Deputy Regional Director Southern African Region

DEPUTY REGIONAL DIRECTOR SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION

Organizational Context

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international non-governmental organisation with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people. The organisation was founded in November 1980 and has a presence in 57 countries. JRS undertakes services at national and regional levels with the support and guidance of an international office in Rome. The style of JRS service is human and spiritual, working in situations of greatest need, seeking the long-term wellbeing of refugees and displaced persons, while not neglecting their immediate or urgent needs. JRS offers opportunities to a wide variety of staff, local and international, while maintaining a realistic and localised scheme of salary/stipend, insurance, etc.  

Operational Context

The JRS Southern Africa Region (SAF) Deputy Regional Director (DRD) reports to the Regional Director. The DRD is responsible to provide support to the Regional Director in the management of the Region.

Key Responsibilities 

Strategy and Planning

• Support Country Directors in the development and implementation of multi-year strategies in line with the JRS Global Strategic Framework. 
• Ensure the implementation of the SLT sustainability roadmap in the Region and its incorporation in the regional strategic planning. 
• Ensure that annual country-level planning and budgeting processes take place and are approved by the Regional Director ahead of implementation.  

Operational supervision of Regional and Country offices

• Advise the Regional Director on key regional and country issues. 
• Provide support, direction, and supervision to Country Directors (e.g., implementation of the regional priorities and strategic vision) and supervise the Regional Office Staff for all operational matters (e.g. through regular meetings and progress reports). 
•  Ensure implementation of Inter Office Coordination Procedures (IOCP) at country level. 
• Conduct regular monitoring visits to Country and Project offices and ensure accountability. 
• Lead the efforts of the RO team to strengthen the capacity of Country teams so that they can achieve their goals with greater operational autonomy. 
• Assess new initiatives to open new projects after consultation with the Regional Director and Country Directors and other key members of the regional management. 
• Oversee the implementation of Navision and the rest of the Information Management system in all offices in the Region (Regional, Country and Project Offices). 
• Support the setting up of new JRS offices in Mozambique. 
• Support the implementation of the Zimbabwe exit strategy. 
• Guide and support the incorporation of the JRS operations in the DRC into the Region.

Knowledge management and internal communication

• Ensure the capitalization of the Region's achievements and learning and that best practices are harmonized between the different Country Offices in the Region.
• Strengthen the Internal Communication within the Region.  

Qualifications and Experience

• An advanced, accredited university degree in Management, Political Sciences, Law, International Development or another related discipline. An undergraduate degree with strong relevant field experience will be considered in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Minimum of seven (7) years’ experience of increasing responsibilities in human service organizations, ideally in humanitarian or development organizations with a strong human rights, and/or faith, background. Experience in project development and management, work with refugees, and/or advocacy with forcibly displaced people is a particular advantage.
• Minimum of four (4) years’ experience in leadership roles. Employment or collaboration with the Catholic Church (parish, diocesan or bishops’ conference level) in a leadership role is an additional asset.

Languages

• Excellent proficiency in written and verbal English.
• Working knowledge of Portuguese and/or French is highly desirable.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrated evidence of leadership in a professional setting/humanitarian response with the ability to think strategically, motivate others, create new projects, solve problems and be part of a multi-cultural and multi-faith team.
• Proven performance in organizational management, budget development and management, and general office coordination.
• A proven ability to capture impact and learning from operations and feed it into new programmes.
• Knowledge of and/or familiarity with key concepts and current trends in forced migration and challenges faced by forcibly displaced people.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen, effectively communicate, negotiate and work creatively with stakeholders of varying backgrounds: beneficiaries, government representatives, church leaders and refugee groups among them.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the use of Microsoft Office 365 environment tools.

Required Core Values

• Commitment to JRS’s mission, vision and values; ability to convey with enthusiasm JRS’s role in accompanying and serving forcibly displaced people and to advocate for their right to protection and a life in dignity.
• High integrity, honesty and confidentiality; ability to deal tactfully and discreetly with people, situations and information.
• Acceptance of diversity and inclusion as a core value.  

Terms and Conditions

The contract is for two (2) years. The JRS remuneration policy is aligned with the JRS ethos to offer effective and professional services and at the same time express solidarity with the people served. Details will be discussed with short-listed candidates.

Application information

All applicants are requested to submit the following documents:

·      Curriculum Vitae (CV) in English including three (3) professional references with their contact information, phone and email address.

·      A cover letter describing the candidate's desire and motivation to work for JRS and his/her qualifications and experience are a good fit for this position.  

Please note that due to urgent need, the screening of CVs will be carried out on an ongoing basis and a suitable candidate may be identified prior to the indicated deadline. Therefore, we encourage interested candidates to submit their application at their earliest convenience. 

Please note that this position is only open to candidates who possess South African citizenship or other legal authorization to work in South Africa.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Note: JRS has a Child Safeguarding (CS) Policy in place and expects all staff to read, sign and adhere to it

Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.