Spain: Country Manager for South Sudan and DRC

MAGNA (Medical and Global Nutrition Aid) is providing medical care for children and their families in times of humanitarian crises, conflicts, epidemics, famines and natural disasters. MAGNA creates medical humanitarian projects aimed at saving lives and alleviating suffering to those who are at risk. MAGNA’s humanitarian and development programs have been currently implemented on three continents - Africa, Asia, America, in twelve countries (Cambodia, Kenya, DR Congo, South Sudan, Haiti, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Nepal, Philippines, Myanmar, Lebanon and Syria), where in 26 projects and in over 82 health facilities in the world, offers medical, nutritional and psychosocial assistance to people in need.

• Position name: Country Manager for South Sudan and DRC
• Duration: 12 months, with possibility of extension dependent on future funding
• Location: Barcelona/Girona (Spain)
• Reports to: Operations Manager and/or Operations Director

Main Responsibilities

The Country Manager works under the general supervision of the Operational Director and directly under Operational Manager and in cooperation with the Financial and Fundraising & Communication Departments. Country Manager supervises mission’s activities in assigned country, provides leadership and vision to the organisation’s program agenda, and supports the development of new programs or missions. Country Manager is to ensure that each mission under his/her supervision operates based on a sound humanitarian strategy and follows the MAGNA standards of operations.

General Management

• Backstop the daily operations of the country programs to ensure continuance through appropriate response to context changes, mission, program, and beneficiary needs, donor positioning, lessons learned, and best practices
• Support Geographic Offices and Countries in the development of the strategic humanitarian planning (i.e. Contingency Plans, Preparedness Plans, Emergency Response Plans, Early Rehabilitation and Recovery Plans, etc.)
• Ensure monitoring and follow-up to emergency and recovery interventions, which MAGNA is involved in (including monitoring/evaluation missions in countries)
• Support the Geographic Offices in the investment and development of the organization in new countries where MAGNA is not present yet
• Be available for rapid deployment in countries where there is lack of humanitarian personnel, if needed by the circumstances
• Support the Geographic Offices to develop humanitarian strategy interventions and programming in countries where MAGNA is present and for new potential one (including reporting to back donors and liaising with the other MAGNA affiliates present in the Country)
• Updates the country strategy and validate program’s definition as laid out in the proposals and assure that it is coherent with MAGNA operating principles, charter and mandate
• Ensure that all programs are defined and implemented following MAGNA protocols, approved budgets and guidelines and are need based
• Assists in-country teams to provide financial, program development, fund raising, recruitment, logistical and technical oversight, input and supervision
• Provide support to designed missions and ensure that the administrative requirements are fulfilled
• Contributes to the HR identification and participate on field personnel selection and pre/post briefing, evaluation etc.
• Facilitate compliance with internal and external regulations, all applicable laws, and contractual obligations
• Contributes to the MAGNA Internal Regulations updates
• Presents a M&E focal person for the countries, executes assessment missions
• Visit the country missions regularly for management and operational assessment and support
• Assures problem solving and mitigation as needed
• Supervise local recruitments and contributes to expatriate recruitment and HR questions
• Assures briefing and debriefing of the expatriates, update on MAGNA’s policies and procedures and any potential internal training necessary
• Elaborates regular narrative and financial reports

Project Management

• Supervise the project management via Project Coordinators in the field, assures the communication and updates in all fields
• Ensure compliance with proposals and donors requirements, policies and regulations
• Perform regular program evaluation to ensure that objectives are being achieved and quality is maintained
• Is responsible for timely reporting on projects and transparent financial management in lines with the budget
• Assures archive for the missions and programs, as well regularly in the HQ
• Reviews and controls expenses reports, project spending and budget versus actual spending
• Assists in new proposals (incl. budgets) process which may include proposal writing, editing and input, preparation for submission, submission, following through the approval process, and assisting in start-up activities

Supports and follows up field missions on:

• Developing, following and/or amending country strategies
• Security management (prevention and management)
• Timely answers to specific questions on context and donor policy
• Ultimately validate program’s definition as laid out in proposals and assure coherence with MAGNA operating principles, and procedures
• Work with Operations Center to ensure that all programs are defined and implemented following MAGNA technical protocols and quality guidelines, and that new initiatives are implemented as needed.
• Track success rate of the program activities completed as per implementation plan
• To provide timely support in writing, editing, formatting and validating proposals and reports
• The Country Manager must liaise consistently and productively with the Operations Manager and Operations Director and have an overall strong knowledge of the technical issues, politics of the region, relevant research, and best practices on all points related to programs and humanitarian issues in the missions he/she supervises.

Representation and fundraising

• Explores funding opportunities for the organization’s projects in assigned countries and with full range of donors
• Work with Administrators and Finance Controllers to ensure that current and future programs are sufficiently funded and that general support is sufficient for implementation.
• Keep informed of donor’s guidelines evolution so he/she can support and validate the writing of proposal’s budget
• Maintain substantial relationships with donors and partners (governmental, NGO, and companies) both current and potential
• Maintain donors’ correspondence files. Focal point for donor relationship provides relevant update on context, country strategy and programs’ progress
• Prepares annual country reports and provides material for external and internal communication
• Represents and advocates for MAGNA’s programs and strategic vision
• Coordinates the communication between the F&C department and the field
• Provide leadership, guidance and promote professional working relationships with all MAGNA departments to staff members
• Contribute to the creation of a positive image and overall credibility of the organization, in respect of the Code of Conduct

Work with HR Agenda

• Validate the organizational structure of the missions, participate in the definition of necessary posts, of job description and help the recruitment process
• Brief field expatriates regarding missions
• Support the Geographical Offices/Countries in the recruitment and training of humanitarian personnel
• Development of mission support documents (country profiles, briefing packets, etc.)
• Support and supervise the Operations Manager: implement evaluation, follow up and assistance on HR related issues, in the recruitment process of expatriates (interviews, evaluations, trainings)

REQUIREMENTS

• Advanced university degree or equivalent working experience
• Previous working experiences in Humanitarian Aid projects in the field (at least 5 years). Previous experience of work at Head Quarters is preferably
• Good knowledge of developing countries structures and proven previous experiences working with local NGOs as partners.
• Knowledge of the humanitarian project cycle management
• Knowledge of the main humanitarian donors, with particular reference to DG ECHO and UN ways of working
• Languages – English advanced level (French and Spanish are an advantage)
• Desirable knowledge and background on Protection sector
• Strong computer literacy with a full knowledge of MS Office
• Culturally sensitive and able to understand and work in a very complex contexts
• Creative competency to set up new strategies, new projects, new tools
• Problem solving attitude
• Good team player with strong initiative
• Good inter-personal and communication skills
• Ability to adapt and work in difficult situations
• Preferably public speaking skills
• Preferably knowledge of inter MAGNA affiliates coordination mechanism
• Able to travel (min 25%). While travelling for the missions, the country manager might be exposed to precarious settings under high security risk, or live in basic conditions. Be creative and possess the ability to work with limited resources or difficult environments

Please note this post is only for candidates who are eligible to work and live in the EU. Interested applicants can send only their CV including education, qualifications, contact number and relevant documents: by email, to address ocb@magna.org . The email subject line MUST include in the title of email the following to be considered: “Country Manager Africa”. E-mails without job title will not be reviewed. We thank all applicants for their interest but only short listed candidates will be contacted. Please ensure that you provide appropriate contact information (e-mail, mobile, etc.) and at least two professional references. The closing date for submission is CET (18.00hr) 17th June 2017.