Organisation Background
Founded in 2011, the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) is an international charity that supports the safety of aid workers by establishing safety coordination platforms in insecure contexts. INSO provides registered NGOs with a range of free services including real-time incident tracking, analytical reports, safety related data and mapping, crisis management support, staff orientations and training.
INSO services help NGOs with their day-to-day risk management responsibilities and improve their overall situational awareness to support evidence-based humanitarian access decisions.
Today INSO provides daily support to more than 1000 beneficiary organisations (NGO) in fourteen of the world’s most insecure countries and has earned a strong reputation for performance, principles & professionalism.
INSO Mozambique
Due to climate crises and ongoing conflict, there has been an increase in humanitarian programming in Mozambique during the past few years; particularly in Cabo Delgado, Sofala and Manica provinces. As the security situation remains fluid and humanitarian workers are at risk, INSO has been invited by NGOs operating in Mozambique to start a platform.
We are now seeking an experienced individual to lead our team as a Country Director. This position will initially be based in Maputo. This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of a niche NGO that specializes in NGO safety and security and to shape a new platform.
Job Summary:
The successful candidate will manage initial set up of the organization by ensuring the successful registration of INSO with relevant national and local authorities, networking, strategizing and planning the structure of the mission, securing the funding for the program, and recruiting the program and support teams. Following the start-up phase, the Country Director will be in charge of leading, managing and directing the ongoing program implementation. The Country Director will possess solid program and human resources management skills and will be a natural and confident communicator, consensus-builder and networker. Successful candidates will combine keen intellect and analytical skills with pragmatism, patience and a good sense of humour. They will enjoy the challenge of translating strategic concepts into workable practices in difficult environments. Ideal candidates will come from an NGO/humanitarian background (senior management and programs) and are not required to have military/police backgrounds.
Major Responsibilities:
IMMEDIATE RESPONSIBILITIES
Program set up
* Engage with the national and local authorities for the successful registration of INSO in Mozambique
* Hire staff required at the set-up stage
* Create relationships with NGO partners, UN agencies, and other stakeholders to establish lasting relationships and collaboration
* Create relationships and contacts with the donor partners and prepare proposals
* Secure sufficient funding to start the platform
* Prepare a security management protocol for the mission
* Work in tandem with the Regional Director to develop the mission structure, logistical set up and strategy
External Representation
* Effectively represent and protect INSO’s principles of independence, impartiality and neutrality and actively promote INSO as an integral member of the humanitarian community.
* Represent INSO towards senior humanitarian leadership, on a bilateral basis and in relevant coordination fora, utilising INSO’s expert understanding of the context to promote more informed, more effective decision making on issues affecting humanitarian access and safety.
* Engage with third parties, including local government, the UN, diplomatic missions and international military forces.
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AFTER SET UP
Program Leadership and Management
* Provide engaged, effective leadership across the program, ensuring that INSO Mozambique performs well across all functions – program delivery, finance, operations, HR – and in compliance with INSO SOPs.
* Steward INSO resources effectively and transparently in full compliance with internal and donor policy.
* Develop and deliver annual program planning, aligning programme development strategy with realistic assumptions of future funding.
* Manage INSO Mozambique donor relations and produce high-quality, compelling donor proposals and progress reports that underscore INSO Mozambique’s impact.
* Line manage a Deputy Director, Finance Manager, Operations Manager.
* Ensure that INSO Mozambique recruits and retains high-calibre staff and orient them to the INSO mandate.
* Promote and exemplify a culture of openness and collaboration.
* Uphold rigorous risk management standards, not least as it affects the welfare and wellbeing of staff.
Service Delivery
* Develop and maintain a sophisticated personal understanding of the Mozambique context and the prevailing challenges to humanitarian safety and access.
* Supervise all INSO Mozambique service delivery, ensuring that program targets are met, quality is maintained and that services remain relevant and responsive to the evolving context and needs of NGO partners.
* Deliver strategic analysis to senior humanitarian leadership, including through monthly directors’ briefings, quarterly analytical reports and as needed on request.
* Lead crisis management support to individual NGO partners or the NGO community at large during critical incidents.
Essential Requirements:
* Fluency in written and spoken English
* Good working knowledge of Portuguese
* Previous experience as an NGO Country Director
* Minimum of one year of recent experience in Mozambique or a similar context and advanced knowledge of local history and current social, political, and security contexts within the region.
* Solid understanding of principles and practices in broad humanitarian action, NGO safety and risk management, humanitarian access, and civil-military coordination
* Master’s Degree-level of education or equivalent work experience in a relevant field (please specify).
* Minimum of five (5) years in conflict affected contexts.
* Minimum three (3 years) in an NGO senior management role and crisis management.
* Proven analytical skills and experience with producing and editing analytical products
* Experience with humanitarian grant management, donor proposals and reporting (preferably with DG ECHO, USAID-BHA, SDC and FCDO grants)
* Outgoing and confident personality, and a calm demeanour during crises. A self-starter who takes initiative to achieve results.
* Excellent networking, diplomatic, and representative communication skills.
* Flexibility to frequently work within irregular hours and within austere environments.
Preferred Characteristics:
* Previous INSO experience
* Previous experience in country office set-up
* Direct experience and involvement in a crisis management role.
* Experience in a highly-visible interagency role.
* Detailed understanding of INSO mandate and services.
* Existing (relevant) local information networks and contacts.
* Previous INSO experience (as a team member, a member of INSO’s country advisory board or as a beneficiary closely involved with the program).
Key Personal Competencies:
* A people manager
* Quiet demeanour in stressful or crisis situations
* A good listener
* An effective communicator
* Team player
* Excellent interpersonal skills
* Excellent analytical skills
INSO’s Safeguarding Policy
INSO is fully committed to safe recruitment, selection and vetting of all potential new staff, trustees and volunteers and we will ensure rigorous compliance with our Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policy throughout the recruitment process. As such, the following safe recruitment practices will be applied:
* All offers of employment will be conditional on receiving at least two satisfactory professional references;
* INSO will ask candidates about significant gaps in employment history or frequent changes of employer and address;
* All essential qualifications and relevant professional accreditations and memberships will be verified;
* The successful candidate will be required to provide a valid proof of identity (passport, ID card);
* All new hires will receive an orientation in INSO’s safeguarding policy and procedures and associated documents (Code of Conduct, Whistleblowing etc);
* All new hires will be required to sign and abide by the Code of Conduct as a condition of employment.
Terms & Conditions:
12-month renewable contract. €5,500 per month salary, four days annual leave per month and seven days of R&R every three months, global medical coverage (excluding USA), AD&D coverage.
This vacancy is archived.