Head of Mission

Job Title: Head of Mission

Department: Programming

Duty Station: Bukavu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Line Manager: Executive Director

Line Management Responsibility: Head of Programme, Head of Operations, Finance Manager, HR Manager,

Position Type: Full-time

Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) is a dynamic, international non-governmental organisation. We work with people affected by violent conflicts to enhance their security and dignity through Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP). We work to reduce violence, protect civilians in countries affected by violent conflict and its aftermath, and help transform the world’s response to conflict situations.

OVERVIEW

NP is in the process of setting up its country program in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to support the strengthening of safety and security of conflict-affected communities in South Kivu and North Kivu. Working through Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP), NP centres local communities in preventing violence and promoting positive peace. The NP programming will focus on building capacities within local communities to engage in nonviolent self-protection methods such as protective accompaniment/presence, community-led safety and security initiatives such as conflict de-escalation techniques and early warning/response mechanisms. Secured funding spans several years and offers an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of sustainable, civilian protection.

JOB SUMMARY

As Head of Mission , you will lead the country programme team and be responsible for overseeing all operations, programmes and representation in country, with government representatives and donors. You will inspire the team to ensure that programming runs efficiently, safely and inclusively. In the initial months of this role, heavy emphasis will be on setting up of the country programme (both operations and team) as well as ensuring external representation in appropriate fora. You will also be a member of the Global Senior Leadership Team, where you can contribute to NP’s development worldwide. You are excited to be a key part of a dynamic, challenging, growing organisation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Guidance & Representation

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the NP’s programme portfolio in response to the ongoing conflict in the eastern parts of DRC, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s mission and strategic objectives.
• Represent NP DRC where needed, ensuring appropriate participation in coordination mechanisms.
• Work with the global Policy and Advocacy team to support raising the profile of the needs of people in DRC.

Programme Implementation & Development

• Oversee the startup and implementation of ongoing programmes and projects, ensuring adherence to project deliverables, timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
• Ensure effective monitoring, evaluation, and learning across all programmes and utilise findings to improve programme design and implementation.
• Provide guidance and support to programme staff, ensuring they have the necessary skills and resources to effectively deliver their work.
• Identify and monitor emerging humanitarian needs and adapt emergency response programming accordingly.
• Lead development and resourcing of the implementation of new projects and initiatives to respond to the emergent needs arising from the change of conflict context.
• Develop and monitor programme budgets, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and effectively.
• Maintain strong relationships with donors, partners, and other stakeholders, and ensure effective communication and collaboration across all programme activities.
• Ensure effective coordination and collaboration with other humanitarian actors, government agencies, and local communities in all programming.

Financial & Operational Management

• Working with the support of the Global Head of Finance and Operations, ensure compliance with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements, including those related to donor contracts and agreements.
• Accountable for the management and reporting of financial resources and assets.
• Provide budget management oversight, coordinating with programme and finance staff to monitor actual expenses as compared to budget, ensuring appropriate burn-rate, and making spending decisions appropriate to the needs and the status of the grant.
• Provide oversight for approvals for expenses and coordinate with finance to ensure appropriate allocations of shared costs.
• Closely monitor potential funding shortfalls with finance/grants management; ensure corrective action undertaken as necessary.
• Ensure procurement, logistics, HR, and administration processes are implemented by following NP’s policies and in compliance with donor contracts.

Risk Management

• Working with Executive Director and other relevant team members, the HoM holds responsibility for oversight and support of risk mitigation, safety, and security.
• Ensures in country staff are engaging in risk management planning in adherence with safety and security protocols and holds final decision-making for security and risk management decisions falling outside of normal context and process.
• Responsible to report, in real-time, all security incidents to the Executive Director
• Ensures compliance with and leadership on safeguarding, compliance with Code of Conduct, safe workplace conduct.

Commitment to NP Principles

• Demonstrate a commitment to NP’s mandate and principles.
• Maintain a positive image of the organisation full time while in the field.
• All NP employees are expected to work according to the organisation’s guiding principles:
  • Nonviolence
  • Process-oriented
  • Redemption and Healing
  • Direct Action
  • Independence
  • Pluriversality
  • Radical Connection
  • Non-partisanship
  • Accountability
• These principles and beliefs shall guide our actions and relationships in protecting civilians in violent conflicts through unarmed strategies.

Other

• Serve as an active participant in NP’s global Senior Management Team
• Any other tasks as delegated by the line manager.

Qualifications:

• Relevant university degree or higher education, preferably in management, social sciences, or international development; or equivalent professional experience
• Minimum seven years of leadership and management experience
• Previous experience working as a senior manager in a complex emergency context, including security management experience.
• Demonstrated experience working with state and local, civil, and armed actors.
• Demonstrated ability to live, work and solve problems independently and effectively in remote, highly challenging locations.
• Proven communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to analyse conflict, security, and political contexts.

Key Challenges:

• Building and sustaining collaborative partnerships, negotiating, and resolving contentious issues and conflicts of interest while managing and balancing varied, diverse stakeholder priorities across a geographically dispersed region.
• Balancing country programme start up with project implementation timelines
• Ensuring community voices are well represented in relevant forums

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and independently.
• Program startup experience
• Independent Judgment/Analytical:
  • Ability to set priorities, solve problems and ensure the team operates efficiently and compliantly with donor regulations. Ability to manage information with discretion. Demonstrable conflict analysis skills, identify entry points and design prevention and protection strategies. Able to work under pressure, independently and with limited supervision.
• Interpersonal:
  • Result-oriented and problem-solving. Ability to communicate effectively with individuals and motivate and provide leadership to team and to work in a multi-cultural environment. Solutions-focused, creative problem solver. 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; able to cope with a changing environment, both on a professional and a personal level.
• Language:
  • Fluency in both English and French strong preferred
• Information Technology:
  • Good skills in Microsoft Office applications.
• NP missions are often in a complex security environment where conditions change rapidly; ability to manage in insecure environments is essential to success in this position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with UCP programming an asset but not essential
• Experience in working in DRC an advantage

Working Conditions:

• This field position will include challenging living conditions, limited access to amenities, and potentially unstable security situations.
• Abnormal/ Flexibility in work hours may be required at times
• You must be prepared to live in basic or non-traditional accommodation, which may include shared housing, camps, or field-based settings
• Demonstrated ability to adhere to strict security protocols and maintain high level of integrity

How to apply

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Candidates meeting the above requirements are requested to submit a CV (max. 2 pages) and cover letter (max. 1 page), through our website detailing their experience and how they qualify for the role. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• The closing date for applications is 25 July 2024
• Candidates may be selected before the closing date;
• As part of the recruitment process, shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete a technical assignment before participating in an interview.

SPECIAL NOTICE

Nonviolent Peaceforce is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against based on disability.

Nonviolent Peaceforce acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of employees, contractors, volunteers, interns, communities we work with, and other stakeholders and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities and government guidance and complies with best practices in the Humanitarian and Development sector. NP expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We prioritise ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. NP also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

NO FEE

We never ask for payment as part of our selection process, and we always contact candidates via our corporate accounts and platforms. If you are approached for payment, this is likely to be fraudulent. Please check whether the role you are interested in is posted here on our website.