Head of Emergency Program Quality CARE International

The Head of Emergency Program Quality (EPC) reports to CI’s Humanitarian Director and is responsible, in consultation with colleagues in various parts of CI, to coordinate agreed upon CI humanitarian focus sector strategies, implementation and reporting to ensure that all of CARE’s program work is embedded within a framework of CI’s approach to gender equality in humanitarian contexts and sectoral standards in an integrated manner. This position will oversee the implementation of the program quality components of the CI humanitarian and emergency strategy and work closely with the CI Program Director for effective integration of CARE’s emergency programs with CARE’s overall CI programming principles and approaches; including adherence to quality and accountability standards established across CI. S/he will provide strategic guidance and oversight to how CARE implements emergency programming, particularly as the organization evolves with different operating models, focusing on developing local partner capacity as well as internal capacity in key focus sectors through a gender sensitive approach.

The head of emergency program quality leads, manages, and integrates several program quality functions directly and supervises a team of specialists in CEG, including: gender, partnership, human resources, monitoring & evaluation/accountability, staff training and development, and systems development.. She/he works closely with counterparts in various parts of CI, particularly those members who are leading on focus sectors/areas, to coordinate overall emergency program quality and capacity building initiatives throughout the CI confederation. She/he keeps abreast of developments in the humanitarian field externally and represents CARE in appropriate external forums. She/he visits CARE’s work in the field, as well as CI member offices and deploys to support emergency operations as needed.

The head of emergency program quality should be an exceptional individual, combining significant experience in international relief and development with specific skills and experience in strategy, program quality, accountability and impact, working in partnership, staff development, coordination and teamwork. The position requires excellent English language communication skills, with fluency in another major language (French or Spanish) preferred. The position is home based, with approximately 30% travel required.

Specific Areas of Responsibility

• Coordinates a CI-wide integrated and inter-dependent approach to strengthening program quality and emergency capabilities for effective emergency response, including joint planning, division of roles, coordination of initiatives and resources, ensuring information and knowledge sharing, etc.;
• Coordinates efforts of identified priority sectors (including cross-cutting areas) with CI members to ensure coherent approaches and common frameworks to building emergency capacities in priority areas. This includes supporting the development and implementation of sub-strategies and plans that are in line with the overarching CI humanitarian and emergency strategy; integrating various elements including staff development, policies & systems development, surge capacity, monitoring and evaluation, accountability and capturing and sharing learning;
• Forge coherent links with the development side of CARE to promote effective integration of CARE’s emergency programs with CARE’s overall CI programming principles and approaches;
• Work with sector leads and management to ensure strong linkages of program specific priorities with accountability mechanisms;
• Line manages CEGs program quality team (partnership, gender, monitoring & implementation/accountability, staff training, human resources), including recruitment, supervision, guidance, staff development and performance management for the team; indirect line management with sector leads;
• Work with CI Program Director and M&E Coordinator to support the development and implementation of a credible M&E and impact measurement capacity for CARE’s programming (integrating humanitarian with development);
• Establishes common strategy and approach across CARE (members/sectors) to ensure effective representation of sectors at central, donor and UN levels (e.g. engagement in clusters and other priority agency dialogue);
• Visits the field to monitor and support emergency program quality;
• Deploys to support emergency responses as required;
• Monitors performance of the humanitarian and emergency strategy;
• Supports humanitarian training coordinator and sector/CI member leads to identify capacity building requirements and supports development of capacity development sub-strategies for priority sectors directly linked and integrated within the framework of humanitarian competencies;
• Coordinates very closely with the Head of Emergency Operations to ensure emergency operations maintain focus on program quality and adherence to quality standards;
• Works with CI members (especially the CIM leading on partnership) and other key stakeholders on development and roll out of partnership strategy;
• Coordinate with RECs and other specialists to promote coordinated and strategic linkages with CARE offices at regional and country levels to ensure CARE’s global humanitarian and emergency work is relevant to the field;
• Contributes to external humanitarian policy and advocacy, including representing CI with the UN and other multilateral agencies;
• Assists the Humanitarian Director in management of CEG.

Qualifications:

Masters degree, or relevant combination of qualifications and experience, in the emergency programming and capacity development area.

Experience and Background:

1. 8 to 10 years experience in international humanitarian work, including demonstrated skills in coordinating, facilitating and creating a consensus in a complex and decentralised environment similar to the CARE confederation;
2. A strong commitment to, and a demonstrated experience in the areas of organisational learning, knowledge-sharing and people development;
3. Good knowledge in one or more areas of partnership, gender, program approaches, quality and accountability, organisational development, staff development, human resources;
4. Strong staff management, coaching and mentoring skills and experience (particularly managing remote/virtual teams);
5. Ability to work independently, with little direct supervision;
6. Excellent interpersonal, teamwork and communications skills;
7. Willingness to spend approximately 30% time travelling;
8. Language skills: English fluency and fluency with a second relevant language (French, Spanish)

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