Team Leader

Job Title: Team Leader

Function: Programme

Job Group: Programme

Duty Station: Odesa/Kharkiv

Administrative Line Manager: Programme Manager

Technical Line Manager: Programme Manager

Line Management Responsibility: UCP Specialists and Protection Officers

ABOUT US

NP (Nonviolent Peaceforce) reimagines security and civilian protection in areas most impacted by conflict by working alongside communities to interrupt and prevent violence. NP is a global civil society organisation that works with people affected by violent conflicts to enhance their security and dignity through Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) and by helping to transform the world’s response to conflict situations.

JOB PURPOSE

The Team Leader (TL) is responsible for the on-site management of an NP field team. This entails ensuring an effective implementation of civilian protection programming while providing for field-based personnel management, financial and administrative functions, coordinating with HQ regarding logistics and procurement and ensuring compliance with NP’s security policies and procedures and country strategy. The TL is the primary representative of NP at coordination meetings with NGO partners and government authorities and departments in the field team’s area of operation.

ABOUT YOU

You have a proven capacity to juggle multiple and diverse responsibilities that range from leading rapid response protection programming, guiding longer-term violence reduction work, representing NP to a variety of stakeholders, to coaching a diverse team in challenging circumstances while ensuring logistics and administration is taken care of.

You are ready to live and work in highly challenging environment where the context is constantly changing and there are frequent periods of insecurity. You are a highly creative problem solver who tenaciously finds solutions. You are able to build positive relationships with a wide range of actors; you motivate, inspire and nurture the development of your team. The NP programme in Ukraine is young and growing – you are someone who wants to contribute to building something.

KEY OBJECTIVES/RESPONSIBILITIES

Commitment to NP Principles

• Demonstrate a commitment to NP’s mandate and principles.
• Maintain a positive image of the organization while in the field.

Programme Implementation

• Overall planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting, and general administration of NP projects in the TL’s respective field location in accordance with the project description and relevant policies, donor agreements and guidelines.
• Leads, guides and supports their NP field team in proactive and reactive activities guiding the team on implementation and emergency response as needed.
• Develops new and innovative programming ideas drawn from lessons learned in the field and shares them with the Programme Manager for further discussion and agreement.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Carries out regular field supervision and monitoring of activities and processes in which project funds, materials, and equipment are utilized and verifies progress and quality of work done in accordance with monitoring and evaluation systems and indicators.
• Implements NP procedures for internal monitoring, smooth implementation, and reporting of emergency activities in accordance with project objectives and indicators and ensures regular communication and reporting with the Programme Manager and the Senior Programme Development Manager.
• Oversees preparation of quality and timely weekly and monthly reports for submission.
• Supervises NP field staff and provides oversight on a day-to-day planning, data collection, analysis, documentation and reporting.
• Ensures periodic project reviews and lesson-learnt exercises are conducted and documented.

Finance

• Monitors project expenditures against the approved budgets.
• Ensures effective application of adequate internal control and risk management procedures, including proper authorization of purchases and payments, and ensures satisfactory accountability of all project expenditures in line with NP financial policies.
• In coordination with the Programme Manager, prepares and presents timely and accurate monthly financial projections of expenditure for field site operations and program implementation and flags any potential funding deficits in order to allow adequate time to apply contingency measures so as not to disrupt program implementation.
• Ensures timely submission of weekly financial reports, supporting documentation, and supports the Programme Manager to fulfill their financial management responsibility.

Human Resources

• Recruits qualified local staff with the help of the Programme Manager; manages the performance of staff under their direct supervision.
• Maintains teamwork and an enabling working environment for field teams including ensuring clear reporting and communication channels and regular documented meetings.
• Supports the professional development of the team members and conducts regular performance appraisals of team members.
• Consults with the Programme Manager to strategize on responses to performance and disciplinary challenges and identify staff welfare concerns, such as burn-out, and flag it to Staff Welfare to ensure intervention and mitigation.

Administration/Procurement/Logistics/Security

• Coordinates timely submission of logistics and procurement requests with the Logistics Officer.
• Implements organizational goals and ensures compliance by way of guiding field staff and inducting them into organizational systems and procedures.
• Manages field site assets including equipment and materials in close consultation with the Programme Manager and Head of Security and Operations.
• Maintains updated monthly asset register, monitors and reports regularly on the proper usage of assets, supplies, and other consumables.
• Ensures safety and security of staff, advises and consults with the Programme Manager and the Security Advisor and Operations Coordinator on security matters, and takes appropriate action in line with the security policy.
• Submits and coordinates timely leave schedules of all national and international staff in accordance with NP’s leave policy and with as little disruption to programming as possible.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Education, Knowledge and Experience

• University degree in refugee law, human rights, international human rights law, international humanitarian law, negotiation, mediation, human security, or related fields.
• 3-5 years’ work experience in human security, child protection, refugee, or civilian protection.
• Demonstrated management experience in working in a complex security environment.
• Demonstrated experience in working with state authorities, negotiation and mediation.
• Demonstrated ability to live, work and solve problems independently and effectively in remote, highly challenging locations.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze conflict, security, and political contexts.
• Contextual knowledge of Ukraine is highly desirable.

Skills

Independent Judgment/Analytical:

• Ability to set priorities, solve problems and analyse data.
• Ability to manage information with discretion.
• Ability to identify entry points and design prevention and protection strategies.

Interpersonal:

• Ability to communicate effectively with individuals and motivate and provide leadership to team and to work and live in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to exert solution-focused, creative behavior.
• Proven ability to build relationships with the full range of actors including government, chiefs, military, police and non-state actors.
• Genuine commitment and interest in living and working at the community level.
• Flexibility and adaptability.

Management:

• Ability to structure and direct work plans of national and international staff, managing conflict, and maximizing human resources.
• Ability to address staff welfare issues maturely and discreetly.

Language:

• Ability to interact confidently in English with colleagues and external contacts, to write documents and reports, and to present effectively relevant information
• Ability to interact in Russian and/or Ukrainian is an advantage

Information Technology:

• Good skills in Microsoft Office applications. Knowledge of the Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack is a plus.
• IT hardware skills are a definite asset.

Other Specialized Requirements

• This field site is a complex security environment where conditions change rapidly – experience in insecure environments is essential to success in this position.
• Willingness to travel long distances by vehicle.