working with the All-Ukrainian Union of Associations of Evangelical Christian-Baptists (UBU), our local partner in emergency response locations, serving vulnerable populations through the provision of cash, food, shelter, NFI, protection and providing training and support for local leadership.

Reporting Line

This position reports directly to theBWAid Director

Responsibilities

Leadership, strategy, and representation

• Implement the BFAD Ukraine response strategy; review and evaluate in collaboration with local partners leadership and coordination team, key stakeholders, and funding partner staff.
• Undertake healthy relationship management with local partners with a capacity strengthening posture, ensuring good communications, harmonized working relationships, and conflict management among staff and other leaders.
• Analyze humanitarian needs, trends, and political and security developments in-country and the surrounding region in order to anticipate new projects and initiatives, that are needs-driven, lifesaving in focus.
• Develop external relationships with city officials, other humanitarian aid agencies working in the area and build partnerships to support the BWAid funded activities.
• Ensure that activities and support functions comply with the national and international laws and regulations.
• Conduct regular meetings with staff in collaboration with the program coordinator; foster a collaborative work ethic and a spirit of excellence.
• Contribute to the formation of team members and the outworking of our Christian values. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.

Program Management

• Provide oversight in management of grants to the All-Ukrainian Baptist Union (UBU); including oversight of all funded activities. Working closely with UBU’s Coordination Team to plan and implement BWAid funded projects. Ensure objectives are met on time and within the budgets while preventing corrective actions.
• Ensure that the response project proposals, project implementation and project reporting are of high quality that meet and exceed donor expectations and relevant national and international standards.
• Prepare and implement policies, procedures and guidelines, as appropriate, with the relevant local partner management through standardized procedures and improvement supports.
• Set up all systems for accountability and on-going monitoring.
• Support and advise Hub Leaders and members of the national staff leadership team.
• Communications – work with project manager to coordinate and implement a system to collect and report stories in accordance with funding agreements.

Financial Management

• Work with Head Accountant on budget management and expenditures ensuring budgets are spent according to donor proposals and regulations. Ensure the management of spending within the program is in-line with the approved budgets and provide agreed reporting to BWAid.
• Ensure sufficient and appropriate controls are in place to prevent fraud and that relevant staff receive the required information and training to minimize the risk of occurrence within all activities.

Organizational Development

• Provide training on humanitarian standards, Safeguarding procedures, PSEAH and other safety standards.
• Focus on capacity building with members of the UBU leadership team and other identified ministry leaders – to include program management, humanitarian aid procedures, and other identified areas.
• Work with UBU and the Leadership Council to design and implement a permanent Disaster Response and Development program.

Performance Management

• Work with national staff to complete weekly and monthly reporting documents
• Work with M& E Specialist to provide on-going monitoring and problem solving in collective centers

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• University degree in a relevant subject such as Management / Humanitarian or Development disciplines / Business Administration or in a relevant technical area.
• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written). Ukrainian will be an advantage.

Experience

• 5 years post-qualification experience in a management position.
• 3 years post-qualification experience in a complex humanitarian emergency.
• Experience in dealing with donors and government officials.
• Knowledge of Humanitarian Essentials, Sphere, CHS and other international humanitarian guidelines.
• Advanced planning, assessment and analytical skills.
• Experience in training/mentoring staff.
• Advanced leadership and management skills; ability to build trust and enforce procedures.
• Team-player with good inter-personal skills; committed to team-building.
• Capacity to work under pressure and manage personal stress levels.
• Experience working with USAID/BHA or World Vision or other large humanitarian aid agency in similar role is preferred but not required.