Programme Manager - Myanmar

Role: Programme Manager - Myanmar

Location: Myanmar

Salary: Up to £50,000 (dependant on experience)

Start Date: The successful candidate will ideally start in June 2024.

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Visa: The successful candidate must be eligible, from a nationally/visa perspective, to work in both Myanmar and Cambodia, and to travel throughout SE Asia.

Accommodation: Will be provided, possibly shared accommodation with other HALO staff

Responsible to: Deputy / Regional Director

Responsible for: All Programme Staff

About HALO:

The HALO Trust is the leading global NGO addressing the impact and drivers of conflict in 30 countries and territories, employing over 12,500 staff, most of whom are local employees. Our primary duty is to serve people affected by conflict, clearing landmines and the explosive remnants of war that threaten lives and livelihoods long after fighting has finished. We make land safe where war has ended, while also assisting those affected by active conflict and endemic violence, creating more durable solutions to support stability. 

About the role:

HALO seeks an experienced and dynamic Programme Manager to lead our Humanitarian Mine Action programme in Myanmar. HALO has been conducting Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), Victim Assistance (VA), and a train the trainer programme in Myanmar since 2012, combined with an expanding humanitarian assistance programme that involves the distribution of food packages and hygiene kits particularly to those displaced by the conflict. The programme employs 54 national staff across the states of Kachin, Shan, Kayin, Bago East and Rakhine with a head office in Yangon and has plans to reach new areas in 2024-25. Following the coup on 01 Feb 2021, the escalation in multiple conflicts, the continued sharp increase in displacement of civilians, and the occurrence of 2-3 landmine casualties per day during 2023, the need for HALO’s presence, EORE, VA, and humanitarian assistance is critical.

The successful candidate will have experience in managing and leading the development of programmes and projects in a challenging environment, and a proven track record in the improvement of remote and internal programme management systems, donor relations and coordination with implementing partners. With a small programme management team, the ability to support all programme functions and be versatile is essential. Myanmar country specific experience including knowledge of the multiple conflicts and Ethnic Armed Groups (EAGs) and current political landscape would be advantageous. Experience in the mine action sector and in navigating the UN cluster system in a conflict setting would also be beneficial.

Overseeing all the programme’s activities, you will ensure that all operational and contractual obligations are realised by developing close working relationships with your senior national and international staff. Your role will include leading the safe, efficient and effective deployment of field staff, overseeing security, financial management, HR, procurement and logistics, donor engagement and proposal generation and other responsibilities associated with managing the programme.

The Programme Manager will represent HALO’s Myanmar programme with all relevant parties such as embassies, government representatives and other NGOs and agencies with whom HALO interacts. Ensuring that HALO’s reputation remains strong, you will provide leadership and guidance to your programme staff.  You should be a natural networker, a patient and creative diplomat, and be able to grapple with and distil complex ethical, legal and security problems.

The role will be based in Yangon, Myanmar. Travel outside Yangon (within Myanmar) will be extremely limited unless the conflict conditions change. In the event that travel to Yangon is not possible and/or whilst in between visa applications, the role may be based elsewhere in the Southeast Asia region until access is possible. The ability to travel internationally is essential.

**PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS ROLE IS BASED FULL-TIME IN MYANMAR**

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide overall leadership for the HALO Programme in country, ensuring that operations are carried out safely, in line with emergency and security procedures, standard operating procedures and contractual obligations.
• Monitor security and risks relevant to HALO activities. Assess and implement appropriate security measures to maximise staff safety.
• Develop and maintain donor relationships through liaison and donor reporting. Monitor and coordinate activity programming to ensure contractual output requirements are achieved.
• Identify and develop new funding opportunities for the programme, prepare concept notes, budgets and proposals, and support campaigns and events to raise awareness of HALO’s work with prospective donors.
• Train and develop national staff to enhance skills and capabilities to support programme requirements and career progression.
• Maintain, improve, and build new relationships with relevant NGOs, explore shared interests and mutually beneficial collaborative opportunities.
• Design and build innovative partnerships to amplify the impact of HALO’s work and secure funding from new sources.
• Act as Country Coordinator for partnership projects.
• Assist the Programme’s International Finance Manager to forecast and manage the
• financial budgets and expenditure
• Coordinate programme logistics and procurement with support from HALO Scotland based HQ Logistics Team and oversee the local network of suppliers and logistic support where appropriate.
• Update the Deputy / Regional Director and HQ as required on any programme issues or developments.

Other:

• Work within the framework of HALO’s core values and standards.
• Ensure familiarity with and adhere to all HALO policies and procedures.
• Undertake the role in a manner appropriate to the cultural context and within the local legal framework.
• Understand and uphold the standards outlined in HALO’s safeguarding policy, acting with due care and attention to safeguard the well-being of anyone that encounters HALO’s work and reporting concerns if they arise.
• Discharge duties and responsibilities under HALO’s health and safety procedures.
• Carry out any other duties as directed to meet programme standards and operational requirements.

Essential:

• Significant proven experience in programme management positions in the humanitarian sector with an ability to work in a complex environment.
• Experience in incident management.
• Project and programme design experience including the direct development and implementation of projects.
• Donor relationship management experience, including reporting and other communications.
• Contract and budget management experience.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, able to build effective working relationships with national and international staff internally and externally.
• Fluent English and comfortable in the use of Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to multi-task, plan & prioritise tasks effectively, and work calmly under pressure.
• Effective team player, able to motivate and create a strong team spirit.
• Ability to work and live in potentially challenging and remote environments, to adapt and integrate in different cultures.

Desirable:

• Country specific experience in Myanmar.
• Experience in operating in a challenging security environment.
• Experience in the mine action sector.
• Experience of working within the UN cluster system in a conflict setting.
• Experience of remote management techniques.
• Mine action experience, SAFE, HEAT and First Aid.

This is a non-contractual document that can be varied from time to time as circumstances dictate. The job description is intended to summarise the main duties and responsibilities of the post: this is not intended to be a full and exhaustive list of tasks. All HALO staff are expected to demonstrate flexibility and willingness to perform appropriate tasks when required to do so.

HALO offers a variety of attractive benefits including private medical insurance, life assurance and an attractive annual leave allowance, amongst many others.

Please submit a CV (no more than 2 pages) and a cover letter (no more than 1 page) in English, outlining how your experience matches the key skills and competencies required by Midnight 21st April 2024. Please note that applications without a cover letter tailored to this position will not be considered.

We reserve the right to amend the closing date depending on the calibre of applications received.

The HALO Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. The HALO Trust is committed to a culture that is both diverse and inclusive and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

The HALO Trust is committed to ensuring that it provides a safe and trusted environment which safeguards and promotes the welfare and wellbeing of anyone who comes into contact with, or is part of, the Charity, with a zero-tolerance approach to behaviours which challenge this.