Job Title: Emergency Response Manager – South Sudan Refugee Response
Founded 75 years ago, Plan International is one of the oldest and largest child centered development organizations in the world. We work in 50 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. Plan’s vision is of a world in which all children realize their full potential in societies that respect people’s rights and dignity. Plan is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Implement emergency assessments and develop an emergency response Plan, and ensure that implementation and exit strategies are developed.
- Ensure an open line of communication with the Country Director and the focal persons at the different levels within the organization are kept informed about progress on assessment, emergency response Plan, project Plans and implementation, progress reports, and other significant developments
- Guarantee that all key decision-makers listed above are aware of humanitarian developments and Plan’s response to them.
- Manage the development of all project implementation Plans and budgets within the framework of the emergency response Plan and the Disaster Risk Management strategy.
- Assist and advise the Country Director in securing donor funding for emergency projects
- Offer support project design and proposal preparations for institutional and public funding.
- Maintain ongoing surveillance of the developing humanitarian emergency situation and adjust activities accordingly.
- Ensure adequate monitoring, reporting and acquittal of emergency activities in accordance with Plan’s humanitarian accountability framework, relevant SPHERE standards, and essential environmental mitigation measures.
- Ensure that different sectoral activities are implemented in a coordinated and cohesive manner.
- Ensure emergency activities are conducted in accordance with the Sphere Minimum Standards and Humanitarian Charter in disaster response.
- Ensure that all personnel understand and carry out their duties in accordance with humanitarian principles, core values, the Code of Conduct and SPHERE
- Establish, build and maintain constructive working relationships with other NGOs, UN agencies, the Government of Uganda, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other principle stakeholders.
- Create the conditions to ensure effective teamwork and morale.
- Promote a productive work environment with zero tolerance for verbal or physical conduct, or discrimination against other persons on the grounds of race, colour, sex or creed i.e. the Red Cross and NGO Code of Conduct.
- Give guidance and contribute in the decision processes of the country management team with regard to all issues on the emergency response.
- Ensure that all Emergency Response personnel understand and carry out their duties in accordance with humanitarian principles, Plan values, the Red Cross Code of Conduct and SPHERE.
- Carry out performance appraisals of Emergency Response Team staff and ensure regular feedback and mentoring on individual performance.
- Recommend changes to Emergency Response team composition and functioning with Country Office and partners to maximise emergency programme quality and effectiveness.
- Ensure that human resources implications for the team and Plan for both existing and anticipated emergency response are fully assessed, identified, described and communicated.
- Supervise ongoing human resources issues and make recommendations and adjustments accordingly.
- Ensure that all team members receive thorough briefings and information.
- Offer support to the Country Director and Communications Manager in the development of constructive working relationships with media representatives to build international and public profile and ensure positive coverage and the timely provision of situation reports and fundraising material to Plan’s International Headquarters and National Organizations.
- Ensure that all information, publicity and fundraising material recognises and respects the dignity of disaster victims.
- Establish and maintain positive working relationships with other institutions involved in the project. This should include regular contact to ensure they are fully and appropriately involved in the Project.
- Establish local procedures in order to liaise effectively with local government institutions
- Support line management to meet all required reporting requirements both narrative and financial promptly.
- Comply with Government of Uganda priorities and policies where these complement (are consistent with) with the Plan’s Mission and Vision as well as with donor contractual obligations and the need to ensure project quality.
- Facilitate and provide the opportunities for counterpart staff and agencies to be aware of and learn from the implementation of all aspects of the Project.
- Develop, maintain and strengthen relations with other agencies working in the same geographic or technical area
- Represent Plan Uganda in all relevant fora as required.
- Ensure that all personnel understand individual and collective responsibilities for safety and security.
- Work in liaison with the Plan Uganda Security Focal point person and the Regional Security Specialist to ensure compliance with Plan Security Guidelines and their effective application in the local context
- Monitor the operational environment with respect to increased level of threat and advise the Country Office, staff, Plan International and the Plan International Security Officer.
- Ensure all interested Plan members are kept advised of changes and threats to the security of Plan staff, assets and operations.
- Ensure that all administrative support functions are established and maintained in accordance with Plan International administrative policies and procedures.
- Ensure compliance with all Uganda’s legal, contractual, labour and statutory requirements.
- Ensure with the Finance Manager the establishment, as necessary, and maintenance of Plan International financial management and accounting systems for all emergency assessment and response activities and assets.
- Coordinate mobilisation of financial resources related to emergency activities.
- Ensure with the ICT Manager that secure and reliable communications/ information management facilities are established and maintained.
- Ensure emergency members are familiar with usage, procedures and relevant protocols and procedures
- Ensure with the Procurement & Logistics Officer and in consultation with the Administration Manager the establishment and maintenance a functional procurement and supply chain management system.
- Ensure with the Procurement Logistics Manager/Officer the timely and appropriate establishment of all logistics infrastructure
- Perform any other job duties as assigned by the Country Director and/ or Regional Disaster Risk Manager.
Qualifications, Skills & Experience:
- At least three to five years’ humanitarian aid experience preferably in a response setting.
- Multiple language skills desirable.
- Prior experience in project design, planning, proposal writing and project reporting.
- Excellent team work skills and ability to build good relations both internally and externally.
- Significant experience of staff management, training and briefing.
- The applicant should possess the ability to work independently and as a team player who demonstrates leadership
- Possess an ability to support and train local and international staff and able to work with disaster affected communities in a sensitive and participatory manner.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills and effective negotiation and representation skills.
- Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to Plan’s values and humanitarian principles.
- Possess the ability to operate effectively under extreme circumstances including stress, high security risks and harsh living conditions.
- Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity.
- The Applicant should also have experience and the ability to live and work in diverse cultural contexts in a culturally appropriate manner. Has a capacity to make accurate self-assessment particularly in high stress and high security contexts.
- Excellent organizational and planning skills within a fluid working environment and has a capacity for initiative and decision making with competent analytical and problem solving skills.
- Good working knowledge of Plan policies and procedures, Sphere and the Red Cross/ NGO Code of Conduct.
- The job requires general finance, administration, information management and telecommunication skills and proficiency in information technology/ computer skills – including facility with Word, Excel, and other Microsoft Office applications.
- Experience working as part of a team.
- Possess the ability to develop and implement solutions independently.
- Hands-on field experience in the application of SPHERE standards.
- Familiarity with and abide by Plan’s personnel policies, the NGO/Red Cross Code of Conduct and other regulatory Codes
How to apply for the jobs:
All suitably qualified candidates should send their letters of application, together with detailed and updated CVs, contact telephone numbers, copies of relevant certificates, names and contact details of three references plus salary history to: The Country Human Resources Manager, Plan Uganda.
Email: uganda.recruitment@plan-international.org
Plan is an equal opportunity employer and qualified female candidates are encouraged to apply.
NB: Only soft copies of application will be considered and please indicate the position in the Subject line. Only Short-listed candidates will be contacted.
As a child centered development organization, Plan strives to ensure that children are kept safe in all the areas we operate. The organization further has a child protection policy that every staff is required to sign. Potential candidates will be required to provide information confirming whether or not they have ever been convicted of any child abuse crimes.
Deadline: 31st January, 2014.