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Desk Officer , Concern Worldwide

Reports to: Regional Director Liaises with: Strategy, Advocacy and Learning, Public Affairs, Finance, Human Resources, IT and Overseas fields. Based in: Dublin based with possibility of overseas travel Pay band:
Pay Band 5: €40,928 – €48,151 Contract Length: Maternity Cover – specified purpose contract

Job Purpose: To be a focal point within the organisation for assigned countries, liaising with all departments in relation to these countries. Within this role, to provide continuity, advice and management support to country programmes and to keep the Regional Director briefed on pertinent issues and changing circumstances as they arise.

Main duties & Responsibilities: Programme Support • To assist the assigned countries in the design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of country programmes, applying current thinking and best practice and involving Strategy, Advocacy & Learning (SAL) as appropriate in this process. • To appraise and feedback on all project-related documents - i.e. concept notes, proposals and reports, both narrative and financial, assessments, evaluations, reviews, etc. • To monitor progress and provide inputs towards the development of quality proposals and reports. • To contribute towards staff training and organisational learning in assigned countries through participation at and facilitation of country level workshops, as required. • To support and participate in the development and review of country-specific Strategic Plans. • To follow up on queries to and from the field with relevant departments – i.e. finance, purchasing/logistics, HR and IT.

Funding • To contribute to the improvement of the organisational co funding situation and to coordinate organisational funding strategies, including participating in relevant seminars and meetings and liaising with all Concern fundraising offices. • To finalise donors’ proposals and reports, both financial and narrative, to the highest standards and donors requirements. • To advise and direct country management in the development of funding strategies for assigned countries. • To source funding for individual project proposals. • To represent Concern to funders as required and to deal with their proposal and report related inquiries. • To be familiar with and brief colleagues as needed in relation to donor strategy, donor guidelines, formats and processes. • To update and develop management information systems such as OFIs, FIBS, programme records and reporting schedules.

Finance • To assist in the financial management of assigned countries. • To ensure the accuracy of country budgets, budget revisions and reporting packs and ensure they meet the needs, resources, and activities of assigned countries. • To assist in managing the financial information provided by the field and other sources.

Personnel • In conjunction with the HR Officer agree the selection of personnel for overseas positions. • To assist the HR department in the recruitment, induction and debriefing processes for personnel for assigned countries. • To liaise with the HR Department to ensure best practice in all health and safety matters.

Organisational Learning • To actively participate in working groups that develop policy and promote organisational learning, both internal and external to the organisation, utilising past experience as appropriate.

Others • To brief management and other staff as required on current programmes and political, economic and social analysis of assigned countries. • To support advocacy, communications and development education activities by liaising with relevant departments.

Person specification:

Essential: 

• A minimum of three years experience in an NGO or similar organization based in a Developing country • Educated to degree level, ideally in a Development related field • Excellent understanding of Development issues • Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills • Good financial ability and understanding • Experience and knowledge of donor requirements an advantage • Previous experience in a similar role an advantage

This post will be based in Dublin and may involve some overseas travel to fields of operation.

Candidates must be legally entitled to work in Ireland at the time of application.

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.

By submitting a formal application for paid or voluntary employment to Concern, you agree to Concern carrying out a clearance check as outlined above and that Concern will not proceed to recruit you should your name appear on any of the aforementioned lists.

How to apply:

To apply: To view and apply for this vacancy, please go to http://www.concern.net/jobs by closing date 25th May 2012