Plan International is an sovereign development and humanitarian
non-profit organization that advances children’s rights and fairness for girls.
We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood, and enable
children to prepare for - and respond to - crises and difficulty. We believe in
the power and potential of every child, but know this is often suppressed by
poverty, violence, exclusion and inequity.
We are recruiting to fill the position
of:
Job Title: Emergency Response Manager
Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Reports To: Country Director, With
Coordinating Relationship With The Director Of Programme Quality and Innovation
Functional Area: Programmes - Disaster Risk Management
Type of Role: 24 month fixed term
The Opportunity
Plan International Nigeria aims to respond effectively, quickly and at
significant scale to the core humanitarian needs of children and their families
affected by the Boko Haram crisis in the North Eastern Nigeria, specifically by
minimising disruption to education systems and providing gender appropriate
services both through and after disasters.
As the Emergency Response Manager, you will be responsible for this emergency
response programme. You will supervise its development and implementation,
maintain the emergency master budget and ensure the regular development of
sitreps. You will also be the overall line manager for the whole emergency
response team who are spread across three locations in Nigeria: Abuja,
Maiduguri and Mubi.
In this role, you will be expected to provide strategic leadership in all areas
of emergency response programming. You will strengthen the country office’s
overall capacity to be prepared for and respond to emergencies in accordance
with Plan International’s principles and practices.
The Individual:
You will have a high level of leadership and managerial experience, including
experience in managing multi-million Naira budgets.
You will have the highest level of expertise in representation and negotiation
with governments and donors, as well as having occurrence in complex decision
making and leading a multi-disciplinary and multi-national team under difficult
circumstances.
To be successful in this role, you will be resilient, adaptable and flexible
alongside being able to demonstrate awareness and sensitivity to gender and
diversity. You will have the capacity for initiative and decision building with
competent analytical and problem-solving skills.
Role Purpose
Plan International Nigeria aims to respond effectively, rapidly, and at significant
scale to the core humanitarian needs of children and their families affected by
the Boko Haram crisis in the North Eastern Nigeria.
Specifically, Plan International Nigeria aims to minimize disruption to formal
and non-formal education systems and to restore formal education services;
strengthen the proactive environment for children and their families including
age and gender appropriate services during and after disasters; create
opportunities for and build capacity of young people affected by the armed
conflict to generate income and to improve their life skills; and to become
recognized actor in both in linking related community-based interventions to
national coordination and interagency mechanisms where Plan International
Nigeria will gradually take on leadership functions.
Therefore, the Emergency Response Manager is responsible for the quality and
effectiveness of Plan International Nigeria emergency response Programme.
Overseeing the development and implementation of the Emergency Response Plan
(incl. project implementation of different projects with different
institutional donors and National Offices), maintaining the emergency master
budget, ensure the regular development of Sitreps, representing the
organisation at various clusters, working groups and towards external as well
as internal (i.e Regional Office, IH, Lake Chad Basin Unit) humanitarian
actors, being the overall line manager for the whole emergency response team
which is spread across three locations (Abuja, Maiduguri and Mubi).
Dimension of the Role
In 2009, the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram became active in the North
eastern Nigeria. The insurgency scaled up in 2010 when the group started
suicide attacks as well as attacks on so-called soft targets in Borno and
Adamawa States in Nigeria.
Since then, more than 500,000 Nigerians have fled to neighbouring countries of
Niger, Cameroon and Chad, and 2.2 million were internally displaced - around
1.2 million children in Nigeria were forced to leave their homes, 50% of these
children under the age of 5. The activities of the Boko Haram terrorist group
have paralyzed most business activities, deepened poverty and dislocated a huge
population of people.
Although the government has made some significant military gains against the
group in recent time, the humanitarian situation remains deep and ravaging.
The Emergency Response Manager is expected to provide strategic leadership in
all areas of emergency programming.
He/she is responsible for the quality and effectiveness of Plan International
Nigeria’s emergency response in Northeast of Nigeria. The Head of Emergency
Response strengthens the country office’s overall capacity to be prepared for
and respond to emergencies in accordance with Plan’s principles and practices.
The Head of Emergency Response leads and manages the emergency team and is the
interface between the Emergency Team and the Country Director, the Lake Chad
Program Coordinator and the Head of Programs and Business Development.
He/she is the leader of the Emergency Response Team, responsible and
accountable for developing, coordinating and managing all emergency activities.
The Head of Emergency Response has overall responsibility for the security and
well-being of emergency staff.
He/she is also expected to actively contribute to the delivery of Plan
International Nigeria Country Strategic Plan.
Accountabilities
Assessment, Programme Design and Planning:
In association with the Head of Programs and Business Development, ensure
emergency assessments are executed and from them; an integrated emergency
response, implementation and exit strategies are developed.
In consultation with Technical Working Groups, support the Head of Emergency
Response team, to identify key sectoral assessments to be undertaken.
Ensure that Plan International Members are provided with regular sitreps
(approved by the Country Director) and are aware of humanitarian developments
and Plan Nigeria’s response to them.
Develop program initiatives that focus on strengthening the Comprehensive
Emergency Response Framework.
Coordinate the development of all project implementation plans and budgets
within the framework of the agreed emergency response programme and strategy.
Ensure the Country Director and the Head of Programs and Business Development
are kept informed about assessment progress, emergency response implementation
and strategies, project plans, progress reports, and other significant
developments.
Ensure Plan International Nigeria adheres to best international standards for
emergency responses.
In collaboration with the Business Development Team at the Country Office,
identify funding opportunities with National Offices and lead proposal
development with the Technical Specialists.
Pro-actively network and build external relations and lead fund-raising efforts
and build up a portfolio of grants to finance a multiyear response plan in
close coordination with the Business Development Unit.
Lead in the development and design of all external emergency response
proposals, budgets and reports, and ensure they are completed to the highest
possible standard.
Provide support to Lake Chad Program Unit.
Emergency Project Management and Implementation:
Maintain ongoing surveillance of the developing humanitarian emergency
situation and adjust activities accordingly.
Ensure adequate monitoring, reporting and acquittal of emergency activities in
accordance with PLAN DRM strategy, policies and protocols.
Ensure that different sectoral activities are implemented in a coordinated and
cohesive manner in line with work plans and donor commitments.
Ensure emergency activities are carried out in accordance with the Sphere
Minimum Standards and Humanitarian Charter in disaster response.
Strengthen linkages across all program departments to ensure a strong, coherent
program approach in line with the Emergency Response and Recovery Program
Regularly keep National Offices informed of program progress and key
humanitarian issues
Ensure that an overall monitoring and evaluation framework is regularly updated
Support the conduct of research and other empirical evidence gathering at the
field approved by the Country Director.
General Management and Leadership:
Establish and maintain constructive working relationships with other NGOs, UN
agencies, host government, bilateral and multilateral donors, and other
principle stakeholders including the military where present.
Attend all the relevant inter-agency coordination and working groups meetings.
Create the conditions to ensure effective teamwork and morale; and ensure staff
well-being is addressed.
Attend regular CMT and Emergency Response Team meetings and ensure follow up of
action points.
Promote a productive work environment with zero tolerance for verbal or
physical mis-conduct, or discrimination against other persons on the grounds of
race, colour, sex or creed i.e. the Red Cross and NGO Code of Conduct.
Support country-wide disaster management capacity building initiatives
Ensure all emergency staff are fully briefed on all aspects of security, social
and cultural norms and local conditions and behaviour.
Recommend changes to the emergency team composition and functioning with
Country Office and partners to maximise emergency programme quality and
effectiveness.
Conduct performance appraisals of emergency staff as required, ensure regular
feedback and mentoring on individual performance.
Ensure the Country Director, Head of Programs and Business Development, and
Lake Chad Program Coordinator are kept informed about assessment progress,
emergency response implementation and strategies, project plans, progress
reports, and other significant developments.
Administration and Finance:
Ensure with the Deputy Head of Emergency Response (responsible for operational
issues) that administrative support functions are established and maintained in
accordance with Plan International administrative policies and procedures.
Compliance with all host country legal, contractual, labour and statutory
requirements including registration in countries where Plan International has
no pre-existing presence.
Ensure with the Head of Finance the establishment, as necessary, and
maintenance of Plan International financial management and accounting systems
for all emergency assessment and response activities and assets.
With support from the Finance and Administration Team and the Deputy Head of
Emergency Response ensure that all finance policies and procedures are adhered
to.
Oversee budget preparation, setting the parameters and ensuring spends and
forecast are in line with plans.
Coordinate mobilisation of financial resources related to emergency activities.
Ensure that reliable communications/information management facilities are
established and maintained.
Ensure emergency members are familiar with usage, procedures and relevant
protocols
Ensure with the Procurement & Logistics Manager/Officer the establishment
and maintenance of a functional procurement and supply chain management system.
Ensure with the Deputy Head of Emergency Response and the Procurement Logistics
Manager/Officer the timely and appropriate establishment of all logistics
infrastructure.
Safety and Security:
Responsible for the security of all international and national staff when
deployed on needs assessments or emergency response.
Oversee the security of project staff & facilities in the project
areas.
Support the Security Focal Person in updating the standard operating
procedures.
In collaboration with the Security Focal Person, ensure all personnel
understand individual and collective responsibilities for safety and security.
Liaise with the Security Focal point at the CO to ensure establishment and
compliance with Plan Security Guidelines and procedures; their effective
application in the local context and periodically update relevant SOPs, etc.
Monitor the operational environment with respect to increased level of threat
and advise the Country Office, staff, Plan International and the Plan
International Security Officer
Keep the CO Head Office and other interested Plan members advised of changes
and threats to the security of Plan staff, assets and operations.
Advocacy:
In collaboration with other partners, identify key advocacy messages relating
to the emergency response issues.
Lead the development of key advocacy messages in collaboration with Country
Office, other partners, the regional DRM unit and IH DRM Department.
Public Relations / Media /
Representation:
Work with the CO Communications Advisor in the development of constructive
working relationships with media representatives to build international and
public profile and ensure positive coverage and the timely provision of
situation reports and fundraising material to Plan’s International Headquarters
and National Organizations.
Ensure all information, publicity and fundraising material recognises and
respects the dignity of the affected persons.
Organizational Capacity Building:
Ensure the program good practices and lessons learned are shared within the
organization
In collaboration with the HR Officer, develop capacity building plan for ER
staff and lead relevant capacity building programs
Core Competencies
People Skills: Ability to work independently and as a team player who
demonstrates leadership and is able to support and train local and
international staff and also able to work with disaster-affected communities in
a sensitive and participatory manner.
Communication Skills: Well developed written and oral communication skills.
Able to communicate clearly and sensitively with internal and external
stakeholders as a representative of Plan International Nigeria. This includes
effective negotiation and representation skills.
Integrity: Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment
to Plan International Nigeria's core values and humanitarian principles.
Resilience/Adaptability and flexibility: Ability to operate effectively under
extreme circumstances including stress, high-security risks and harsh living
conditions. Works and lives with a flexible, adaptable and resilient manner.
Awareness and sensitivity of self and others: Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity
to gender and diversity. Have experience and the ability to live and work in
diverse cultural contexts in a culturally appropriate manner. Has a capacity to
make accurate self-assessment particularly in high stress and high security
contexts.
Work style: Is well planned and organized even within a fluid working
environment and has a capacity for initiative and decision making with
competent analytical and problem-solving skills.
Knowledge and skills: knowledge of Plan International Nigeria and Global
policies and procedures, Sphere and the Red Cross/ NGO Code of Conduct.
Requires general finance, administration, information management and
telecommunication skills and proficiency in information technology/ computer
skills.
Human Resource Development:
Ensure that human resources implications for Plan International Nigeria for
both existing and anticipated emergency response are fully assessed,
identified, described and communicated.
Support in the development and management of emergency response human resource
protocols.
Ensure all Emergency Response personnel understand and carry out their duties
in accordance with humanitarian principles, Plan values, the Red Cross Code of
Conduct and SPHERE.
Conduct performance appraisals of direct reports and ensure regular feedback
and mentoring on individual performance.
Recommend changes to Emergency Response team composition and functioning with
Country Office and partners to maximise emergency programme quality and
effectiveness.
Build the Capacity of the humanitarian field team on humanitarian standards and
principles.
Ensure that the HR Database is regularly updated to monitor salary expenditure
and contract end dates.
In liaison with the HR staff make sure staff have suitable rest, relaxation and
that well-being is addressed
Monitor ongoing human resources issues and make recommendations and adjustments
accordingly.
Ensure team members receive thorough briefings and information.
Review HR policies to ensure that they are appropriate for an emergency
response context.
Ensure with the HR manager that the systems used for HR are adapted to the
emergency context to ensure a rapid response while maintaining an acceptable
level of accountability in regards to the recruitment.
Technical expertise, skills and knowledge:
Minimum of 5 years humanitarian aid experience in complex and natural
disasters.
High level of all aspects of leadership and managerial experience, including
managing multi-million Naira budgets.
Experience in complex decision making and leading a multi-disciplinary,
multi-national team under difficult circumstances.
The highest level of expertise in representation and negotiation with
governments and donors.
Strong understanding of the humanitarian emergency operating context, including
Sphere, the humanitarian system, donors, security, civil military liaison and
program management.
Relevant language skills for the country of deployment.
Physical Environment:
Typical office environment, with travels to project locations
Level of contact with children:
Low contact
Application Closing Date
26th October, 2020.
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