Organisation Background:
Founded in 2011, the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) is an international charity that supports humanitarian 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. The organisation has grown from an innovative start-up to become a globally recognised charity and a valuable component of the humanitarian safety coordination system.
Today, with more than 1000 employees globally, INSO provides daily support to 1000 NGOs operating in 14 of the world’s most insecure countries and has earned a strong reputation for its performance, principles and professionalism.
As of April 2019, INSO is registered as a charity in the Netherlands with its global headquarters now based in The Hague, the international city of peace and justice.
Nigeria Country Office and presence across Lake Chad Basin
Since registering in Nigeria in 2016, INSO has developed a strong regional approach, supporting NGOs working on the Lake Chad Basin Crisis from Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon. The coordination office, which is based in Abuja, oversees two operational offices in Maiduguri, Nigeria and in Maroua, Cameroon.
We are now seeking an experienced humanitarian professional to serve as our Country Director to be based in Abuja, Nigeria and oversee our Lake Chad Basin platform covering Nigeria and Cameroon.
Job Summary:
The INSO Director sets the overall strategic framework within which all other program elements occur and provides leadership, coordination, representation, supervision and management in relation to all staff and services. The Director will be an experienced and emotionally mature individual with advanced understanding of humanitarian operations at the leadership level.
The 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.
The Director’s main challenges in 2021 will consist of maintaining the quality of leadership and services in Nigeria while directing the Cameroon office with a particular focus on structuring smooth internal coordination and processes between the two countries. This may include works on splitting Nigeria and Cameroon in to two separate country offices if donor funding for Cameroon is confirmed this year.
This position is an exciting and rewarding role with a high level of external representation and direct involvement in analytical and coordination services on humanitarian safety and access. This is a complex program with the challenge of working across the region. You will have the opportunity to see the positive impact INSO products and services have on our partners while working with a dedicated team of humanitarians who love their jobs.
Major Responsibilities:
* Coordination of all staff and resources in Nigeria and Cameroon country offices including; internal coordination, grants management, host government regulatory registration, donor reporting and representation of INSO towards stakeholders.
* Provide quality control and direct contributions to the delivery of INSO services including; production of information and analysis (written biweekly and n situational reports, etc.), high-level engagement and briefings, surveys, training and capacity building, and emergency support as needed.
* Program management, including annual funding strategy, budget management, and contractual compliance. Direct grant and contract management responsibilities.
* Compliance with INSO’s global policy in operational and administrative areas.
Mandatory Requirements:
* Previous experience as an NGO Country Director or equivalent management experience in conflict/post-conflict contexts (at least 3-5 years).
* Experience with management of multi-donor projects. Knowledge of donor policies and procedures (DG ECHO, FCDO, SDC, USAID-BHA). This includes PCM, budget management and monitoring, donor liaison and reporting.
* English fluency (written and spoken)
* Master’s Degree-level of education or equivalent work experience in a relevant field
* Proven analytical skills including analytical editing, writing and authorship of analysis reports.
* Solid understanding of principles and practices in broad humanitarian action, NGO safety and risk management, humanitarian access, and civil-military coordination.
* Excellent networking, diplomatic, and representative communication skills.
Preferred Characteristics:
* Good working knowledge of French is strongly preferred
* Minimum of one year of recent experience in the Lake Chad Basin area (Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Chad)?
* Direct experience and involvement in a crisis management role.
* Experience in a highly visible interagency role.
* Detailed understanding of INSO mandate and services.
* Previous INSO experience (as a team member, a member of INSO’s country advisory board or as a beneficiary)
Key Personal Competencies:
* A people manager with excellent interpersonal skills
* Organised and diligent work ethic
* Effective communication and creative thinking
* Cultural and situational sensitivity
* Calm demeanour in stressful or crisis situations
* Flexibility to cover crisis situations during and outside working hours.
* Principled and consummate professional
Terms & Conditions: 12-month contract based in Abuja, Nigeria, €5,500 per month salary, 4 days annual leave per month and 3 days of R&R every 3 months with an allowance of €750 each R&R cycle, housing, global medical coverage (excluding USA) and USD $200,000 AD&D coverage.
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.
How to apply
Interested applicants are requested to send the following to [email protected] and reference ‘CD-LCB’ in the subject line of your email. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted after the closing date.
* Cover letter specifying how you meet the mandatory requirements, your motivation in applying and what you hope to bring to INSO (1-page maximum).
* Up to date CV (2-page maximum)
* One relevant and substantive writing sample in English that demonstrates your writing and analytical abilities.
Please do not send any additional information (certificates, other writing samples, etc.) and keep the total size of your application under 2MB if possible.
