Job describtion

Job Title:                            Area Coordinator 

Reporting to:                    County Representative

Job Location:                    Severodonetsk, Ukraine

Length of Position:           6 months   

GOAL Mission Statement

To work towards ensuring that the poorest and most vulnerable in our world and those affected by humanitarian crises have access to the fundamental rights of life, including but not limited to adequate shelter, food, water and sanitation, healthcare and education.

GOAL Ukraine: Overview

In light of the ongoing conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, GOAL established a presence in the country in 2015 and is currently implementing an emergency response programme. Initially focused on hygiene activities, GOAL Ukraine’s programing areas are expanding in the coming months to include both cash-assistance and NFI activities, aimed at addressing the acute needs of the most vulnerable. Currently focused on Luhansk Oblast.

Summary of the Position

The Area Coordinator is responsible, as the most senior member of field staff, for the implementation of all GOAL programme activities in the project location. The Area Coordinator should have a good top-level knowledge and understanding of all activities in their location, in particular they should be aware of the constraints faced by their team and be actively working with their teams to manage these constraints and troubleshoot problems as they arise.

Overall Objectives of the Position

The Area Coordinator is responsible for all activities in their programme site coordinated from Severodonetsk; this responsibility covers the operational/support functions (human resources, logistics, finance & administration, and staff safety) and direct programme activities including coordination, programme planning and overseeing the day-to-day operations of senior field staff. To ensure good management of GOAL’s programme activities in the geographical location, the Area Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that the programmes receive the maximum possible level of support from to the Operational/Support functions.

Key duties include:

• Oversee implementation of the different projects making up the Emergency Programme in Severodonetsk and surrounding area, including overseeing day-to-day operations of senior field staff.
• Carrying out regular visits to programmes and projects for monitoring and supervision purposes, and travelling for coordination and assessment purposes.
• Support programmes teams and monitor programme progress throughout the project management cycle.
• Field representation and coordination with the local authorities, NGOs, UN, donors and other relevant actors.
• Monitor the context and provide regular updates to the Country Director, including relevant implications for program activities.
• Liaise with Staff Safety Officer, report incidents and ensure safety guidelines are regularly updated.
• Submit weekly and monthly reports and provide input for donor reports and proposals.
• Oversee HR issues in the project.
• Oversee finance department.
• Act as a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT).
• Implement other tasks as identified by the Country Director.

Programmes

• Monitoring the implementation of the programme activities.
• Undertake regular coordination meetings with field project staff, combined with a robust schedule of site visits to ensure that the Area Coordinator is familiar with the programme activities.
• The Area Coordinator must be familiar with the donor contracts and proposals related to their programme site. They ought to be aware of the different activities and indicators contained in the proposals and monitor progress made towards achieving those targets.
• The Area Coordinator is responsible for ensuring successful visits by programme technical staff and external evaluators. This involves receiving a ToR, and discussing the ToR upon arrival of the visitor, and facilitating contact to the relevant staff/etc where necessary. The Area Coordinator should meet the visitor at the end of the visit to discuss the findings of the visit and any recommendations.

External Coordination

Relationships with open dialogue and mutual respect should be nurtured with all stakeholders. Meetings should include updates on the planned program direction, and understanding the concerns and promoting ownership of the program by the various stakeholders. The Area Coordinator is the field representative for GOAL with local authorities, community leaders, NGOs, UN, donors and other relevant stakeholders. The Area Coordinator is also expected to accompany donor representatives and other official visitors, when requested to by the GOAL Country Director, and provide information as required.

Logistical

Working with Logistics Manager to ensure:

• The Logistics Office provides the required support to programmes.
• GOAL’s logistical procedures are adhered to at all times, reporting any breaches to the Country Director.
• Participate in regular stock-taking and asset checks and sign off on physical inventory lists.

Programmes/Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL)

Working with the Programme Manager to ensure:

• Monitoring of activities is being undertaken in accordance with the program design.
• The complaints and feedback mechanisms are operational that complaints are being addressed and that feedback is listened to.

Personnel

Overseeing HR issues in the programme site, including:

• Implementation of GOAL’s Employment Manual. 
• Ensuring GOAL’s HIV workplace policy is implemented.
• Ensure implementation of staff appraisals

Financial

Overseeing the Finance department in the programme site, including:

• On a day-to-day basis managing the Finance Manager
• Working with the Finance Manager to ensure that GOAL’s Financial Guidelines are adhered to at all times, reporting any breaches to the Financial Controller/Country Director.
• Monthly review of spending and forecasting
• Daily cash counts.
• Review of cash book for reasonability of expenditure.
• Review of financial paper work to ensure all transactions are properly authorised and that all the requited supporting documentation is on file.
• Coordinating with the Financial Controller.
• Ensuring that the Finance office provides the required support to programmes. 

Staff Safety

The Area Coordinator is the Safety Focal Point for their programme site, and thus responsible for the safety of their team and at all times in a position to respond to an incident.

Overseeing Safety in the programme site, including:

• Implementing GOAL’s Safety Guidelines and Procedures.
• Periodically review the site-specific safety guidelines.  
• Ensure all office and accommodation meet basic safety standards, including fire prevention, lockdown and evacuation procedures
• Ensure that all staff are familiar with GOAL’s Safety Guidelines and with the GOALevacuation plan.
• Provide a briefing to all staff/visitors arriving into the site for the first time.
• Monitor the context and inform the CD/Security Officer of any incidents, changes or adverse conditions affecting staff safety or project operations in the region.
• The Area Coordinator should have regular dialogue with UNDSS, NGO security focal point and field staff in the facilities concerning the current and expected safety situation including threats and concerns.

Essential Requirements

• Strong experience in programme and personnel management
• Good interpersonal and motivational skills and a proven ability to lead a diverse team under challenging conditions
• Flexible/motivated
• Experience liaising with governmental / local authorities and other NGO’s
• Ability to speak / write in English
• Ability to speak / write in Russian
• Experience in managing finance and a strong understanding of logistics systems

Desirable

• Experience with a humanitarian organization
• Experience in report writing 

How to Apply

Interested persons are requested to send the following to [email protected] and reference ‘Area Coordinator - Severodonetsk’ in the subject line of your email. Only shortlisted candidates can be contacted.

• Cover letter in English specifying how you meet the mandatory requirements and your motivation in applying.
• Up to date CV (5 page maximum). 

Please do not send any additional information (certificates, other writing samples, etc.) and keep the total size of your application under 2MB if possible.

Deadline: October 3, 2015

This Job Description only serves as a guide for the position available.  GOALreserves the right to change this document.