Manage, empower and support the Country Director(s) (CD) as well as the GSO country team; the Head of Country Programme (HCP) oversees all programme and support activities in the GSO. Representing Medair in all issues relating to the country programme, the HCP plays a key role in donor relations as well as chairing the weekly cross-organisational country team meeting. The HCP raises and retains programme income, coordinating with the GSO country team(s) and leading support to the field team(s) from a decentralised role by line managing the Country Director and jointly leading the Country Strategy Plan process and implementation.

Medair Global Support Office (GSO) provides operational guidance for country programmes, along with both technical and compassionate support for our relief workers. Within our GSO 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 GSO staff.

Medair Global Support Office (GSO) , Lausanne, Switzerland. Travel for 2-4 weeks a year.

Swiss or eligible EU citizens, or those with a valid work permit for Switzerland, can apply.

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

Leadership & Management

• Present in GSO the Country Strategy Plan. Chair the weekly Country Programme meeting in GSO.
• Analyse humanitarian needs, trends and political developments in the country of operation and the surrounding region in order to support the CD and advise GSO management accordingly.
• Enable all programme activities and support functions comply with applicable national and international laws and regulations, including in-country registration.
• Report regularly to the Deputy International Director the key programme issues (including risks) as well as PESTLE and humanitarian trends in country.
• Complete at least two capacity building and monitoring field trips per year to the country programme.
• Take on short term leadership assignments in GSO and/ or country, covering Country Director and senior management roles where necessary. May be required to travel up to 9 weeks a year.

Donor Relations Management

• Develop and maintain excellent relations with the GSO based representatives of relevant institutional donors, funding partners and private sector organisations in CH, Europe and North America.
• Oversee the submission of all narrative proposals, operational and financial reports related to the country programme to organisations outside the country programme.
• Provide advice, guidance and critical insight to the Country Director and his / her senior team on the design and implementation of new donor proposals/projects.

Coordination & Communication

• Provide oversight to Medair staff of all country programme operations.
• Establish close, strategic and constructive relationships with bilateral and multilateral aid and humanitarian agencies, at regional and headquarters levels to facilitate strategic, principled, appropriate and timely humanitarian response.

Financial Management

• Support the planning, expenditure and analysis of project budgets, in collaboration with CD and GSO.
• Advise the CD on programme spend in-line with the approved budgets.
• Responsible for overall financial management of the country programme portfolio; using the ‘TCV’ (total cost view) and ‘Portfolio’ management information system.

Staff Management

• Recommends appointment of CD. Manages the CD through appropriate support and performance management. Reflect the vision and values of Medair when interacting with team members and provide them with leadership, advice, support and appropriate communication.
• Assist the Country Director to identify and develop talent within their senior management team. This includes providing coaching role modelling effective behaviour to individual senior managers.

Security Management

• Approve all country location security plans, guidelines and manuals.
• Ensure the program is implemented with a clear analysis and understanding of security priorities.
• Take the lead in GSO on decision making and contingency planning during security incidents or threats.

Quality Management

• Ensure country programmes are implemented in line with donor proposals and with Medair, donor, country and international standards e.g. Sphere and CHS standards, WHO recommendations, etc.
• Review the quality and impact of Medair’s responses to need.
• Document and disseminate project achievements and lessons on a timely basis.
• Provide advice, guidance and critical insight to the Country Director and their senior team on their annual and strategic business planning to ensure programmes are delivering increased results year on year and regularly review programme against agreed KPIs.

Team Spiritual Life

• Reflect the vision and values of Medair with team members, local staff, beneficiaries, and external contacts.
• Fully contribute to the rich spiritual life of the team, including team devotions, prayers, and words of encouragement.
• Work and pray together in our Christian faith-based team settings.
• Instigate and contribute to prayer times within international recruited staff and GSO teams.

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

• University degree in humanitarian or related field required. Masters in related fields desirable.
• Excellent English (spoken and written).
• Ability to work in French / or Arabic.

• 7 years professional experience, 3 years working on humanitarian projects with minimum 1 year managing humanitarian team in a fragile State.
• Computer literate with good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Experience in the design, monitoring of implementation and evaluation of humanitarian / emergency programmes. Experience in dealing with donors and government officials.
• Knowledge of humanitarian essentials (Sphere, CHS, Good Enough, Do No Harm etc).
• Excellent communication skills. Creative, open-minded, flexible, self-learner.
• Able to cope with basic living conditions in the field and during field trips.