Head of Program/ Deputy Country Director

ABOUT US

Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty. This means that we tackle the inequality that keeps people poor. Together we save, protect and rebuild lives. When disaster strikes, we help people build better lives for themselves and for others. We take on issues like land rights, climate change and discrimination against women. And we won’t stop until every person on the planet can enjoy life free from poverty.

We are an international confederation of 21 organisations (affiliates) plus the Oxfam International Secretariat, all working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. All our work is led by our core values: Empowerment, Accountability, Inclusiveness, Courage, Solidarity and Equality.

Oxfam Novib OPT is looking for a Head of Program/ Deputy Country Director

Duty station: Jerusalem / West Bank with travel to Gaza

Type of appointment: Fixed-term Contract

Contract duration: 1 year (with possibility of renewal)

Work schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week)

Reports to: Country Director

Salary & Scale:3919 EUR to 5932 EUR Gross per month / Grading 710

Start date: As soon as possible

Deadline for applications: 21 April 2024

CONTEXT

The OPT program team aims to contribute to protecting and advancing the economic, social, and political rights of Palestinian men and women, boys and girls who, having greater control over their lives, environment and resources in accordance with IHL and IHRL, live with greater dignity and gender equity, are more resilient and capable, driving and sustaining positive changes in their quality of life and, through this, move closer to the achievement of social justice.

OBJECTIVE OF THE POSITION

The Head of Programs provides strategic leadership, representation, and operational management to Oxfam’s program in OPTI in line with the Oxfam Country Strategy (OCS) and operating model. The role manages the overall program team and line manages the Program Managers (Program Leads) who are based in different locations (Jerusalem, Ramallah, Gaza).

The role is a member of the Oxfam Country Management Team. The post reports to the Country Director. The Head of Programs is Deputy Country Director, deputizing for the CD as needed. The post-holder is expected to travel frequently to different Oxfam offices in OPT, including Gaza.

• Roles Reporting to this Job: 3-4 staff minimum
• Budget Responsibility: 10-15 million per year
• Geographical Scope: Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza
• Impact: Internal – Country team and country program, OPT. External: partner relations, donors relations
• Key Stakeholders: The role is expected to work closely with all teams within the country office, with affiliates across the confederation, with partners, peer-organisations and donors.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic leadership of Oxfam’s programme in OPT

• Delivers OPTI’s overall program strategy in line with the OPT OCS while staying relevant in light of contextual developments and changes.
• Together with Program Managers, develops long term vision and strategic planning to achieve significant impact from program pillars and overall program and shapes objectives of the program team.
• Ensures adequate follow up to the implementation and needs of the humanitarian response program, in addition to and integrated approach of Gaza and WB response.
• Provide strategic leadership on operationalisation of the youth programming ambitions and objectives, integrated with thematic programs in the OPT strategy.
• Promote the partnership approach in all aspects of Oxfam’s program in OPT, and provide strategic support to the development and operationalization of Oxfam’s partnership strategy in OPT.
• Plans and manages human and financial resources and processes related to OPT program effectively and efficiently.
• Ensures and/or leads on documentation, learning and strategic communication related to Oxfam’s program in OPT.
• Represents Oxfam in OPT internally and externally; manages and influences significant and high profile internal and external relationships on behalf of the OPT program.
• Contributes to overall resource mobilisation across the country program.

Programme management, delivery and quality

• Provides leadership and guidance to program teams in the development and achievement of high-quality programs.
• Oversees the management of a broad spectrum of programs in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
• Ensures that the OPT program is implemented in a consultative, participative and gender sensitive way and meets Oxfam’s quality standards.
• Provide oversight to the OPT partner portfolio, ensuring the identification of both implementing and strategic partners, and ensuring the building and maintaining of these relationships.
• Oversees overall adherence and compliance to Oxfam policies and standards for program quality and management (OPT wide).
• Ensure that the OPTI program complies with donor contractual obligations and that all reporting is of good quality and is done in a timely manner.
• Ensures technical and sectoral integration of programs where appropriate.
• Promotes integration and team working between program and support functions for effective delivery.
• Supports cross-program learning promoting thematic and sectorial synergies and knowledge sharing.
• Maintains and develops new and existing donor relations in coordination with the CD, Program Managers and the Business Development Manager.
• Monitors overall program and project budgets, ensuring that spending is timely and within budget.
• In coordination with program teams, ensure technical programmatic support across the program, ensuring program quality elements are incorporated in budgets and identifying separate funding opportunities (internal or external) for programme quality.
• Take initiatives to improve learning and sharing of program experience (within the program and beyond), including cross-program learning.
• Identify impact assessment initiatives and ensure effective communication and implementation about programme impact with stakeholders within and outside Oxfam.
• Engagement in the CO bid no bid process. The HoP may act as a decision maker on the technical design, programme, and sector. The HoP would have the strategic overview over the three programs therefore, their insights and steer can be important when to decide on new opportunities.
• Engagement with the Business Development Manager and funding focal points, working closely the funding team during various stages, including opportunity identification, proposal development, reporting, and when seeking project amendments. This will ensure efficient collaboration within the CO team, and in communication with affiliates, and donors.

Humanitarian Leadership

• Contributes to the development, review and implementation of Oxfam’s humanitarian preparedness strategy and investment plan in country.
• Provides support to respond to the ongoing Gaza emergency as required ensuring adherence to Oxfam policies and humanitarian standards.

Representation and liaison with external actors

• Under the guidance of the CD, lead engagement with identified donors and other missions in relation to Oxfam’s work in OPT, including organising field visits, events in various locations.
• Engage in networking and representation of OPTI programme activities and issues in appropriate fora (including AIDA and hosting donor/diplomatic visits as required)

People management and development

• Provides high quality leadership and performance management to Program Managers and indirectly manages the wider program team of approximately 40+ staff.
• Provides strategic leadership and performance management to the Youth Program Officer.
• Manages the program team to deliver on the programme strategy, providing leadership and guidance and ensuring that the management of the team is in line with Oxfam policies and procedures.
• Ensures that staff members are given opportunities for development and training, as discussed and agreed, and provide support to the capacity building planning for program positions.
• Ensures an efficient and relevant staffing structure and lead structural change processes when necessary.
• Builds a high-performance culture in the program team.

General

• Deputizes for the Country Director when required.
• Adheres to and actively promotes Oxfam’s principles and values and advances gender justice and women’s rights.

Core Dimensions

• Providing overall leadership and management, including management of funds, material resources, projects, and personnel.
• Ensuring overall management, with a focus on ensuring program quality and meeting funder requirements; delivering demonstrable outcomes in line with the agreed program action plan.
• Assisting in the development and implementation of programs relating to Oxfam priorities and mission.
• Developing relationships with and representing Oxfam to donors, local and national governments, organizational partners, voluntary agencies, media, donors, and local communities to maintain positive organization profile.
• Developing local staff/partner capacity and networks.
• Ensuring sufficient and timely flow of management and operation information and reports.
• Raising funds.
• Major impact within the country office with significant wider impact externally and within affiliates.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Essential

• Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions.
• Empowerment – Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen.
• Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.

In addition

• A minimum of 10 years progressively responsible experience in the field of program management and leadership with a local or international NGOs is required, preferably working on recovery/development issues within a complex conflict-affected context.
• University Degree in a relevant field such as Social Sciences or Humanities.
• Demonstrable experience in managing multidisciplinary projects and programmes with significant budgets, including multi-year, transformative economic and social projects in a conflict context
• Proven experience of working to improve program quality and the delivery of effective monitoring, evaluation and learning within a large and complex programme
• Experience of working with and supporting local partner organisations
• Evidence of strategic analysis, review and development of strategies.
• Proven evidence of leadership skills including the ability to challenge, motivate and develop a team through periods of programme change
• Proven experience of designing and building a leadership team and managing complex teams.
• Proven ability to work creatively, innovatively and effectively with limited direct supervision / significant levels of autonomy and make prompt and sound decisions
• Proven analytical skills and ability to work with others to develop strategy into action and communicating and influencing this to a wider audience
• Knowledge and experience of promoting gender equity, and an active commitment to promoting the interests of marginalized people in all aspects of programme work.
• Experience of programme planning, and competent use of project management tools
• Meeting agreed deadlines in a stressful and fast paced environment, will be critical
• Sensitivity to cultural differences, and the ability to work in a wide variety of cultural contexts
• Ability to influence and liaise effectively with key stakeholders and represent in high profile environments
• Good understanding of humanitarian, transition and development issues, especially in fragile contexts.
• Excellent public and human relations skills; good sense of judgment and high level of discretion and diplomacy.
• Proven experience in representation
• Fluency in spoken and written English. Fluency in Arabic is a clear advantage

WORKING AT OXFAM NOVIB

• All our work is guided by our core values: Empowerment, Accountability, Inclusiveness, Courage, Solidarity and Equality.
• At Oxfam Novib, we work according to the Feminist Principles – Oxfam Policy & Practice.
• Oxfam Novib is based on the power of difference. That is why we aim to attract a diverse mix of talented people who share our standards, values and principles, and who are committed to prevent and eliminate any type of misconduct.
• We have an active policy against sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, any form of abuse of power or lack of integrity and financial misconduct. This subject will be covered in our application and selection process.