Deputy Country Director – Support (National Position)

General job description

To assist the Country Director in managing and coordinating the implementation of the Mission projects, the Deputy will also focus on management of the mission resources departments, and serve as acting CD as required.

• Is ultimately responsible for the successful delivery/execution of all projects across the government-controlled area in close cooperation with the Program Coordinator and the field offices on time, on budget, with compliance and quality.
• Participate in the development process of project proposals, both for humanitarian, early recovery and development donors.
• Plays key role in designing the execution side (financial forecasts, budget reviews, risks assessment and mitigation measures, procurement planning, vetting).
• Supervise the resources department (fin/admin, log, compliance, safety and Program Coordinator) ensuring optimization and maximization of their impact.
• Support the CD in further strengthening the operational capacity of field bases,
• Works closely with DCD-Programs (who in charge of program design and business development).
• To further strengthen transparency and fraud/corruption prevention measures
• Acting Country Director (if/when required)

Key activities

Objective 1: To manage the mission Logistics, administration/finance, and HR departments, keeping in mind the final objective of improving the operations and projects efficiency

• Ensures that support functions are strengthened, and appropriate systems are in place to adequately support programs implementation in all aspects
• Provide monitoring, counselling, support, and empowerment to each coordinator/ respective departments/unit when necessary
• Liaise with other INGOs, legal advisor, and other relevant stakeholders for effective coordination and implementation of program manager, logistics, administration, and compliance.
• Ensure that support functions are characterized by quality, consistency, and compliance in lines with ACF strategic priorities, guidelines, and Law requirements.
• Provide selective capacity building of staff as needed and contribute to the career development for program staff

Objective 2: Objective 2: Safety Management

• Supervise the work of Logistics Manager (safety part), support FCs in safety management,
• Contribute, review, and enforce safety and security management plans

Objective 3: Ensure adequate institutional relationships with external stakeholders (national/international), donors and different actors in country

• Contribute to the process of selection of implementing partners, and validate any analysis submitted by the bases on their logistics capacity
• Represent Action Against Hunger on any external coordination bodies and develop a network for the exchange of information and good practices on logistics.

Objective 4: Support humanitarian activities of Action Against Hunger Support the Support the emergency interventions of the organization as per the employee’s abilities.

• Support any activity that helps reaching our humanitarian goals, as per the employee’s abilities.
• Serve as Acting Country Director during absences (breaks, leave, training, illness etc.).
• Promote commitment to ACF charter and prevention on power abuses
• Promote gender equality within the humanitarian and/or development work.

Candidate description

• Masters in Finance, Business Administration, Humanitarian or Development Studies or other related field or substantial Humanitarian and Development experience
• At least 5 years of experience of leading operations in complex environment with key institutional donors. Thorough knowledge of complex procurement procedures (at national and international level), administration/finance Safety and Risk management and PCM.
• Strong leadership skills, Demonstrated staff capacity building and leadership skills.
• At least 5 years’ experience in similar positions or head of a large field office or Country Director. Strong experience in drafting proposals for humanitarian and development programmes. Previous experience in managing complex procurement processes.
• Excellent knowledge of donor (DG NEAR, ECHO, UN, AECID, KfW etc.) rules and regulations. Good management and representation capacity. Experience in risk management, fraud prevention, finance. Organization knowledge is a plus.
• Languages: Professional fluency in English, Spanish – French – Arabic: A plus.
• IT systems: Strong computer skills: facility with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and email/internet software.

Remuneration package

Contract period: 12 months renewable base on Action Against Hunger fund and performance.

Salary/benefits: According to Action Against Hunger’s salary scale and terms and conditions.

Duty station: Damascus

– Candidates may be contacted for other suitable positions within Action Against Hunger.

– Due to the high-number of application received, only potential applicants will be contacted.

-Applications will be assessed and vacancy might be closed before the end of the announcement as per qualifications availability.
– The organization is committed to the principles of non-discrimination and diversity and is particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people.

In the process of recruitment, selection and appointment Action Against Hunger implement a range of procedures and actions including Criminal Background Checks/ International vetting/Certificate of good conduct to ensure children and vulnerable adults are safeguarded and abuse is prevented