Program Officer Localisation

About Stichting Vluchteling / Netherlands Refugee Foundation

The Netherlands Refugee Foundation / Stichting Vluchteling is an emergency relief organization that worldwide supports partner organizations to assist displaced populations. In case of acute need, the Netherlands Refugee Foundation provides funding to international and national partners in order to provide direct assistance, such as shelter, medical care, clean drinking water and sanitation. In the Netherlands, the Refugee Foundation provides information to the Dutch public about the situation of refugees and internally displaced as well as about emergency aid in general.

Stichting Vluchteling currently has a diverse and enthusiastic team with around 40 employees, working predominately from The Hague. The working atmosphere is informal yet decisive, which is necessary to be able to react fast in case of emergencies.

Currently we are looking for a full time (80% – 100%) Program Officer Localisation

General tasks

The program officer is part of the Programs and Advocacy team. Together with six other fellow program members, the program officer is responsible for managing grants provided by SV, to both local and international humanitarian organizations, to implement emergency relief programs for refugees and displaced persons.

The current position is responsible for relationship management with 3 local partners in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Above all, the program officer is responsible for shaping and developing the local partner policy of Stichting Vluchteling / Refugee Foundation, an important strategic objective.

Position within the organisation

The program officer is part of the Programs and Advocacy department and reports to the head of this department. The team currently consists of 7 program employees, 3 employees for the Non-Communicable Diseases/Mental Health project, 1 employee Humanitarian Access, and 1 advocacy employee. The team works closely with the Communications, Fundraising and Finance departments.

What does the job involve?

• Management of grants to international and local partners, including contract management.
• Monitoring and evaluating aid programs from the Netherlands and during field trips.
• Ensure the elaboration of the local partner policy and the implementation of this policy with the team and the local partners.
• Developing an organizational capacity and risk assessment tool and setting up, coordinating and following up capacity strengthening processes with local partners.
• Support the implementation of a new Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) policy.
• Follow up on the strategic localization initiative with one of our international partners (INTERSOS), which aims to develop new local partnerships in Burkina Faso, CAR and Colombia.
• Support in the implementation of the improvement plan for the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS).
• Actively respond to the humanitarian context and humanitarian needs, with a focus on DRC.
• Drawing up substantive briefings for informational and fundraising campaigns.
• Where necessary, co-writing financing proposals for external financiers such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (via the Dutch Relief Alliance – DRA), the Cooperating Aid Organizations – SHO (GIRO555) and the National Postcode Lottery – NPL.
• Participation in relevant external consultations, such as the Localization Working Group within the Dutch Relief Alliance.

What do we expect from you?

• Relevant education at university and/or HBO level.
• At least five years of demonstrable foreign work experience in the field of refugees and/or humanitarian aid.
• Experience with project management cycle and with monitoring and evaluation of aid in the field.
• Strong experience in working with local partners and capacity building, both on a policy and practical level.
• Familiarity with the working methods of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DRA, (SHO) and NPL has added value.
• Numerical insight and analytical skills.
• Also willing to make extra efforts outside regular working hours and during emergency relief actions.
• Excellent oral and written expression skills in English and French, knowledge of the Dutch language is an advantage, but not a requirement.
• Enthusiastic, creative, enterprising.
• Willingness to travel, also (particularly) to areas where there is a humanitarian crisis or conflict situation.
• You endorse the aims and goals of SV
• Your nationality, or a work permit, permits you to work in the Netherlands, Stichting Vluchteling is not in the position to apply for a work permit for this position.
• You live within travelling distance of The Hague. SV has a work-from-home policy that makes it possible to work partly from home, but presence at the office is also regularly expected.
• The start date can be agreed upon in consultation, but the preference is per 1 July, or as soon as possible.

What do we offer?

• A dynamic position in an enthusiastic organization of approximately 40 employees.
• A position with room for own initiative and new ideas.
• An employment contract for initially one year with the prospect of extension.
• Salary and working conditions appropriate to a good cause, depending on education, experience and age.