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Assistant Country Director Systems

Assistant Country Director –Systems Afghanistan MM/ACDS/AF

Concern Worldwide is an Irish-based non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries.

Job Title: Assistant Country Director -Systems

Reports to: Country Director

Job Location: Faizabad 50% and Taloqan 50%

Contract Details: 2 years, Grade C, unaccompanied

Job Purpose: As a member of Senior Management team to contribute to the management of the country programme in Afghanistan with specific responsibility for ensuring effective security, administrative, logistics, transport systems are established and maintained. ACD-S will be responsible for updating Concern Afghanistan security guidelines, SOPs and advising staff (national and international on security policies and procedures. The security situation has deteriorated in Afghanistan 2008-2010; it is envisaged that security management will continue to be integral to the ACD role for the duration of this assignment - 2011- 2013.

Main duties & Responsibilities (Including Training Role): a) Senior Management • Assist the Country Director in the management of the country programme through involvement in the decision making • Contribute to the roll out of the Country Strategic Plan (2009-2013) and integrate CSP objectives into staff PDRs • Roll out and reinforce Concern’s Security Management Plan and SOPs, Security Guidelines and regularly revise and update • Participate in Senior management meetings +decision making • Understand and adherence to all Concern policies and roll out throughout country programme

b) Security
• Monitor and report on security in all programme areas and in other areas that likely impact on Concern’s programme areas. • Ensure the implementation of Security Policy, Security Management Plan, SOPs • Provide security orientations and briefings to all new staff and visitors • Issue weekly security updates and provide security guidance to all staff on a weekly basis, and daily where necessary.

c) Administration • To maintain effective systems for the maintenance and security of staff, offices and assets • To Oversee the purchase of office equipment and supplies • To ensure the offices and houses conform to recommended security, health and safely standards • General administration – design, implement, manage and ensure the maintenance of appropriate administrative systems and procedures • Undertakes monitoring visits to programme areas and provides feedback to managers + staff • Preparation of programme budgets collaboratively with system and programmes and finance staff. Track expenditure through monthly management and quarterly financial accounts prepared by the finance department. • Ensure that Concern Afghanistan retains its capacity to respond to emergencies within its programme areas and is expected to take a supporting role to programmes in any emergency responses within the programme areas. • Ensure compliance to donor policies, procedures and procurement (EU, IA, WB, GTZ etc.) • Ensure travel arrangements for all staff and entry permits and visas are processed for international staff.

d) International Staff Administration
• Ensure that visas and work permits for all international personnel are in order and advise HR Dept on any changes to visa requirements etc • Co-ordinate the arrival, in-country induction and briefing of all new international personnel • Ensure team houses meet security, health and safely standards

e) Human Resource Management • In consultation with HR ensure sufficient human resources for systems to meet objectives • Ensure staff comply to the Programme Participants Protection Policy (P4) and HAP • Maintains system of objective setting and performance appraisal for systems staff • Capacity building/ training responsibilities of direct reports – e.g. work with direct reports to coach and train in order to develop their own management skills • Ensure that direct reports set objectives, conduct reviews and perform PDRs with their staff • Monitoring direct report performance based on agreed job descriptions and ensuing their compliance with all Concern policies

f) Logistics • Oversee the central logistics unit ensuring that systems including ordering, transportation, delivery, storage, control and reporting on the use of programme and team supplies are in accordance with Concern procedures and policies • Ensure that guidance and monitoring in all Concern logistical procedures and policies are given to all field locations • Ensure procurement procedure complies with Concern, and donor procedures

g) Transport • Oversee the Transport and Maintenance Departments ensuring smooth management, maintenance, allocation and scheduling of Concern’s vehicles • Oversee the implementation of the Transport policy

h) IT and Communications • To oversee the establishment, maintenance, development and security of all Concern Afghanistan’s IT equipment and systems • Ensure that Concern Afghanistan procedures and policies are in conformance with Concern Worldwide guidelines on IT • Oversee the continual revision of IT Equipment and policies

i) Concern Afghanistan Support Office – Dushanbe • To oversee and support Concern Afghanistan support office in Dushanbe with periodic visits to support the Office Manager

  1. Work Targets Set For This Post Over The Contract Period: (Please be specific & realistic). • To establish, maintain and develop professional security, administration, logistic and support systems. • Complete revisions of manuals on security, communications, transport and logistics and support staff in the implementation of these manuals. • In collaboration with other SMT members and key staff implement the CSP • Training of staff in systems

Person specification: 1. Education & Qualifications Required: Essential: • Degree or Higher Diploma Desirable: • Administration, Logistics, IT or HR Qualifications

  1. Experience Required: Essential:
    • three years relevant overseas experience in emergency insecure operational environments • two years relevant logistic/systems and management experience in development context

Desirable: Training and facilitation skills

  1. Special Skills, Aptitude or Personality Requirements: • empathy with organisational Vision, Mission, Goals + Objectives • ability to work under pressure often to strict deadlines • ability to surface problems and recommend solutions • methodical and thorough • knowledge of computer applications i.e. Microsoft word and excel • strong budget management skills • ability to motivate and develop skills of others • analytical and problem solving skills especially in relation to the analysis of security information • ability to work both as part of a team & independently • cross cultural awareness and sensitivity (esp. gender and ethnicity) • tolerance and acceptance of diversity

  2. Any Other Special Requirements : Familiarity with Concern’s HR, logistics and administration systems and IT equipment - ability to multi task essential as part of this job

To apply All applications should be submitted through our website at https://jobs.concern.net CV’s should be no more than 4 pages in length

Concern has a Staff Code of Conduct and a Programme Participant Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organization, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context staff have a responsibility to the organization to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Programme Participant Protection Policy and the Concern Staff Code of Conduct candidates acknowledge that they have understood the contents of both the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and the Programme Participant Protection Policy and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents

Concern receives a substantial amount of funding from external donors each year. Increasingly donors are introducing requirements whereby future funding is conditional on Concern ensuring that the names of any new employee or volunteer do not appear on terrorism lists generated by the European Union (List of person, groups and entities to which Regulation (EC No. 2580/2001 applies), the US Government (Office of Foreign Assets Control list of specially designated Nationals and Blocked Persons) and the United Nations (Consolidated List).

Any offer of employment (either paid or voluntary) with Concern Worldwide will not be made pending a clearance check being conducted on the applicant. For additional information please consult our web site or contact the Human Resource Division in our Head Office.

Concern Worldwide is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community