Afghanistan: Head of Mission for Qatar Red Crescent in Afghanistan

Background

Qatar Red Crescent is looking for a Head of Mission (HoM) in Afghanistan who will be part of the Asia Regional Team. Under the lead and supervision of the Head of Asia Unit, the HoM will have the overall responsibility of the QRCS partnerships and programmes in Afghanistan. The HoM will be based and work out of our office based in Kabul, Afghanistan. The HoM will have frequent and extensive travel to the areas of operations (approx. 30% of the time).

QRCS has been working in Afghanistan continuously since 2014. Presently, QRCS is working in ten provinces in Afghanistan with a portfolio of programmes aimed at promoting improved access to medical care and WASH with a mix of early-recovery programming where possible and humanitarian programming where necessary.

This position is designed to manage the current QRCS' work in Afghanistan and to develop new opportunities within this portfolio and build upon existing foundational efforts to introduce financially and operationally sustainable delivery of these services. Building off and securing, QRCS experience to date in this field. Approximately 50 per cent of time dedicated to nurturing relationships with key stakeholder decision makers, seeking out and identifying unsolicited funding opportunities. The other key focus areas are to oversee and provide strategic guidance to the QRCS programme implementation team as well as responding to proposal opportunities solicited by donors.

Under the supervision of the Head of Asia desk based in Doha (Qatar), the Head of Mission is the head of the office in Afghanistan and represents QRCS with all external partners and interlocutors locally. (S)he is the head of the Core management Team and ensures the efficiency and effectiveness of the operational and program activities of QRCS Afghanistan.

Main Objectives of the Position

The Country Director is responsible for the following objectives:

v Fundraising and Representation of the mission

v Developing and facilitating partnership in the country

v Ensuring a good understanding and clear view of the on-going programs’ strategy in consideration of the geopolitical and development contexts

v Managing and supervising teams to work in line with the global strategy

Main Task

In line with the objectives, and with the support of the QRCS Afghanistan filed team, the Head of Mission is in charge of:

(S)he coordinates the work of QRCS team in Afghanistan (Project Leaders, project teams and support staff) and partner NGOs on activities included in the annual strategy plan and/or QRCS contractual commitments to its funders;

(S)he provides methodological support to the teams, with the support of technical advisers and external experts;

(S)he handles and/or oversees the monitoring & evaluation of activities and organization/running of follow-up workshops;

(S)he ensures clear communications and coordination with QRCS HQ team;

(S)he oversees the quality of management and development of projects and follow up with the partners;

(S)he supervises, assists and ensures the adoption and use of the proposed tools; (S)he takes part in framing/reframing strategic activities and guidelines;

Se**curity** Management

With the support of the Security Coordinator:

(S)he is in charge of the security of all teams ;

(S)he updates QRCS Afghanistan security procedures;

(S)he is responsible for monitoring and analyzing the security situation ;

(S)he ensures the information flow with the HQ, and is able to take necessary measures according to the situation;

(S)he decides any change of security level, according to the situation and liaising with the General Management of QRCS ;

(S)he is responsible to ensure a permanent security watch and to keep the teams updated.

Admi**n**i**s**t**r**ative and fi**n**ancial m**anagement/logistics**

With the support of the National, and HQ Administrators:

(S)he monitors the local administration on financial and accounting operations

(S)he assures compliance of all internal rules and procedures of QRCS Afghanistan (Management control);

(S)he assures compliance with contractual obligations to funders and suggests appropriate operating tools;

(S)he assures compliance with National legal obligations and suggests appropriate operating tools;

(S)he coordinates the preparation of annual budgets (project and operational) and monitors these budgets throughout the year;

(S)he monitors and assures cash-flow management;

(S)he monitors and oversees the allocation of expenditure; (S)he supervises funding applications;

(S)he manages budgets and treasury.

Humanres**o**u**r**ce m**anagement**

With the support of the national and HQ HR department

(S)he manages a multidisciplinary team;

(S)he ensures timely and effective recruitment, training and assessment of QRCS Afghanistan’s local and expatriate staff;

(S)he builds a strong identity within the team, by setting clear expectations, circulating information, building capacity, etc (briefing/debriefing, motivation, personal support and availability, evaluations of the performances, orientations);

(S)he manages the relation with the partners;

Managementof p**artnership** rel**ations**

(S)he oversees the preparation of partnership agreements; (S)he develops new strategic partnerships;

(S)he assess the quality of partnerships;

(S)he ensures co-operation with the local authorities.

Institutional r**e**pr**e**s**e**n**tation i**n A**f**gh**anistan**

With the support of the team:

(S)he shares and participates in developing the strategy of QRCS Afghanistan in line with QRCS's global strategy, and oversees its implementation through all current actions;

(S)he is Responsible for the official representation of the NGO in the country and looking out for opportunities ;

(S)he has an active participation to humanitarian/development coordination forums;

(S)he ensures linkage and feedback with head office, distributes information to branch offices and takes part in QRCS global strategy;

(S)he facilitates exchanges of technical and methodological information between projects to improve their technical quality and foster the development of in-house skills;

Fundr**aising** &Devel**opm**e**n**t**

In line with the global strategy

(S)he identifies and prospects for financial partners, mainly in Afghanistan, to develop the QRCS Afghanistan operation and co-fund ongoing projects;

(S)he identifies local and regional opportunities corresponding to the QRCS activities; (S)he guides the process of drafting of project documents, feasibility studies, etc;

(S)he explores opportunities for organizational development in Afghanistan in the sub region ;

(S)he plans the organization of the activities, supervises the follow-up and evaluation of the activities; (S)he organizes the capitalization and knowledge management;

(S)he contributes to the process of setting a regional coordination.

5. P R O F I L E**

Education**: Graduate degree in the field of international development, health or any other related filed

Experience:**

Minimum 10 years of international cooperation with 5 years in developing countries; Experience working in countries in conflict

Working in economic/social development with project management and/or country office organization responsibilities;

Experience of cooperating with multiple local partners; Security Management and Risk Analysis knowledge;

Knowledge of health and primary health care systems, an asset.

Languages, IT sk**ill**s**: Fluent in English; Arabic would be an asset; Knowledge of local languages

(**Dari/Farsi**) would be appreciated; sound knowledge of office software

De**s**i**r**able qu**alities**:

Excellent communication and persuasion skills, ability to lead a multicultural project team, to convince, work in partnership and facilitate consensus;

A flexible approach to managing and prioritizing high workload and multiple tasks in a fast paced environment with tight deadlines;

Self-starter with strong research, analysis, and critical thinking skills;

Knowledge of the Afghan context is highly appreciated; Good knowledge of Islamic environment; Responsive and dynamic; Diplomacy & teaching skills;

Empathy with organizational goals.

6. C**O** NDITIONS

• Duration: International expatriate contract, 12 months renewable

• Lo**cation**: Based in Kabul (Afghanistan), occasional travels to areas of operation

• MonthlyGrossSalary: as per QRCS salary scale

• Ann**u**al le**aves**: 45 days including weekends (calendar days)

• Other advantages: Afghan visa & work permit expenses are covered and managed by QRCS; 2 return tickets per year between Afghanistan and home country

• Accommodation: Monthly accommodation allowance as per QRCS policy on

Please send your CV & Certificates to the following email : relief.job@qrcs.org.qa