Head of Humanitarian Response at Oxfam

Location: North East, Nigeria
Internal Job Grade:B2- Global
Contract type: 1 Year Fixed Term
Job Family: Program
Reporting to: Deputy Country Director (Programs)
Staff reporting to this post: Humanitarian Response Advisors and Coordinators

Job Purpose

• The Humanitarian Program Manager will be expected to lead Oxfam’s humanitarian response,
• monitoring, evaluation and contextual analysis of the EFSVL, WASH and Protection/Gender situation in Nigeria and to design and manage the implementation humanitarian projects in response to emerging needs.       

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
Strategy, analysis of the humanitarian situation/recommendations:

• Ensures the correct implementation of the projects managed by Oxfam in Nigeria and partners and that donor contractual requirement are fulfilled. This includes the management of funded projects according to guidelines and standard.
• Represents Oxfam in the country, maintain and build relevant relationships with Nigeria Government agencies, Donor representation in the country and relevant INGOs.
• Consolidates Oxfam role in the country by providing strategic leadership in its specific sectors of intervention in coordination with the Oxfam HQ.
• Supports the implementation of country humanitarian strategy and the coordination of periodic operational plans and budgets of the country and its programs, monitoring progress towards achieving program objectives - also measures outcome and impact against recognised indicators.
• Coordinates key baselines, endlines, and evaluations, ensures surveys meet the expected standards, in close collaboration with MEAL and programme teams.
• Participates in programme/project planning processes, particularly on logic of intervent(Develops logical frameworks and MEAL plans), and contributes to ensuring adherence to Oxfam’s programme quality standards.

Programme management:

• Ensures overall leadership of disaster preparedness, mitigation and management including humanitarian response activities for Category 1 emergencies working with a team of Global Humanitarian for advice and support.
• Ensures staff safety and security procedures are monitored, updated and implemented. This will include an analysis of the risks and the threats to staff working on Oxfam programmes.
• As appropriate, identify any blockage in coordination/communication and ensure resolution.
• Prepare periodic briefings and communication/funding documents on the response.

Partner Management:

• Builds and develops networks with the relevant governmental institutions, local authorities and other actors that play a key- role within the projects’ intervention areas.
• Maintains effective partner grants and reports monitoring system, ensures adherence to Oxfam policies and procedures on partner management.
• Pro-actively initiates and maintains contacts with peers, Oxfam and other relevant stakeholders.

Capacity Building for Partner and Oxfam Staff:

• Contributes to and maximise use of the Knowledge networks to share strategic thinking and learning more widely as well as within the Country Team to ensure that programming builds on learning and is evidence based, innovative and agile to respond to opportunities for change.
• Forms key part of technical team. Ensures good management, facilitation and ‘problem solving’ with and for staff as and when needed.
• Supports the local implementation partners, ensures their capacity building in humanitarian key skills and competencies

Educational, Experience & Competence
Essential

• First degree or equivalent in statistics, research methodology, social sciences, or other relevant qualification, and possess strong analytical abilities,
• Masters degree in International Development, Economics, Project management or closely related field i.e. in the areas of research, assessment, monitoring, learning, and capacity development/transfer or a combined professional qualification and sound experience
• A minimum of 8 years of experience in similar roles – specifically in managing humanitarian and development programs funded by different donors.
• Significant leadership and management experience in the development and delivery of high quality program, influencing and humanitarian strategy, with and through partners or directly, in one or more challenging locations. (Humanitarian WASH, protection and/or EFSL programs).
• Experience of managing complex change processes and relationships involving a wide range of both internal and external multi-cultural stakeholders across a variety of disciplines and geographical areas.
• A high degree of self awareness and an understanding of how to drive and support excellent team performance and individual development in line with Oxfam’s values and policies.
• Proven track record of leading and motivating multi disciplinary, geographically remote teams and operations across a number of locations.
• Good knowledge of developing and implementing monitoring systems to track the effectiveness of programs and an ability to build cooperative, professional relationships with donors, partners and peer organisations.
• Experience in working and jointly implement projects involving local organisations as implementing partners; building the capacity of the team internally and of external stakeholder
• Excellent personal communication skills, in written and verbal English.
• Good interpersonal, influencing, diplomacy negotiating skills.
• Well-developed conceptual, critical, and analytical thinking with the ability to convey complex information in a straightforward, interesting way, and influencing this to a wider audience
• Ability to represent Oxfam in a professional and competent manner with external individuals and organisations.
• Strong analytical skills and experience using (Ms. Word, Excel etc.)
• A high level of self-awareness, personal energy, stamina and flexibility. Ability to work creatively, effectively and under own initiative.
• Commitment to Oxfam’s overall aims and policies and experience of promoting women’s rights and the interests of marginalized people in all aspects of Oxfam’s work.
• Knowledge or appreciation of Nigeria in terms of its political, economic and social trends plus a good understanding of the key development and humanitarian issues in the region.
• Ability to travel to remote programmatic sites within the country.

Desirabl:

• Experience in managing funded projects and proven ability to write proposals and reports to main humanitarian donors (i.e ECHO, DFID, OFDA, etc.)