Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Closing date: 30 Sep 2018
Background
The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international Catholic organization with a mission to accompany, serve and advocate on behalf of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. JRS undertakes services at national and regional levels with the support of an international office in Rome. Founded in November 1980 as a work of the Society of Jesus, JRS was officially registered on 19 March 2000 at the Vatican State as a foundation.
JRS programs are found in 51 countries and provide assistance to refugees in camps and cities, individuals displaced within their own countries, asylum seekers in cities, and to those held in detention centers. The main areas of work are in the field of education, emergency assistance, healthcare, livelihood activities and social services. At the end of 2016, more than 733,400 individuals were direct beneficiaries of JRS projects.
General objective for this position:
Guarantee the efficient and effective management of the Regional Office through the resolution of the key recommendations from the International Office.
Primary responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the Regional Director, the Country Director is responsible for all JRS activities in the country.
Expected Results:
- Leadership
- Human Resources – Strategic workforce planning
- Advocacy, Communication and Visibility
- Financial Management and Fundraising
Planning and Project Expansion:
- In collaboration with the Regional Director, creates and remains faithful to a shared vision for the organization’s activities in DRC.
- Propose an annual plan for the country activities in full accordance with regional and IO Strategic Framework.
- Evaluates the impacts that JRS’ presence, and its programming, may have on affected populations and communities using JRS monitoring and evaluation tools and impact assessment methodologies.
- Assess new needs of refugees at the country level, promoting research along these lines.
- Advocates for and embraces any change which augments the implementation of relevant and ethical programming.
- Seeks and exploits funding opportunities at country level to expand project operations.
Leadership:
Internal:
- Cultivates positive working relationships and environments.
- Ensures staff motivation through mutual respect, professional development opportunities and inclusion in project planning.
- Ensures appropriate levels of communication with staff at all levels.
- Ensures that staff can properly represent the organization by equipping them with knowledge about JRS’ vision, mission and the region’s strategic plan.
External:
- Cultivates positive working relationships and develops collaborations with other NGOs, UN agencies, host government, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other main stakeholders. Ensures positive perceptions of JRS’ presence in DRC - Goma.
- Sets the level of integrity and quality of programming to be aspired to by other organizations.
Human Resources:
- Ensures that human resources needs are fully identified, assessed, described and communicated.
- When required, recruits key positions with the assistance of the Human Resources Department of the International Office.
- Ensures HR guidelines and policies are respected
- Ensures that staff have adequate rest, relaxation and that wellbeing is addressed.
Advocacy, Communication and Visibility:
Internal:
- Ensures appropriate degrees of information-sharing at all levels.
External:
- Maintains positive working relationships with all JRS partners and humanitarian actors, and particularly with the Jesuit community.
- Engages the community, represents the organization at the national and local levels.
- Ensures public awareness of JRS’ contributions to their communities.
Financial Management and Fundraising:
- Proposes a yearly budget to Regional Director and ensure a timely monitoring of resources and expenses according to related control mechanisms.
- Ensures high-quality, efficient and transparent planning, utilization and reporting of financial budget using JRS tailormade tools.
- Provides support for yearly accounting audits.
- Ensures procurement policy is in place and followed.
- The National Director is also responsible for all other tasks necessary to ensure the quality and timely achievement of projects, as requested by the Regional Director. He should also send a monthly report to the Regional Director to update him on the evolution of work achieved in the field.
- In coordination with the Regional Director and the Director of Philanthropy and Development, engage in fundraising activities for projects in country.
Required Education and Experience
- An advanced, accredited university degree in Management, Political Sciences, Law, International Development or another related discipline. An undergraduate degree with strong relevant field experience will be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.
- Minimum of seven years’ experience of increasing responsibilities in human service organizations, ideally in humanitarian or development organizations with a strong human rights and/or faith background. Experience in project development and management, work with refugees, and/or advocacy with forcibly displaced people is a particular advantage.
- Demonstrated evidence of leadership in a professional setting/humanitarian response with the ability to think strategically, motivate others, create new projects, solve problems and be part of a multi-cultural and multi-faith team.
- Proven performance in organizational management, budget development and management, and general office coordination.
- Demonstrated ability to fundraise and evidence of an entrepreneurial spirit.
- A proven ability to capture impact and learning from operations and feed it into new programmes.
- Knowledge of and/or familiarity with key concepts and current trends in forced migration and challenges faced by forcibly displaced people.
- Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen, effectively communicate, negotiate and work creatively with stakeholders of varying backgrounds: beneficiaries, government representatives, church leaders and refugee groups among them.
Required Skills and Competencies
- Excellent proficiency in written and verbal French and English;
- Excellent communication and presentation capacities, able to persuasively articulate JRS’s message and impact to external audiences.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a multi-cultural, international, high-energy professional environment.
- Strong analytical, strategic-thinking and planning capabilities.
- Ability to innovate in a changing environment and promote creativity within the organisation.
- Understanding of and commitment to humanitarian relief work and international humanitarian standards.
- Advanced computer proficiencies in MS Office packages.
Required Core Values
- Commitment to JRS’s mission, vision and values; the ability to convey with enthusiasm JRS’s role in accompanying and serving forcibly displaced people and to advocate for their right to protection and a life in dignity.
- High integrity, honesty and confidentiality; ability to deal tactfully and discreetly with people, situations and information.
- Acceptance of diversity and inclusion as a core value; willingness to work in flexible, sub-optimal and multi-cultural environments.
Travel
The position requires regular travel to JRS locations in the region, periodic travel beyond the region.
How to apply:
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Contract is for one (1) year renewable, with an initial probation period of 3 months.
The JRS remuneration policy is aligned with the JRS ethos to offer effective and professional services and at the same time to express solidarity with people served. The salary is calculated with the use of a post-adjustment multiplier and takes into account years of relevant experience and the degree of responsibility in the role. Details will be discussed with short-listed candidates.
Applicants are requested to submit the following documents to humanresources@jrs.net :
Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English, including three (3) professional references with contact information, phone and email address.
A cover letter describing the candidate's desire and motivation to work for JRS and how her/his qualifications and experience meet the requirements for this position.
The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled. Consideration of candidates and interviews will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Thank you for your interest in joining JRS.