Area Manager Lesvos (fulltime)

Boat Refugee Foundation (BRF) is looking for an Area Manager North Aegean to lead our programmes on Lesvos. Do you switch effortlessly between strategic thinking and leadership at an operational level to ensure that our programmes run smoothly? Do you closely follow relevant socio-political developments and see and seize new opportunities? Do you anticipate and act on contextual changes so as to ensure the safety of our programmes and staff? And do you want to work in the field, in a European context? Then you are the person we are looking for!

*Important: this position can only be filled by someone who has the legal right to live and work in Greece (EU nationals or visa holders). You will be hired on a freelance contract with a compensation of € 3.178,- gross per month, based on a full time 40-hour work week.

WHERE WILL YOU WORK?

Boat Refugee Foundation provides medical and psychosocial emergency and primary care and stands up for the rights of people seeking safety and refuge in Europe. We work in locations that receive little attention and resourcing and where basic services, including healthcare, are lacking. Since 2015, we have been working in various locations at the borders of Europe. On Lesvos, we run a daily medical clinic in refugee camp Mavrovouni and a MHPSS programming both inside and outside the facility.

WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING?

The Area Manager is responsible for management, coordination, implementation, development and representation of Boat Refugee Foundation’s programme in the North Aegean. The Area Manager leads the team on site, currently on Lesvos, consisting of a Medical Coordinator, MHPSS Coordinator, Coordinator Support teams, Finance and Logistics Officer and a team of volunteer professionals. In addition you work closely with the Programme Manager based in the Netherlands who is your line manager, and you collaborate with other colleagues in the Netherlands and the Advocacy Coordinator based in Athens.

YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage and support the team on site;
• Responsible for creating an open and positive working climate and overseeing a good team dynamic and working atmosphere;
• You act as a bridge between colleagues on Lesvos and in the Netherlands;
• Ensure the implementation and results of the programme on Lesvos are in line with the programmatic goals and budget;
• Lead the transition of the team with several coordinators leaving and new staff starting in June 2024, providing support to individual team members and the team (with support of the programme manager based in the Netherlands);
• Monitor the daily programmes and operational activities and ensure their efficiency, effectiveness and quality, by collecting and analysing various data;
• In collaboration with the rest of the team, reporting on programmes, results and progress on a monthly basis;
• Work closely with the Advocacy Coordinator to implement the organisational advocacy strategy and have a leading role in exerting political or social influence on behalf of the organisation locally;
• Responsible for the safety of staff and volunteers and ensuring a safe working environment;
• Maintain and develop a diversity of external relationships and/or partnerships in support of the effectiveness and efficiency of our programmes and advocacy;

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• A relevant university degree (political science, international development or other relevant studies);
• A least three years of proven work experience in a management position within an international humanitarian context, representing the organisation to external actors;
• At least three years experience in managing a team and individual staff members;
• Experience in managing within a fragile security context;
• Experience managing on-site programmes in coordination with office/headquarters based elsewhere is an asset;
• Experience in budget management and monitoring cost effectiveness;
• Good networking skills and the ability to exert socio-political or social influence on behalf of the organisation;
• Strong analytical skills and ability to think and act at a strategic level;
• Organising, planning and coordinating skills and ability to think in a solution-oriented way;
• Strong interpersonal and intercultural communication skills;
• Ability to work independently, in a solution-oriented manner;
• Open to (self) reflection and feedback discussions;
• Excellent command of the English language, both in writing and verbally. Command of other languages such as Farsi, Greek, French, Arabic is an asset;
• Proficient with all Microsoft Office and Google programs;
• In possession of driver’s licence B;
• Eligible to live and work in an EU country.

WHAT DO WE OFFER YOU?

• A temporary full time contract for nine to twelve months;
• Your contract will be a freelance agreement/self employment contract. The monthly remuneration for this position is € 3.178,-;
• An allowance for cost of housing;
• An allowance for your flight to and from Lesvos at the start and end of your contract;