Regional emergency manager, West Africa

Conflict and natural disasters devastate lives. All too often it’s the lives of the world’s poorest people. You’ll help us and our partners in the West Africa region to deliver vital emergency relief and build long term resilience which ultimately will save lives and reduce human suffering.

Christian Aid is striving for wholesale change to the structures and rules that keep people poor. We work wherever the need is greatest, giving people strength to find their own solutions to the problems they face, irrespective of their religion. So if you’re passionate about helping others, and want to help us drive positive change across the world, join us.

We are now looking to recruit a highly committed and skilled regional humanitarian manager for West Africa.

When disaster strikes we’re quick to respond, working with our partners to deliver vital emergency relief. Responsible for the West Africa region, you’ll be part of the humanitarian team supporting partners on the ground. You’ll be the first point of contact in an emergency, working closely with our country teams to manage effective and principled responses to rapid onset emergencies and to ongoing, chronic crises. Together with our partners, you will develop innovative and effective relief, recovery, rehabilitation and mitigation programmes and help vulnerable communities become more resilient to and reduce the risk of disaster. You will secure funding from international donors and work with them to develop and deliver humanitarian programmes, ensuring accountability and maximum benefit to disaster affected communities. You can expect to travel for up to six months per year and may have to travel at short notice for up to three months at a time.

You will have considerable experience of working internationally, managing and leading emergency programmes and relief work. You will have worked in at least five overseas humanitarian crises and know just what is required to deliver in the world’s toughest environments. You will have experience of working with local partners and senior level representation. You will have a track record of project development and of securing and managing donor funding. You will be well versed in international humanitarian standards, accountability, building resilience and disaster risk reduction. You are likely to be working in the NGO sector or with an international organization. Whatever your background you’ll be able to relate to people at all levels and will be fluent in French and English.

Recruitment is undertaken based on the candidate best meeting the competencies stated in the role profile. As part of the application process please answer the following competency based questions. Using the guidance notes may help you formulate your answers.

Analytical thinking

Please describe a humanitarian situation where you recognizedthat a certain pattern of events, or circumstances, consistently led to one or more problems.

Effectiveness and accountability

Describe a humanitarian project/programme that you supervised which was behind schedule, over budget, or understaffed.

Project management

How have you used your understanding of risk management to mitigate risk in a major project for which you were responsible?

Communication and interaction

Please discuss an occasion when you have enhanced your organisation’s reputation by establishing and maintaining relationships with individuals outside the organisation.

As this post is based in Burkina Faso or Mali, you will require current and valid permission to work in one of these countries.

We value the contribution each person makes to the success of our organization. That’s why you can expect a wide range of rewards and benefits, including a generous holiday allowance and flexibility that will ensure you enjoy a good work/life balance.

Download the role profile (78 KB pdf)

To apply for this post, please download an application pack and carefully read the following documents Essential information and conditions and Essential information - income tax. After reading this information, please email your completed International application form to: burkinarecruit@christian-aid.org quoting the reference number given below.

Please note that CVs will not be accepted and that only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Job reference: REM/BF/01

Closing date: 12 noon, Monday 13 February 2012

Interview date: To be confirmed

Christian Aid values diversity and aspires to reflect this in our workforce. We welcome applications from people from all sections of the community, irrespective of race, colour, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief.