Accountability Officer

Ensure that Medair fully complies with institutional donor requirements through acting as an organisational focal point on key donor requirements and regulations, providing training and resources to the other departments, and contributing to process improvements and compliance activities. Manage risks arising from non-compliance, and maintain good external donor relationships.

Project Overview

Medair Headquarters (HQ) provides operational guidance for country programmes, along with both technical and compassionate support for our relief workers. Within our headquarters and affiliate offices, we are also responsible for promoting the work of Medair to the world, to raise and manage the funds needed to run our life-saving and sustaining programmes, and to recruit international and HQ staff.

Workplace

Medair HQ, Lausanne, Switzerland

Starting Date / Initial Contract Details

As soon as possible. Full time, open-ended contract

Key Activity Areas

Donor Regulations & Compliance

• Act as a central point of organisational expertise on donor compliance requirements, including proposal templates, cost eligibility criteria, policy documentation, grant modifications and project closing.
• Communicate updates on trends in institutional donor funding, training opportunities, criteria, conditions and policies.
• Provide support on donor proposals, reports and compliance issues to country programmes. Additional hands on support may be required during rapid onset emergency responses.
• Provide specialist technical advice on donors’ online contract management systems and facilitates submission of some HQ level quarterly reporting.
• Participate in relevant networks, donor meetings and donor feedback forums, and develop contacts with peer agency counterparts to facilitate sharing and learning.

Global Compliance & Process Improvements

• Recommend changes on how to adapt Medair’s operations and reporting processes and systems to ensure compliance with donor regulations and specific contract.
• Produce reports and analysis that measure performance in donor reporting and systems use and monitor risk across the portfolio.
• Contribute to proposal and reporting process improvement efforts to improve efficiency, quality and timeliness of donor submissions.
• Contribute to work stream on Core Humanitarian Standard membership and certification process.
• Lead a community of practice on proposal, reporting and compliance best practice.

Knowledge Management

• Promote embedding institutional donors' requirements and their quality standards related to project management practices into Medair project management systems and processes.
• Develop and maintain a suite of templates, checklists and guidelines aimed at supporting Medair staff’s understanding of donor proposal, reporting and compliance requirements.

Training & Capacity Building

• Brief on Medair’s proposal process and key donor compliance issues as part of the HQ Briefing.
• Develop and deliver targeted training on donor regulations and contract management compliance.
• Review new donor grant agreements and bring key regulatory and compliance issues to the cross-functional country teams for review before grant start.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Work and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings. Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of your team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Encouraged to join and contribute to Medair’s international programmes and HQ prayer network.

This job description covers the main tasks that are anticipated. Other tasks may be assigned as necessary.

Qualifications

• University degree. Master’s in a related field desirable.
• Strong working knowledge of English (spoken and written).

Experience / Competencies

• At least 2 years working in a humanitarian or development organisation.
• At least 1 year’s grant writing / compliance management across multiple institutional donors.
• Demonstrated record of achieving measurable organisational results as part of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to work across institutional boundaries, units, and teams in an effective, empowering, and productive way.
• High level of conceptual and critical thinking skills combined with effective short-term action and long-term planning according to priorities.
• Experience in knowledge management and delivering training to culturally diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical skills particularly pertaining to risk analysis at the project- or organisational level.
• Experience of Management Information Systems.
• Able to make decisions within a consultative and supportive framework.
• Open-minded, flexible, self-learner.

Working Conditions

• Swiss or eligible EU citizens, or those with a valid work permit for Switzerland, can apply.
• For more senior / technical roles, some other nationalities may be eligible to apply.
• This is a HQ based position in Lausanne Switzerland.
• Travels outside of Switzerland up to 4 weeks per year, to deliver training or critical issues management.
• Completion of Medair’s 1 week off-site Relief Orientation Course (ROC) in Switzerland.

Application Process

Before you apply, please ensure you are fully aware of the:

• Medair organisational values.
• Profiles sought for International Headquarters staff.
• Benefits Package provided for International Headquarters staff.

Then to apply, go to http://www.medair.nl/en/jobs/positions/accountability-officer-ch-hq/ then

a) apply for this vacancy (or another position that matches your profile), or

b) apply for a Medair ROC (where we can try and match your competencies to our vacancy needs).

Please do not make multiple applications. We will not review email applications. Only English-language applications / CVs will be reviewed. Medair does not set closing / deadline dates for applications; recruitment is on-going until the position is filled.