OPERATIONS MANAGER – Afghanistan

Handicap International/Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is an independent and impartial international solidarity organization, which intervenes in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflicts and disasters. Working alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, it acts and speaks out to meet their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights. More info: www.hi.org

HI is committed to an employment policy in favour of persons with disabilities.

JOB CONTEXT:

HI Afghanistan operating framework is outlined in the operational strategy (“Stratop”) developed at the beginning of 2022 for the next 2 years. The pillars are : Health / Basics Needs and Economic Inclusion / Armed Violence Reduction and protection of Vulnerable Populations.

HI is currently involved in different sectors of activities:

– Physical and functional rehabilitation (both on service provision and training – tech assistance), in development and chronic crisis settings

– Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS)

– Inclusive livelihood

– Mine Risk Education

– Multipurpose cash assistance

– Support in Inclusive Humanitarian Action with the Disability Inclusion Working Group

– Emergency response

HI has 5 offices located in the different provinces of intervention. Central office is located in capital city (Kabul) and hosts the management team (including operations, support services, technical unit, MEAL, access and security), and a small operational team for 3 ongoing projects.

4 bases, located in Herat (West), Kunduz (North), Nimroz and Kandahar (south) are fully operational with dedicated support services and project’s management teams. 2 more bases are expected to open in the coming months; 1 in the East (Paktika) and 1 additional in Central Region (Bamyan) and a suboffice in Sindajan (Herat Province)

Most of the fundraising effort and donor’s relationship is held at Kabul level. HI also is also part of different fora / coordination bodies (ACBAR, INSO, HAG etc.) as well as member of several cluster, including health, and Co-Chairing the Disability Inclusion Working Group.

HI Afghanistan program is also strongly involved in rolling-out institutional policies, particularly regarding PSEAH, code of conduct, child protection, fraud and corruption policy. Operationally, objectives are to mainstream DGA (Disability / Gender / Age) policy, as well as operationalizing the PSEAH policy in all projects.

The total budget of Afghanistan is estimated to be at 8.3 million Euros by the end of 2022, however it is likely that it will be higher as fundraising efforts are having very good results as well as funding opportunities are increasing in Afghanistan.

YOUR MISSION:

Under the responsibility of the Country Director, you, as the Operations Manager, contribute in the area where you are based to the implementation of the 10-year strategy of Humanity & Inclusion. You ensure optimal quality and impact of the activities in the Programme, through a delegation system with appropriate control mechanisms. You share with all HI managers the responsibility of a sound management and successful functioning of the global organization, through paradigm changes. You manage a team of programme manager in the country.

In this framework, your main missions are :

• Mission 1: Management
• Mission 2: Strategy and steering

– Contribute to the development of the programme operational strategy, and to its implementation and annual monitoring

– Implement the project part of the Programme’s Operational Strategy

• Mission 3 : Standards and expertise
• Mission 4: Operational implementation

– Ensure the sound management and monitoring of projects under his/her responsibility

– Keeping both potential opportunities and risks in mind, contribute to the monitoring and analysis done by the line manager, and propose mitigation measures where relevant

– Develop HI’s external influence (forums, operational and strategic alliances, etc.) and the external representation of the organization (events, media) in his/her area of responsibility.

– Coordinate the teams in his/her area

– Support the Director/Country Manager in monitoring security in their area and ensure adequate resources according to the context

• Mission 5: Emergency Preparedness and Response

YOUR PROFILE:

• You hold a generalist bachelor’s or master’s degree (Political Science, etc.) or a degree in project management (Bioforce, etc.) or equivalent professional experience.

• You have at least 5 years of professional work experience in emergency/protracted emergencies / transition / development contexts with at least 2 years of professional experience as Programme/Operations Coordinator, Area Manager or equivalent positions;

• You have a proven experience in highly insecure and volatile contexts;

• You have experiences on donor relations, external relations, fundraising and strategic positioning

• You know how design and coordinate of complex emergency/recovery / development interventions

• You have strong and solid management and communication skills

• You are fluent English is mandatory (oral and written)

• You show strong organizational skills, you are autonomous and reactive

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POSITION:

The position is based in Kabul. International and national staff are allowed to travel to bases in all provinces and to some project’s location, upon ad-hoc assessment of the security situation. Expatriates can be accommodated in the bases located in the 5 provinces (Kunduz, Kandahar, Nimroz, Paktika and Herat).

The security and access situation in the Country has improved significantly since the conflict has ended, however security measures remain in place as the context remain unpredictable.

The Guesthouses in Kabul are shared between all international staff, and are spacious, very well equipped, secure and comfortable, in order to provide adequate living conditions and wellbeing to international staff considering the limitations to move around the city. The guesthouses have small but functional sports facilities as well as common areas for recreational activities. HI in Afghanistan provides a cook and a cleaner for the Guesthouses during working days.

CONDITIONS:

At HI, the conditions offered are up to your commitment and adapted to the context of your mission. https://hi.org/en/join-the-team

• 12 months International contract starting from 1st, December 2022
• The international contract provides social cover adapted to your situation:
  • Unemployment insurance benefits for EU nationals
  • Pension scheme adapted to the situation of our employees: If you already have a personal pension scheme HI will contribute at the same level of your personal monthly contribution with a maximum of 272.53€/month ; If you do not have a personal pension scheme, we will open a private pension account with your contribution of 272.53€/month and a contribution of HI of the same amount
  • Medical coverage with 50% of employee contribution
  • Repatriation insurance paid by HI
• Salary from 2860 € gross/month upon experience
• Perdiem: 562 € net/month – paid in the field
• Hardship: 500 € net/month paid with your salary
• Paid leaves: 25 days per year;
• R&R: 5 days every 8 weeks => + possible transport/package support.
• Position:
  • unaccompanied
    • Payment for travel costs (air ticket & visa) and transport of your personal effects (from 12 months of mission)
    • A child allowance of 100€ per month, per child (from the second child) paid in the field
• Housing: Collective taken in charge by HI

If you are resident in the country: local package