Humanitarian Assistance Fellow

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

Introduction:

Generation Next Humanitarian Fellowship is seeking Minority Serving Institution (MSI) graduates to become the next generation of humanitarian professions.

This two-year Fellowship aims to create a unique avenue for graduates of Minority Serving Institutions to enter the humanitarian field and develop the skills and the networks necessary to establish a long-lasting career.

The Fellows will be placed at HIAS, a major international humanitarian organization based in the U.S. They will participate in a rotational structure that supports their foundational understanding of the humanitarian sector by being exposed to both the operational/support functions and the technical sub-fields that comprise the profession. Within these rotations, the fellow will develop a core set of technical and professional skills needed to pursue a career in humanitarian assistance.

The Fellows will have an opportunity to develop, learn and explore the humanitarian sector while working with the sector’s leading organizations. Fellows will learn firsthand while exploring the full gamut of departmental functions and considerations as it relates to humanitarian assistance programs (donor strategy, policy, fund administration, international humanitarian protocols, humanitarian finance, program design, and proposal development), and have the opportunity to learn and develop in one of the humanitarian sectors of intervention (e.g., Food Security, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Shelter and Settlements, Emergency Response, and Nutrition). Fellows will also participate in research, analysis, report writing, and other duties related to Humanitarian Assistance programming while developing their understanding of the humanitarian sector and related competencies.

This fellowship joins an emergency department to support HIAS in rotational roles within the emergency department (within year one) and more globally in international emergency programs (within year two). The fellowship will support the emergency response in four areas, known as the “four Ps”: policies, personnel, programs, and purse (resources, public and private).

Reporting structure:

The Humanitarian Assistance Fellow will receive technical and professional direction from a host organization representative, who will serve as their Onsite Advisor. In addition, the Fellow will be coached, trained, and supported by industry experts providing career and technical guidance.

Depending on skill sets and interests in year 1, the fellow will receive technical direction from each of the existing members of HIAS emergency department: Director of Emergency Resources and Engagement, Operations Manager, and Program Specialist. In year 2, should interest and capabilities align, the fellow will receive technical direction from the rotational leads in one or more of the HIAS regional offices/Europe offices. Should there be a declared emergency response for which the fellow is suited and deployed (either remotely or in-country), the fellow will receive technical direction from the Response Director for the duration of the deployment*.*

Essential Duties and Outcomes:

The Fellows supports the successful completion of humanitarian related program activities for the team under guidance from a senior level staff within a variety of technical and support functions. Other activities may be identified based on the strengths and interests of the Fellow.

Rotation 1: Information Management & Program Support:

• Assist Program Specialist (and other Emergency-oriented positions) in assessing and sharing programmatic information needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Compile and synthesize data and information from internal and external sources.
• As relevant, attend and represent HIAS’s Emergency Department in group meetings and share information with the staff concerned.
• Contribute to the establishment of a response-level information management system to ensure information and data is collected, analyzed, and shared in a timely manner to facilitate response decision making.
• Support the establishment of an information management system and support information being shared in a timely and relevant manner.
• Track response funding to ensure response strategic priorities are funded and effective leveraging of available funding.
• Help create a detailed Funding Matrix with Finance and ID Focal Persons.
• Assist Program Specialist in feeding into the reporting requirements from the various offices and other reporting requests.

Rotation 2: Capacity Building & Roster Management:

• Help with building the skills of teams in the field to respond to emergencies with a standard level of excellence.
• Support the design and implementation of org-wide strategies, standards, tools, and best practices in capacity building that effectively engage HIAS staff and partners in emergency response.
• Support the emergency department in developing and training on a cross-sectoral emergency approach that integrates gender and protection mainstreaming.
• Facilitate the organization of humanitarian trainings and accreditation processes for Country Office, Regional Office, and roster staff.
• Support the Roster Lead and working group in maintaining and updating the HIAS internal and external roster. Provide support for the enrollment, validation, re-registration, and deployment processes for roster candidates.
• When requested, provide analysis of the roster member availability.

Rotation 3: Monitoring Evaluation and Learning:

• Support the development and advancement of emergency standards, policies, innovative approaches, tools, and M&E in capacity building including application of partnership principles.
• Support the design of the monitoring framework for responses, including internal and external (donor) requirements.
• Support MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) Specialist to plan, implement, analyze, and share findings from rapid needs assessments and program monitoring.
• Support MEAL Specialist program design based on response strategy, context and humanitarian needs as identified through analysis of primary and secondary data sources.
• Assist MEAL Specialist with the identification and set-up of necessary monitoring systems and processes, including but not limited to digital/mobile data collection tools, accountability tools, and assessment tools.
• Contribute to the planning and managing of baselines, evaluations, RTRs (Real Time Reviews), and reviews as needed.
• Consult with wider MEAL team- and particularly the Accountability Officer – to establish/maintain processes for linking analysis of community feedback and monitoring data, including distribution monitoring.
• Support with training of national colleagues and new hires in MEAL policies, practices, and systems.
• Support Program team as needed.

LEARNING OUTCOME

At the end of the fellowship, the Fellows will develop a presentation that reflects their new skills and knowledge that contributes to the organization’s humanitarian efforts, showing their ability to be reflective, coordinate with colleagues and analyze complex situations to be presented at the annual symposium.

In addition, at the end of the program, they will:

• Develop an understanding of the range of career paths and technical areas (sectors of intervention) within humanitarian assistance.
• Develop an understanding of the humanitarian architecture, systems, and processes.
• Identify and leverage a broad network of peers and mentors within the humanitarian assistance field to enhance peer support learning and professional development.
• Develop or strengthen leadership, communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.
• Develop or strengthen technical knowledge of specific humanitarian assistance sectors based on Organizational core competencies, project management, knowledge management, business development and monitoring and evaluation.

FELLOWSHIP REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a federally recognized minority serving institution with no more than 2 years post-graduation. (for a list of Minority Serving Institutions, follow this link: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/edlite-minorityinst-list-tab.html)
• At least one year of combined experience to include volunteering at civic, social, or non-profit organizations, internships, research projects, and school projects among others.

Other Qualifications

• Demonstrate collaborative interpersonal skills to work across a variety of cultures and also with remote team members.
• Strong oral communications and written skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally.
• Must be able to pass a background check required for this position.
• Potential candidates may need to successfully complete assessments and provide a writing sample as part of the job requirements.
• Prospective candidates must be able to relocate if they are not currently residing in the vicinity of the position before the start of this position.
• US citizenship or US permanent residency required.

Additional skills (preferred)

• Proficiency in another language is strongly preferred.